To ensure efficiency and productivity, drilling operations in the oil and gas industry rely on advanced equipment.Among the many devices used, mud mixers have become the ultimate solution. In this blog, we will explore how mud agitators are revolutionizing drilling operations, their primary functions, and the benefits they bring.

mud agitator

Why a mud mixer is essential

Firstly, mud agitators are specifically designed to maintain a uniform consistency in drilling mud. This powerful mixing capacity prevents solid particles from settling at the bottom, ensuring the mud remains uniform. By doing so, mud agitators increase drilling efficiency and reduce downtime. Additionally, improper mixing of drilling mud can cause pipeline blockages, leading to delays. However, mud agitators effectively prevent this issue by keeping the fluid even and eliminating potential clogging triggers.

Main features of mud mixer

Firstly, mud mixers are designed with durability in mind, enabling them to withstand harsh drilling environments and maintain optimal performance over the long term. Additionally, the variable speed control feature allows operators to adapt to different drilling conditions and achieve the required mixing efficiency.

Benefits of using a mud mixer

Firstly, it improves efficiency by maintaining consistent mud composition, reducing equipment wear, extending drill tool life, and ultimately increasing productivity. Secondly, it reduces costs by preventing pipe blockages and reducing equipment maintenance. Moreover, mud agitators are energy-efficient, ensuring optimal performance with minimal power consumption.

Mud agitators have become indispensable equipment in modern drilling operations due to their excellent performance. By ensuring consistent mud composition and preventing clogging, these devices increase efficiency, productivity, and reduce costs. As the demand for energy continues to grow, investing in a mud agitator is a smart decision for companies looking to stay ahead in the highly competitive drilling industry. So why settle for traditional methods when you can revolutionize your drilling operations with a mud agitator?

If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact me today!

Helical bevel geared mud agitators delivered are horizontal type. The end user is in Middle East. This is their 4th repeat order after 3 orders placed. Among these orders, there are both helical bevel geared agitator and helical worm geared agitator

Helical bevel geared mud agitators features

Why more and more clients select helical bevel geared agitator? Because the helical bevel agitator is more powerful, durable, and stable. And they are energy-saving design. For example, if we selected agitator driven by helical worm reducer with X torque requests 11kw power then we may can use helical bevel reducer driven by 7.5kw motor with same torque.

Helical bevel geared Mud agitators

Furthermore, the helical bevel reducer occupies less space than helical worm gear box. For some working condition in tight space it's a better choice. Why the helical bevel reducer can provide larger torque? The internal structure of gear and teeth produce better bite for stronger torque

Specifications of this lot of agitator

The agitators delivered are configured with shaft longs 2.2m and impeller with 1050mm diameter. Shaft is the seamless steel tube from national steel factory, as well as the impeller paddle. The paddle blade can be bolted on the shaft casing

Besides shaft and impeller, there is stabilizer. As the tank height is 3000mm, considering the proper operation and service life we recommend the stabilizer to users

APMA agitators

What agitators do you prefer?

Different users select agitators configured differently. Some of them prefer the helical worm geared, while some prefer the helical bevel geared. Some prefer the vertical type, while some prefer the horizontal type. Some prefer single layer, some prefer the double or multiple layer

Besides clients' preference, the working condition is another factor impacting agitators selection. Please tell us your requirement or working condition. The optimal agitators will be configured for you accordingly very soon. BTW, mud guns are usually used together with agitator, do you have any demand? Leave comments below!

Mud agitators are the popular auxiliary equipment used in drilling mud system. They will be mounted on tank top per certain function or tank size.

Mud agitators for square tank

The tank or compartment dimension and shape, the compartment duty will impact mud agitator sizing. Including the motor, gearbox, impeller, shaft. Furthermore, the mud density will an issue impacts agitator sizing.

Once compartment size has been determined the impeller diameter and corresponding horsepower requirements must be calculated. If the maximum mud weight to be used with the rig is not known, it is best to base all calculations on 20lb/gal fluid (2.4 specified gravity [SG]).

Mud agitators

Rectangular tank working volume

Working volume help determine impeller size under TOR formula. How to calculate the working volume? Lets take 30'x10'x10' tank as example.

Maximum mud weight is anticipated to be 1.92SG, all compartments will be solids-removal sections. Convert the compartment to symmetrical shapes. In this case, three compartments are 10x10'. Determine the volume for one compartment Vt

Vt=10x10x(10-1)x7.48=6732 gal. Then considering tank depth is over 6', we can only use canted impeller. Choose an initial impeller displacement value so that D is close to Vt to increase the accuracy of selection

Per determined TOR formula we get TOR is about 64 seconds. Also in our previous post we suggested a sheet on power requirements. In this case we can find 10 hp geared motor is sufficient

Mud agitator advantage

Cylindrical tank agitator

Actually, mud agitators wok best when they are placed in symetrically sized round tank or compartments.  Why? Because, round compartments having less dead space or corner in which solids can settle

When fitted with center drain or clean-out, "round compartments" are easier to clean and require less wash fluid than rectangular / square mud tanks. They are symmetrical, mixing is usually thorough and optimal, however there are some drawbacks to round compartments.

So, round tanks require baffles to prevent solid-body swirl and promote good suspension patterns, which raises fabrication cost

Still don't know how to select agitator? Please come to us freely. Aipu will give you optimal proposal

Mud agitator and mud guns are mixing equipment used in drilling mud process. They are operated at almost every stage of solids control.

Mud agitator advantage

1. Various of gear box and shaft, impeller can be combined together. More flexibility cater for most demand
2. Mud agitators perform higher efficiency in large vessel or container
3. Design the agitators per job requirement
4. Help expose more drilling fluid in air then lead lower temperature

Mud agitator advantage

Mud agitator disadvantage

1. They can't be used to mix drilling fluid in different compartment. Mud agitator can't be used to transfer drilling mud between compartments
2. Higher investment cost
3. Mud agitator requests larger space than mud guns
4. Almost mud agitators need electricity power
5. Maybe the blind area
6. May request installation plate

Mud guns advantages

1. It cost less than mud agitator
2. We can use the drilling pump when pump power is sufficient
3. Flow can be concentrated at certain area to decrease or eliminate blind area
4. Itself weight is much lighter than agitator
5. Increase shearing rate
6. Mud guns can be used to transfer and mix drilling fluid in different compartment

Mud guns

Mud gun disadvantage

1. If we use drilling mud gun we'll request many many gun. Thus the pump and pipes will cost much more
2. High pressure nozzle at surface may fill air into drilling fluid
3. The nozzle wearing may lead high velocity requests larger power; if nozzle is not replaced in time the motor my over-run
4. If the solid has become sedimentation and mud gun spray fluid directly to the solids the pump and centrifuge may be blocked.

Operate mud guns and mud agitators

We find different mixing equipment hold different features. So usually we operate mud gun and agitators together for better agitation performance

Usually we suggest one set agitator along with one mud gun. Almost 3 meter requests one set agitator. Based on actual working condition we'll configure optimal equipment or device for you

Please come to Aipu solids control for more detail on mud agitator and guns.