A shale shaker is a moving screen which removes cuttings from the mud so they can be disposed of. A shale shaker is a vibrating screen or sieve that strains cuttings out of the mud before the mud is pumped back down into the borehole.

Oilfield Mud Cleaner

Shakers in oil and gas are pieces of equipment used to separate solids from drilling fluid. They are the first line of defense in the solids control process, and are used to remove large solids from the drilling fluid that is circulated down the drill string. The process helps to protect downstream equipment, such as centrifuges, desanders, and desilters, by preventing them from being overwhelmed by large solids. Shakers work by vibrating the drilling fluid as it passes through a screen or other filter medium. The vibration of the drilling fluid causes the larger particles, such as drill cuttings, to separate from the fluid and fall through the screen. The fluid, which is now free of large solids, is then circulated back down the drill string.