A device enabling the driller to quickly detect pump trouble and changes occurring in drilling operations. A reciprocating mud pump is equivalent to a positive displacement meter; thus a stroke counter is an accurate means of measuring the amount of fluid needed to fill the hole.
Pump stoke counters can be attached to the mud pumps to relay the number of strokes of each pump to the driller´s location. Counters are frequently furnished as an added features with other indicating devices.