How Proper Solids Control Saves Time and Money

In today’s competitive environment, operators across industries — from oil and gas to mining, trenchless drilling, and wastewater treatment — are constantly looking for ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. One area that consistently delivers both immediate and long-term ROI is proper solids control.

At GN Solids America, we specialize in manufacturing a full range of separation and solids control equipment designed to maximize the performance of your system. In this post, we’ll explore how effective solids control not only protects your equipment, but also helps you save money, reduce downtime, and operate more sustainably.

The Cost of Poor Solids Control

When solids are not properly removed from fluids, several costly problems arise:

• Accelerated wear on pumps, piping, and other process equipment
  Abrasive solids circulating in drilling fluids or process fluids can quickly degrade critical components, resulting in unplanned maintenance and expensive repairs.

• Reduced efficiency of the overall process
  Whether you're drilling a well, dewatering slurry, or recycling wastewater, excessive solids content negatively impacts fluid properties and process efficiency — driving up energy use and chemical costs.

• Higher disposal costs
  Inadequate separation leads to larger volumes of waste requiring transport and disposal, increasing operational expenses and environmental liabilities.

• Regulatory risks
  Poor solids control may result in non-compliance with discharge regulations, potentially leading to fines or shutdowns.

How Proper Solids Control Equipment Delivers Value

Investing in the right equipment, properly sized and operated for your application, delivers significant savings across multiple areas:

1️⃣ Primary Separation with Shale Shakers

Shale shakers are the first line of defense in solids control. GN Solids America manufactures a full range of linear motion shale shakers designed for high G-force separation of coarse solids.

Proper shaker selection and screen optimization can:

• Reduce the load on downstream equipment

• Lower drilling fluid dilution and chemical costs

• Improve fluid recovery rates

2️⃣ Secondary and Tertiary Treatment with Hydrocyclones and Centrifuges

Desanders and desilters (hydrocyclone-based systems) further remove medium and fine solids. GN’s modular systems allow flexible configuration to meet changing process demands.

For fine solids separation, GN’s decanter centrifuges deliver exceptional performance:

• High G-force (up to 3000+ G) ensures efficient removal of fine particles

• Continuous operation supports high throughput

• Optimized bowl and scroll design extends equipment life and improves solids dryness

Using a properly specified centrifuge allows operators to:

• Reduce waste volume by producing drier solids

• Recover valuable process fluids

• Minimize wear on downstream systems

3️⃣ Supporting Systems: Tank Cleaning and Vacuum Pumps

Even with excellent upstream separation, sediment can accumulate in tanks and pits. GN Solids America offers automatic tank cleaning systems (such as the GNTC-30C) and industrial vacuum pumps for efficient sludge removal.

Keeping tanks clean:

• Maintains fluid quality

• Reduces manual cleaning labor

• Minimizes unplanned shutdowns

A Real-World Example: ROI from Upgraded Solids Control

One of our clients in the HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) market recently upgraded their solids control system with GN shakers, desanders, and a GN decanter centrifuge. The results:

• 25% reduction in fluid-related operating costs

• 50% decrease in waste disposal volumes

• Increased rig uptime due to fewer equipment failures

This is a common story across industries: proper solids control translates directly into operational savings.

Conclusion

Proper solids control is not an expense — it’s an investment that pays for itself many times over. Whether you’re optimizing a drilling rig, improving your waste management process, or upgrading a mining operation, GN Solids America has the expertise and equipment to help you achieve measurable improvements in performance and cost efficiency.

If you’d like to discuss how we can help improve your operation, contact us today.  If you are located in North or South America, engineers at the Houston office are ready to assist and give consultation.