Rotary drilling rig process

A rotary drilling rig works by rotating a drill string, which applies downward pressure to a drill bit that grinds the earth. Drilling fluid or air is pumped down the drill string to cool the bit, carry cuttings to the surface, and stabilize the borehole. [pdf]

Drilling rig flow lines

A flow line, used on a drilling rig, is a large diameter pipe (typically a section of casing) that is connected to the bell nipple (under the drill floor) and extends to the possum belly (on the mud tanks) and acts as a return line (for the drilling fluid as it comes out of the hole), to the mud. Possum BellyThe is used to slow the flow of returning before it hits the . This enables the shale shaker to clean the cuttings out of the drilling fluid before it is returned to the pits for circulation.. . Another common add on is the sample box. This is a heavy duty rubber hose that is inserted at the end of the flow line and at the other end emplaced into the sample box itself. The sample box is used to capture sa. . A stinger line is similar to a flow line, but unlike a flow line is not used to maintain circulation. The stinger line is attached to the to allow for the pressure from a to be released. The stinger line. [pdf]

Flow nipple drilling rig

An enlarged pipe at the top of a casing string that serves as a funnel to guide drilling tools into the top of a well. The bell nipple is usually fitted with a side outlet to permit drilling fluids to flow back to the surface mud treating equipment through another inclined pipe called a flowline. [pdf]