Slb Forex Drilling Training Manual

8/13/2019 Slb Forex Drilling Training Manual

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/slb-forex-drilling-training-manual 1/78

Finished on July 12 2006

Egypt

ONTENTS



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

VOLUME ONE

AN INTRODUCTION TO RIG TYPES AND BASIC DRILLING STRING

COMPONENTS

Rig types……………………………………………………………………………

10

Overview

Land Rigs

Mobilizing Land Rigs

Jack-Up Rigs

Mobilizing Jack-Up Rigs

Plator! Rigs

"#b!ersibles

"e!i-s#b!ersibles

"e!i-s#b!ersible Mobilization

$rill s%ips

&elly ' (op

$rives………………………………………………………………)))11

Making *ole

Overview

(op $rive "yste!

(op $rive Operation

&elly "yste!s&elly Operation

$rilling "tring

+o!ponents……………………………………………………))1,

Overview

$rill Pipe

$rill Pipe "pecs

o. ' Pin

$rill Pipe Make Up

*eavy /alled $rill Pipe

"piral *eavy /alled $rill Pipe

$rill +ollars

"lick ' "piral $rill +ollars

+rossover "#bs

Rea!ers ' "tabilizers

otto! *ole sse!bly

Pipe Rack

$rill its……………………………………………………………………………)1

Overview

Roller +one its"teel (oot% it

2



OILWELL DRILLING

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(#ngsten +arbide it

2i.ed +#tter it

P$+ it

P$+ +o!pact

$ia!ond it+ore it and arrel

"pecial $rill "tring

(ools………………………………………………………)))13

Overview

$rilling Jars

$rilling Jar Operation

M/$

M#d Motor

$irectional /ells

*orizontal /ells

VOLUME TWO

BASIC BLOWOUT PREVENTION EQUIPMENT

Press#re +ontrol…………………………………………………………………)14

Overview

lowo#t

(aking a &ick

lowo#t Preventers………………………………………………………………15asic +oncepts

OP Operation

asic OP 67#ip!ent……………………………………………………………

,0

Overview

$riller8s OP +ontrol

cc#!#lator

*ydra#lic Lines

Operating Lever on cc#!#lator

+%oke Maniold 9 +%okes

+%oke Operation

+%oke +ontrol Panel

M#d-:as "eparator

"eparator Operation

2lare Line ' 2lare Pit

(rip (ank

(rip (ank Operation

"#bsea OP 67#ip!ent…………………………………………………………,,

OverviewMarine Riser "yste!

3



OILWELL DRILLING

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Riser ' :#ideline (ensioner

$rill "tring ;alves '

<OPs……………………………………………………))),=

Overview

Upper 9 Lower &elly +ocks2#ll-Opening "aety ;alve

"aety ;alve Usage

2loat ;alves

VOLUME THREE

INTRODUCTION TO DRILLING FLUIDS

M#d (ypes…………………………………………………………………………),>

Overview

/ater ased M#d

Oil M#d

$rilling wit% ir

2oa! $rilling

erated $rilling

$rilling 2l#id 2#nction…………………………………………………………))),

Overview

+leaning t%e *ole

+ooling 9 L#brication

Protecting /ellbore /alls+ontrolling 2or!ation Press#re

Obtaining $own%ole <nor!ation

M#d Properties ' dditives……………………………………………………),3

entonite

arite

P*

+a#stic "oda

:elled M#d

M#d (ests…………………………………………………………………………)),4

Overview

M#d alance

Mars% 2#nnel

Rotational ;isco!eter

2ilter Press

+%loride (est

VOLUME FOUR

MUD CIRCULATION & TREATING EQUIPMENTM#d "yste! Overview…………………………………………………………))),?

