Drilling Mud Pumps and Their Use in Oil & Gas Exploration

Posted by Shale Pumps on March 4th, 2017

The success of Oil and Gas Exploration operations hinges to a large extent on the quality of drilling and completion equipment. Drilling mud pumps, by virtue of their pivotal nature in operations, hold centre stage among completion equipment. In a nutshell, the role of a mud pump is to move drilled out material to the surface from the impact point of the drilling operations. Superior build quality and robust operational capability in difficult terrain and conditions are some of the mandatory expectations of drilling mud pumps. We draw closer to the uses of drilling mud pumps in the oil and gas exploration sector.

Circulation of fluid or mud on the rig

The primary function of a drilling mud pump is the circulation of fluid or mud on the rig. The nature of operations of the drilling mud pump, i.e. reciprocating pump gives it the role of circulation of fluid or mud. The pump needs to operate with the right displacement parameters so as to be able to carry debris and material to the surface from the drilled area. The hole that is being drilled will cut through rock or other subterranean materials, which need to be swept away to the surface in a speed that matches the drilling operations.

Directly draws in liquid without the need for separate bottom valves 

Mud pumps have versatile functions of drawing liquid from the drilled bottoms directly without the need for special bottom valves. This function, in combination with the other functions makes this reciprocating pump one of the most useful to have in oil exploration. Separate devices or machinery calls for more complicated functions and assembly, which is avoided through design improvisation.

Reciprocating pistons or plungers for the circulation

Mud pumps drive the mud down the drill and upwards through the annulus from the drill hole. This operation, which is the circulation of the drilling fluid is carried out by the reciprocating pistons or plunger in the pump. The power end which supplies power to the pump works in tandem with the fluid end to ensure that the pump operates in a reciprocating manner to keep the fluid in circulation. This operation is highly synchronized resulting in smooth and seamless operation.

Need for high pressure to perform operations

Due to the depth and the nature of operations of the mud pumps, the need for generating the right kind of pressure is of paramount importance. The reciprocating pump needs to be able to operate with sufficient pressure, by factoring in inputs such as depth of operations, the resistance of the drilling fluid that rushes to the surface and the texture or nature of the drilling fluid. Mud pumps need to operate with significantly greater pressure at greater depths as all other factors will also increase automatically.

Mud pumps are the very quintessence of oil and exploration operations. Drilling can never be accomplished without mud pumps. Advances over the years have seen rapid developments resulting in rugged equipment with easy maintenance and convenient spare replacement options.

About The Company

Shale Pumps is a leading provider of superior quality completion equipment to players in the E & P market. Based in Houston, Texas, the company is known for its product line that includes top notch frac pumps, mud pumps and well completion units that match the highest level of quality and industry standards.