The mud cooling unit, also known as drilling fluid cooling system, achieves a cooling temperature difference of 20–30℃ with a processing capacity of 120–200 m³/h. It can effectively extend the service life of drill bits and drill pipes, improve drilling rig efficiency, and drastically reduce operational risks caused by excessive mud temperature.
The mud cooling unit is an integral part of your drilling support system. Our technical team and mud cooling technology develop synergy built upon field drilling experience combined with proprietary well temperature control technology, forming a complete managed temperature drilling technical solution.
By integrating highly reliable drilling fluid temperature control systems with our engineering expertise and practical experience, we can regulate drilling fluid temperature at surface. The temperature-conditioned fluid is then circulated downhole to protect the wellbore and Bottom Hole Assembly.
Working Principle and Configuration:
Heat Exchange Process: High-temperature drilling mud is pumped into plate heat exchangers or shell-and-tube heat exchangers to conduct indirect heat exchange with cooling media (water, ethylene glycol aqueous solution or air).
Cooling Medium Circulation:
Primary side: Drilling fluid flows through the heat exchange core, gets cooled and returns to the mud tank.
Secondary side: After absorbing heat, the cooling medium flows to cooling towers, chillers or air coolers for heat dissipation, and then recirculates for reuse.
Common Types:
- Air-cooled type: Fans force air to pass through finned tubes. Suitable for water-scarce areas with no evaporation loss.
- Water-cooled type: Uses seawater (offshore platforms) or fresh water / ethylene glycol solution. It delivers high cooling efficiency but requires available water sources.
- Combined type: Air cooling is adopted for pre-cooling followed by precise temperature regulation via water cooling, applicable to extreme high-temperature operating conditions.
Specifications:
Processing capacity: typically covering 50-200 m ³/h , can be customized according to rigs.
Temperature drop capability: Standard designs can achieve a temperature drop of 20-30 ℃, while special designs can reach up to 50 ℃.
Pressure resistance level: The design pressure is usually 1.6-3.2 MPa, which needs to be matched with the outlet pressure of the mud pump.
Material requirements: Stainless steel (304/316L) or corrosion-resistant alloys are commonly used on the side in contact with mud to prevent corrosion and wear.
| Model | Capacity | Temperature reduction rang | Cooling type |
| HLNLQ-120 | 120m³/h | 30-50°C | Air/water/sea water/Hybrid |
| HLNLQ-200 | 200m³/h | 30-50°C | Air/water/sea water/Hybrid |
| HLNLQ-240 | 240m³/h | 20-30°C | Sea water |
Features and advantages:
- High cooling efficiency and rapid temperature reduction. During drilling operations, it rapidly cools drilling mud to bring down mud temperature quickly and meet the requirements of supporting drilling systems. While lowering the temperature, it addresses issues related to directional instruments, mud properties and downhole tools. It effectively breaks through the temperature bottleneck restricting drilling operations.
- Stable delivery and remarkable cooling effect under continuous operation.
- Large processing capacity with a small footprint.
The primary mission of Highland company is to provide a distinct value to our customers. Each member of Highland, empowered with innovation, experience, and the best mud cooling equipment, is responsible for making the high temperature drilling environment the safest and most efficient available.
