Part 2: So how about them mud guns!

Why is Agitation of drilling mud required? One: it aids in the removal of drilled solids, Two: ensuring complete mixing, and a homogeneous blend throughout the mud system. To accomplish these functions, agitation equipment must be capable of generating upward velocities in mud pits that are faster than the settling velocity of the solids that are suspended in the drilling mud. It must also be capable of creating enough shearing and stirring action to completely dissolve, wet, and disperse drilling mud additives.

Following up on my last article "So how about them mud guns", the question we are attempting to answer is:

When comparing a 3" to 1" swedge (concentric reducer) on a mud gun to a radial eductor is there a significant difference in performance?

First of all lets answer the following question!

How does a radial eductor work?

The radial eductor operates on the Bernoulli Principle. This principle states that high velocity equals low pressure, and vice-versa. The radial educator consists of a tapered, nozzle housed inside of a specially designed body. A centrifugal pump is used to pump drilling mud through the tapered nozzle. The low pressure area generated inside the radial eductor body around the high velocity nozzle discharge draws surrounding drilling fluid into the helical shaped suction ports. The fluid is then rapidly mixed inside a venturi section and discharged into the vessel or pit at a much higher rate than a standard jet nozzle or mud gun can attain.

The helical shape of the radial eductor suction ports creates a radially flowing discharge plume. The rotational energy of this plume resembles a tornado or vortex, which is more stable, gains broader coverage, dynamically shears the fluid, and creates a lower pressure region within the fluid that “picks-up” and displaces a much greater volume of the surrounding fluid than a plume from a standard mud gun. The result is much greater fluid displacement and movement within a vessel.

Simple right! But what does this all mean?

This simply means that if you're trying to achieve higher fluid turnover rates in your vessel or mud mixing system the radial eductor is the way to go.

What about my mud guns?

Should I continue to use them? In short YES! lets recall the keep it simple stupid methodology! If your current mud guns are working just fine then leave them alone, "no need to fix it if it aint broke".

But! There is always a But...

If after draining the mud tanks you're continually experiencing settled out solids, settled out barite, fisheyes in newly mixed product, you might want to consider testing a radial eductor or upgrading. The higher fluid turn over rate generated by the radial educator as compared to the standard mud gun could be what you have been looking for. This simple to install bolt-on could potentially save you thousands of dollars in time alone not to mention cleaning cost and disposal cost.

Fish eyes?

Won't my mud hopper take care of that? Lets leave this topic for our next discussion.

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