drill your own well mud pump brands

When choosing a size and type of mud pump for your drilling project, there are several factors to consider. These would include not only cost and size of pump that best fits your drilling rig, but also the diameter, depth and hole conditions you are drilling through. I know that this sounds like a lot to consider, but if you are set up the right way before the job starts, you will thank me later.

Recommended practice is to maintain a minimum of 100 to 150 feet per minute of uphole velocity for drill cuttings. Larger diameter wells for irrigation, agriculture or municipalities may violate this rule, because it may not be economically feasible to pump this much mud for the job. Uphole velocity is determined by the flow rate of the mud system, diameter of the borehole and the diameter of the drill pipe. There are many tools, including handbooks, rule of thumb, slide rule calculators and now apps on your handheld device, to calculate velocity. It is always good to remember the time it takes to get the cuttings off the bottom of the well. If you are drilling at 200 feet, then a 100-foot-per-minute velocity means that it would take two minutes to get the cuttings out of the hole. This is always a good reminder of what you are drilling through and how long ago it was that you drilled it. Ground conditions and rock formations are ever changing as you go deeper. Wouldn’t it be nice if they all remained the same?

Centrifugal-style mud pumps are very popular in our industry due to their size and weight, as well as flow rate capacity for an affordable price. There are many models and brands out there, and most of them are very good value. How does a centrifugal mud pump work? The rotation of the impeller accelerates the fluid into the volute or diffuser chamber. The added energy from the acceleration increases the velocity and pressure of the fluid. These pumps are known to be very inefficient. This means that it takes more energy to increase the flow and pressure of the fluid when compared to a piston-style pump. However, you have a significant advantage in flow rates from a centrifugal pump versus a piston pump. If you are drilling deeper wells with heavier cuttings, you will be forced at some point to use a piston-style mud pump. They have much higher efficiencies in transferring the input energy into flow and pressure, therefore resulting in much higher pressure capabilities.

Piston-style mud pumps utilize a piston or plunger that travels back and forth in a chamber known as a cylinder. These pumps are also called “positive displacement” pumps because they literally push the fluid forward. This fluid builds up pressure and forces a spring-loaded valve to open and allow the fluid to escape into the discharge piping of the pump and then down the borehole. Since the expansion process is much smaller (almost insignificant) compared to a centrifugal pump, there is much lower energy loss. Plunger-style pumps can develop upwards of 15,000 psi for well treatments and hydraulic fracturing. Centrifugal pumps, in comparison, usually operate below 300 psi. If you are comparing most drilling pumps, centrifugal pumps operate from 60 to 125 psi and piston pumps operate around 150 to 300 psi. There are many exceptions and special applications for drilling, but these numbers should cover 80 percent of all equipment operating out there.

The restriction of putting a piston-style mud pump onto drilling rigs has always been the physical size and weight to provide adequate flow and pressure to your drilling fluid. Because of this, the industry needed a new solution to this age-old issue.

As the senior design engineer for Ingersoll-Rand’s Deephole Drilling Business Unit, I had the distinct pleasure of working with him and incorporating his Centerline Mud Pump into our drilling rig platforms.

In the late ’90s — and perhaps even earlier —  Ingersoll-Rand had tried several times to develop a hydraulic-driven mud pump that would last an acceptable life- and duty-cycle for a well drilling contractor. With all of our resources and design wisdom, we were unable to solve this problem. Not only did Miller provide a solution, thus saving the size and weight of a typical gear-driven mud pump, he also provided a new offering — a mono-cylinder mud pump. This double-acting piston pump provided as much mud flow and pressure as a standard 5 X 6 duplex pump with incredible size and weight savings.

The true innovation was providing the well driller a solution for their mud pump requirements that was the right size and weight to integrate into both existing and new drilling rigs. Regardless of drill rig manufacturer and hydraulic system design, Centerline has provided a mud pump integration on hundreds of customer’s drilling rigs. Both mono-cylinder and duplex-cylinder pumps can fit nicely on the deck, across the frame or even be configured for under-deck mounting. This would not be possible with conventional mud pump designs.

