Multipurpose Mud and Cement Pumping With Isolated Fluid Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drilling operations in land drilling rigs require separate mud and cement pumping assemblies, leading to significant space and operational costs due to the need for redundant equipment and separate operation locations, which can result in catastrophic contamination if fluids are introduced at the wrong stage, necessitating costly re-drilling.

Innovation Solution

A centralized metering and manifold platform system integrates a multipurpose pump that can alternately or sequentially pump mud and cement slurry, with independent inlets and outlets for each fluid, allowing for efficient sharing of equipment and reducing redundancy by using a single operator interface for streamlined control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate mud and cement pumping assemblies are used, then operational reliability is improved by preventing fluid contamination, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid contamination preventionVSAvoidequipment redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate mud and cement pumping assemblies into a single integrated pump system. The pump housing contains both a mud pumping assembly and a cement pumping assembly that share common structural elements, drive mechanisms, and control systems. This merging reduces the overall number of separate equipment units while maintaining the ability to prevent fluid contamination through isolated pumping chambers and controlled fluid pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated pump system is designed to perform multiple functions through a single device. The same pump housing, drive train, and control system can handle both mud circulation operations and cement pumping operations. The system includes interchangeable or selectable pumping mechanisms that allow the same physical platform to serve dual purposes, reducing equipment redundancy while maintaining operational reliability through proper fluid isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate mud and cement pumping assemblies are used, then fluid contamination is prevented, but land setup expenses and operating costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid contamination preventionVSAvoidland setup expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a single pump handles both mud and cement, then equipment redundancy is reduced and costs decrease, but contamination risk increases if fluids are introduced at wrong stages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment redundancyVSAvoidfluid contamination prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated pump system is divided into distinct functional segments: a mud pumping assembly and a cement pumping assembly. Each assembly has its own pumping mechanism, inlet, and outlet pathways. The segmentation is achieved through separate pumping chambers within the common pump housing, isolated fluid conduits, and independently controllable actuation mechanisms. This allows the system to reduce equipment redundancy while preventing fluid contamination through physical separation of fluid pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated pump system employs intermediary elements such as isolating valves, sealed fluid pathways, and controlled transfer mechanisms between the mud and cement pumping assemblies. These intermediaries prevent direct mixing of fluids while allowing the same pump housing and drive system to service both functions. The intermediary components ensure that even though the pump structure is integrated, the fluid streams remain isolated throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If separate pumping assemblies are used, then maximum equipment usage and redundancy are achieved, but space and operational expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment usage efficiencyVSAvoidspace requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested configuration where the cement pumping assembly is positioned within or alongside the mud pumping assembly housing. The smaller cement pumping mechanism is nested within the larger pump structure, sharing common support elements, mounting surfaces, and external connections. This nesting arrangement maximizes equipment usage efficiency while minimizing the overall space footprint of the pumping system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12442271B2Cement mixer and multiple purpose pumper (CMMP) for land rig

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

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.