WorldWide Drilling Resource

14 MAY 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Pumps: Another Look by Scott Cosby This month’s editorial focus is on pumps, so I thought I’d stay with the focus this time, even though my knowledge on the topic is limited. I have written several articles related to the topic: see March 2010 Importance of Drilling Mud , November 2012 About the Mud Pump , and August 2014 Air & Mud Rotary: An Overview in the WWDR online archives. The agency I work for uses truck- mounted air and mud rotary rigs for our drilling operations in the field. Rotary rigs are the most commonly used today. The typical rotary rig consists of four systems: power, hoisting, rotation, and pump. A pump sys- tem produces the process with valves, pistons, and liners. The pump moves the fluid down the dri l l rod, through the bit. The addi- tion of mud con- sisting of bentonite or polymer slurry not only removes cuttings from the bot- tom of the borehole, as the mud flows across the bit, it cleans the cuttings and stabilizes the borehole. Pumps come in many different sizes and configurations, and depend on the type and scale of drilling being done. Pump types include: duplex, triplex, hex, and quintuplex. These are dependent on the pump’s inner parts (e.g. pistons, plungers, etc.). Important to consider during large- scale drilling operations, is the pump system may require more than one en- gine to power the system. These power sources must be tuned to match. Consult your rig and/or pump manufacturer. The key to effective pump operation is regular maintenance, paying particu- lar attention to manufacturer suggestions. In winter months or during nonoperation periods, remove drain plugs (if equipped) and check all components before start- ing drilling work. Freezing temperatures in the pump system with any fluid left will severely damage those inner parts. There are numerous online sources on this topic. Consult quality rig and pump manufacturers, document your drilling needs, and ask many questions before making a final decision concerning the best pump system for a particular drilling operation. Scott Scott Cosby may be contacted via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com