Rig Mud Pump Assembly for Integrated Cement Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drilling and cementing processes for hydrocarbon wells involve a large number of independent, dedicated components that require substantial transportation, maintenance, and space, leading to high costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Integrate a mud pump assembly on a rig to utilize electric power for both mud pumping and cement mixing, eliminating dedicated cement pumps and motive units by using the rig's mud pumps for both operations, and incorporating a cement mixing system with a direct electrical interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated cement pumps and motive units are used for cementing operations, then reliability of cementing function is improved, but device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mud pumps are designed to perform dual functions: pumping drilling mud during drilling operations and pumping cementing fluid during cementing operations. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated cement pumps, reducing the number of components while maintaining reliable cementing function through the same proven pumping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The cementing system is merged with the existing rig infrastructure by utilizing the rig's electric power supply and the mud pumps for cementing fluid delivery. The cement mixer is integrated onto the rig platform, combining previously separate drilling and cementing systems into a unified operation
2Ease of manufacture
If separate cement mixing equipment on a cement skid is used, then mixing function is improved, but area of stationary object and transportation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cement mixing system is merged with the rig structure by mounting the cement mixer directly on the rig platform. This integration eliminates the need for a separate cement skid, reducing wellsite space requirements and eliminating transportation of the skid to and from the wellsite
3Power
If dedicated diesel engines and generators power cement mixing equipment, then power availability is improved, but use of energy and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rig's electric power supply system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: powering drilling equipment, mud pumps, and now the cement mixer. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated diesel engines and generators for cement mixing, reducing energy consumption and operational costs while maintaining adequate power availability
Data Source
AI summary
A technique facilitates a drilling operation, e.g. a land-based drilling operation, by enabling a substantial reduction in the number of equipment components. According to an embodiment, a mud pump assembly is provided with at least one mud pump located on a rig positioned at a wellsite. Electric power is provided to the rig to enable operation of the rig, including operation of the mud pumps when pumping mud downhole to facilitate drilling of a borehole. The rig's electric power also is used to operate a cement mixer for mixing a cementing fluid. This cementing fluid may be pumped downhole during a cementing operation by the same mud pumps employed during the mud pumping operation.