Any of several devices used to agitate, or mix, the liquids and solids that make up drilling fluid.

These devices include jet hoppers, paddles, stirrers, mud guns, and chemical barrels.

A trough or pipe that is placed between the surface connections at the wellbore and the shale shaker and through which drilling mud flows upon its return to the surface from the hole.

Also called flow line.

A device that continually measures and may record the flow rate of mud returning from the annulus and flowing out of the mud return line.

If the mud does not flow at a fairly constant rate, a kick or lost circulation may have occurred.

Substances generally regarded as drilling mud contaminants, such as salt and calcium sulfate, are called inhibitors when purposely added to mud so that the filtrate from the drilling fluid will prevent or retard the hydration of formation clays shells.

A plan or procedure, with respect to depth, for the type and properties of drilling fluid to be used in drilling a well.

Some factors that influence the mud program are the casing program and such formation characteristics as type, competence, solubility, temperature, and pressure.

An open pit dug in the ground to hold drilling fluid or waste materials discarded after the treatment of drilling mud.

For some drilling operations, mud pits are used for suction to the mud pumps, settling of mud sediments, and storage of reserve mud.

Steel tanks are much more commonly used for these purposes now, but they are still sometimes referred to as pits.

A device that removes gas from the mud coming out of a well when a kick is being circulated out.

See mud-flow indicator

The derrickman’s working platform.

As pipe of tubing is run into or out of the hole, the derrickman must handle the top end of the pipe, which may be as high as 90 feet (27 m) in the derrick or mast.

The monkeyboard provide a small platform to raise him to the proper height for handling the top of the pipe.

A pinned-end pup joint used to provide additional length and inside diameter necessary to accommodate a standard milling tool.

The lowest internal pressure at which a failure (of pipe) will take place.

The smallest particle of a substance that retains the properties of the substance.

It is composed of one or more atoms.

The sum of the atomic weights in a molecule.

For example, the molecular weight of water is 18, because the atomic weight of each of the hydrogen molecules is 1 and the atomic weight of oxygen is 16.

See mole

Abbreviation: milliliter.

The rights of ownership, conveyed by deed, of gas, oil, and other minerals beneath the surface of the earth.

In the united states, mineral rights are the property of the surface owner unless disposed of separately.