CIRCULATING sYSTEM

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CIRCULATING sYSTEM
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How does a circulating system work?

• Pumps a special fluid called drilling fluid "or
  drilling mud down the hole through a series of
  pipes, out of the bit on the end of the pipe at
  the bottom of the hole and back up to the surface.

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• Mud pumps large heavy duty pumps, heart of the
  circulating system.
• Mud pits Steel tanks that hold mud
• Stand Pipe Rigid pipe that conducts mud from the
  pump, up one leg of the derrick and to the rotary
  hose.
• Rotary Hose Flexible, must move downward as the
  hole is drilled deeper, also moves upward when
  the crew adds sections of pipe to the drill
  sting.

• Mud Pump

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• Annulus Space between the outside of the drill
  collars and drill string and the inside of the
  hole.
• Mud cuttings leave the well through a pipe call
  the mud return line.
• Shale Shaker Vibrating system that has mud and
  cuttings flowing from the mud return line.
• Shale Slide Slanted trough that the cuttings
  fall through after they vibrate off the shale
  shaker.

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• Reserve Pit Serves mainly as a disposal area
• Degasser removes gas from mud
• Desander a centrifugal device for removing sand
  from drilling fluid to prevent abrasion of pumps.
  Can be operated mechanically or by a fast moving
  stream of fluid inside a special cone shaped
  vessel.
• Wall cake Thin, impermeable cake on the walls of
  the hole.

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• Drilling fluid A mixture of water,clay,and
  special minerals and chemicals.
• -Removes cuttings from the hole
• -Cools and lubricates bit as it turns on the
  bottom
• -The mud also exerts pressure inside the hole,
  this pressure keeps fluids that may be in the
  formation from entering the hole and blowing out
  of the surface.