Unmatched Expertise
Mud Pump Overhaul, Repair & Inspection Services
Leading with Excellence:
American Mud Pumps® provides mud pump overhauls, Category III and Category IV inspections, component repairs, and preventive maintenance for triplex and quintuplex drilling pumps. Our field service team works on land and offshore rigs worldwide and at our Houston facility, on AMP pumps and on compatible legacy platforms. Every job closes with a documented recertification certificate.
Inspection Categories, Explained
Drilling contractors and operators use four inspection categories for mud pumps, defined in API Recommended Practice 7L. Each level builds on the one before it.
Category | What it covers | Typically performed by |
|---|---|---|
I | Observation during operation for signs of inadequate performance | Rig crew |
II | Category I plus checks for corrosion, deformation, loose or missing components, deterioration, lubrication, and visible cracks | Rig crew |
III | Category II plus NDT of critical areas, with partial disassembly to find wear beyond manufacturer tolerances | AMP field service |
IV | Category III plus disassembly to the extent needed to NDT all primary load-carrying components | AMP, on-site or at our Houston facility |
Category IV Mud Pump Overhaul
A Category IV overhaul is the most complete inspection a mud pump receives short of remanufacture. The pump is disassembled so every primary load-carrying and critical component can be cleaned, measured, and tested. It is then rebuilt to specifications and recertified. Contractors typically schedule one for rig recertification, at intervals set by their maintenance program, after a major failure, or before returning a stacked rig to work.
We perform Category IV overhauls on the rig or at our Houston facility. On-site work is usually the better choice: it avoids the cost and time of transporting the pump.
What a Category IV overhaul includes
-
Records review: model, power-end and fluid-end serial numbers, rated horsepower, maximum discharge pressure, stroke length, liner size, and last recertification date.
-
Full disassembly and cleaning of the power end and fluid end.
-
Gears and shafts: bull gear and pinion tooth condition, backlash, bull gear runout, pinion shaft end float, and crankshaft end play.
-
Bearings: main, eccentric/connecting-rod, and pinion bearing clearances, measured at left, center, and right positions and checked for pitting, flaking, rust, and breakage.
-
Crossheads and guides: feeler-gauge clearances through the full stroke with rods and clamps connected and disconnected, plus slide-surface and guide condition.
-
Intermediate rods: vertical and horizontal runout at each position.
-
Non-destructive testing: magnetic particle (MPI) and eddy current inspection of critical areas.
-
Lubrication, fluid end, and auxiliaries: lube pump and lines, crosshead oil ports, liner wash, charge pump, breather, seals, pulsation dampener, relief valve, valves, seats, springs, pistons, and liners.
-
Rebuild and reassembly: out-of-tolerance parts replaced, bolts torqued to specification, and all secondary retention verified.
-
Pressure test: hydrostatic test recorded with a calibrated gauge before the pump returns to service.
Mud Pump Packaging
Mud Pump Inspection and Condition Assessment
When a full teardown isn’t needed, an AMP inspection shows exactly where your pump stands. We perform scheduled inspections, breakdown inspections, and post-repair verification.
Every check point is measured in inches from the power end and rated on a five-level scale, from As New to Urgent. You can see which items are serviceable, which need monitoring, and which must be corrected before the pump runs again. Findings come with prioritized recommendations (high, medium, low), so you can plan budget and downtime around them.
Preventive Maintenance Programs
A preventive maintenance program built around your pumps’ operating hours and duty cycle catches wear before it becomes a failure and extends the life of major components. Each scheduled visit uses the same inspection points and rating scale, so you can see trends from one inspection to the next.
Your Recertification Certificate
Every inspection and overhaul ends with an AMP Recertification Certificate. It records:
-
Equipment identification and the inspection standard applied
-
Measured values and condition ratings for each check point
-
NDT and pressure test results
-
Corrective actions, ranked by priority
-
One of three outcomes: Recertified for Service, Recertified with Limitations (conditions stated), or Not Recertified
-
Recertification interval, next due date, and certificate number
-
Sign-off by the preparer, reviewer, and approver
Records are maintained under our ISO 9001 quality management system.
