2. 2
Learning Objectives
You should be able to:
• Describe rig operating environments
• Identify main rig systems and equipment
• Describe the functions of the systems
• Understand the rig inspection process and
your role in it
3. 3
Information Sources
• Drilling Manual
• API Recommended Practices
• Previous Rig Inspection Plans
• World Oil Composite Catalogs
• IADC Drilling Manual
• Vendor Material
4. 4
Land Rigs
• Solid foundation needed for land rigs
• Carrier-mounted/trailerized mobile rigs for fast rig move
• Helicopter transportable rigs for locations without accessible road
Heli-rig on Papua New Guinea
5. 5
• By height of mast – single, double, triple, fourble
• By derrick hookload capacity – 0.5 M lbs, 1.0 M lbs, 1.3 M lbs
• By rated well depth – 5000’, 10,000’, 20,000’, 35,000’
• By applications – drilling, workover, completions
• By design
Rigs Categorized by Operational Capability
8. 8
Rig Systems and Components
• Power System
• Hoisting System
• Rotating System
• Circulation System
• Well Control System
5 primary systems
associated with drilling rig
9. 9
Power System
• Engines: internal combustion engines provide shaft power
• Transmission:
– Mechanical - engine shaft power to compound for
distribution
– Electrical - engine shaft power to electrical generators &
then distributed through silicone controlled rectifier (SCR)
that converts AC electrical power to DC for variable speed
motors
10. 10
Hoisting System
• Drawworks, crown and traveling block -- Deliver hoisting power
to the hook
• Mast/derrick and substructure -- Provide a structural reaction to
the hoisting forces and setback. Setback is the amount of pipe
weight that can be vertically racked while the maximum hook
load is being carried.
11. 11
Hoisting System-Hydraulic
• A new type of hoisting system has recently been employed on
a few new semis and drill ships. The concept is known as a
Ram Rig or Hydra Lift Rig. Both concepts use hydraulic
cylinders to move the load up and down.
12. 12
Hoisting System
• Hook, links & elevators -- Provide a force path from the
drill stem to the rotary drill line
• Rotary swivel -- Provide for the rotation of the drill stem
with respect to the hook, while providing a force path to
the hook and a fluid path to the drill stem
• Maximum hook load = heaviest string of casing (typically)
14. 14
Rotating System
• Top drive - Hangs from the
hook. Motor provides
torque to the drill stem
through a drive shaft.
• Advantages:
1) Rotate while tripping
out
2) Can add 3 joints at a
time
3) Making up or breaking
out pipe easier
Varco
Maritime Hydraulics
15. 15
Circulating System - Mud Pits
• Mud pits -- Hold drilling and
completion fluids
• Various pit sizes
– Slug Pits - 30-100 bbls to mix
small batches of fluid- usually
directly hooked to hoppers and
mixing lines
– Active pits - 100-1000 bbls holds
fluid regularly circulated through
well
– Reserve pits - 100-1000 bbls
holds fluid for reserve use on
well. On land may be earth pit
– Sand Trap/Treatment Pits -
usually series of 3 pits where
mud initially returns from solids
control equipment. Pump to and
return from secondary solids
control such as desanders,
desilters etc..
16. 16
Circulating System - Mud Pumps
• Mud pumps – 3-5 piston
pumps (often with centrifugal
booster pumps) to circulate
mud
• Larger pump cylinder liner for
higher flow rate and smaller
liner for higher pressure
• Typically need high flowrate
for surface hole and high
pressure for production hole
17. 17
Circulating System- Standpipe Manifold
15
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andp i
pe # 1 Je tL i
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Tes tH ose
7
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9
8
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14
13
10
R i
se rBoos t
16
To C hokeM an if
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1
12
M
D
Standpipe Manifold -
directs HP mud flow
from mud pumps to
drill string or other
desired path
18. 18
Circulating System - Solids Control
• Shale shaker, desander, desilter & centrifuge -- Provides for the
removal of drilled solids from the drilling fluid upon return from
the well bore annulus
• Component selection depends on mud weight, mud cost,
equipment cost, and disposal cost
Deciliter
Centrifuge
Desander
Shaker
19. 19
Circulating System - Other Mud Treatment
• Gumbo Chain - for handling high volumes of soft-gumbo
shales- mostly used in GOM top hole sections
• Degassers - for removal of gas from mud stream post solids
control
Gumbo Chains Degassers
20. 20
Circulating System - Drilling Riser
• As a return mud flow path from
well at sea floor
• Typically consisting of slip joint,
riser joints and LMRP (lower
marine riser package) for floaters
• Casing often used as riser for
platform drilling
• Riser weight supported by
buoyancy can and tensioner
• Low pressure riser for floating
drilling and high pressure riser
for platform drilling, dual risers
for extreme conditions
• Kill/choke lines attached to riser
and booster line used to assist
cuttings transport
21. 21
Well Control System
PUMP-TYPE TRIP TANK LAYOUT
FILL LINE
FLOW LINE
CENTRIFUGAL
PUMPS
BELL
NIPPLE
ANNULAR
BOP
BOP
STACK
MUD
STANDPIPE
FLOW RATE
RECORDER
PVT
RECORDER
BOP REMOTE
CLOSING UNIT
HYDRAULIC
CHOKE CONSOLE
FILL LINE
TO
MUD
TANK
RELIEF
VALVE
PUMP
ISOLATION
VALVE
TO MUD
STANDPIPE
TO KILL LINE
BOP ACCULULATOR UNIT
MAIN CLOSING UNIT
TO REMOTE
CLOSING UNIT
ON RIG FLOOR
GRAVITY
TRIP TANK
KILL LINE
FROM MUD PUMP
OR
HIGH PRESSURE
PUMP
CHECK
VALVE
BOP
STACK
WELLHEAD
DRILL STRING
FLOAT VALVE
HYDRAULIC
CONTROLED
VALVE
FLOW RATE
DETECTOR
FLOW LINE
HYDRAULIC
CHOKE
CHOKE
MANIFOLD
BYPASS
MUD GAS
SEPERATOR
FLARE STACK
RESERVE PIT
SHALE SHAKER
DEGASSER
PIT VOLUME TOTALIZER
(PVT)
UPPER KELLY
SAFETY VALVE
LOWER KELLY
SAFETY VALVE
DRILL PIPE
SAFETY VALVE
INSIDE
BOP
Example Schematic Layout of
Well Control Equipment
Kick Detection Equip.
