Mud pumps
Piston pumps that circulate drilling fluid and lift cuttings out of the hole.
A mud pump sends drilling fluid down the pipe to the bit. The fluid cools the bit, stabilises the hole wall and carries cuttings to the surface. In mud rotary drilling the pump is the heart of the rig: if it falls short, cuttings stay in the hole, the bit sticks and progress slows.
How it works
Mud pumps are piston pumps. Pistons run inside liners (cylinders), and suction and discharge valves keep the fluid moving one way. Pumps are either two-cylinder (duplex) or three-cylinder (triplex). Triplex pumps deliver a smoother flow with less pulsation and are the norm on modern rigs.
On a given pump, fitting liners and pistons of a different size shifts the balance between flow and pressure: a smaller liner gives more pressure, a larger one more flow.
How to choose
- Flow. The fluid must rise in the annulus fast enough to lift the cuttings. The larger the hole, the more flow is needed.
- Pressure. The pump must push the fluid through the pipe, the bit and the full length of the hole. Required pressure rises with depth.
- Drive. A pump can run off a diesel engine, an electric motor or the rig's hydraulics, and be mounted on the rig or on its own trailer.
- Fluid type. Sandy, abrasive fluid wears the moving parts quickly, so hard-wearing liners and a fluid-cleaning system matter.
Spare parts
Pistons, liners, valves, valve seats and seals are wear parts and need regular replacement. We recommend keeping spares on hand so work does not stop. Give us the pump make and model and we will match the parts.
Fluid system
Mixing and cleaning the fluid matter as much as the pump: bentonite or polymer mud, settling pits, desanders and circulation tanks. Clean fluid extends pump life and improves the finished well.
When you get in touch, tell us the hole diameters and depths, your rig model, the drive you need, or the make of the pump you want to replace.