BlocksDrilling Line Rev-peview

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The Blocks andDrilling LineThird Edition, Revised

ROTARY DRILLING SERIES

Unit I, Lesson 5

By L. D. Davis

Published by

PETROLEUM EXTENSION SERVICEThe University of Texas at Austin

Division of Continuing & Innovative Education

Austin, Texas

Originally produced by

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF DRILLING CONTRACTORSHouston, Texas

2013


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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Davis, L.D. 1953

The blocks and drilling line / L.D. Davis. 3rd ed.

p. cm. (Rotary drilling series ; unit 1, lesson 5)

ISBN 0-88698-170-0 (pbk.)

1. Oil well drillingEquipment and supplies. 2. Pulleys.

3. Wire rope. I. Title. II. Series.

TN871.5.D332 1996

622'.3381dc20

96-13442

CIP

1996 (Revised 2013) by The University of Texas at Austin

All rights reserved

First Edition published 1966. Third Edition published 1996

Sixth impression 2013

Printed in the United States of America

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without

permission of Petroleum Extension Service, The University of Texas at

Austin.

Brand names, company names, trademarks, or other identifying symbols

appearing in illustrations and/or text are used for educational purposes

only and do not constitute an endorsement by the author or the publisher.

Catalog no. 2.105301

ISBN 0-88698-170-0

No state tax funds were used to publish this book. The University of Texas at

Austin is an equal opportunity employer.

Disclaimer

Although all reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication, theauthors, the Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX) of The University ofTexas at Austin, and any other individuals and their affiliated groups involvedin preparing this content, assume no responsibility for the consequencesof its use. Each recipient should ensure he or she is properly trained andinformed about the unique policies and practices regarding application ofthe information contained herein. Any recommendations, descriptions, andmethods in this book are presented solely for educational purposes.

Graphic Designer:Debbie Caples


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Contents

Figures vii

Tables viii

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xi

Units of Measurement xiiIntroduction 1

Derricks versus Masts 2

Hoisting System Components 2

Top Drives 3

Blocks 4

Drilling Line 4

Deadline Tie-Down Anchor 4

Lifting and Lowering 5

Drilling Line, Crown Block, and Traveling Block 6

To Summarize 6

Installing the Line 7

Pulling Line from the Supply Reel 7

Reeving the Crown Block 8

Reeving the Traveling Block 8

Reeving between the Crown Block and the Traveling Block 8

Taking in Line on the Drawworks 9

Securing the Deadline 9

Using the Hoisting System 9

System Overview 10

To Summarize 14

Service Life 15Factors that Affect Service Life 15

Derrick Height 15

Sheave Size 16

Line Tension 16

Drawworks Drum 17

Deadline Tie-Down Anchor 18

Handling 18

Drilling Job Type 18

To Summarize 18

Drilling Line Construction 19

Wire-Rope Steel 20Preforming 20

Design 21

Cores 21

Strands 21

Construction 21

Single Layer 22


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Filler Wire 22

Seale 22

Warrington 22

Combination 22

Wire-Rope Lay 24

Ordering Wire Rope 25

Selection 25Diameter 25

Length 27

Slip-and-Cut Programs 28

Slipping 29

Cutting 29

Cost Versus Line Length 30

To Summarize 31

Reeving 33

Reeving Pattern 33

Number of Lines 36

Other Factors 36Fleet Angle 37

Reeving Using Old Line 38

Reeving Using a Catline 41

To Summarize 42

Drum Spooling 43

Types of spooling 44

Helical Grooving Pattern 44

One-Step Grooving Pattern 45

Two-Step, or Counterbalance, Spooling 46

Two-Step Spooling with Soft Crossover 47

To Summarize 48

Measuring Service Life 49

Slip and Cutoff 49

Slipping 50

Planning Slipping and Cutoff 53

Cutting 54

Procedure for Slip and Cutoff 57

Using Charts 58

Visual Inspection 61

To Summarize 62

Care of Wire Rope 63Care at the Supply Reel 63

Minimizing Stress 65

Minimizing Scrubbing 66

Care at the Drum 66

Lubrication 68

Factory Lubrication 68


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Field Lubrication 68

To Summarize 70

Visual Inspection 71

To Summarize 72

Blocks and Hook 73

Load Capacity 76Sheaves 76

Sheave Construction 76Groove Radius 77Tread Diameter 78

Crown Block 80

Traveling Block 82Traveling Block Design 84Hook 84

Combination Hook-Block 86

To Summarize 88

Elevators 89Bottleneck Elevators 90

Collar-Lift or Square Shoulder Elevators 91

Elevator Design, Size, and Latches 91

To Summarize 92

Care of Blocks, Hook, and Elevators 93

Lubrication of Blocks and Hook 93

Sheaves 94

Visual Inspection of Blocks and Drilling Line 95

Visual Inspection of Hook Assembly 96

Hydraulic Snubber Oil Level 97

Elevator Lubrication and Inspection 97Elevator-Link Check 99

To Summarize 99

Conclusion 101

Appendix A: Calculating Ton-Miles (Megajoules) of Drilling

Line Service 103

Appendix B: Slip-and-Cutoff Programs 113

Appendix C: Troubleshooting Drilling Line Problems 116

Glossary 117

Review Questions 127

Answers to Review Questions 139


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INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Lifting, or hoisting, subsurface equipment is a basic part ofdrilling. Crewmembers run and pull core samples, fishing tools,and testing tools. They also run and pull casing, drill bits, and thou-sands of feet (metres) of drill pipe as the hole gets deeper. Without a

hoisting system, rotary drilling could not happen. Several key com-

ponents make up the hoisting system: drawworks, a mast or a derrick,

a crown block, a traveling block, and a wire-rope drilling lineall

work in conjunction to drill a hole (fig. 1).

