Mud Pumps for Drilling Rigs – Features and Characteristics

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The reciprocating plunger or piston device that circulates drilling fluid under high pressure is known as the ‘mud pump.’ It works in pressures of up to 7,500 psi or 52,000 kPa down the drill string, then back up the annulus. Mud pumps for drilling rigs are critical to the oil well drilling system, and they can either be double-acting or single-acting, depending on the drainage and the time it takes for the suction to be completed. They come in different configurations and sizes, too, and the right equipment will depend on the application. For instance, triplex or three-piston/plunger mud pumps are preferred for petroleum drilling rigs.

Triplex mud pumps have replaced duplex or two-piston/plunger mud pumps in many industries, but the latter is still being used in developing countries. Some mud pumps for drilling rigs come with six vertical plungers and pistons and five horizontal plungers and pistons. Unlike duplex pumps, newer ones have minimal mud noise to enhance LWD (logging while drilling) decoding and MWD (measurement while drilling).

Conventional mud pumps for drilling rigs are composed of two main sub-assemblies: the power end and fluid end, in which the latter generates the pumping process using liners, pistons, and valves. These components are often at risk of getting worn out easily, so modern pumps are already designed to accommodate easy and quick replacements to minimize downtime. To reduce vibrations in the pumping process, the equipment is made with a discharge pulsation and suction dampener, and both are linked to the fluid end’s outlet and inlet.

The power end is the aspect that converts the drive shaft’s rotation to the pistons’ reciprocating motions. A crosshead crank gear is typically used to achieve this. Mud pumps for drilling rigs consist of many other parts, such as the mud pump liner and piston, hydraulic seat pullers, and modules. In any case, high-quality equipment is constructed to be simple and easy to maintain. Likewise, the pumps are guaranteed to make operations smooth and hassle-free, even when there is the need to generate high viscosity and high concentration suspended slurry. High-performance models can provide stable fluid flow, too, while avoiding pulsating and over-current incidents.

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.