Flottweg decanters in operation in Algeria's desert

摘要

IN 1956, THE GREAT oil rush began in Algeria, and since that time, oil has been coming out of many drilling sites in and around Hassi Messaoud, from a depth of approximately 3000 m. The extraction and the export of oil and gas are a boon to the Algerian economy since they provide more than 97 per cent of foreign exchange proceeds. When drilling for oil and gas, tons of drilling mud are generated - a mixture of sand, oil, and chemicals. Drilling fluids, a kind of mash, is used in order to pump the sludge to the surface. This fluid is also used as lubrication and a cooling agent for the drilling head.