Kick Containment Equip.
Kick Circulating Equip.
BOPs
Choke Manifold
BOP Control System
Poor Boy Degasser
Trip Tank
22. 22
Well Control System
• Blowout preventer
(BOP) stack -- Provides
pressure isolation and
control during kicks
• Pressure rating is based
on maximum anticipated
surface pressure during
a well control event
• BOP stack arrangement
important. Annular,
Ram, pipe shear rams
BOP
26. 26
Well Control System
• Activated by remote control
unit on rig floor. Can open
or close BOP quickly.
• Choke also remotely
controlled
27. 27
Well Control System
• Choke Manifold provides
positive pressure and flow
rate control of the well
during a kick or live drilling
operation
• Equipped with both manual
and remote chokes
• Allows flow to be directed to
poor boy de-gasser, flare
line, other routes
G a s L i
ne
6
3
4
8
9
16
20
15 14
22
19
24
31
Te s tPo rt
30 29
33
34
K I
LL L I
NE
10
Te s tPo rt
17
18
27
13
F r
on tV i
ew
26
28
32
T o M ud G a sS epa r
a t
o r
H
H H
Te s tPo rt
CHO KE L I
NE
1 2
T o S t
and P i
pe M an if
o l
d
M
D
B ack S i
de
H
H
7
5
35
11
12
32. 32
Rig Floor Equipment
Iron Roughneck
• Make-up and Breakout of
tubulars
• Replaced Manual Tongs
• Increased Safety
• Integral Spinner
• Still use manual tongs for
large DCs or BHA components
33. 33
Rig Floor Equipment
Manual Tongs
• Make-up and Breakout of
tubulars
• Safety focus on proper use
and tong BU lines
• Pipe spinner in place of chain
for safety
• Still use manual tongs for
large DCs or BHA components
Pipe Spinner
Tongs
34. 34
Rig Floor Equipment
Torque-up Devices
• Draw works - MU/BO line
– Traditional method still
widely in use
• Hydraulic Cathead
– Found on newer rigs or
installed on older ones
– Safer, dedicated unit
41. 41
Inspection Requirements
“A checklist shall be developed, customized for the
specific rig, area and/or operation. Equipment
acceptance criteria shall be incorporated into the
checklist, where practical”
• Guidelines:
– Safety
– Regulatory Requirements
– Well Type, Duration of Program, Drilling Design
Standards
– Inspection Team Make-up: EM personnel
specialists, 3rd party Inspectors etc..
42. 42
QA/QC of Inspections
• Document Verification
• Daily Interaction-discussion of inspection progress
• Witnessing of tests
• Critical equipment - testing verification
43. 43
Inspection Planning and Follow-Up
• Coordinate with Superintendent on inspection
schedules
• Develop Checklist to track progress
• Develop Follow Up list to track outstanding items
• Track Progress on Follow-up items until
completed
44. 44
Rig Inspections - Non Destructive Testing
• Magnetic Particle
Inspection
• Ultraviolet
• Eddy Current
• Ultrasonic
Riser Spider
45. 45
Rig Inspections - Non Destructive Testing
Handling Equipment Lifting Equipment
• Ideal for identification of fatigue related failures
• Highly dependant on experience level of inspector
• Also applied to other areas - such as crane pedestals,
structural areas
46. 46
Rig Inspections - Non Destructive Testing
HP Piping
• UT of HP piping is a
high priority
• Focus on high flow
areas(tees, elbows)
• Well control and
standpipe
• Lines in close
proximity to cement
and mud pumps
• Freshly painted lines -
may have been painted to
cover extensive corrosion
48. 48
Rig Inspections - Being Thorough
BOP C&K Line Hose
Shows normal
wear and tear.
Passed both low
and High
pressure
tests to company
guidelines.
49. 49
Rig Inspections - Being Thorough
Upon visual inspection of the
inside of the hose with a
boroscope the inner lining
was found to be damaged and
the hose rejected.
50. 50
Rig Inspections - Tubulars
Tubular inspection based on DS-
1 Criteria.
Varies on well requirements
• Dependent on Inspector
Quality
• Perform as early as possible -
in case of high rejection rate
• Mark and separate failed
tubulars - get off rig!!
51. 51
Rig Inspections - Visual: Human Factors
• Does driller have a
clear view ?
• What type of work are
we going to be doing
with the rig ?
• Weight Indicator
working properly ?
• Pressure monitoring
sufficient ?
• Do we have a
mudloggers screen
on the rig floor - do
we need it ?
54. 54
Rig Inspections - Rig Operability: Equipment
• Does the rig have sufficient pump capacity for our planned
operations ?
• Is the solids control equipment up to our program
requirements ?
• How will this rig’s equipment capability limit us?
55. 55
Rig Inspections - Rig Operability: Space and Layout
• Does the rig have enough room
for our planned operations ?
• Is pit capacity sufficient ?
56. 56
Summary
• Learned about 5 main rig systems, their
functions and some broad selection criteria
• Learned about tubular and other rig type
handling equipment
• Learned about rig acceptance inspection work