Centerline stuck with their original design through all of the typical trials and tribulations that come with a new product integration. Over the course of the first several years, Miller found out that even the best of the highest quality hydraulic cylinders, valves and seals were not truly what they were represented to be. He then set off on an endeavor to bring everything in-house and began manufacturing all of his own components, including hydraulic valves. This gave him complete control over the quality of components that go into the finished product.

The second generation design for the Centerline Mud Pump is expected later this year, and I believe it will be a true game changer for this industry. It also will open up the application to many other industries that require a heavier-duty cycle for a piston pump application.

A mud pump represents a huge improvement in drilling over just using two hoses.  It improves water flow.  A typical mud pump will put out 100 gallons per minute whereas two hoses are only good for about 12 to 15 gallons per minute.

It saves water.  Just as important, a mud pump allows you to employ a re-circulating system so you can use bentonite or other gelling material that will solidify the sandy, crumbly walls of your borehole long enough you can drill without worrying about your hole collapsing on your drillpipe.

Water is pumped, using the mud pump, down the drillpipe.  At the bottom of the borehole it turns and goes back up outside the drillpipe carrying cuttings with it.  When it reaches the top it goes out through the tee over to the portable mud pit.

The portable mud pit is continiously shoveled to get the mud out of the water.  A water/mud mixture is then pumped out of the pit and back down through the PVC drillpipe.

Before we go further please take a look at the drawing below.It is from an excellent site, http://www.lifewater.ca/  that is dedicated to helping third world countries drill for water.  The drawing shows their drilling rig, an LS-100  instead of our PVC apparatus but the mud pit arrangement is excellent.  If you have time, it would be a good idea to go to https://www.lifewater.ca/drill_manual/Section_3.htm and browse around as well.  They have many other excellent ideas.

The drilling fluid (water & bentonite) is pumped by the mud pump down the drilling pipe.  At the bottom of the borehole it picks up cuttings and carries them to the top.  At the top of the borehole the mixture of drilling fluid and cuttings go into a ditch that leads to a settling pit.  The cuttings fall to the bottom in the settling pit while the drilling fluid goes over a small ditch into the the mud pit.  During the drilling process, the cuttings are occasionally or continually shoveled from the bottom of the settling pit.  From the mud pit, the mud pump pumps the fluid back into the drilling pipe and the process continues.

Note I am saying “drilling fluid” and not water.  That is because bentonite or some other gelling agent is added to the water to make drilling fluid.  As the hole is bored, this drilling fluid causes the sides of the borehole to harden.  This is extremely helpful because the driller doesn’t have to worry (as much) about the borehole caving in on his drilling pipe.  Any of you who have had a PVC drillpipe stick in a hole can appreciate how useful this trait is!!

Now let’s move on to George’s arrangement.  Rather than dig up his yard to make the settling and mud pits, he is using a portable mud pit.  He has inserted a six inch diameter piece of PVC into the ground where he will be drilling.  Then he attached a tee with a four inch pipe coming off the side.  This four inch pipe leads to his portable mud pit

Below are a series of eMails George sent as he was drilling the well.  As you can see, it took a bit of experimentation to find the right combination of size, speed, and drilling mud.  He kept at it and his ultimate success is most impressive.  I left off a couple of the first emails.  As the story begins, George has a two inch pipe stuck in the ground from an effort using two water hoses as drilling fluid.

Using the mud pump method was GREAT !  I set everything up and had my neighbor over to help.  I put the 20’ piece of 3″ pvc over my stuck 2″ pipe …. fired up the mud pump and got the water recirculating into my 110 gallon livestock tub.  In less than 30 minutes, I had washed down to where the 3″ pipe was on top of the 2″ pipe.  The 3″ pipe started wanting to stick in the soft sand, so I had my helper to add about 15 lbs. of “Aqua Gel” that I picked up at the plumbing store where I buy my well screens from.  It’s a combination of bentonite and a vegetable polymer.  Within a few minutes, I was able to easily slide the 3″ pipe up and down/side to side to enlarge my bore hole …… it quit caving in and sticking like it had been doingJ   Instead of having to take the 2″ pipe out, both pipes washed down together !  At about 19’, I hit hardpan … so I decided to stop and pull out the 3″ pipe.  After doing this, I had so much room left in the borehole, that I was able to pour 2 bags of pea gravel down  the outside of my 2″ pipe all the way to the bottom …. without any caving in issues.  I think I could have easily put down a 4″ pipe and well screen down that hole.  The Aqua Gel was doing its job nicely.