4



OILWELL DRILLING

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Overview

M#d (anks

M#d P#!ps

"tandpipe ' Rotary *ose

it ' nn#l#sRet#rn Line@ "%aker ' M#d (anks

M#d "torage@ (anks ' Reserve Pit……………………………………………)=0

Overview

M#d *o#se

#lk (anks

ctive (anks

"and (rap

"ettling (anks

Reserve (anks

"l#g (ank

"#ction (ank

+%e!ical (ank

Reserve Pit

M#d

P#!ps………………………………………………………………………)))=1

Overview

(riple. P#!p

(riple. P#!p Operation

$#ple. P#!pP#!p +o!ponents

ladder-(ype P#lsation $a!pener

Aonbladder-(ype P#lsation $a!pener

"#ction $a!pener

$isc%arge Line Relie ;alve

"#ction Line Relie ;alve

P#!p $isc%arge Line

M#d +onditioning…………………………………………………………………

=>

Overview

"%ale "%aker

$egasser

;ac##! $egasser Operation

*ydrocyclone Operation

+entri#ge

gitator

Pit ;ol#!e (otalizer

+entri#gal P#!p

*opper Jet *opper

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OILWELL DRILLING

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VOLUME FIVE

HOISTING EQUIPMENT

Overview……………………………………………………………………………=42#nction o *oisting 67#ip!ent

*oisting "yste! +o!ponents

*oisting "yste! Operation

+rown lock………………………………………………………………………)=5

+rown lock Operation

(raveling lock ' *ook

Overview

Motion B*eaveC +o!pensator

Motion +o!pensator Operation

+o!bination *ook-lock

"eparate *ook ' (raveling lock

*ook@ Links ' 6levator

6levator

(ypes o 6levators

*ook Positioner ' "wivel Lock sse!bly

*ydra#lic "n#bber

$rilling Line………………………………………………………………………))>0

$rilling Line

Reeving $rilling Line"#pply B"torageC Reel

/ear Points on Line

"lipping and +#tting $rilling Line

$eadline nc%or

$rawworks…………………………………………………………………………>1

Overview

raking "yste!

$isk rake "yste!

6lectrodyna!ic rake

Latest $rawworks

+rown "aver

VOLUME SIX

ROTATING EQUIPMENT, MAST & SUBSTRUCTURE

Rotating 67#ip!ent………………………………………………………………

>=

Overview

&elly ' Rotary (able……………………………………………………………)))>=&elly sse!bly

6



OILWELL DRILLING

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&elly $etail

Rotary (able Operation

"etting "lips

"wivel ' Rotary *ose

"wivel Operation(op $rive BPower "wivelC ………………………………………………………)>

Overview

(op $rive dvantages ' $isadvantages

(op $rive sse!bly

Mast ' $erricks…………………………………………………………………))>3

Overview

Mast

*eig%t ' +apacity

"tands

+rown /alkaro#nd B/ater (ableC

Monkeyboard

"tabbing oard

"#bstr#ct#re………………………………………………………………………>4

Overview

;-$oor@ Pipe Ra!p ' +atwalk

VOLUME SEVEN

PIPE HANDLING EQUIPMENTPipe *andling……………………………………………………………………))>5

Overview

Pipe *andling Operation………………………………………………………))>5

Making a +onnection wit% &elly

Making a +onnection wit% a (op $rive

(ripping o#t wit% &elly

(ripping in wit% &elly

(ripping wit% (op $rive@ 1

(ripping wit% a (op $rive@ ,

(ripping wit% a (op $rive@ =

"lips ' 6levator "yste!s………………………………………………………)0

"lips

"aety +la!p on $rill +ollar

"lips ' "piders

6levator

Liting "#b

6levator on (op $rive

"pinning ' (or7#ing $evices…………………………………………………)),

(ongsMake#p +at%ead

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OILWELL DRILLING

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reako#t +at%ead

*ydra#lic +at%ead

Power (ongs

"pinning /renc%

&elly "pinner <ron Ro#g%neck

Pipe (ranser………………………………………………………………………>

Pipe Racking "yste!

Rat%ole

Mo#se%ole

ir *oist

Pipe (ranser "yste!

+ontrols or 67#ip!ent…………………………………………………………)>

$riller8s console

/eig%t <ndicator@ :a#ges@ +ontrols

VOLUME EIGHT

CASING & CEMENTING

+asing ' +e!ent…………………………………………………………………

Overview

+asing "peciications

R#nning +asing

+asing "tring………………………………………………………………………

Overview

Progressive +asing "trings……………………………………………………)3

+ond#ctor +asing

"#race +asing

<nter!ediate +asing "trings

Prod#ction +asing "trings

Liner "trings

+asing ccessories………………………………………………………………4

Overview

:#ide "%oe

2loat +ollar ' "%oe

+entralizers

"cratc%er

+e!enting…………………………………………………………………………)?

