Unit No.

5678
Baker Oil Tools

Index: 443.60

FLUID PUMPING SERVICES

TECHNICAL UNIT

Date: July 8, 1999

Page:1 of 6

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

Product No. 489-95
Description
The GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System combines 400 to 800 ft2 of vertical pressure leaf filters,
an 18-1/2 bbl DE blender, and a dual-cartridge filter pot into a compact single skid. All vessels, piping, and internals are made of corrosion-resistant
stainless steel to prevent contamination of the fluids being filtered. Each cartridge filter pot houses
nineteen 40-inch long, pleated cartridges.

Specifications

Dual-Cartridge Filter
Vessels:
Pre-Coat/Body-Feed
Blending Tank:
Piping:
Width:
Length:
Height:
Weight:
Pressure/Temperature:
Flow Capacity:

Nineteen 40-inch
cartridges per vessel
18-1/2 bbl
Stainless steel
5 ft
12 ft
9 ft
7,500 lbs
100 psi at 200oF
Approximately 1 gpm
per ft2 of filter media
with fresh water

Drawing No. 671-284-1

NOTE: Flow rates will be significantly reduced with

increased specific gravity, viscosity, or contaminant
load.

This document contains Confidential Information of Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker) and is furnished to the customer for information purposes only. It is
requested that this document not be reproduced in any way whatsoever, in part or in whole, or distributed outside the customer organization without first obtaining
the express written authorization of Baker. This document is the property of Baker and returnable on request of Baker. July, 1999, Baker Hughes Incorporated.

Unit No. 5678

Index: 443.60

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

7-8-99
Page 2 of 6

WARNING
Use of Baker equipment contrary to
manufacturers specification may result in
property damage, serious injury or fatality.

3.

Operating Procedures

4.

The GFI filter unit employs several pieces of

equipment in its operation. Accompanying the GFI
DE filter unit is a blender and an integral cartridgetype filter unit. Check all items given in the checklist under the Maintenance section before starting
filtration.

5.

Rigging Up the System

Dirty Fluid Line: from the rig mud pits to the

mixing blender riser line.
Pump Suction/Blender Line: from the blender
discharge line to the operation pump suction.
Pump Discharge Line: from the operation pump
discharge to the GFI DE unit inlet line (bottom
left line at skid end).
Pre-Coat Line: from the GFI DE unit pre-coat
line (before the cartridge pod) to the mixing
blender (hard piped line between the DE unit
and the mixing blender).
Filter Discharge Line: from the cartridge filter
unit (discharge) to the clean tank line (upper
middle line at skid end).
Drain Line: from the unit drain (bottom right line
at skid end) to the waste pit.

Pre-Coating
Pre-coating is the process of establishing a thin
layer of DE cake on the septa. This cake is the initial filtering media and must be done with the
cleanest fluid available. With clean fluid, 10 lbs of
DE and 2 lbs of pre-co-floc material per 100 ft2 of
filter septa or 1/8 in. of pre-coat cake is sufficient to
begin filtering. Circulation for 10 to 15 minutes at
the maximum pump rate is sufficient to produce a
clear filtrate with no traces of DE. A high pre-coat
flow rate is important for establishing a uniform
pre-coat. During this step, the downstream cartridge-type filter unit is bypassed to allow the DE to
bridge on the septa and pre-coat cake.
1. Close all valves on the filter unit.
2. Fill the blender with vessel volume of 13 bbl
plus 5 bbl for the lines. After the first cycle, re-

6.

7.
8.

tain a full blender of clean fluid for the next cycle.

Dump the required amount of DE and pre-cofloc into the blender. GFI-650 requires 65 lbs
DE and 13 lbs pre-co-floc.
Open the air vent valve on top of the GFI DE
unit to release any air in the vessel.
Line up the valves to circulate between the
blender and the GFI DE unit.
a. Start or engage the operation pump.
b. Open the inlet valve on the GFI DE unit.
c. Open the manifold discharge valve to the
pre-coat line.
d. Close the DE unit air vent valve once all air
has been displaced by fluid.
e. Open the pre-coat valve above the blender.
Circulate the fluid at a rate of 1 gpm per ft2 of
filter area. The maximum GFI-650 rate is either
15 bpm or the maximum pump rate.
Circulate the blender/DE filter until the filtrate is
clear (about 10 to 15 minutes).
The pre-coat is then complete, and the unit is
ready to start filtering.

Filtration
Lining up the valves will put the unit on line.
1. Open only one cartridge filter unit inlet. Vent the
cartridge filter through the lid valve. Close the
valve when vented.
2. Open the dirty fluid line to supply dirty fluid to
the blender and to observe the proper supply of
dirty fluid from the pump.
3. Add a sufficient quantity of DE material to the
blender. Slowly open the cartridge filter discharge line (the clean fluid line) supplying clean
filtered fluid to the rig tank.
4. Throttle back on the pre-coat valve to balance
the fluid level in the blender with the operational
pump rate and the dirty fluid supply. At times,
this valve may be completely closed. The operational pump, if desired, can be throttled back
to maintain the required flow rate, but it should
be run at maximum for pre-coating.
During the filtering operation, it will be necessary to throttle the pre-coat and dirty fluid
valves and adjust the operation pump rate in order to balance the blender fluid level and to
maintain the required flow rate to the rig.

