Ways to improve safety of a pumping-circulatory system of a drilling rig

Purpose. To modernize a pumping-circulatory system of a drilling rig in order to improve the environmental safety data, reliability, and convenience during oil well construction. Methods. Methods of system analysis of the conditions and use of different design features of facilities and equipment of pumping-circulatory systems for well washing with muds have been applied. Computer modeling has been performed to assess the risks of pumping-circulatory station operation; theoretical and experimental data have been evaluated and generalized to develop environmentally friendly pumping-circulatory system. Findings. Improved design of a pumping-circulatory system which components are made of elastic (e.g. rubber-textile) materials has been proposed; the design provides air-tightness and prevents harmful substances from penetrating into the environment. Modernized pumping-circulatory system allows obtaining efficient operation results since it meets following requirements: quick readjustment to the drilling mode under certain conditions; minimum time for transportation to the operating site, assembling and disassembling; compactness and mobility; convenient and safe labor conditions for the personnel; and considerable damage-resistance. Originality. The paper demonstrates the approach aimed at the increase of environmental safety level, labor protection, and efficiency of operating processes in terms of pumping-circulatory system based on stage-by-stage study of different sections of the equipment, technological processes, and impact of the related substances. The research has made it possible to determine the ways for the improvement of separate equipment units as well as to define their positioning and provide proper operation modes. That approach, aimed at the increase of the environmental safety level of the industry, is appropriate to be applied at other stages of the life cycle of oil and gas industry. Practical implications. The pumping-circulatory system under consideration requires minimum transportation expenses being very cheap to transport, assemble, operate, maintain, and disassemble.