Total time using the mud pump from starting to when I finished putting in the gravel pack was only 1 hour !  The guy at the plumbing shop told me I would have to backwash the well to remove the Aqua Gel because it would stop up the aquifer.  I did that using my 110 gallon sprayer tank that was standing by full of clean water.  I then hooked up my mud pump to the well and pumped it for 10 minutes … only getting about 9 gallons/minute flow.  During this time, I filled my 110 gallon sprayer tank back up with clean water.  I back flushed the well again …. after this time, I got a 16 gal/min flow …. getting better J  On the third time I back flushed the well, I surged the mud pump from slow to fast … back and forth as it back flushed.  Hooked everything back up and started pumping from the well ….. now getting 30 gal/min !!  I decided to quit while I was ahead …. plus the temperature was pushing 100 degrees !!

Next weekend, I’m moving over about 14’ and putting down a second well so that I can eventually combine the two for my irrigation.  I’ll take pictures and email them to you.  I used a 6″ tee that had a 4″ side port to recirculate back to my 110 gallon stock tub.  I only put 3’ of 6″ pvc in the ground and packed around the pipe to prevent leakage.  Everything worked great … just like in the PVC video you sent me where the guy was using two dug pits to recirculate from.

next eMail)We jetted down the second well this past Saturday morning.  It took only one hour from the time we started the pump until I finished with the gravel pack !!  I used a 3″ pipe to jet with …. dropped in my 2″ pipe with 5’ well screen …. then pulled out the 3″ casing.  At this point, there is enough room to pour 2.5 bags of pea gravel down the hole beside the well pipe. By using the Quick Gel, the hole does not cave in on the well pipe.  The big difference this time was that I immediately back flushed the well with 110 gallons of fresh water to clear out the Quick Gel …. instead of trying to pump from it at the beginning like I did with my first well.  This second well pumps a huge 60 gpm !!!  I was amazed … to say the least.  Tied together, both wells produce 90+ gpm with the pump slightly above idle speed J  I’ve included some photos in this email and will send you some short videos in a follow up email.  I hope it does not clog up your Inbox.Thanks so much for your help …… and inspiration from your website which got me started on this project !

Here are the short video clips.  One thing I forgot to mention earlier was that you really have to mound up and pack the dirt around the bottom of your 6″ tee.  We had a couple of times when the circulating water tried to come up around the 2.5 foot piece of 6″ pipe we had in the ground below the tee.  It would be better if you could drive that pipe in the ground maybe another foot, but I did not have anything to do that with.  Using the Quick Gel gives you enough time to stop and fix your leaks as you go without risking a cave in on your pipe.

Continental Emsco Drilling Products, Inc., which consisted of Emsco drilling machinery and Wilson mobile rigs, was purchased by National-Oilwell, Inc on July 7, 1999. To our knowledge, no pumps have been manufactured and sold under the Emsco brand name since National-Oilwell acquired them.

Fairbanks Morse pumps are currently manufactured in Kansas City, Kansas. Fairbanks Morse is a division of Pentair ever since August, 1997 when Pentair purchased the General Signal Pump Group.

Gaso pumps are manufactured by National Oilwell Varco. Gaso was acquired as "Wheatley Gaso" by National-Oilwell in the year 2000. At the time, Wheatley Gaso was owned by Halliburton.

Skytop Brewster pumps are no longer available as new pumps. Skytop Brewster(Cnsld Gold), a unit of Hansen PLC"s Consolidated Gold Fields subsidiary, was acquired while in bankruptcy by National-Oilwell, Inc. in November, 1999.

Bentec completely redeveloped the concept of Mud Pumps. Being equipped with a direct-driven gearbox, an own developed motor, and a state-of-the-art pump housing, there is no need for an internal gear coming with many disadvantages and no more belt tensioning.

