creative commons mud pump oil and gas factory

A mud pump is a reciprocating piston/plunger device designed to circulate drilling fluid under high pressure (up to 7500 PSI) down the drill string and back up the annulus.

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The circulation system on the rig is the system that allows for circulation of the Drilling Fluid or Mud down through the hollow drill string and up through the annular space between the drill string and wellbore. It is a continuous system of pumps, distribution lines, storage tanks, storage pits, and cleansing units that allows the drilling fluid to fulfill its primary objectives (these will be discussed later in this lesson). The mud pumps of the circulation system and the drawworks of the hoisting systems are the two largest draws on the power from the power system

Drilling fluid is mixed in the mud pits and pumped by the mud pumps through the swivel, through the blow out preventer (not part of the circulation system) down the hollow drill pipe, through holes (Jet Nozzles) in the bit, up the annular space between drill pipe and wellbore (where it lifts the rock cuttings), to the surface, through the Solids Control Equipment (Shale Shaker, Desander, and Desilter), and back to the mud pits. A schematic of the circulation system is shown in Figure 9.05.

In this figure, fresh water-based drilling fluid (mud) is mixed with water from the Water Tank (not shown in Figure 9.05) and components from the Bulk Mud Components Storage (not shown in Figure 9.05) in the Mud Pit. The Mud Pumps then pump the mud through the swivel, kelly, kelly bushing, and rotary table down to the drill string.

The mud pumps on a typical drilling rig are either single-action or double-action Reciprocating (Positive Displacement) Pumps which may contain two pistons-cylinders (duplex pump) or three pistons-cylinders (triplex pump). Figure 9.06 shows schematics of a single piston-cylinder in (A) a single-action and (B) a double-action reciprocating pump.

In these pumps, the positive pressure and negative pressure (suction) in the cylinder cause the valves to open and close (note: the valves in the schematic are simple representations of the actual valves). Due to the high viscosity of the drilling fluid, the inlet side of the pump may require a Charge Pump to keep fluids moving into the cylinders at high pressures and to prevent Cavitation in the pump.

From the mud pumps, the drilling fluid goes to the swivel, through the blow out preventer, and down the hollow drill string and bottom-hole assembly. The drilling fluid then goes through jet nozzles in the drill bit; at which point, it begins its return to the surface. The drilling fluid travels up the annular space between the drill pipe and the wellbore, picking up and carrying the drill cuttings up the hole.

Once the drilling fluid reaches the surface, it goes through the mud return line to the gas-mud separator and the solids control equipment. The shale shaker is where the large cuttings from the returning drilling fluid are removed. The shale shaker is a set of vibrating mesh screens that allow the mud to pass through while filtering out cuttings of different size at screen screen mesh sizes. A Mudlogger or a Well-Site Geologist may be stationed at the shale shaker to analyze the cuttings to determine the lithology of the rock and the depth within the Stratigraphic Column at which the well is currently being drilled.

The drilling fluid then passes through the Desander and Desilter. These are hydrocyclones which use centrifugal forces to separate the smaller solids from the drilling fluid. The desander typically removes solids with a diameter in the range of 45 – 74 μm, while the desilter removes solids with a diameter in the range of 15 – 44 μm.

The drilling fluid is then sent through a degasser to remove any gas bubbles that have been picked up during the circulation. These gasses may include natural gas from the subsurface or air acquired during the solids control. Typically, the degasser is a piece of equipment that subjects the drilling fluid to slight vacuum to cause the gas to expand for extraction. The drilling fluid is then returned to the mud pit to start the circulation process over again.

