Swivels and Pumps

In the drilling world, the swivel is the critical “middleman.” It sits between the top drive (or kelly) and the drill string, serving two vital—and seemingly opposite—functions at the same time.

The Dual Purpose
The swivel is engineered to handle a “moving contradiction”:

Mechanical Rotation: It allows the drill string to rotate thousands of times per hour while the upper hoisting equipment (the traveling block and cables) remains stationary.

Fluid Transfer: It provides a leak-proof seal so that high-pressure drilling mud or air can be pumped from a stationary hose down into the spinning drill pipe.