A derrick(a standard derrick) is a tower that crewmembers assemble

piece by piece. A mast, on the other hand, is a portable derrick that

a manufacturer assembles once and sells as a one-piece unit. Mostdrilling rigs use a mast. Almost everybody in the drilling industry,

however, calls a mast a derrick. This book does the same.

In this chapter:

The difference between a derrick and a mast The drawworks and crown block

How a top-drive system works

The central function of the blocks and drilling line

Lifting loads and stresses

Derricks VersusMasts

The hoisting system helps

the crew to run and pull: Core samples Fishing tools

Testing tools Casing

Drill bits Drill pipe


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THE BLOCKS AND DRILLING LINE

The drawworksis a large winch with a drum. (For a detailed discussion

of the drawworks, see Lesson 6, The Drawworks and the Compound.)

Crewmembers spool the drilling line onto it. The drilling line runs

from the drawworks to the crown block. The line then goes through

the traveling block and suspends it in the derrick (see fig. 1).

The manufacturer attaches a large hook and adds two protrusions

(ears) to the traveling block. Crewmembers insert the two links (bails)of a pipe-gripping devicethe elevatorsinto the traveling blocks

ears. They also latch a swivel into the hook, using a bail on the swivel.

The swivels bail is like the bail (the handle) on a bucket, only much

bigger. Crewmembers make up (connect) the kelly and drill pipe to

the swivel when making hole(fig. 2). The elevators grip stands of pipe

when coming out of the hole (fig. 3).

Hoisting SystemComponents

Figure 1. The hoisting system

CROWN

BLOCK

DERRICK

WIRE ROPE

DRILLING

LINE

TRAVELING

BLOCK

DRAWWORKS


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INTRODUCTION

Figure 2. Hook, swivel, andkelly assembly

Figure 3. Elevators latched todrill pipe

Figure 4. Top-drive system

Top DrivesInstead of a conventional swivel, some hooks suspend a top-drivesystem (fig. 4). Thetop drivehas a powerful motor that turns the drillstem. A top drive is somewhat like a powered swivel, because it has a

motor. Crewmembers attach the top of the drill stem to a drive shaft

in the top drive. The top drives motor turns the drive shaft, the drill

stem, and the bit. Rigs with top drives do not use a kelly or the rotat-

ing parts of the rotary table.

DRILL

STEM

TOP

DRIVE

KELLY

ASSEMBLY

DRILL

PIPE

BIT

DRILLING

HOOK

SWIVEL

ELEVATORS

DRILLINGLINES

TRAVELING

BLOCK

EARS

CROWN

BLOCK

BAILS

ELEVATORS

DRILL PIPE


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THE BLOCKS AND DRILLING LINE

Blocks

Drilling Line

With or without a top drive, the blocksand drilling lineare central to

the hoisting system. Rigs use two blocks. One is the crown block and

the other is the traveling block. The crown block is at the top of the

derrick. The drillermoves the traveling block up and down the der-rick between the crown block and the rig floor. Both blocks are two

giant pulleys that have high-strength wire-rope drilling line running

between them.

Manufacturers make drilling line by braiding together several strands

of high-strength steel. Rig hands reeve(thread) this wire rope between

the crown block and the traveling block. They run it back and forth

from the crown block to the traveling block several times. The more

times the workers string the line between the two blocks, the more

weight the hoisting assembly can lift. Reeving several lines multipliesthe lines lifting capacity. After reeving the line, workers attach one

end of it to the drawworks drum. They attach the other end to the

deadline tie-down anchor.

The deadline tie-down anchorfirmly grips one end of the drilling line

and keeps it from moving (fig. 5). It is a strong, rugged device that

crewmembers usually bolt to the rigs substructure or to another

heavy, stationary part of the rig. Besides anchoring the drilling line,

the anchor also serves as a mount for the weight indicators sensing

device. The weight indicator, which is on the drillers console, tellsthe driller how much the hook load is and how much weight is on the

bit. (Hook loadis how much weight is hanging from the hook. Weight

on the bit is how much drill stem weight is pressing on the bit.) The

weight indicators sensor is a special strain gauge. As the weight of

the load on the deadline flexes the deadline, the sensor picks up the

flexes and sends a signal to the weight indicator on the rig floor. The

weight indicator then translates the signal into weight on the bit and

the hook load.

Deadline Tie-DownAnchor

The deadline tie-downanchor:

Grips one end of thedrilling line

Mounts the weight

indicators sensing device

The weight indicator showshook load and weight on

bit.


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INTRODUCTION

With one end of the line firmly fastened to the anchor and the other

end attached to the drawworks drum, the driller can reel in the drilling

line with the drawworks. Reeling in the line lifts the traveling block

and whatever is attached to it. Letting out line lowers the traveling

block. The drawworks brake controls the blocks descent.

Figure 5. Deadlinetie-down anchor

Lifting and Lowering

DEADLINETO CROWN

BLOCK

TOSUPPLY

REEL

LOADSENSOR

BOLTS MOUNTANCHOR TO RIG

HYDRAULIC LINE(HOSE) TO WEIGHT

INDICATOR

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