We have discussed the mechanics of how the drilling fluid is circulated during the drilling process, but we have not discussed the role of the drilling fluid. The term “mud” is often used in oil and gas well drilling because historically the most common water-based drilling fluids were mixtures of water and finely ground, bentonite clays which, in fact, are muds.

control formation pore pressures to assure desired well control (apply hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures in excess of the formation pore pressures to prevent fluids from entering the wellbore);

allow for pressure signals from Logging While Drilling (LWD) or Measurement While Drilling (MWD) tools to be transmitted to the surface (LWD and MWD data are transmitted to the surface using pressure pulses in the drilling fluid);

As I stated earlier, historically drilling fluids were mixtures of bentonite clay, water, and certain additives to manipulate the properties of the mud (density, viscosity, fluid loss properties, gelling qualities, etc.). Today, there are several different options available for drilling fluids. These include:

Of the listed drilling fluids, the water-based muds and the oil-based muds are the most common; foam drilling and air drilling can only be used under specialized conditions. Of the two liquid based mud systems (water-based muds and oil-based muds), water-based muds are the most common mud system. They are more environmentally friendly and are used almost exclusively to drill the shallow portions of the well where fresh water aquifers exist to minimize any contamination to those aquifers. As this implies, drilling fluids can be – and often are – switched during the course of drilling operations in single well.

In addition, water-based muds are cheaper than oil-based muds, so they are used to reduce drilling costs and commonly represent the “default” selection for a drilling fluid. In other words, water-based muds are often used unless there is a specific reason to switch to an oil-based mud.

Oil-based muds are formulated with diesel oil, mineral oil, or synthetic oils as a continuous phase and water as a dispersed phase in an emulsion. In addition, additives such as emulsifiers and gelling agents are also used. They were specifically developed to address certain drilling problems encountered with water-based muds. The reasons for using an oil-based mud include:

drilling through shales that are susceptible to swelling (in particular, highly smectite-rich shales). Shales contain a large amount of clay material and when these clays come in contact with the water in a water-based mud system, the clays may swell causing the shales to collapse into the hole. Smectite-rich shale formations are often referred to as “Gumbo” or “Gumbo Clays” in the drilling industry;

reducing torque and drag problems in deviated wells. Since oil, a lubricant, is the continuous phase in the mud system, the torque and drag between the drill pipe and the wellbore is reduced with oil-based muds;

achieving greater thermal stability at greater depths. Oil-based muds have been found to retain their stability (retain their desired properties) at greater down hole temperatures;

achieving greater resistance to chemical contamination. Many substances found down-hole (salt, CO2, H2S, etc.) are soluble in water. The introduction of these substances into the water-based mud system may have a deleterious impact on different mud properties (density, viscosity, fluid loss properties, gelling properties, etc.). These substances are not soluble in oil and, therefore, have will not impact oil-based mud properties.

The first three bullet points in this list are becoming more common problems in the oil and gas industry. The shale boom in the U.S. has made long horizontal sections in shale reservoirs targets for drilling. In addition, deviated wells and deeper wells are also becoming more common. For these reasons, the use of oil-based muds is also becoming more common.

high initial costs. Often in an active drilling campaign, if certain depth intervals require an oil-based mud, the mud is stored and reused in different wells;

slow rates of penetration. Historically, the rate of penetration has been statistically slower for oil-based muds than it is for water-based muds. The rate of penetration is the speed at which the drilling process progresses (depth versus time) and is a function of many factors other than mud type, including: weight on bit, RPM, lithologies being drilled through, bit type, bit wear, etc.;

kick detection. If gas enters the wellbore (a Kick), it may go into solution in the oil in deeper, higher pressure sections of the well and come out of solution closer to the surface;

formation evaluation. Some readings from well logs or core analysis may be sensitive to oil entering the formation of interest (for example, if oil from the oil-based mud enters the reservoir in the near-well vicinity, then tools used to detect oil saturation may read artificially high).

Other drilling fluids currently in use that were listed earlier are foams and air. In the context of drilling fluids, foams have the consistency of shaving cream. Both foam and air drilling are used in hard rock regions, such as in the Rocky Mountains, where drill bits render the drill cuttings to dust. Thus, the foam or air only needs to lift this dust to the surface. Air drilling is always an environmentally friendly option if it is applicable because environmental contamination by air is never an issue.

