Why so many drilling companies rely on 

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS 

for drilling mud control
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Modern drilling muds have to

fulfill multiple functions. The

drilling mud has to cool and

lubricate the drill bit and carry

away the bits of rock cut by it.

The hydrostatic pressure in the

bore hole caused by the

weight of the drilling mud will

overcome most formation

pressure associated with

water, oil or gas pressure.

Drilling muds are based on

water, oil or polymer with a

composition of various additives such as stabilizers, flocculents, corrosion inhibitors,

defoamers, surfactants, detergents, lubricants and more. 

Modern drilling muds 

are complex systems

Benefits of drilling mud separation

Drilling Mud Recovery Plant

Cost savings by drilling mud separation

• Reduced amount of mud by

closed system

• Maintenance cost reduction

of up to 60 % for equipment

• Reduced wear, especially

for mud pumps and drill bits

• Reduced disposal cost

• Extended mud lifetime

Modern drilling mud systems

form a closed loop with zero

liquid discharge. Therefore

everything brought into the

mud by the drilling process has

to be separated. While coarse

particles are separated by

shakers and hydro-cyclones,

fine solids are separated by

means of decanters.
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Special features of the 

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

FLOTTWEG is one of the

world’s leading companies in

separation technology. For 30

years FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

have been field proven in the

drilling industry for mud separation. The FLOTTWEG machines

are also available as skidmounted systems. FLOTTWEG

is the most experienced manufacturer of decanters equipped

with hydraulic drive systems. All

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS for

drilling mud separation can be

equipped with hydraulic drive

of bowl and conveyor scroll for

continuous adjustment of bowl

speed and differential speed,

even during operation.

• Centrifugal force up 

to 4000 G’s

For separation of fine solids in

the range of 5–7 microns

• Hydraulic drive

Available for bowl and conveyor

scroll enables optimum setting

thus impurities are separated

while valuable components

such as barite, clay, etc. are

retained in the mud. About

95 % of the reusable barite (>20

microns) are recovered. 

• FLOTTWEG’s unique

wear protection

All parts exposed to wear are

protected by special metal hard

facing, ceramic wear bushes,

inserts, etc. Bushes and inserts

are easily exchangeable, even

under field conditions.

• Field proven

Several hundreds of

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

are in service in the drilling

industry worldwide.

• ISO certified

FLOTTWEG is ISO 9001 certified and manufactures all its

products in compliance with all

current technical standards.
Flottweg Decanter Z4E-4 Flottweg Decanter Z5E-4 Flottweg Decanter Z73-4

Bowl diameter 16” (420 mm) 21” (530 mm) 29” (730 mm)

Bowl speed* 500 – 4 000 rpm 500 – 3 000 rpm 500 –2 600 rpm

Differential 1 – 112 rpm 1 – 44 rpm 1 – 22 rpm 

speed*

Material of All product wetted parts are made of high quality stainless steel 

construction (AISI 316 and superior)

Overall 117” x 40” x 47” 140” x 72” x 42” 184” x 95” x 55”

dimensions* (2 980 x 1 000 x 1 200 mm) (3 540 x 1 820 x 1 060 mm) (4 675 x 2 400 x 1 400 mm)

(L x W x H)

Gross weight* 5 620 lb (2 550 kg) 9 590 lb (6 500 kg) 25 570 lb (11 600 kg)

Motor size 50 hp (37 kW) 75 hp (55 kW) 122+61 hp (90+45 kW)

Motor size 30 hp (22 kW) 50 hp (37 kW) 122 hp (90 kW)

with gear drive

Capacity** 130 gpm (30 m3

/h) 220 gpm (50 m3/h) 440 gpm (100 m3/h)

Optional Flottweg decanters are available with gear drive and

hydraulic drive of bowl and / or scroll

Explosion proof versions available for:

Class I, Division 2, Group D or ATEX 95 (for Europe)

Representative:

TI – PR – 0004 T – 10 1 04 / 09

Technical data

FLOTTWEG DECANTERS

for drilling mud separation

Hundreds of FLOTTWEG

DECANTERS and turn-key

systems have been working

most successfully in the drilling

industry for more than 30 years

all over the world.

• Drilling mud control

• Separation of fine drill cuttings

• Barite recovery systems

Cost saving by:

• Longer lifetime of the mud

• Lower mud quantity required

• Reduced maintenance cost

* figures for version with hydraulic drive

** to be understood as guidelines, actual capacity depends on the composition of the mud

FLOTTWEG products 

are designed and manufactured in GERMANY!