Mud pumps are large reciprocating pumps that are used to move heavy drilling fluid within the hole during oil drilling. The pump works by circulating the mud; it pushes the fluid down into the hole and then moves it back up again. Being reciprocating by design, they use plungers or oscillating pistons in order to displace the drilling fluid. Mud pumps are single acting pumps, which means that the fluid moves only in one direction.
The mud pump them pushes the mud down the piping and into the bottom of the well, and the pressure forces the mud up the space surrounding the piping (called the annulus). During oil and gas explorations, the mud used consists of clay, emulsified oil or water, and chemicals. It’s tailor-made for the particular conditions of the drilling for safety reasons. The purpose of this mud is to float clean the bottom of the well by floating out rock cuttings. It also cools the drilling equipment and functions as a barrier should there be a blowout.
Mud pumps, such as a Gardner Denver PZ 11, are crucial equipment for drilling oil. As drills cut through rocks, mud pumps move cuttings up the hole. These rock cuttings are then put through shakers that remove them from the drilling fluid or mud, which is them reused by the mud pumps. The process continues until the hole is drilled to the full depth. Modern mud pumps are typically triplex-style with three cylinders. Duplex pumps are still used sometimes in older oil rigs. Some of the newest mud pumps have six cylinders.
If you need a mud pump for sale, don’t hesitate to contact Henderson where we specialize in the procurement and brokerage of capital drilling equipment. Known for the transparency of their procurement process, if we don’t have what you need in stock we can recommend alternative sourcing options to help you cut costs as well as increase efficiency.