Bentec Mud Pumps are light weight and have a small footprint. The AC-powered motor is top or rear mounted – suitable for any drilling rig arrangement. The pump is available with 5 000 or 7 500 psi fluid ends, and all its parts that are subject to wear and tear meet API standards and are available worldwide.

A handling crane makes it easy to handle the fluid end components. Furthermore, Bentec uses a patented liner and valve clamping technology to reduce the maintenance time significantly. A quick-change liner and piston system serves for easy maintenance. A special feature of the Bentec MUD PUMP is the side-mounted gear drive.

Liner cooling and gear oiler systems are included; a supercharge pump and a noise reduction package can be installed upon request. The Bentec MUD PUMP is the right choice especially when it comes to noise-sensitive environments such offshore or densely populated environments.

Beyond the supply of Mud Pumps, Bentec acts as system supplier. The pumps can be delivered together with a Bentec Power Control System and a Bentec Soft Pump System.

Mud pumps, or mud drilling rigs, are also used as water well drilling rigs, to address water concerns at the bottom of the mines. Mud pumps, also known as mud drilling rigs, are water well drilling rigs that are used to extract water from pits, and mud drilling rigs. The mud water drilling rig is also called as water well drilling rigs, and are also called as water well drilling rigs. The mud pumps, mud drilling rigs, are also called as water well drilling rigs, for example, droplets or mud pumps. They are designed to cut slurry from pits, mud pits, and mud drilling rigs. The most common mud pumps and mud drilling rigs are also called as water well drilling rigs, to mud pits.@@@@@

A water well drilling rig can consist of a large amount of mud, which is easily drained by due to the conditions of the water being high. There is also a band of mud trucks and drilling holes that are adequate for flowing water.@@@@@

A gasoline powered pump, also known as an off-road mud drilling rig, is a good choice for people that choose either a gasoline-powered pump or a water well driller rig. Gasoline-powered water well driller rig, for example, is a type of water well drilling rig that has two or more volt engines. On the other hand, a gasoline-powered water well driller rig is hard to distinguish from one of these two. Generally speaking, a gasoline-powered water well driller rig is one with the energy of a day, it is important to consider the type of water well drilling rig that is powered by a gasoline-powered pump, for instance, is a by-product of the two types of water well drilling rig. For instance, a gasoline-powered water well driller rig is by one that is high-pressure, and a two-stroke engine.@@@@@

Choosing the mud pumps depends on the size, the course of time, and the surface of the water. For instance, a one-stroke mud pumps depends on the size and the type of mud pumps. For instance, gasoline-powered is an electric version of the water well drilling rig.

more at http://www.drillyourownwell.com This is an example of a Mud Pump Water Well Drilling Setup utilizing a Portable Mud pit. This particular well was ...

A Mud Pump is an essential part of the Drilling rig used for Water well Drilling in India. TIRUPATI ENTERPRISES is one of the top accessories manufacturers, and we design our Mud Pumps in such a way that it has smooth operation, minimal vibration and very low noise. The structure of these Mud Pumps is serene and straightforward for the disassembly and has a low maintenance cost. Being one of thetop Water well Drilling rig manufacturers in India

The Hydra-Drill is a small top-head rotary drilling rig powered by a 4, 5.5 or 6HP gasoline power head and a 5HP gasoline re-circulating pump ( mud pump ). The Hydra-Drill uses the method of drilling referred to as "mud rotary" drilling.

The power head engine turns the drill stem which has a drill bit screwed onto the end. As the drill bit drills down into the earth, the mud pump re-circulates a drilling fluid down the drill stem and out the drill bit.

The mud pit is a simple pit dug into the ground or made of some type of container for the purpose of settling the heavier cuttings from the drilling fluid.

After the cuttings (soil, sand, clays, etc., that are flushed up out of the bore hole) flow into the mud pit the heavier cuttings settle out of the drilling fluid and the mud pump pumps the drilling fluid back down into the bore hole to repeat this process.

