Quintuplex Pump: A Powerful Well-Stimulation Pump

Hydrofracking is one of the most widely used methods and processes for extracting shale oil and gas. It generally involves vertical drilling up to a pre-determined depth followed shortly by horizontal drilling at the same level. With a high-pressure concoction of water, sand, and chemicals, the shale layer is fractured so that gas and oil trapped underneath the surface can burst out. This fracking process allows for the creation of new pathways so more oil and gas can be released. A pumping equipment is an essential part of the entire fracking process, as it ensures a continuous fracking cycle. There are many different types of pumping devices used to aid in the fracking process, but quintuplex pumps arguably provide the best results.

Quintuplex frac pumps consist of a power end and a fluid end, along with other important features and components that ensure continuous pumping. The pumping process starts at the fluid end of a quintuplex pump. A series of valves, liners, and pistons help begin the cycle. Because these components are right in the line of action, they inevitably suffer from extreme wear, but modern quintuplex pump designs allow for easier replacement of such parts so usage and maintenance can be done with ease. More advanced quintuplex pumps include pulsation discharge dampers. These components help reduce vibration that is generated whenever the pump is in use. Without dampers, vibrations add more wear to smaller components like bearings and valves. The power end of a quintuplex pump reverses the rotation of the driveshaft to reciprocate the rotating motion of the pistons. An essential part of the equipment, the power end supplies the force needed to pump out oil and gas.

Designed for heavy duty performance, quintuplex pumps typically produce an excess of 2700 bhp of horsepower. This allows a maximum pressure of 20,000 psi and a flow rate of 51.3 bpm, which are exactly what riggers require in order to get the most out of every drilling. Another important component of the quintuplex pump is the suction valve retainer. This section reduces operating costs by lessening fatigue life of the pumped liquid. A well-designed suction valve can greatly reduce fluid-end erosion, which means less wear for the pump’s fluid end. Overall, quintuplex frac pumps allows for increased fluid capacity to increase gradually and at slow speeds. They are ideal to use at hi-rod load conditions. While these equipment are prone to wear, proper maintenance can prolong their life and ensure high pumping performance in the toughest conditions.