Germany: Aker Wirth Equips Tungsten Explorer Drillship with Mud Pump

German based, Aker Wirth has on December 15th delivered its  the 250th mud pump in the TPK 2200 series. Following its successful trial run, the jubilee pump is now on its way to Korea. It will be installed there as one of four pumps in the “Tungsten Explorer” drillship from Vantage Drilling being built at the DSME shipyard.

This drilling vessel will be drilling the seabed several kilometres deep all around the world from 2013 in water depths of up to 3600 m to explore oil and natural gas fields.

Development of this model significantly contributed to making the Oilfield & Pumps product group the most successful business unit at Aker Wirth GmbH today. The company generates more than 50% of turnover solely with products for the oil and gas industry.

A broad range of applications

The successful TPK 2200 model is used in a widely diversified range of applications. The mud pump is used all over the world on drilling platforms, jackups, semi-subs, drilling vessels and onshore drilling rigs which drill for oil and gas deposits. The TPK 2200 has a driving power of 2200 PS and can pump up to 1640 litres of drilling emulsion per minute at a maximum pressure of 517 bar. It operates from min. temperatures of –40°C to max. temperatures of +60°C. In addition, use of a new water jacket motor with direct water cooling has enabled the reduction of noise, with the level now lying below 83 dBA.

Bill Thomson, VP Technical at Vantage Drilling says “We now have twelve of these pumps in operations and are due to have a further eight pumps on the Tungsten Explorer and Dalian Developer come into operation in the next eighteen months. It is clear to us that Aker Wirth has the experience and personnel to provide a superior product. We greatly appreciate the openness and willingness to listen to feedback from their customers to further enhance the success of this design.”

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, December 19, 2011; Image: Vantage Drilling