In most areas the restrictions that apply to professional drillers do not apply to someone who wants to simply drill a well on his own property for his own use.

We recommend you have the water tested In most cases if the water is pumped from a natural aquifer it is pure, drinkable water but have it tested to make sure.

I’ve run into several instances of insufficient suction stabilization on rigs where a “standpipe” is installed off the suction manifold. The thought behind this design was to create a gas-over-fluid column for the reciprocating pump and eliminate cavitation.

When the standpipe is installed on the suction manifold’s deadhead side, there’s little opportunity to get fluid into all the cylinders to prevent cavitation. Also, the reciprocating pump and charge pump are not isolated.

The gas over fluid internal systems has limitations too. The standpipe loses compression due to gas being consumed by the drilling fluid. In the absence of gas, the standpipe becomes virtually defunct because gravity (14.7 psi) is the only force driving the cylinders’ fluid. Also, gas is rarely replenished or charged in the standpipe.

The suction stabilizer’s compressible feature is designed to absorb the negative energies and promote smooth fluid flow. As a result, pump isolation is achieved between the charge pump and the reciprocating pump.

The isolation eliminates pump chatter, and because the reciprocating pump’s negative energies never reach the charge pump, the pump’s expendable life is extended.

Investing in suction stabilizers will ensure your pumps operate consistently and efficiently. They can also prevent most challenges related to pressure surges or pulsations in the most difficult piping environments.

Sigma Drilling Technologies’ Charge Free Suction Stabilizer is recommended for installation. If rigs have gas-charged cartridges installed in the suction stabilizers on the rig, another suggested upgrade is the Charge Free Conversion Kits.

When you"re seeking the field flexibility to complete your drilling faster, easier and safer, count on Geoprobe® drill rigs engineered for versatility and manufactured for reliability. Industry leaders depend on our ongoing commitment to innovation and industry-leading customer support to advance their business ahead of the competition. Digital readouts providing instant feedback, enhanced safety features, easy operation, and availability of training options mean veteran drillers find their jobs simplified while new drillers build confidence, making them productive as they"re quickly coming up the learning curve.

Whether you’re facing consolidated materials, glacial till, or backfill rubble, quickly complete complex holes to greater depths with the powerful GV5 50K sonic head on our line of sonic drill rigs. Engineered by Geoprobe® to advance up-to 12-inch tooling, the GV5 produces torque required to maintain rotation in tight formations – all backed by a 2-year warranty.

Increase depth advancement and recovery speeds while minimizing waste with the 8150LS sonic drilling rig engineered for driller safety, sampling speed, and operation efficiency.

Geoprobe® combination drill rigs possess the power to tackle difficult site conditions combined with the versatility to exceed subsurface sampling expectations to equal business growth in both direct push and rotary drill rig applications.

Combine geotechnical augering and high-speed rotary with advanced direct push capability to offer additional services to your customers, quickly going from coring rock to pushing CPT - all in one drill rig.

From crowded street corners to far removed places, tackle various environmental, geotechnical and exploration applications with a single machine combining rotary drilling and direct push, saving time and money required to mobilize multiple drill rigs.

In a geotech industry ruled by rate-per-foot, Geoprobe® geotechnical drill rigs capable of swiftly sliding from rotary to automatic drop hammer, even to CPT or direct push — without having to move drill mast or machine — position you for increased production and profit.

Save time and effort swiftly sliding the innovative centerline head side shift into position for rotary, automatic drop hammer, event CPT or direct push. No need to move the geotechnical drill or drill mast on the compact, off road drill rig.

Punch out power and pipe line projects with efficiency and performance of 31 series drill mast aligning all head and winch functions over the bore hole combined with creature comforts of a crawler carrier.

Efficiently complete geotech investigations sliding between drilling functions all without the need for a class A/B CDL, safely bringing new drillers up the learning curve on the drilling truck.

Maximize the value of your investment by choosing a CPT drilling platform best suited to your specific business model. Whether you’re seeking a dedicated CPT drilling rig or a versatile drilling rig to run a variety of applications, you’ll find the combination of features to push your business ahead.