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

Periodically, opening the air vent valve on the
top of the unit will release any accumulated air and
protect the filter cake on the filter leaves.
DE must be added to the blender throughout
the filtering operation on a continuous basis to prevent the dirty fluid fines from plugging the DE filter
media.
For a faster response to the addition of the DE,
keep only 5 to 7 bbl of fluid in the blender. The rate
at which DE must be added is dependent upon the
amount of solids contained in the fluid. The range
for DE addition is between 1 to 4 parts DE to one
part contaminates. Filtering at a faster rate or filtering dirtier fluid requires the addition of more DE. A
centrifuge test can assist the experienced operator
in determining how much DE to add. A sample
from the dirty fluid line and a sample from the top
of the DE unit vent (vent some fluid through the line
before catching the sample) placed in the centrifuge will indicate the amount of DE added-in ratio
to the solids content of the fluid being filtered. This
test will assist in determining if the proper amount
of DE body feed is being added to the blender by
comparing the solids level in each sample.
One indicator of adding too little DE is an increase in filtering pressure that is not attributed to
an increase in pump speed. This shows that fluid
fines are beginning to blind off on the filter cake. If
the pressure becomes so high as to cause the flow
rate to decrease below a minimum acceptable
rate, the unit will have to be cleaned. (The suggested pressure on the DE filter unit is 85 psi for ease
in cleaning the unit; however, the maximum operating pressure is 100 psi). The other criterion for
cleaning the GFI unit is that it holds a maximum of
15 bags of DE material. When this limit is reached,
the unit must be cleaned before filtering can be
continued.
The downstream cartridge filter unit should also
be periodically checked for the proper operating
differential pressure across the cartridge elements.
The elements should be changed out when the
maximum differential pressure across the elements is 35 psi or if the discharge flow is below that
required to keep up with the rig.

Unit No. 5678

Index: 443.60

7-8-99
Page 3 of 6

Clean-Out
In order to clean out the GFI unit, shut off all
lines going to the unit and bleed off the pressure
through the air vent on top of the vessel. The air
vent valve connection can be used in conjunction
with rig air to blow down the unit, removing the fluid
in the vessel to the dirty fluid pit in order to avoid
losing fluid. The fluid is then transferred through
the vessel inlet (open inlet valve) back to the blender or dirty fluid rig tank through the centrifugal
pump. This is only possible if there are no check
valves in the pump or foot valve on the end of the
suction hose. A drain line is then run overboard or
to the pit from the wash-out connection to dispose
of wash water and filter cake. Raise the lid and
wash the filter cake from the filter leaves with a water hose. The water supply need only be of standard water pressure. If available, a nozzle on the
water hose should be used to minimize the cleaning time. While the unit is open, an inspection
should be made to ensure that the leaf spreader is
in the proper position not to allow the filter leaves
to touch each other, preventing proper filter cake
distribution. To get back on line, shut the lid, close
the wash-out valve, and begin the operation over
again by pre-coating as described previously.

Maintenance
Maintenance on the GFI filtration system
should be performed often to ensure proper functioning. The following checklist will assist the operator in keeping the unit in top condition:
1. Check all leaves for holes and DE leaks. Make
repairs by patching holes and leaks with J&B
weld epoxy on the screen surface.
2. Check all O-rings for damage. Replace any
damaged O-rings.
3. Change cartridges inside of the cartridge filter
unit. Check the micron size and beta rating for
proper sizing as requested by the customer.
4. Wash the outside of the unit. Steam clean and
paint as required.
5. Repair all valves as required. (It is recommended that the valves be operated regularly when
the unit is not being used.)

Unit No. 5678

Index: 443.60

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

7-8-99
Page 4 of 6

to the surface and also to replace the collection

nozzles, O-rings, and washers. This should be
done if an increase in the pre-coat pressure is
noticed over time, indicating that the surfaces
of the filter leaves are beginning to plug.

6. Check the vessel wall for any rust spots. Remove any rust spots.
7. Check the lid O-ring groove and seal edge on
the DE vessel.
8. Check all gages for accuracy and re-calibrate if
necessary.
9. Repair all leaking hoses and unions. Check all
seals and replace as required.
10.Wash out the DE filter unit vessel after each
use.

NOTE: A mild solution of HCL may be used to help

remove the adhered particles, but extreme care
must be taken to neutralize the filter leaves
completely with soap and water after the process.

Vessel Exterior Maintenance

The GFI DE unit vessel is made of stainless
steel and, therefore, requires little maintenance.
However, care should be taken to keep the vessel
clean from rust, as occasionally bumps and
scrapes from carbon steel objects deposit on the
vessel and cause rust. These spots should be removed to prevent damage to the vessel.

