Mud Pumps – Integral Equipment for Onshore and Offshore Drilling

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Drilling oil well rigs use mud pumps to circulate drilling fluid throughout the drilling rig. This lubricates and in turn cools the drill bit. An integral component of an oil rig, a mud pump also works to plaster the sides of the well, thus preventing it from caving in. Rotary drilling rigs typically consist of a drill bit, which moves in a constant, circular motion to break the rock at the bottom of the well, along with the mud pump and a series of drill rods and drill tools to grind rock. The main function of mud pumps Houston is to circulate and force fluid out, removing impurities and cooling and lubricating the drilling parts in the process.

There are two main types of mud pumps Houston most oil rigs today use. Two-cylinder, double acting pumps and three-cylinder, single acting pumps. Other more advanced setups also exist, although duplex and triplex pumps are more common. An engine-powered crankshaft drives the replaceable pistons through the pump’s liners, giving way to the reciprocating motion of the pump. Understanding the basic anatomy of a mud pump is key to understanding its function and significance to the drill rig.

Mud pumps Houston are the heart of any drill rig’s circulating system. The mud it pumps is the blood circulating the drill hole. Duplex pumps have a long track record of serving all types of wells. Their simple yet robust design make duplex pumps the choice of many drillers, although there are few setbacks to using the old technology, such as weight and size. Just the same duplex pumps were designed during the time when equipment was meant to last, making them well suited for heavy-duty work environments and high horsepower requirements. Today, duplex pumps are being increasingly replaced by triplex units, which basically offer the same volume and power in a much smaller, easier to work with package.

Triplex mud pumps Houston are also quite popular in shallow drilling markets, such as in air drilling and coring projects, where volume needs are not great. In hard rock coring situations, surface returns are often not even seen, but the fluid effectively keeps diamonds cool. A small triplex can be used in air drilling work to inject foam and/or other chemicals and solutions into the drilling airline. Water well drilling, on the other hand, often don’t require the insane pressure offered by a triplex, instead, they require positive suction, which can be achieved with a centrifugal charging pump.

About the Company:

Waters International deals in the sale of new and used oilfield drilling equipment. When you need it fast and you need it right, you can count on Waters. For almost half a century, Waters International has been the company to call for dependable new and reconditioned capital drilling equipment.