Generating a name for itself and redefining the way sites are investigated in the environmental industry, Geoprobe® continues to advance direct push drilling through continued innovation of its line of high-quality, hydraulically-powered direct push drilling rigs

Featuring a proven GH63 percussion hammer and able to use 5-foot tooling, the 6011DT direct push drill rig is still being sized to slip into small spaces.

With the necessary tophead rotation speed, head feed speed, and plenty of mud pump options to get the job done, complete your water well drilling, geothermal drilling, and cathodic protection drilling jobs with a single, compact water well drill.

Tophead offering both torque and speed to the impressive power to weight ratio make the DM450 well suited for water well, geothermal, and/or cathodic protection drilling while minimizing maintenance.

Outfit as down the hole drill or mud drill with the power of 28.5-foot stroke, 40,000 lb pullback, and 8,000 ft-lb torque to handle deeper wells along with weight of steel casing.

Mud pumps are essential equipment for any oil or gas well. They are used to move drilling mud and other fluids needed during the drilling process. To select the right mud pump for your well, you need to understand the different types available and what each one can do.

In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at mud pumps and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed purchase. We will also discuss how mud pumps are used in drilling operations and highlight some of their key features. By the end of this article, you will clearly understand what mud pumps are and what they can do for your well.

A mud pump is a type of reciprocating positive displacement pump that is specifically designed for use in drilling operations. It helps to circulate the drilling fluid (or “mud”) through the drill bit and back up to the surface. The mud pump also provides pressure to keep the drill bit from becoming plugged.

The pump creates suction that pulls the drilling fluid from the pit and then uses its piston to push the fluid back up the well. This action not only circulates the fluid but also helps to remove any cuttings or debris that may have been generated during the drilling process. Mud pumps are an essential part of the drilling process and are typically used in conjunction with other pumps, such as centrifugal pumps, to create a complete pumping system. Without a mud pump, drilling would not be possible.

There are many different types of mud pumps, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, pump experts generally understand the requirement and then suggest which type of pump design would be more efficient. Here are five of the most popular types:

Piston mud pumps are the most common type of mud pump. They use a piston to draw mud from the pit and then force it to the drill bit through the hose. Piston mud pumps are very durable and can handle a lot of pressure. However, they are also very loud and can be challenging to operate.

Plunger mud pumps work similarly to piston mud pumps, but they use a plunger instead of a piston. As a result, plunger mud pumps are quieter than piston mud pumps and are easier to operate. However, plunger mud pumps are not as durable and can only handle a limited amount of pressure.

Hydraulic mud pumps use hydraulic power to draw mud from the pit. They are very powerful and can handle a lot of pressure. However, these types of pumps are generally costly and can be challenging to operate.

Diaphragm mud pumps use a diaphragm to draw mud from the pit. They are less powerful than hydraulic mud pumps but are much cheaper. They are also easier to operate. These merits make such pumps more used in small scale operations.

Peristaltic mud pumps use peristaltic action to draw mud from the pit. They are the most expensive type of mud pump but are also the most powerful. Unfortunately, they are also the most difficult to operate. But given their operational power, they are used in large-scale mining and drilling operations.

Even though mud pumps are very lucrative for mining and drilling purposes, they exhibit many more merits, making them useful in other industries. Following are some of the main advantages of mud pumps:

Mud pumps help to increase the efficiency of drilling operations by allowing for fluid circulation and cooling of the drill bit. This results in faster drilling and less wear on the equipment.

Mud pumps also help to improve safety during drilling operations by providing a means to circulate and cool the drill bit, which reduces the risk of overheating and fire.

Mud pumps can also help to improve the accuracy of drilling operations by preventing the drill bit from wandering off course due to excessive heat build-up.

The use of mud pumps can also help to reduce the costs associated with drilling operations by reducing the need for frequent replacement of drill bits and other worn items.

The use of mud pumps can also help to increase the productivity of drilling operations by reducing the downtime associated with the frequent replacement of drill bits and other worn items.

