[Steely Tom]

Mud motor. The end of the drill pipe has a “motor” driven by the pumping of the drilling fluid through it. This fluid then flows back up outside lifting out the cuttings.

Wow. A mud motor. Incredible.

The pipes that bring the pressurized mud down must have to operate under a lot of pressure. The engines topside must be monsters.

[Mouton]

and heat.

Interesting, there was a story today about the amount of fine which Anadarko faces over the BP rig spill.