An Overview of Drilling Mud Circulation System

Drilling Mud:

Drilling mud is a heavy, viscous fluid mixture that is used in oil and gas drilling operations to carry rock cuttings to the surface and also to lubricate and cool the drill bit. The drilling mud, by hydrostatic pressure, also helps prevent the collapse of unstable strata into the borehole and the intrusion of water from water-bearing strata that may be encountered.

Mud Circulation System :

The mud pumps draw fluid from the suction pit and pump it through the discharge manifolds, standpipe and kelly hose, and down the drillstring.

At the bottom of the hole the fluid passes through the bit nozzles before returning up the annulus and through the flowline and shale shaker to the mud tanks.

A typical drilling rig mud circulating system is shown in Figure below. Click on the + sign for more details about each components

Task 1: Complete drilling mud flow sequence

The following sequence shows path of mud circulation system in a drilling operation. Fill up the blank space with appropriate sequence.

Task 2: Find chemicals in drilling mud

Read the following statements and find the chemical used in typical drilling mud.

Task 3: Find the correct answer

Task 4: Label the figure

Drag and drop the appropriate components to the figure

Task 5: Supplementary task

Watch this youtube video and answer the question within the video. ( 0.00 -1.30 sec, and 5.15 sec-5.30 sec)

Read additional reading materials shown in the video. Additional materials will open in a new window.