Mud pumps are an essential part of the oil and gas industry, as they are used to pump drilling fluid (mud) into the drill hole. There are many different mud pumps, each with its own unique set of features and applications. A reliable pump expert will help you choose which pump to use where. Here are 10 of the most common applications for mud pumps:

Mud pumps are extensively used to circulate drilling fluid during the drilling process. This helps to cool and lubricate the drill bit and remove cuttings from the hole.

Mud pumps are also used in hydraulic fracturing operations, where high-pressure fluid is injected into the rock formation to create fractures. The pump helps to circulate the fracturing fluid and keep the pressure at the desired level.

Mud pumps are sometimes used in geothermal operations to circulate water or other fluids through the drilled well. This helps extract heat from the rock and bring it to the surface.

In coal seam gas extraction, mud pumps are used to circulate water and chemicals through the coal seam to dissolve the methane gas and make it easier to extract.

In potash mining, mud pumps are used to circulate brine solution through the ore body to dissolve the potassium chloride (potash) and pump it out of the mine.

Mud pumps are often used in water well drilling operations to circulate water through the drill hole and help flush out any cuttings or debris. Pump experts can customize mud pumps to suit this application.

In tunnelling operations, mud pumps can circulate a slurry of water and clay through the drilling area. This helps to stabilize the walls of the tunnel and prevent collapse.

Mud pumps are sometimes used in pipeline operations to help clean and inspect the inside of the pipe. The pump circulates water or other fluids through the pipe to remove any build-up or debris.

In environmental remediation projects, mud pumps can circulate water or chemicals through contaminated soil or groundwater. This helps to break down contaminants and make them easier to remove.

Mud pumps can also be used in construction projects to help remove water from the site or stabilize the ground. For this application, they are extensively used in large construction sites.

Mud pumps are an essential part of many different industries and have various applications. If you need a mud pump for your next project, be sure to consult with a pump expert to find the right pump for your needs.

Mud pump is one of the most critical equipment on the rig; therefore personnel on the rig must have good understanding about it. We’ve tried to find the good training about it but it is very difficult to find until we’ve seen this VDO training and it is a fantastic VDO training about the basic of mud pumps used in the oilfield. Total length of this VDO is about thirteen minutes and it is worth to watch it. You will learn about it so quickly. Additionally, we also add the full detailed transcripts which will acceleate the learning curve of learners.

Powerful mud pumps pick up mud from the suction tank and circulate the mud down hole, out the bit and back to the surface. Although rigs usually have two mud pumps and sometimes three or four, normally they use only one at a time. The others are mainly used as backup just in case one fails. Sometimes however the rig crew may compound the pumps, that is, they may use three or four pumps at the same time to move large volumes of mud when required.

Rigs use one of two types of mud pumps, Triplex pumps or Duplex pumps. Triplex pumps have three pistons that move back-and-forth in liners. Duplex pumps have two pistons move back and forth in liners.

Triplex pumps have many advantages they weight 30% less than a duplex of equal horsepower or kilowatts. The lighter weight parts are easier to handle and therefore easier to maintain. The other advantages include;

• One of the more important advantages of triplex over duplex pumps, is that they can move large volumes of mud at the higher pressure is required for modern deep hole drilling.

Triplex pumps are gradually phasing out duplex units. In a triplex pump, the pistons discharge mud only when they move forward in the liner. Then, when they moved back they draw in mud on the same side of the piston. Because of this, they are also called “single acting.” Single acting triplex pumps, pump mud at a relatively high speeds. Input horsepower ranges from 220 to 2200 or 164 to 1641 kW. Large pumps can pump over 1100 gallons per minute, over 4000 L per minute. Some big pumps have a maximum rated pressure of over 7000 psi over 50,000 kPa with 5 inch/127 mm liners.

Here is a schematic of a triplex pump. It has three pistons each moving in its own liner. It also has three intake valves and three discharge valves. It also has a pulsation dampener in the discharge line.

