Classification of Mud Pumps and Their Applications in Solids Control Systems

Feb 09, 2026

In the fields of oil drilling, trenchless (HDD) engineering, and mining, the mud pump serves as the core power equipment of the fluid circulation system. It is responsible for driving the drilling fluid to circulate between the surface treatment equipment and the downhole, performing critical tasks such as carrying cuttings, cooling the drill bit, and balancing formation pressure.
Entering 2026, with continuous advancements in solids control technology, the classification of mud pumps has become more distinct. In practical operations, based on different working principles and output characteristics, mud pumps are primarily divided into centrifugal pumps, screw pumps, and other auxiliary pump types.
 
Centrifugal Pumps as Fundamental Circulation Equipment
 
Centrifugal pumps are the most widely used power equipment in solids control processes, primarily responsible for large-scale fluid transfer and supply.
 
Working Principle of Centrifugal pumps
The centrifugal pump achieves fluid transport via the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of an internal impeller. It sucks mud from the center and pushes it toward the discharge pipeline, converting kinetic energy into pressure energy.
 
Application Scenarios of Centrifugal pumps
Feeding Hydrocyclones: This is the primary application. It provides the necessary pressure and flow for desanders and desilters, ensuring effective solid-liquid separation within the cyclones.
Mud Mixing and Preparation: When adjusting mud properties, centrifugal pumps drive mixing devices to fully integrate new powder additives with the base mud.
Fluid Transfer: Used for rapid liquid transfer between mud tanks to maintain level balance across the system.
 
Technical Features of Centrifugal pumps
Simple structure, easy maintenance, and high wear resistance, making them capable of handling raw drilling fluids with high sand content.

Screw Pumps for Precision Purification Stages
 
Screw pumps (specifically Progressive Cavity Pumps) have become the core supporting equipment for fine processing stages due to their smooth, low-shear conveying characteristics.
 
Working Principle of Screw Pumps
As a positive displacement pump, the screw pump utilizes an eccentric rotor rotating within a sealed cavity to steadily push material from the suction end to the discharge end at a constant volume.
 
Application Scenarios of Screw Pumps
Centrifuge Feeding: This is the most critical role for screw pumps. Decanter centrifuges require highly stable feed; screw pumps provide a constant, non-pulsating flow, ensuring the continuity and stability of the separation effect.
High-Viscosity Media Transport: Due to their extremely low shear force, they do not damage the chemical components of the mud, making them ideal for transporting thick waste slurry or high-concentration polymer solutions.
 
Technical Features of Screw Pumps
The flow rate is proportional to the speed, allowing for precise delivery control and the ability to pump thick materials with poor fluidity.
 
Other Auxiliary Pump Types and Applications
 
To handle specific working conditions, the following pump types are used as supplements in solids control systems:
 
Reciprocating Pumps (Piston/Plunger Pumps)
These generate high pressure through the reciprocating motion of a piston in a cylinder. They primarily serve as the main drilling pumps to inject mud into deep wells. In environmental sectors, they are also used for high-pressure re-injection of treated cuttings into formations.
 
Submersible Slurry Pumps (Vertical Sand Pumps)
These are centrifugal pumps where the pump body is directly immersed in the liquid. They are mainly used to clean sediment at the bottom of mud tanks or to pump mud from low-level pits to surface purification equipment, requiring no priming and offering easy startup.
 
Shear Pumps
Based on the centrifugal pump structure, these include a special shearing function. They are specifically designed to accelerate the dissolution of polymers in mud, eliminating "fish-eyes" (clumping) through mechanical shear force to improve mixing efficiency.
 
Diaphragm Pumps
Driven by compressed air, these use a reciprocating diaphragm to create suction. They are commonly found in environmental "Drilling Cuttings Management Systems" (Zero-Discharge systems) for transporting highly abrasive, high-concentration waste slurry or various chemical additives.
 
In modern solids control systems, the division of labor is clear: large-scale fluid transfer and cyclonic purification rely on centrifugal pumps; precision centrifugal separation is powered by screw pumps; and special conditions are addressed by submersible, shear, or reciprocating pumps. Field experience demonstrates that rational pump configuration is the key to improving treatment efficiency and reducing equipment failure rates.