Overview

+asing Point

+onditioning t%e *ole

R#nning t%e +asingMi.ing t%e +e!ent

8



OILWELL DRILLING

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2inis%ing t%e Job

VOLUME NINE

WELL LOGGING, MUD LOGGING & DRILL STEM DESTING/ell 6val#ation……………………………………………………………………30

Overview

M#d Logging 9 (esting@

1………………………………………………………)))30

M#d Logging ' (esting

M#d Logging Unit

Rig Monitors

+%ro!atograp%

+ore Pl#gging pparat#s

2l#oroscope

Microscope

+o!p#ters

;ac##! Oven

M#d Logging 9 (esting@ ,………………………………………………………))3,

+ore *eat "ealer

nalytical alance

Porosi!eter

:as nalyzer

D-Ray $iracto!eter +entri#ge

$ry "a!ple (ray

*+L (esting

M#d Logs

/ell Logging………………………………………………………………………3=

Overview

asic Logging Operation

Logging Unit

Logging Unit $etails

Logging (ools

6lectric Log

A#clear Log

"onic Log

Ot%er Logs

$rill "te! (esting…………………………………………………………………3>

Overview

$"( (ool +o!ponents

Lowering $"( (ool

"ealing t%e *ole/ater +#s%ion

9



OILWELL DRILLING

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2l#id 2low

Press#re +%arts

Reverse +irc#lating

Re!oving $"( (ool

VOLUME TEN

POWER SYSTEM & INSTRUMENTATION

Power "yste!……………………………………………………………………))34

Overview

Pri!e Movers

+ to $+ Power "yste!

$+ to $+ Power "yste!

Mec%anical Power "yste!

+ to $+ Power "yste!…………………………………………………………

34

Overview

$iesel ' + :enerator

"+R "witc% ' +ontrol :ear

$+ Motors

+ Motors

$+ to $+ Power "yste!…………………………………………………………

3?

Overview$+ Motors

+ :enerator BlternatorC

Mec%anical $rive Power…………………………………………………………40

Overview

+o!po#nd $rive

*ydra#lic ' Pne#!atic Power "yste!s………………………………………

40

Overview

*ydra#lic 2orce

*ydra#lic Power Pack

Pne#!atically Powered 67#ip!ent

Rig ir +o!pressor

Rig

<nstr#!ents………………………………………………………………………))4=

Overview

$riller8s +onsole

/eig%t <ndicator

P#!p Rate :a#ge

P#!p Press#re :a#geRotary (ac%o!eter

10



OILWELL DRILLING

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Rotary (or7#e :a#ge

(ong (or7#e :a#ge

M#d Ret#rn 2low Rate <ndicator

M#d (ank Level <ndicator

(rip (ank ;ol#!e <ndicator $rilling Recorder

*," <nstr#!entation

11



OILWELL DRILLING

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;OLUM6 OA6

A <A(RO$U+(<OA (O R<: (EP6" A$ "<+ $R<LL<A: "(R<A: +OMPOA6A("

RIG TYPESOverview:

Drilling rigs like these bore or drill holes into the earth. Usuall the drill to !ind oil or gas.

The work both on land and o!!shore. So"e are big and so"e are relativel s"all. #ig

rigs drill ver dee$ holes% &'''' !eet (!t)% *''' "eters (") or "ore+ s"all rigs "a onl

drill to a !ew thousand !t or "eters. Peo$le in the oil land des,ribe grou$s o! rigs into -

basi, t$es: and% /a,k u$% Plat!or"% Sub"ersible% Se"i0Sub"ersible and Drill Shi$.

1 land rig drills on dr land. There is the "ost ,o""on rig. ight dut rigs drill holes !ro"

*'''02'''!t% or 3'''032''"+ 4ediu" dut rigs drill to de$th ranging !ro" about 5'''0

3''''!t or 3&'''0*'''"+ 6eav dut rigs drill holes !ro" about 3&'''03-'''!t dee$ or

*2''02'''"+ Ultra0heav dut rigs drill holes !ro" about 37'''0&2'''!t or "ore (22''0

82''" or "ore).

