Abstract The innovative approach to environmental safety upgrade of pumping-circulatory equipment of drilling rigs based on the analysis of life history and continuous perfection principles. Examples of implementation of innovative approach in environmental safety investigation of oil and gas wells in order to define environmentally hazardous units of equipment and technological processes are given. In order to solve the problem of environmental safety improvement and the effectiveness of flushing out of well that are being drilled a modernized scheme of drilling rig pumping-circulatory system has been designed. System approach of modernizing separate elements of pumping-circulatory system has been used. The maximum air-tight pumping-circulatory drilling rig system has been designed. The proposed model takes into account the necessity of hazardous evaporations outlet with the aim of their further utilization. Such an approach will avoid the entry harmful substances into the environment and prevent harmful effects of aggressive substances on health personnel of drilling rig, environment and on state of the technological equipment.