Vessel Interior Maintenance

Lid O-ring: Each time the vessel lid is opened,

a visual inspection of the O-ring should be
made. If the O-ring has any signs of damage, it
should be replaced. Thoroughly clean and
inspect the O-ring groove before replacing with
the new O-ring. Pull the new O-ring into place
and splice it at the appropriate length by cutting
the O-ring at a 30o angle to allow an overlap in
the strip ends; fuse together using Super Glue.
Do not over stretch the rubber strip or O-ring;
this will cause them to pull apart at the joint or
splice.
Filter Leaves: A visual inspection of the filter
leaves should be made each time the vessel is
opened. Repair any minor damage to the
leaves using an epoxy to seal the small pieces
of filter septa over the damaged area. Should
the leaf need to be removed, care should be
taken to avoid damage to the adjacent leaf
when removing the spreader bars.
Periodically, the filter leaves should be removed for a full inspection and complete pressure washing to remove any particles adhered

Header manifold plugs are provided to allow for

the removal of one or more leaves. The manifold hole can be plugged, so that the filter unit
can be put back into operation while an individual leaf is being repaired or cleaned. A shaft
with a threaded end is provided, so that the
manifold plug can be installed without removing
all the leaves.
Leaf Spreader Bar: Each time the filter vessel
is opened for inspection, the tightness of the
leaf tab/spreader bar bolts and the spreader
bar/vessel tab bolts should be checked to
ensure that the unit functions properly.
Diffuser Plate: A visual inspection of the
diffuser plate, located at the bottom of the
vessel, should be made to ensure that it is
properly attached and located in the center of
the vessel for proper diffusion of incoming fluid.

Safety
CAUTION
Even very low pressure can be very
dangerous. Do not disconnect any hose until
all the pressure has been bled off.
Make sure the lugs holding down the hatches
are in good condition, as these lugs prevent
the lid from blowing off and, thus, must hold
large forces while the unit is in use.
NOTE: The hatch has an approximate radius of 24
inches; for every increment of 10 psi, the total force on
the lid is 14,830 lbs.
Beware of slippery areas and wear protective clothing.
Always know the safety properties of the fluid being
filtered. A safety-conscious worker is the best safety
device.

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

7-8-99
Page 5 of 6

Job Example

Miscellaneous
Filtering Equations
1. Darcys Law:
Q = KAdP
t
where

Q = Flow Rate
K = Constant
A = Area
dP = Differential Pressure
= Viscosity
t = Cake Thickness
2. Pump Horsepower:
Horsepower (HP) =

Unit No. 5678

Index: 443.60

(Rate, bpm) (Pressure, psi)

(40.8) (Pump Efficiency)

Pressure (Brine)
Pressure
(Fresh Water)

4. Density - Specific Gravity:

Density (Brine)
Density (Fresh Water)

Specific Gravity (Brine)

Specific Gravity

Fresh Water Density = 8.34 lbs/gal

Specific Gravity = 1.0
5. Horsepower (Hp) Requirement:
Actual (Hp) = Hp (Fresh Water) x
Specific Gravity (Brine)
6. Filter Media DE Requirements:
ft3 of solid = # bbl dirty fluid x
% solids x 5.615 ft3/bbl
50 lbs of wet DE material = 2.5 ft3
1:1 ratio of solids to DE
ft3 Solids
Bags of DE =

DE to Solids Volume Ratio 1:1

Solids Volume =
Fluid Volume x % Solids x
Conversion Factor or 5.61 ft3/bbl
488 ft3 = 8,000 bbl x .01 x 5.61 ft3/bbl

3. Specific Gravity Ratio:

Specific Gravity (Brine)
Specific Gravity
(Fresh Water)

Filter 8.7 ppg completion fluid on a 10,000-foot

well with 7-5/8-inch casing, a hole volume of 450
bbl, and a surface storage volume of 350 bbl. Circulating 600 to 800 bbl filtered 8.7 ppg NaCl would
be efficient to produce very clean returns, 20 NTU
with no noticeable solids in a shake-out test. It is
expected to have 1% solids in the completion fluid
during different phases of the completion. A total of
8,000 bbl NaCl water is to be filtered.

2.5 ft3/bag

DE Requirements with 1:1 Ratio

= 448 ft3 at 20 lbs ft3 (wet)
8960 lbs = 488 ft3/20 ft3/lbs
Bags of DE 179.2 = 8960 lbs at 50 lbs/bag
Pump Requirements for 10 bpm at 50 PSIG
with 50% pump efficiency
HHP 24.5 HP =

10 bpm x 50 PSIG
.50 x 40.8

The use of a 40-Hp to 50-Hp diesel engine or electric motor with 5x6 centrifugal is recommended.

Parts List
Item
No.
1
2
3

Description
Filter Vessel
Cartridge Filter Pot
Blender

No.
Reqd
1
2
1

Unit No. 5678

Index: 443.60

7-8-99
Page 6 of 6

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System

GFI Vertical-Leaf Filtration System, Product No. 489-95

Assembly Drawing No. 671-284-1