Visit us also
on our YouTube channel:
KUGLER® technology for dewatering drilling mud and bentonite slurry
The KUGLER® BTC drilling mud complete solution was developed to separate drilling mud back into sturdy material and clear filtrate.
Drilling wastewater with a finely distributed solids load is very difficult to transport and dispose of, due to its high water content.
This is where Kugler’s process comes in. It was developed in order to obtain a solid medium for the disposal of the drilling mud, which can be easily transported away. In addition, a solids-free, clear filtrate is obtained that can be returned to the process.
Disposal of drilling mud / Disposal of bentonite mud
Dewatering solution for the treatment of:
✓ Drilling mud suspension
✓ Bentonite mud
✓ Sand and gravel washing sludge
Detailed process description
How it works: With the help of this KUGLER® process you avoid the costly transport and disposal of the drilling mud with suction trucks. A tailor-made solution for any drilling and bentonite suspensions – by means of flocculation/conditioning and a static dewatering you remove the water from the drilling mud until a sturdy and easily transportable material remains in the container. The following diagram illustrates the few, uncomplicated process steps of our complete solution for dewatering drilling and bentonite suspensions.
Watch our video on the complete solution from Kugler. You can find it in the “Video” tab above.
Development of the mud over time
Filling of the dewatering container with flocculated drilling mud; total filling volume with simultaneous dewatering (filtrate discharge/return) → in general within 1 to 3 h (depending on TS content) – post-dewatering of the batch (if necessary overnight) with vibrator motor (timer) – conditioned drilling mud dewaters – sturdy material (after max. 16 h), empty container and start next batch.
The following are example pictures:
Components of the complete drilling mud solution
A core component of the complete drilling mud solution is the KUGLER® BTC, a dewatering container (EWC) especially for drilling muds (see functional diagram on the right). This dewaters statically via gravity and sedimentation, which is why the drilling technology container is almost maintenance and wear-free.
The Kugler® EWC consists of an outer standard container and a removable inner basket with a robust filter fabric. The water flows off over the filter surface, then the sturdy sludge is transported in the container and simply tipped out. The dewatering process is optimised by a timer-controlled high-frequency vibration motor and an additional middle filter partition to increase the total filter area.
FlocTower®
The KUGLER®-FlocTower is a complete system for dosing a broadband polymer (flocculation aid) via the precisely coordinated, necessary energy input. Via mixing and floc-formation module for flocculation and dewatering of the sludge. FlocTower completely manufactured from V2A stainless steel incl. the entire periphery consisting of:
→ floc forming ∙ filtrate recirculation
→ Submersible pumps & peripherals (incl. hose connections and power connections)
BTC-AR® (17 m³)
KUGLER® dewatering container for drilling and bentonite suspensions type “Rüttel-EWC” as roll-off container variant with up to 17 m³ filling volume and central partition wall to increase the filtering and dewatering area for separating the sludge into its liquid and solid components.
→ Pick-up and emptying by roll-off tipper (hook vehicle).
→ Vibrator is used for improved separation of water and solids.
BTC-EWC® (10 m³)
KUGLER® dewatering container for drilling and bentonite suspensions type “Rüttel-EWC” as skip container variant with up to 10 m³ filling volume and central partition wall to increase the filtering and dewatering area for separating the sludge into its liquid and solid components.
→ Pick-up and emptying by dump truck (tracked vehicle).
→ Vibrator is used for improved separation of water and solids.
BentoFloc®
Flockungshilfsmittel / Flocculation aid / broad-spectrum polymer (in accordance with DüMV and mineral oil-free) for agglomeration of suspended components in drilling mud – flocculation and solid-liquid separation.
→ Tried and tested in a wide range of drilling muds and bentonite suspensions from different soils and regions.
BTC EWC® (10 m³) + FlocTower®
■ Turnover volume: Drilling mud from receiver – filling the BTC and dewatering: approx. 18 – 30 m³.
■ Space requirement: approx. 6 x 2 m
KUGLER® drilling technology container as a skip variant of 10 m³
Drainage container with inner filter basket consisting of alkali- and acid-resistant fabric foil; middle partition wall of the filter inner basket to increase the filter surface & timer-controlled vibration motor for effective post-drainage; outer walls of the container as waterproof standard container following DIN 30720 suitable for skip lorries. Four drainage connections 1½” in the floor area of the standard container, 2 of which are fitted with ball valves.
Electrical connection power: 400 V
Rated power: 0.45 kW
Container capacity approx.: 10 m³
Outer dimensions L/W/H: 4170 x 1940 x 1890 mm
Empty weight: approx. 1700 kg
KUGLER® FlocTower
Polymer preparation station built as a compact unit consisting of a static mixer, an automatic proportional flocculant dosing unit, a floc forming tank (100 l) and a filtrate return tank (200 l) together with 3 submersible motor pumps with motor protection switch and all necessary hoses / hose components.
External dimensions L/W/H: 1200 x 1000 x 1800 mm
Empty weight: approx. 200 kg
System connection power: 400V/50 Hz/16A
System power requirement: 2.6 kW
Connection: 32A-CEE
KUGLER® BentoFloc
Flocculant/broadband polymer (in accordance with DüMV and free of mineral oil) in IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) of 1000 L.
BTC AR® (17 m³) + FlocTower®
■ Turnover volume: Drilling mud from receiver – filling the BTC and dewatering: approx. 30 – 50 m³.
■ Space requirement: approx. 8 x 4 m
KUGLER® Drilling Technology Container as roll-off variant of 17 m³
Drainage container with filter inner basket consisting of alkali- and acid-resistant fabric foil; middle partition wall of the inner filter basket to increase the filter area & timer-controlled vibration motor for effective post-drainage; outer walls of the container as waterproof standard container following DIN 30722 suitable for roll-off container vehicles. Four drainage connections 2″ incl. ball valve installed in the base plate of the standard container.
Electrical connection power: 400 V
Rated power: 1.30 kW
Container capacity approx.: 17 m³
External dimensions L/W/H: 6400 x 2500 x 1500 mm
Empty weight approx.: 3600 kg
KUGLER® FlocTower
Polymer preparation station built as a compact unit consisting of a static mixer, an automatic proportional flocculant dosing unit, a floc forming tank (100 l) and a filtrate return tank (200 l) together with 3 submersible motor pumps with motor protection switch and all necessary hoses/hose components.
External dimensions L/W/H: 1200 x 1000 x 1800 mm
Empty weight: approx. 200 kg
System connection power: 400V/50 Hz/16A
System power requirement: 2.6 kW
Connection: 32A-CEE
KUGLER® BentoFloc
Flocculant/broadband polymer (in accordance with DüMV and free of mineral oil) in IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) of 1000 L.
The KUGLER® BTC drilling mud complete solution was developed to separate drilling mud back into stab-proof mud and clear water.
Video: Drilling & bentonite mud – KUGLER® dewatering system
Our pilot plant BTC complete solution for dewatering drilling and bentonite suspensions will be shown – dewater your drilling mud in our pilot plant – convince yourself of the simple handling and the excellent result!
Your advantages:
Kugler® technology for dewatering bentonite and drilling mud
✓ very inexpensive complete solution
✓ without control, sensors and electronics
✓ process robust, simple and user-friendly
We offer:
✓ systems for testing on a rental basis
✓ complete piloting package with professional support

E N T W Ä S S E R N · T R E N N E N · F I L T E R N · K L Ä R E N