The 2,200-hp mud pump for offshore applications is a single-acting reciprocating triplex mud pump designed for high fluid flow rates, even at low operating speeds, and with a long stroke design. These features reduce the number of load reversals in critical components and increase the life of fluid end parts.

The pump’s critical components are strategically placed to make maintenance and inspection far easier and safer. The two-piece, quick-release piston rod lets you remove the piston without disturbing the liner, minimizing downtime when you’re replacing fluid parts.

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Del Pino, Jessica , Garzon, David , Nuñez, Walter , Gómez, Juan , Renteria, Daniel , and Dayana Sarmiento. "Sucker rod pump downhole valve selection for wells with high sand production: laboratory test results." Paper presented at the SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition - Americas, Virtual, November 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/201156-MS

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Diaz, Francisco Guillermo, Toscano, Rita Genoveva, Pereyra, Matias, and Jose Manuel Pereiras. "New sucker-rod connection designed for high-load applications." Paper presented at the SPE Production and Operations Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 2009. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/120627-MS

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Guo, Boyun, Zhang, Morgan, and Jin Feng. "Field performance of clutched sucker rod pumping systems." Paper presented at the SPE Production and Operations Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 2003. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/80885-MS

Jackson, Mike, Gonzalez, Marisol, Zhou, Shelley, Palacios, Carlos A., Hernandez, Thais M., and Danielli Quintero. "Screening corrosion inhibitors using rce for different sucker rod grades for wells containing CO2 - Laboratory and field results." Paper presented at the CORROSION 2003, San Diego, California, March 2003.

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Jiang M, Cheng T, Dong K, Liu J, Zhang H (2020) An efficient downhole oil/water-separation system with sucker-rod pump. SPE Prod Oper 35:522–536. https://doi.org/10.2118/201234-PA

Khadav, Sandeep , Kumar, Rakesh , Kumar, Prakash , Kumar, Vivek , Deo, Aniket , Kumar, Piyush , and Sanjeev Kumar. "New solutions for installation of sucker rod pumps in marginal field." Paper presented at the SPE Middle East Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, November 2016. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/184202-MS

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Pilone, Salvatore , Luppina, Salvatore , Ricci Maccarini, Giorgio , Sanasi, Carla , Guglielmo, Carmelo , Imbò, Pasquale , Orsini, Paolo , Mennilli, Giuseppe , Mauriello, Marco , and Andrea Schiavi. "Insert sucker rod surface controlled subsurface safety valve: a step ahead to improve the well integrity for the sucker rod artificial lift retrofitting." Paper presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/202668-MS

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Wang X, He Y, Li F, Wang Z, Dou X, Xu H, Lipei F (2021) A working condition diagnosis model of sucker rod pumping wells based on deep learning. SPE Prod Oper 36:317–326. https://doi.org/10.2118/205015-PA

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Yi, Peng, Chunming, Xiong, Jianjun, Zhang, Yashun, Zhang, Qinming, Gan, Guojian, Xu, Xishun, Zhang, Ruidong, Zhao, Junfeng, Shi, Meng, Liu, Cai, Wang, and Chen Guanhong. "Innovative deep autoencoder and machine learning algorithms applied in production metering for sucker-rod pumping wells." Paper presented at the SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA, July 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2019-1090

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Zhang, Jiangjiang , Zeng, Wenguang , Guo, Yujie , Gao, Qiuying , Yang, Zhiwen , Li, Dapeng , Wang, Xiuyun , and Lei Zhang. "Fracture failure analysis of type HL sucker rod in H2S-Co2 environment." Paper presented at the CORROSION 2020, physical event cancelled, June 2020.

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Zhao, R. et al., "The new research of subsurface system performance curves of sucker-rod-pumping." Paper presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Beijing, China, March 2013. doi: https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-17146-MS

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The first documented spring-pole well in America was drilled in 1806 by David and Joseph Ruffner in West Virginia. It reached 58 feet in depth, containing 40 feet of bedrock. The project lasted two years.

