Trenchless Mud Management Technical Challenges and KOSUN Mud Recovery Solutions

Jan 05, 2026

Trenchless Technology, as an efficient and low-disturbance method for underground pipeline installation, is being increasingly adopted in urban infrastructure development. It effectively avoids traditional road excavation, minimizing disruptions to traffic, the environment, and urban landscapes.
However, mud (drilling fluid) management during trenchless construction is a critical factor for project success and environmental compliance. As an essential medium, drilling mud performs vital functions such as carrying cuttings, cooling drilling tools, and stabilizing borehole walls. Efficiently processing used mud is a challenge that every construction unit must address.
 

Application Scenarios and Technical Requirements
 
Trenchless engineering is applied across a wide range of environments, from bustling city centers to ecologically sensitive areas. These projects demand high standards for environmental protection and operational efficiency.
Urban Pipe Network Renovation: Laying water, electricity, gas, and communication pipelines without interrupting traffic.
River Crossing Projects: Performing directional drilling beneath riverbeds, where "zero discharge" requirements for mud are extremely stringent.
Municipal Road Construction: Avoiding damage to existing pavement structures and landscaping.
The traditional "single-use" mud model has numerous drawbacks: high mud consumption, expensive transport and disposal costs, messy construction sites, and significant environmental compliance risks. Therefore, establishing an efficient Mud Circulation System is essential.
 
Working Principle of the HDD Mud Circulation System
 
A HDD Mud Circulation System is specialized equipment that purifies drilling fluid using physical separation principles. Its core objective is to separate solid particles (cuttings) from the mud, restoring its properties for recycling.
 
The primary workflow is as follows:
 
Collection and Pre-treatment: Used mud flows back to the collection pit or the equipment inlet.
Primary Scalping (Shale Shaker): Mud is first fed into high-efficiency shale shakers, which use vibrating screens to separate large solids such as gravel and coarse cuttings.
Secondary Desanding (Desander): The screened mud flows into a desander cleaner, utilizing centrifugal hydrocyclones to separate medium-sized sand particles.
Tertiary Desilting (Desilter/Centrifuge): Finer particles are processed to ensure mud purity.
Purification and Conditioning: Purified mud enters storage tanks where chemical additives are mixed to adjust density, viscosity, and other parameters for the next drilling phase.
Recirculation: The optimized mud is reinjected into the borehole by mud pumps.

 
KOSUN Trenchless Mud Recovery System Solutions
 
As a leader in trenchless mud treatment equipment, KOSUN Machinery provides mature and reliable Mud Recovery System solutions. KOSUN systems are designed to maximize mud utilization, reduce operating costs, and meet rigorous environmental standards.
 
Key Features of KOSUN Trenchless Mud Recovery Systems:
 
High Integration: The HDD Recycling System integrates shale shaker, desander, and desilter functions into a compact design, saving site space and facilitating rapid deployment and mobilization.
Stable Performance: Key components are manufactured with high-quality wear-resistant materials, ensuring reliable operation during continuous duty in complex geological conditions.
Professional Customization: KOSUN offers various flow capacities (ranging from 200 GPM for small HDDs to 1000+ GPM for large-scale projects) and provides tailored configurations based on specific project needs.
Environmentally Friendly: By enabling high-efficiency purification and recycling, the system significantly reduces waste mud discharge, supporting "Green Construction" goals.
 
Choosing a KOSUN Mud Circulation System provides solid drilling fluid security for trenchless projects, serving as a powerful pillar for improving both economic benefits and environmental performance.