Lubrication Mud Motor Bearings , Mudstack Thrust Bearings For Downhole Drilling Tools

Downhole drilling motor bearings

Whether you’re drilling for oil or gas, the bearings in a mud motor at the end of a drill string have a direct impact on productivity and reliability.These mud motor bearings have to endure extreme operating conditions. In addition to severe axial and shock loads, these bearings are “l(fā)ubricated” with highly abrasive mud, which for a bearing is the definition of an extreme operating condition.

How the new bearing works ?

The typical mud motor bearing contains between 8 and 12 rows for design optimization. When the bearing is new, the majority of the load is accommodated by the first four or five rows. As each row starts to wear, the load is shifted to the next row and the next until all the rows are worn equally. Then, the load is shifted back to the first row and the process is repeated. This unique Monton design enables the bearing to last significantly longer than previous bearing designs.

About the redesign process

To significantly improve bearing performance and reliability,Monton engineers used proprietary Monton design and simulation tools to

? accurately define the behaviour of a bearing stack

? redesign the bearing to minimize stresses and optimise load carrying capacity

? test new designs and materials. With the Monton virtual test rig, engineers were able to identify and correct the problem of cracked rings and sheared balls – two common problems with these bearing

Customer benefits

? Improved wear-resistance

? Increased load carrying capacity

? Optimized load distribution

? Increased robustness

? Improved reliability

? Customized design

Monton solutions for downhole drilling tools
 
 
 
Whether you’re drilling for oil or gas, drill strings must endure extreme operating conditions. Monton solutions for downhole drilling tools are designed to increase performance and reliability.
 
Cylindrical thrust bearings 
To provide superior axial thrust load support for sealed motors, Monton’s cylindrical thrust bearings are manufactured to the highest quality standards. The contact surfaces between the rollers and the raceways, and the internal geometry are all controlled to extremely tight tolerances to improve performance compared to low-quality cylindrical thrust bearings available in the marketplace. 
 
Tungsten carbide radial bearings 
Specially designed to provide excellent radial load support for both sealed and mud motors, Monton tungsten carbide radial bearings are made using a unique microwave sintering process (resulting in 1 600 Vickers hardness) as compared to typical conventional sintering (with 1 000 Vickers hardness). This results in a high hardness of 92 HRa for excellent wear resistance and longer life. 
 
Downhole sealing solutions 
Monton has innovative seal designs and quality materials for downhole rotating seals exposed to high pressure. The Monton Teflathene seal incorporates a low-friction PTFE seal ring bonded to a rubber body. The all-rubber DM2 seal separates drifting mud from lubricants in oil-lubricated mud motor bearings. Bottom hole assembly (BHA) tools such as shocks and jars require seals to protect the tool hydraulics from the abrasive drill muds and cuttings in the hole. Measure-while-drilling (MWD) tools sometimes require high-temperature sealing solutions.Monton has developed a full line of field-proven seals to work in this demanding environment, including a seal capable of withstanding up to 315 °C (600 °F).
 
Mudstack thrust bearings 
Mud bearings close to the drill string end have a major impact on productivity and reliability. In addition to severe axial and shock loads, these bearings are “l(fā)ubricated” with highly abrasive mud, which for a bearing is the definition of an extreme operating condition. Monton’s mudstack bearings are optimized for our customers’ applications through rigorous finite element analysis and physical lab tests by testing the bearings with drilling mud circulating through them. 
Monton mudstack bearings provide:
? Improved wear resistance 
? Increased load-carrying capacity
? Optimized load distribution
? Increased robustness 
? Improved reliability 
? Customized design