A patent to L. Disbrow for the first four-legged derrick was given, originally in 1825 and then elaborated on in 1830. The structure consisted of legs made of square timber wood. The girts were mortised and inserted into the wooden legs with keys so the structure could be dismantled.

Men in Kentucky were drilling an exploratory well for salt brine. Instead, they hit an oil well. The pressure of the gas and oil underneath the surface forced an enormous geyser into the air. This was noted to be America’s first oil well (although there are some disputes to this claim).

J.J. Couch invented the first mechanical percussion drill, which he later perfected with the help of fellow inventor J.W. Fowle. Steam was admitted alternately to each end of a cylinder. The drill was thrown like a lance at the rock on the forward stroke, caught and then drawn back on the reverse stroke, and then thrown again. It was the first drill that did not depend on gravity. It went to work on the Hoosac Tunnel project, which bored a passage for trains through hills near North Adams, Mass.

George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake made the first successful use of a drilling rig on a commercial well drilled especially to produce oil in Pennsylvania. They drilled to 69 feet.

In June, J.C. Rathbone drilled a discovery well to 140 feet using a steam engine on the banks of the Great Kanawha River in the Charleston, W.Va., area. The well produced about 100 barrels of oil a day.

Charles Burleigh, John W. Brooks, and Stephen F. Gates patented a mechanical drill meant to be used on the Hoosac tunnel: the compressed air Burleigh drill. The tunnel spurred several innovations in drilling technology, including the earlier Couch/Fowle drill.

Edward A.L. Roberts was awarded a patent in November 1866 for what would become known as the Roberts Torpedo, a device for increasing the flow of oil by using an explosion deep in a well. The new technology revolutionized the young oil and natural gas industry by increasing production from individual wells.

Simon Ingersoll received a patent for a rock drill on a tripod mount. The drill was designed for mining and tunneling. It enabled the operator to drill at virtually any angle. He formed Ingersoll Rock Drill to capitalize on this invention, a company that is a precursor to Ingersoll-Rand.

The Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company was founded in Bucyrus, Ohio. The company later became famous in the drilling industry as Bucyrus-Erie, a maker of cable-tool rigs, but it was an early producer of steam shovels. It supplied many of the steam shovels used in the building of the Panama Canal.

Edmund J. Longyear drilled the first diamond core hole in the Mesabi Iron Range (shown above in 1903) in northern Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, he formed a contract diamond drilling company to serve the rapidly growing U.S. iron ore mining and steel industry.

John Smalley Campbell issued the first U.S. patent for the use of flexible shafts to rotate drilling bits. The patent was for dental applications, but was broad enough to cover larger scales, such as those used now in horizontal oil wells.

The Baker brothers were using their rotary method for oil well drilling in the Corsicana field of Navarro County, Texas. Their rig was powered by a mule.

Drillers at Spindletop, including brothers Curt and Al Hamill and Peck Byrd, noticed that muddied-up freshwater could help stabilize a formation and prevent borehole collapse. They started circulating it and drilling mud was born.

Captain Anthony F. Lucas at Spindletop began drilling with a steam-driven rotary rig and a double-pronged fishtail bit. The gusher at Spindletop lasted nine days and ushered in the first Texas oil boom.

Inspired by the success of Spindletop and what it meant for the future of oil drilling in Texas, Howard Hughes Sr. and Walter Sharp founded the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company. The Hughes name lives on today in the name of the company Baker-Hughes.

Edmund J. Longyear and John E. Hodge formed Longyear & Hodge, the manufacturing partnership that would eventually evolve into Boart Longyear. The company"s early drills were steam powered.

Howard Hughes Sr. and Walter Sharp introduced the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit, which was nicknamed the "rock eater." It was suited for deep boring through medium and hard rock.