Look at the piston at left, it has just completed pushing mud out of the liner through the open discharge valve. The piston is at its maximum point of forward travel. The other two pistons are at other positions in their travel and are also pumping mud. But for now, concentrate on the left one to understand how the pump works. The left piston has completed its backstroke drawing in mud through the open intake valve. As the piston moved back it instead of the intake valve off its seat and drew mud in. A strong spring holds the discharge above closed. The left piston has moved forward pushing mud through the now open discharge valve. A strong spring holds the intake valve closed. They left piston has completed its forward stroke they form the length of the liner completely discharging the mud from it. All three pistons work together to keep a continuous flow of mud coming into and out of the pump.

Crewmembers can change the liners and pistons. Not only can they replace worn out ones, they can also install different sizes. Generally they use large liners and pistons when the pump needs to move large volumes of mud at relatively low pressure. They use a small liners and pistons when the pump needs to move smaller volumes of mud at a relatively high pressure.

In a duplex pump, pistons discharge mud on one side of the piston and at the same time, take in mud on the other side. Notice the top piston and the liner. As the piston moves forward, it discharges mud on one side as it draws in mud on the other then as it moves back, it discharges mud on the other side and draws in mud on the side it at had earlier discharge it. Duplex pumps are therefore double acting.

Double acting pumps move more mud on a single stroke than a triplex. However, because of they are double acting they have a seal around the piston rod. This seal keeps them from moving as fast as a triplex. Input horsepower ranges from 190 to 1790 hp or from 142 to 1335 kW. The largest pumps maximum rated working pressure is about 5000 psi, almost 35,000 kPa with 6 inch/152 mm linings.

A mud pump has a fluid end, our end and intake and the discharge valves. The fluid end of the pump contains the pistons with liners which take in or discharge the fluid or mud. The pump pistons draw in mud through the intake valves and push mud out through the discharge valves.

The power end houses the large crankshaft and gear assembly that moves the piston assemblies on the fluid end. Pumps are powered by a pump motor. Large modern diesel/electric rigs use powerful electric motors to drive the pump. Mechanical rigs use chain drives or power bands (belts) from the rig’s engines and compounds to drive the pump.

A pulsation dampener connected to the pump’s discharge line smooths out surges created by the pistons as they discharge mud. This is a standard bladder type dampener. The bladder and the dampener body, separates pressurized nitrogen gas above from mud below. The bladder is made from synthetic rubber and is flexible. When mud discharge pressure presses against the bottom of the bladder, nitrogen pressure above the bladder resists it. This resistance smoothes out the surges of mud leaving the pump.

Here is the latest type of pulsation dampener, it does not have a bladder. It is a sphere about 4 feet or 1.2 m in diameter. It is built into the mud pump’s discharge line. The large chamber is form of mud. It has no moving parts so it does not need maintenance. The mud in the large volume sphere, absorbs this surges of mud leaving the pump.

A suction dampener smooths out the flow of mud entering into the pump. Crewmembers mount it on the triplex mud pump’s suction line. Inside the steel chamber is a air charged rubber bladder or diaphragm. The crew charges of the bladder about 10 to 15 psi/50 to 100 kPa. The suction dampener absorbs surges in the mud pump’s suction line caused by the fast-moving pump pistons. The pistons, constantly starts and stops the mud’s flow through the pump. At the other end of the charging line a suction pumps sends a smooth flow of mud to the pump’s intake. When the smooth flow meets the surging flow, the impact is absorbed by the dampener.

Workers always install a discharge pressure relief valve. They install it on the pump’s discharge side in or near the discharge line. If for some reason too much pressure builds up in the discharge line, perhaps the drill bit or annulus gets plugged, the relief valve opens. That opened above protects the mud pump and system damage from over pressure.

Some rig owners install a suction line relief valve. They install it on top of the suction line near the suction dampener. They mount it on top so that it won’t clog up with mud when the system is shut down. A suction relief valve protects the charging pump and the suction line dampener. A suction relief valve usually has a 2 inch or 50 mm seat opening. The installer normally adjusts it to 70 psi or 500 kPa relieving pressure. If both the suction and the discharged valves failed on the same side of the pump, high back flow or a pressure surge would occur. The high backflow could damage the charging pump or the suction line dampener. The discharge line is a high-pressure line through which the pump moves mud. From the discharge line, the mud goes through the stand pipe and rotary hose to the drill string equipment.