Land Rig Cement and Mud Pumping With Isolated Fluid Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mud pumping and cement pumping assemblies in hydrocarbon well operations are separately maintained and operated to prevent contamination, leading to significant costs and space inefficiencies due to the need for redundant equipment and separate setups for drilling and cementing processes.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose pump assembly and well operation facility that integrates cement and mud pumping capabilities, allowing for sequential or alternating operation of mud and cement slurry delivery, with a centralized metering and manifold platform system to manage fluid delivery and minimize contamination risks, utilizing a multi-purpose pump capable of delivering both fluids at different pressures and incorporating a cement mixing and mud mixing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate mud pumping and cement pumping assemblies are used, then contamination is prevented, but equipment redundancy and space requirements increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate mud pumping and cement pumping assemblies into a single integrated pump assembly that can handle both drilling mud and cement slurry. The pump includes multiple inlets (for mud and cement) and multiple outlets, with a unified power source and control system, thereby reducing equipment redundancy while maintaining operational reliability through proper fluid separation and contamination prevention mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly is designed with multi-functionality to perform both mud pumping and cement pumping operations. It includes configurable inlet and outlet connections that can be switched between mud and cement services, allowing a single piece of equipment to replace multiple specialized pumps, thus reducing space requirements and equipment complexity while preventing contamination through proper isolation mechanisms
2Reliability
If separate mud pumping and cement pumping assemblies are used, then fluid contamination is prevented, but space requirements and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate mud and cement pumping systems into a single integrated pump assembly with unified housing, power source, and control systems. This consolidation dramatically reduces the space required on land rigs while maintaining fluid contamination prevention through separate inlet/outlet configurations and isolation mechanisms for different fluids
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly incorporates universal inlets and outlets that can be configured for either mud or cement service. The design includes separate fluid paths and isolation valves that prevent cross-contamination while allowing the same physical equipment to handle different fluids, thereby reducing space requirements without compromising contamination prevention
3Device complexity
If a single multipurpose pump is used, then equipment redundancy is reduced, but the risk of fluid contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into distinct fluid paths with separate inlets for mud and cement, and separate outlets for each fluid type. Internal baffles and isolation mechanisms divide the pump housing into separate zones, preventing cross-contamination while allowing a single pump to handle both fluids. This segmentation maintains fluid integrity while reducing equipment redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly incorporates intermediary isolation mechanisms such as isolation valves, separate fluid channels, and controllable connections that act as mediators between different fluid streams. These intermediaries prevent direct contact between mud and cement while allowing the single pump to service both fluid types, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining equipment simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed provide a pump assembly including a first pump for delivering at least one fluid. The first pump may include a first inlet coupled to the first pump for delivering at least one first fluid to the first pump, a second inlet coupled to the first pump for delivering at least one second fluid to the first pump, a first discharge coupled to the first pump for delivering the at least one first fluid at a first pressure, and a second discharge coupled to the first pump for delivering the at least one second fluid at a second pressure. In some embodiments, the first discharge and the second discharge are isolated from each other.