The drilling pump was originally called the "mud pump". If the entire drilling construction process is likened to human life activities, then the drilling pump, like the human heart, is the source of drilling fluid from the ground to the bottom of the well and then back to the ground from the bottom of the well. Drilling pumps are an important part of drilling equipment.

In the commonly used positive circulation drilling, it is to send the surface flushing medium - clean water, drilling fluid or polymer flushing liquid to the bottom end of the drill bit through a high pressure hose, faucet and drill rod center hole under a certain pressure. In order to achieve the purpose of cooling the drill bit, cutting the cuttings and transporting it to the surface.

The commonly used drilling pump is a piston type or a plunger type, and the crankshaft of the pump is driven by the power machine, and the crankshaft passes the crosshead to drive the piston or the plunger to reciprocate in the pump cylinder. Under the alternate action of the suction valve and the discharge valve, the purpose of pumping and circulating the drilling fluid is achieved. During the drilling process, if the drilling pump is not working properly, a downhole drilling accident will occur, just as the human heart stops beating.

The classification of drilling pumps can be divided into single-acting drilling pumps and double-acting drilling pumps according to the action form. According to the number of cylinders, they can be divided into single cylinders, double cylinders, three cylinders and five cylinders.