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Standard Oil, which at the time controlled more than 90 percent of U.S. production, was a monopoly and that the company must be broken up to create competition in the market.

Lee C. Moore patented a system that clamped and secured bracing to steel pipe legs to build a steel derrick. At that time, oil derricks were commonly wooden cable tool rigs.

The rotary table and kelly were first used. The primary function of the rotary table was to transmit torque to the drillstring via the kelly, a section of pipe with a square cross-section that slotted through a similar shape on the rotating table.

Hugh Roberts, working as a geologist for Edmund Longyear, designed a new form of technology called a core splitter, which divided cores into 3- – 5-inch lengths for better analysis. Drilling firms used Roberts"s core splitter as standard equipment.

Victor York and Walter G. Black of Standard Oil Company of California were granted a patent for driving the rotary table with a shaft. This innovation guaranteed the ongoing success of the rotary drilling method.

The first true horizontal oil well was drilled near Texon, Texas. By the early 1980s, with advancements in drilling motors and steering, the technology finally became widespread.

Cal Talc, A. J. Lynch and National Pigment Chemical merged to form Baroid Sales Company. The new company, founded to serve the growing market for products for hydraulic rotary drilling, is based in Los Angeles.

In June, the New York State Natural Gas Corporation abandoned a project after having drilled the world"s deepest cable-tool well to a depth of 11,145 feet. The well was located in Van Etten, N.Y. The project started five years earlier.

The first downhole drilling motors, or mud motors, were designed and manufactured by Dyna-Drill. The motor was based on the 1930 Moineau design for progressive cavity pumps.

General Electric Research Lab (GE) introduced a new synthetic material made of diamond grains sintered together with cobalt. This new material, Compax, could be made into various shapes and retained diamond’s natural property of extreme hardness, but not its weak cleavage planes. To make a cutter, a thin layer of the synthetic diamond material was deposited onto a disk-shaped tungsten carbide substrate so that the assembly, called a “compact,” could be attached to the bit. Bits with this kind of cutter are generically called PDC bits.

Teleco Oilfield Services Inc., together with the U.S. Department of Energy, introduced mud pulse telemetry, now a widely used method of transmitting measurement while drilling data to the surface. Commercialized in 1978, the technology had been under development since the late 1960s. Data transmitted by pulses, together with trigonometry, can give operators a three-dimensional plot of the well being drilled. Pulse telemetry improved on the slower process of wireline logging. Teleco was later acquired by Baker Hughes.

The Versa-Sonic drill rig was put into operation. Versa-Drill International Inc. and Bowser-Morner built this rig that incorporated Ray Roussy’s new sonic drill head. Roussy had worked to improve and perfect the technology over more than 20 years from original designs, which modified oscillators for drilling purposes. Sonic drills, like this one used by the Army Corps of Engineers, are now widely used for sampling.

Professors at Texas Tech University developed “zipper fracking,” which is when operators drill two wells side by side. The process allowed both wells to produce more oil and gas.

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Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

TitleJob Zone One: Little or No Preparation NeededEducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.Job Zone ExamplesThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.SVP RangeUp to 3 months of preparation (Below 4.0)

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Depth Perception — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Response Orientation — The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

Rate Control — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Independence — Job requires developing one"s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2021-2031). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

A mud pump (sometimes referred to as a mud drilling pump or drilling mud pump), is a reciprocating piston/plunger pump designed to circulate drilling fluid under high pressure (up to 7,500 psi or 52,000 kPa) down the drill string and back up the annulus. A mud pump is an important part of the equipment used for oil well drilling.

Mud pumps can be divided into single-acting pump and double-acting pump according to the completion times of the suction and drainage acting in one cycle of the piston"s reciprocating motion.

