Sigma Drilling Technologies

Sigma Drilling Technologies designs and produces pulsation control components for onshore and offshore drilling rigs. The line centers on charge free technology for mud pumps and other reciprocating pumping systems, which the company says removes the need for nitrogen or gas charging. Sigma describes itself as a small company focused on technology advancement and problem solving, with an emphasis on the oil and gas industry.

Product line

• Charge Free Dampener (CFD), a compact pulsation dampener rated to 10,000 psi, built with an internal curvature design intended to absorb energy through both compression and kinetic exchange
• Charge Free Stabilizer (CFS), a suction stabilizer rated at 150 psi that uses no cartridge and no gas charge
• Charge Free Conversion Kit (CFC Kit), supplied in suction and discharge versions, which reduces energy in drilling fluid by combining compression across a large surface area with increased kinetic exchange
• Charge Free Dampening System (CFDS), a multi-stage assembly of the components above
• Acoustic Assassin, an acoustics product with its own brochure and installation and inspection guide

Suction stabilization

The Charge Free Stabilizer is built around the CFC Kit rather than a gas charged cartridge, an approach the company presents as addressing the cost, performance and longevity problems it identifies in the pulsation control market. An interchangeable connection assembly allows the unit to be retrofitted to existing connections and reconfigured as rig designs change.

The stabilizer is manganese phosphate coated inside and out, a corrosion resistant finish that also serves as a paint primer. Sigma states that the dual mitigation approach used across the range targets pump isolation and cavitation elimination.

Complete dampening system

The Charge Free Dampening System combines the Charge Free Stabilizer and the Charge Free Dampener into a single multi-stage package, using both appendage and flow-through technologies. The company states that its 10,000 psi rating exceeds other pulsation control equipment in the drilling market and that the design also addresses post dampener acoustic resonance.

Because both components are coated inside and out, Sigma describes the assembled system as entirely corrosion resistant. It also states that the compact size and low weight help drilling contractors reduce DOT surcharges, and that the system requires no gas charging in service.

Technical literature and support

Sigma maintains a downloads library for the product range:

• Brochures for the CFDS, CFD, suction and discharge CFC Kits, CFS and Acoustic Assassin
• Installation guides for K-Style and PD55-Style CFC Kits
• An installation, operation and maintenance manual for the Charge Free Dampener
• A pulsation dampener service guide and documentation for the Sigma service pole for K-Style dampeners
• White papers on mud pump system optimization, super-spec rig performance, dampener refurbishment and pulsation dampener choices in the market

Products are sold through an online store, and equipment registration and warranty claim forms are handled on the company site.