Mud pump systems for wellbore operations

Abstract

A system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the system, in certain aspects, having a pump apparatus, the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet, a suction valve and a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow through the body, or each valve having a curved valve seat and a valve member with a curved seating surface, the valve member selectively movable to seat against the curved valve seat to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat; and, in one aspect, a seal in the curved valve seat against which the valve member is also sealable. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72 (b).

1 . A system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and solids, the system comprising
 a pump apparatus,   the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet,   a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet,   a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet,   each of the suction valve and the discharge valve having a seat with a curved valve seat surface and a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat.   
   
   
       2 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a seal recess in the curved valve seat of each of the suction valve and the discharge valve,   a seal positioned in each seal recess so that resonating of the seal is inhibited,   each valve member movable to seat against a corresponding seal.   
   
   
       3 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein each valve member has a range of freedom of movement for effecting seating against an adjacent corresponding curved valve seat surface. 
   
   
       4 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein each valve member has a spring urging the valve member against the curved valve seat surface. 
   
   
       5 . The pumping system of  claim 5  wherein the spring has a spring body with a first end and a second end, the first end in contact with the valve member, the first end tapering from the spring body. 
   
   
       6 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising
 each valve having a cartridge stem positioned with respect to the valve member, and   a valve actuator within the cartridge stem for selectively moving the valve member.   
   
   
       7 . The pumping system of  claim 6  wherein
 the valve actuator is interconnected with the valve member via a cable.   
   
   
       8 . The pumping system of  claim 6  wherein
 the valve actuator includes a selectively expandable hose for moving the valve member.   
   
   
       9 . The pumping system of  claim 7  further comprising
 an air supply for supplying air to the valve actuator, and   a control system for controlling the air supply to selectively open and close the valve.   
   
   
       10 . The pumping system of  claim 7  further comprising
 a ball movably mounted within each valve member,   the cable connected to the ball and to the valve actuator,   the valve member movable with respect to the ball.   
   
   
       11 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein
 each valve member has a rounded nose and a curved tapered outer surface so that fluid flow contacting the nose and curved tapered outer surface forms stabilizing fluid cushions around the valve member.   
   
   
       12 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein
 each valve member has a back surface,   a portion of the fluid flow onto the nose and curved outer surface gradually changes direction on the back surface.   
   
   
       13 . The pumping system of  claim 1   wherein the seat has a flow channel adjacent the curved valve seat and the valve member is movable to close off flow through the flow channel and wherein   the flow channel is unobstructed.   
   
   
       14 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein each valve member has a spring urging the valve member against the curved valve seat surface,
 each spring having a top end with at least one curved spring projection,   a spring mount within the valve member,   the at least one spring projection movably connected to the spring mount to facilitate freedom of movement of the valve member with respect to the curved valve seat surface.   
   
   
       15 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a dampener within the body for inhibiting pulsations of fluid pumped from the pump apparatus.   
   
   
       16 . A system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and solids, the system comprising
 a pump apparatus,   the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet,   a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet,   a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet,   each of the suction valve and the discharge valve having a seat with a curved valve seat surface and a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat,   a seal recess in the curved valve seat surface of each of the suction valve and the discharge valve,   a seal positioned in each seal recess so that resonating of the seal is inhibited,   each valve member movable to seat against a corresponding seal,   each valve having a cartridge stem positioned with respect to the valve member, and   a valve actuator within the cartridge stem for selectively moving the valve member.   
   
   
       17 . A method for pumping fluid, the method comprising
 sucking fluid into an inlet of a pumping apparatus of a system, the system comprising a pump apparatus, the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet, a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet, a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet, each of the suction valve and the discharge valve having a curved valve seat surface and a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat, and   with the pump apparatus, pumping fluid into the inlet and then out the outlet.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the system has
 a seal recess in the curved valve seat of each of the suction valve and the discharge valve,   a seal positioned in each seal recess so that resonating of the seal is inhibited,   each valve member movable to seat against a corresponding seal, the method further comprising   seating each valve member surface agains a corresponding seal.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein
 each valve has a cartridge stem positioned with respect to the valve member, and   each valve has a valve actuator within the cartridge stem for selectively moving the valve member, the method further comprising   actuating each of the suction valve and the discharge valve with the valve actuator.   
   
   
       20 . A method for pumping fluid, the method comprising
 sucking fluid into an inlet of a pumping apparatus of a system, the system comprising a pump apparatus, the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet, a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet, a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet, each of the suction valve and the discharge valve having a curved valve seat surface and a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat, wherein each valve member has a range of freedom of movement for effecting seating against an adjacent corresponding curved valve seat surface,   with the pump apparatus, pumping fluid into the inlet and then out the outlet,   controlling fluid flow in through the inlet with the suction valve, and   controlling fluid flow out the outlet with the discharge valve.   
   
   
       21 . A method for pumping fluid, the method comprising
 sucking fluid into an inlet of a pumping apparatus of a system, the system comprising a pump apparatus, the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet, a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet, a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet, each of the suction valve and the discharge valve having a curved valve seat surface and a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat, each valve having a cartridge stem positioned with respect to the valve member, and a valve actuator within the cartridge stem for selectively moving the valve member,   with the pump apparatus, pumping fluid into the inlet and then out the outlet, and   with the valve actuator selectively operating the suction valve and the discharge valve.   
   
   
       22 . A valve for a valve assembly for a pump apparatus of a system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and solids, the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet, the valve for disposition in one of the inlet and outlet for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture, the valve comprising,
 a seat with a curved valve seat surface,   a valve member with a curved member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the curved member surface against the curved valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat.   
   
   
       23 . The valve of  claim 22  further comprising
 a seal recess in the curved valve seat surface,   a seal positioned in the seal recess,   the valve member movable to seat against the seal.   
   
   
       24 . A valve for a system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and solids, the valve comprising
 a seat with a valve seat surface   a valve member with a member surface, part of the valve member movable to seat the member surface against the valve seat surface to prevent the flow of the drilling fluid mixture past the valve seat,   a cartridge stem positioned with respect to the valve member, and   a valve actuator within the cartridge stem for selectively moving the valve member.   
   
   
       25 . A system for pumping a drilling fluid mixture, the drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and solids, the system comprising
 a pump apparatus,   the pumping apparatus having a body with an inlet and an outlet,   a suction valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture in through the inlet,   a discharge valve in the body for selectively controlling flow of the drilling fluid mixture out through the outlet, and   a dampener within the body for inhibiting pulsations of fluid pumped from the pump apparatus.