Mud pumps come in a variety of sizes and configurations but for the typical petroleum drilling rig, the triplex (three piston/plunger) mud pump is used. Duplex mud pumps (two piston/plungers) have generally been replaced by the triplex pump, but are still common in developing countries. Two later developments are the hex pump with six vertical pistons/plungers, and various quintuplexes with five horizontal piston/plungers. The advantages that these new pumps have over convention triplex pumps is a lower mud noise which assists with better measurement while drilling (MWD) and logging while drilling (LWD) decoding.

The fluid end produces the pumping process with valves, pistons, and liners. Because these components are high-wear items, modern pumps are designed to allow quick replacement of these parts.

To reduce severe vibration caused by the pumping process, these pumps incorporate both a suction and discharge pulsation dampener. These are connected to the inlet and outlet of the fluid end.

Displacement is calculated as discharged liters per minute. It is related to the drilling hole diameter and the return speed of drilling fluid from the bottom of the hole, i.e. the larger the diameter of drilling hole, the larger the desired displacement. The return speed of drilling fluid should wash away the debris and rock powder cut by the drill from the bottom of the hole in a timely manner, and reliably carry them to the earth"s surface. When drilling geological core, the speed is generally in range of 0.4 to 1.0 m^3/min.

The pressure of the pump depends on the depth of the drilling hole, the resistance of flushing fluid (drilling fluid) through the channel, as well as the nature of the conveying drilling fluid. The deeper the drilling hole and the greater the pipeline resistance, the higher the pressure needed.

With the changes of drilling hole diameter and depth, the displacement of the pump can be adjusted accordingly. In the mud pump mechanism, the gearbox or hydraulic motor is equipped to adjust its speed and displacement. In order to accurately measure the changes in pressure and displacement, a flow meter and pressure gauge are installed in the mud pump.

The construction department should have a special maintenance worker that is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine. Mud pumps and other mechanical equipment should be inspected and maintained on a scheduled and timely basis to find and address problems ahead of time, in order to avoid unscheduled shutdown. The worker should attend to the size of the sediment particles; if large particles are found, the mud pump parts should be checked frequently for wear, to see if they need to be repaired or replaced. The wearing parts for mud pumps include pump casing, bearings, impeller, piston, liner, etc. Advanced anti-wear measures should be adopted to increase the service life of the wearing parts, which can reduce the investment cost of the project, and improve production efficiency. At the same time, wearing parts and other mud pump parts should be repaired rather than replaced when possible.

Oil drill operations rely on the use of derricks for their production. An oil derrick is used to dig a hole for an oil well, then to push the drill pipe deep into the earth. A mud mixture is sprayed from the drill bit to push material from the cuttings up out of the hole and cool the drill equipment, as well as to keep the bore hole stable. Then a well pipe replaces the drill pipe, so oil can be pumped out, using valves to allow the oil to move up the bore hole without sliding back down. Many workers at oil and gas drilling sites share duties to keep wells operating efficiently and safely. Derrick operators and rotary drill operators keep the mud, made of water, clay, air, and chemicals, flowing, so drills run smoothly. These workers listen to drills to ensure the vibrations are normal and may collect samples of material from the hole to monitor output. Derrick and drill operators place derricks in the correct location and keep them running around the clock, monitoring gauges, repairing equipment, and checking for problems. Drill operators also train drill crews on procedures and safety measures. Wellhead pumpers operate pumps that force oil and gas out of wells and into storage tanks and pipelines. They also monitor other production equipment and ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density and concentration. Service unit operators work in oil and gas drilling, as well as mining operations, to troubleshoot drilling issues and resolve them. They use equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells, or to remove stuck pipes, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells and mining exploration operations. These workers are employed by the oil and gas industry at construction sites and drilling rigs. They may work on offshore oil platforms drilling the ocean floor, or in remote locations in the far north or Middle East, which may require living onsite for long periods. Work may be seasonal, and shifts are often around the clock. Extreme weather conditions and dealing with heights is also part of the job. Machinery is noisy, and safety rules are critical. Wellhead pumpers typically need a high school diploma, while derrick operators, rotary drill operators, and service unit operators typically have no specific education requirements.