Magnetic separation systems are increasingly used in drilling operations to protect downhole tools and improve fluid cleanliness. Technologies like JAG-MAG and Dual MAPS, which use high-strength neodymium rods to capture ferrous debris, are proving their value in reducing BHA-related failures.
However, one critical part of this system remains under-addressed: the cleaning of the magnetic rods. The cleaning step, often overlooked in risk assessments, presents a consistent and avoidable hazard.
While magnetic rods effectively capture damaging particles from the drilling fluid, cleaning them often falls back on outdated practices. On many rigs, crews still rely on manual methods that include:
These practices increase the risk of injury and reduce consistency in cleaning, affecting both personnel safety and system performance.
The issue is not with the magnets themselves. It lies in how they are maintained. As with many innovations, support workflows have lagged behind the core technology. This creates exposure to:
These risks remain largely undocumented in HSE logs but are regularly experienced by rig crews.
To address these challenges, Jagtech developed a Semi-Automatic Cleaning System. It is a compact, rig-ready unit that enables fast, safe cleaning of magnetic rods using compressed air within a shielded chamber to move a metallic scraper.
This solution:
By removing the need for manual scraping or handling, this approach transforms a hazardous task into a safe, repeatable process with a strong return compared to traditional methods.
For operations targeting the highest achievable HSE standard, Jagtech’s AutoMAPS system delivers complete automation of the rod-cleaning process. AutoMAPS removes all manual steps and eliminates operator exposure to magnets, debris, or OBM.
AutoMAPS provides:
AutoMAPS ensures magnetic rods are cleaned the same way every time, with no operator variability and no physical strain. For long-duration or high-activity drilling, the system delivers measurable gains in both safety and operational efficiency.
Operators using the semi-automatic and automatic systems report:
“Once we added the cleaner, no one had to be reminded. Cleaning went from a safety concern to a routine, low-effort task.”
Magnetic separation plays an important role in extending tool life and protecting high-value BHAs. But without proper support systems, even effective technologies can introduce new risks.
The cleaning process should not be the weakest link in a safety-critical operation. With Jagtech’s Semi-Automatic Cleaning System and the fully automatic AutoMAPS solution, crews gain the protection, efficiency and reliability they need to fully realize the benefits of inline magnetic filtration. need to fully realize the benefits of inline magnetic filtration.