9rew "e"bers ,an "ove land rigs on tru,ks% tra,tors% trailers% barges% heli,o$ters% heav

rolling gear% skids and in rare ,ases% on s$e,ialied air0$ressuried e;ui$"ent.

S"all light dut rigs are $rett si"$le to "ove. Ultra0heav land rigs ,an be di!!i,ult to

"ove.

/a,k0U$

1 /a,k u$ rig% drills o!!shore wells. It has legs that su$$ort de,k and hole. <hen

$ositioned over the drilling site% the botto" o! the legs rest on the sea !loor. /a,k u$ rigs,an drill in water de$th ranging !ro" a !ew !eet or "eters u$ to "ore than 5''!t% over 3&'

"eters. #oats to a /a,k U$ rig to a lo,ation with its legs u$. On,e the rig u$ ,rew gets the

legs !ir"l $ositioned on the botto" o! the o,ean% the ,an ad=ust the level o! the de,k

and the hole0height.

Plat!or"

1 $lat!or" rig is a non0"obile o!!shore stru,ture% that is on,e built% it never "oves !ro"

the drill site. 9o"$anies drill several wells !ro" the $lat!or". Plat!or" rigs ,an be Tender0

1ssisted Rig. The tender !loats ne>t to the rigid $lat!or"% whi,h is !ir"l $ent to the sea

!loor. 4an $lat!or" rigs do not have a tender+ the?re so large that the?re sel!0,ontained.

#ig $lat!or" rigs in,lude the Steel0/a,ket Plat!or"% the 9aisson T$e% and the 9on,rete

Gravit T$e.

In dee$ water% rig builders have to "ake $lat!or"s that ield to water and wind

"ove"ents. Two 9o"$liant Plat!or" Rigs are the Gued0Tower and the Tension0eg.

Sub"ersible Rig

1 sub"ersible rig rests on the sea !loor when it is drilling. <orkers !lood ,o"$art"ents

that ,ause the rig to sub"erge and rest on the botto". <hen read to "ove% workers

re"ove the water !ro" the ,o"$art"ents% this "akes the rig !loat. #oats ,an then towthe rig to the ne>t site. Rig builders design sub"ersibles to drill in shallow water and in

12



OILWELL DRILLING

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e!!i,ient. 9rew "e"bers ,an add drill $i$e and =oints to the drill string ver ;ui,kl and

sa!el and the ,an drill the well "ore e!!i,ientl with less ,han,e o! sti,king the drill

string in the hole as ,o"$ared with the Cell rotar table. 1 $ower!ul "otor turns the

drive sha!t whi,h is ,onne,ted to the to$ drive. 9rew "e"bers "ake u$ or atta,h the drill

string to the drive sha!t. The drive sha!t turns the drill string and bit. Foti,e that the drillstring go through an o$ening in the rotar table% the table does not% however% rotate.

To$ Drive O$eration

1 link sste" sus$ends the to$ drive unit !ro" the rig?s traveling blo,k. Drill "ud enters

the unit through the goosene,k to the rotar hose% a !le>ible line that ,ondu,ts drilling

"ud !ro" the $u"$. 1 "otor and a gear bo> $ower the "ain drive sha!t+ the ,rew "akes

u$ the drill string to the drive sha!t. The built0in inside blowout $reventers% I#OP or sa!et

valve kee$s !luids !ro" ba,k !lowing u$ the drill string when the driller ,loses it. The ,rew

uses the Tor;ue <ren,h asse"bl to "ake u$ and break out (,onne,t dis,onne,t) the

drill string. The elevator links sus$end the elevator+ the rig ,rew lat,hes the elevator

around the drill string to allow the to$ drive unit to li!t it u$ or down.

Cell Sste"s

1 Cell% a Cell Drive #ushing% a 4aster #ushing and a Rotar Table rotate the drill string

and bit on so"e rigs. The Cell is a heav tubular devi,e+ it usuall has either 5 or -

sides% that is it either has a s;uare or he>agonal ,ross se,tion. S;uare kells are less

e>$ensive than he>agonal ones% but the he> kells are stronger. So rigs drilling dee$

holes o!ten use the". <hether !our or si>0sided% ,rew "e"bers atta,h or "ake u$ the

Cell to the to$ =oint o! $i$e in the drill string.