Pump Platforms We Service
We service American Mud Pumps triplex, quintuplex, and well service pumps. We also inspect and overhaul pumps compatible with legacy platforms, including EWECO, LEWCO, EMSCO, National, Oilwell, and Gardner Denver designs.
EWECO, LEWCO, EMSCO, National, Oilwell, Gardner Denver, and other names are trademarks of their respective owners. American Mud Pumps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized service provider for these companies. References indicate compatibility only.
How a Service Engagement Works
-
Send us your pump details: model, serial numbers, rated horsepower, location, last recertification date, and the service you need.
-
We agree on scope (inspection category, repairs, and schedule) and send a quote.
-
Our technicians mobilize to your rig, or the pump comes to our facility in Houston.
-
We inspect, measure, and test, and report findings before any repair work begins.
-
We repair or overhaul, then pressure-test.
-
You receive your Recertification Certificate and a recommended date for the next service.
Mud Pump Packaging
Turnkey packages, engineered around your rig
American Mud Pumps designs and builds mud pump packages from 500 to 3,000 HP for drilling in over 38 countries. We manufacture the entire pump line, allowing customization of drive and configuration without third-party delays.
Options include various drive types and styles, all assembled in Houston under ISO 9001 standards, passing a 4-hour Factory Acceptance Test. We also provide re-skidding, re-powering, and re-certification for existing pumps at 40–60% of the cost of new units.
AMPQ-800 Quintuplex mud pump package with Diesel engine arrangement.
Packages are built under our ISO 9001 quality management system, with DNV certification experience on quintuplex skid packages.
We had experienced performance issues with mud pump before. With AMP, everything was clear, fast, and error-free. On top of that, their service prices stood out compared to others, all while maintaining excellent quality."
Mike T., Alberta, Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
What quality standards does American Mud Pumps follow?
American Mud Pumps is ISO 9001 certified and compliant with API Spec Q2.
How do you make sure every job is done correctly?
Our own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set how every installation, repair and torque value is performed and checked. That way, each job meets the same standard, no matter who does the work or where.
What is a Category IV mud pump inspection?
It is the most thorough of the four API inspection categories. On top of a Category III inspection, the pump is disassembled to the extent needed to perform NDT on all primary load-carrying components.
What is the difference between Category III and Category IV?
Category III adds NDT of critical areas and may involve partial disassembly. Category IV requires disassembly so that all primary load-carrying components can be tested.
How often does a mud pump need a Category IV inspection?
There is no single interval. Equipment owners set it based on operating time, load cycles, environment, repair history, and regulatory or contract requirements. We can help you set an interval, and we record it on your certificate.
Can Category IV work be done on the rig?
Yes, and we recommend it. Performing the overhaul on the rig avoids the cost and time of transporting the pump. When a facility overhaul is the better fit, we perform it at our Houston facility.
What do I receive at the end of an inspection or overhaul?
An AMP Recertification Certificate with measured values, condition ratings, NDT and pressure test results, prioritized recommendations, and your next recertification date.
Do you service pumps not built by AMP?
Yes. We inspect and overhaul pumps compatible with legacy platforms such as EWECO, LEWCO, EMSCO, National, Oilwell, and Gardner Denver designs.
What information do you need to quote a job?
Pump model, power-end and fluid-end serial numbers, rated horsepower and maximum discharge pressure, rig location, last recertification date, and service type: scheduled, breakdown, or post-repair.
Where do you provide field service?
Anywhere in the world, except countries subject to U.S. sanctions.
Services are not available in countries or regions, or to parties, subject to U.S. sanctions or embargoes. All services are provided in accordance with applicable U.S. export control and sanctions laws.