For more than a decade, we have designed and produced the best-in-class process units for drilling waste in the oil industry. The Hellenes Thermal Treatment Unit (TTU) now enables even more reliable, environmentally friendly, and cost efficient treatment of drilling waste. By utilizing waste heat as the main energy source, it can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% compared to competing technologies.

The Hellenes TTU

Hellenes TTU is a treatment technology for drilling waste that is based on the principle of thermal desorption – meaning that water and oils are separated from drill cutting solids through heating, evaporation and a subsequent condensation step. Friction-based thermal desorption have been preferred over indirect heating both onshore and in particular offshore because they have much larger capacity in relation to footprint, are faster to shutdown / start-up, and have design properties that keep the heated surfaces clean. However, friction-based units have some major drawback in comparison to indirect solutions: They have more mechanical wear, but more importantly, they do not have the ability to use waste heat sources to drive the heating process. The Hellenes TTU solve these issues. With our patent-pending method for instant evaporation, we significantly increase the heat transfer coefficient in the process, making it possible to transfer large amount of heat on a small surface area.

This allows us to create an indirect heating solution that have less mechanical wear while not only retaining, but improving, the main benefits from the existing friction based solutions. The TTU can use waste heat for up to 2/3 of the required process energy, and thus greatly reduce emissions. This also eliminates the need for a large diesel generator to supply electrical power, which in combination with a new efficient design, can reduce footprint from existing solutions by approx. 50% - while maintaining the same capacity.

The consequence of this is that we can avoid the «heated transport mechanism» and dramatically reduce the size of our unit, which in turn reduces the cost. ​

Not only does this mean that we can deliver a superior product for treatment of different types of waste, but more importantly, the fact that we can use waste heat to power our process will enable us to be a crucial part of the next generation green circular economy infrastructure. ​

Fully electric versions are already available for treatment of drilling waste and a «waste heat version» is already prototyped and will be available in 2022.​

Peace of Mind Drilling

Hellenes is not only a technology provider, but has a number of ideas on optimization of rig infrastructure and logistics. Hellenes Peace-of-mind-drilling is a new approach to Drilling Waste Management (DWM) which is based on the concept of processing waste while drilling activity is idle. This way, our TTU can use power from the rig operation in stead of having its own energy consuming power supply. A simple and effective method for handling the complete process from shaker to disposal. Less power, footprint, volume, less manpower, noise, less spill, less risk, less hassle. Hellenes has 25 years’ experience from the whole value chain, related to optimized handling and treatment of drilling waste, including developing, manufacturing and operating drilling waste treatment processes. Significant cost and efficiency gains can be achieved by simplifying and coordinating value chain functions. Too often, traditional set-ups involve too many separated solutions, causing operational challenges, high staffing requirements and excessive energy consumption.

Instead, we simplify and integrate proven solutions:
- Minimizing staff, using automated processes
- Minimizing footprint and volumes
- Minimizing energy consumption

Contact us to learn more about how we optimize DWM

Track Record

Our customers include major oil service companies like NOV, Halliburton, M-I Swaco and Baker Hughes GE

A brief history:

• Agnar Hellenes involved in the development of thermal desorption units from 1990.​

• Hellenes AS established in 2002​

• Designed and manufactured 11 offshore units for Halliburton between 2010 and 2015. Own design to system and sub-systems, including feed systems supplied also to other thermal systems.​

• Various jobs performed for NOV, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Scomi Oiltools and others on all continents (maintenance, operations, spare parts)​

• Built R&D facility in 2018 for thermal processes.​

• 24/7 onsite operation for Wergeland Halsvik’s DWM plant in Gulen.​

• Hellenes Ltd established in Scotland in 2019, supporting UK sector​

• Hellenes Romania established in 2020, managing sub-supplies