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Pulsation Dampener Technology Used in Drilling Today
Businesses involved in the oil and gas industries know just how essential maintenance can be to equipment performance. This is especially true in pumping and piping systems, which may be prone to pulsation, rattling, and other excess movements. To prevent severe wear and tear and ensure continued performance, it’s crucial to control the pulse in positive displacement pumping systems. Investing in advanced pulsation dampener technologies from a trusted manufacturer can help you accomplish this.
What Are Pulsation Dampeners?
If you have a positive displacement pump in your system, you’d probably notice some pulsation. To deal with the resulting pipe rattle and movement, you need a pulsation dampener. Much like shock absorbers in a car, pipes should have pulsation dampeners that absorb the energy from the pulse wave caused by the positive displacement pump.
What Do Pulsation Dampeners Do?
Pulsation dampeners are installed at the discharge side of a reciprocating positive displacement pump. They help create an area of low pressure in the pipe system. Because they have enough volume to absorb the pulsation, they serve as “cushions.” By controlling pressure and flow variations, pulsation dampeners can enhance a hydraulic system’s overall performance while extending pumps’ service life.
Your Options
How do you go about finding the best pulsation dampener? They come in different types, but you can quickly narrow down the best choices based on the technology they use. Here are the five most popular pulsation dampener technologies available today:
1. Continental EMSCO PD55/A
PD55/A is a low-pressure, gas-charged pulsation dampener with a bell-shaped bladder. This pulsation dampener is cost-effective, lightweight, and readily available while leaving a small footprint. However, the Continental EMSCO PD55/A and its two variants aren’t scalable with advancing pressure requirements, plus it requires a nitrogen gas charge. It is a potential safety hazard when the gas cylinders aren’t cleaned, plus it is prone to burrs and pits, which may cause premature bladder failure.
Two Varients
Standard – Features a grate at the bottom of the dampener and a bladder with a solid rubber base extending to the grate when charged.
Modified – It doesn’t have a grate but uses an adapter plate with a conical surface and a bladder with a metal plug molded into the base that extends to the adapter plate, sealing the vessel when charged.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Readily available
- Lightweight
- Small footprint
Cons
- Isn’t scaleable with advancing pressure requirements
- Requires nitrogen gas charge
- A potential safety hazard when gas cylinders aren’t clean
- Prone to burrs and pits, causing premature bladder failure
2. Hydril K20
Knockoff Models: Chinese KB75, Mattco M20, PPC PD20
Working like the Continental EMSCO PD55/A, the Hydril K20 is affordable, available almost anywhere, and leaves a small footprint. What makes it and its knockoff models stand out is that they have multiple pressures available and are made from forged steel.
This option is not without downsides, however. The Hydril K20 has a poorly designed conical surface in the adapter plate. This can lead to bladder chatter, shortening the bladder service life. Like the previous option, it also requires a nitrogen gas charge, and it’s a safety risk when the cylinders aren’t cleaned. When the gas-charged bladder fails, it increases the downtime of a pulsation dampener because of maintenance requirements.
Pros
- Multiple pressures available
- Made from forged steel
- Readily available
- Lightweight
- Small footprint
Cons
- Poorly designed conical surface in adapter plate leads to bladder chatter, shortening bladder service life
- Requires nitrogen gas charge
- A potential safety hazard when gas cylinders aren’t clean
- Gas-charged bladder failure increases downtime due to maintenance
3. Hydril PASAAFE R120
Knockoff Models: Mattco SP140, PPC DR130
A multiple pressure-rated, maintenance free pulsation dampener, the Hydril PASAFE R120 works by choking the vessel discharge port to retain pumped media and reduce pulsations. Additionally, it is easy to find and made from forged steel. It is designed as a flow-through dampener with no gas charging required.
While it performs better than the two previous options, this pulsation dampener has serious weight issues, with heft ranging from 8,400 lbs to 15,600 lbs. It’s also expensive, with a price range between $55,000 and $100,000 per unit, and has a significant footprint. The required space for this dampener ranges from 81 inches to over 102 inches. It calls for regular draining and flushing to maintain needed volumes to work.
Pros
- Multiple pressures available
- Readily available
- Made from forged steel
- Flow through dampener
- No gas charging required
Cons
- Very expensive. Ranging from $55,000 to $100,000 per dampener
- Very heavy. Ranging from 8,400 lbs. to 15,600 lbs. per dampener
- Significant footprint issues. Required room needed ranges from 81″ to over 102″
- Needs regular draining and flushing to maintain needed volumes to work
4. Sigma’s Charge Free Dampener™
As a 10,000 PSI-rated pulsation dampener that uses both compression and kinetic energy exchange, Sigma’s Charge Free Dampener is an excellent choice for meeting the next wave in pressure requirements. Alongside the Sigma Charge Free Conversion Kit, it can deliver exceptional pulsation control and increased MWD signal detection. You also won’t have a problem with its weight because it’s the lightest 10,000 PSI drilling dampener in the market.
This charge free dampener allows for easy and worry-free maintenance. It is made from forged steel with a corrosion-resistant surface and fitted with hidden fasteners for a sleek look. It is also readily available and doesn’t need gas charges. The only downside is that it is not a flow-through dampener.
Pros
- Accommodates next wave of pressure requirements
- Delivers exceptional pulsation control and increased MWD signal detection utilizing Sigma’s Charge Free Conversion Kit
- Lightest 10,000 PSI drilling dampener on the market
- Made with forged steel
- Easy and worry-free maintenance
- No gas charging required
- Readily available
- Corrosion-resistant surfaces
- Hidden fasteners
- Compact – 25″ OD
Cons
- Not a flow through dampener
5. Sigma’s Charge Free™ Dampening System
This impressive 10,000 PSI-rated, advanced multi-staged pulsation control system is designed for maximum performance and cost savings. It offers all Sigma’s Charge Free Dampeners features with the added benefit of a Charge Free Suction Stabilizer and an Acoustic Assassin®. Plus, it has no known downsides. Sigma’s Charge Free Dampening System is the most advanced complete pump performance system.
Pros
- All the advantages of the Charge Free Dampeners with the added benefits of a Charge Free Suction Stabilizer and an Acoustic Assasin. Sigma’s Charge Free dampening System is the most advanced complete pump performance system.
Cons
- None known
Making Your Choice
Reduce damage to your pipe system’s components, especially pipe welds and supports, with the right pulsation dampening system. This way, you can expect more significant and longer-lasting performance from your equipment.
As a pulsation control solution leader, Sigma Drilling Technologies takes pride in providing everything from quality custom engineered products to groundbreaking upgrades for existing systems. Our goal is to help clients succeed and get the most out of their equipment investment.