Cell O$eration

The Cell% !our0sided or s;uare as an e>a"$le% "oves through a s;uare o$ening in the

Cell drive bushing. The Cell drive bushing "eets with the "aster bushing% whi,h the

rotar table turns. This rotates the entire drill string and atta,hed bit. The Cell "oves

down as the hole dee$ens.

DRI STRIFG 9O4POFEFTS

Overview

There?re "an ,o"$onents whi,h "ake u$ the drill string as shown in this gra$hi,.

Drill Pi$e

Drill $i$e is strong but relativel light weight $i$e. 9rew "e"bers atta,h it to a to$ drive

or Cell. Drill $i$e !or"s the u$$er $art o! the drill string. Usuall the drill $i$e rotates%

whi,h also rotates the bit. Ea,h se,tion o! $i$e is ,alled a =oint. 9rew "e"bers s,rew

together or "ake u$ several =oints and $ut the" into the hole as the bit drills. Drill $i$e as

well as other tubulars ,an be s$e,i!ied a,,ording to these ,hara,teristi,s: Dia"eter%

Grades or Strength% <eight o! steel% ength. The dia"eter% weight and strength usedde$ends on the sie o! the hole% the de$th o! the well and the well $ro$erties. 6ere is a

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OILWELL DRILLING

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t$i,al oil !ield tall book% "an o! these have se,tions in the" whi,h show standard drill

$i$e s$e,i!i,ations.

DP S$e,

Drill $i$e ,o"es in three ranges o! length: range one is 370&& !t or 2.20-.8 "+ range two is&80*' !t% or 7.&0.3 "+ and range three is *7052 !t% or 33.-03*.8". The "ost ,o""on

length is range two% &80*' !t% or 7.&0.3 ". Sin,e a hole "a be thousands o! !t dee$%

,rew "e"bers "a ,onne,t together hundreds o! =oints o! $i$e.

Drill $i$e dia"eter ,an be as s"all as &*H7 in,hes or -'.* "". This sie weighs 5.72

$ounds $er !oot or 8.&& kg $er "eter. It ,an be as large as - 2H7 in,hes% or 3-7.* "". This

$i$e weighs about &8.8' $ounds $er !oot or 53.&3 kg $er "eter. 6owever% 2 in (3&8"")

drill $i$e is one o! the "ore ,o""on sies. It weighs 33H& $ounds $er !oot or &.'3 kg

$er "eter.

For"al drill $i$e grades are E82% 2% G3'2 and S3*2. S3*2 is the strongest.

#o> Pin

The rig ,rew "akes u$ or ,onne,ts drill $i$e using threaded se,tions at ea,h end o! the

drill $i$e. These threaded se,tions are tool =oints. The !e"ale tool =oint is the bo> end at

the drill $i$e+ the "ale tool =oint is the $in end. Tool =oints ,o"e in several sies and

t$es.

Drill Pi$e 4ake U$

Tool =oints threads are rugged be,ause the ,rew "akes the" u$ and breaks the" out

over and over during the drilling $ro,ess. #ut the have to take ,are not to da"age the".Pro$er ,are and handling o! drill $i$e and other oil !ield tubulars ,an $revent ,orrosion

later on the li!e o! the well.

6eav <alled Drill Pi$e (6<DP)

9rew "e"bers "ake u$ a heav walled drill $i$e in the drill string below the drill $i$e.

6<DP (o!ten ,alled heav weight drill $i$e) is "ade u$ between the drill $i$e and drill

,ollars. 6<DP is used to $rovide a transition between the li"ber drill $i$e and the drill

,ollars% whi,h are ;uite sti!!. The use a 6<DP redu,es the stress that sti!! drill ,ollars

$ut on the drill string% as a result% 6<DP redu,es !atigue on the regular drill $i$e. It also

hel$s kee$ the drill $i$e in tension and "a so"eti"es $rovide weight on the bit% =ust as

drill ,ollars do% es$e,iall in dire,tional drilling. 6eav walled DP (or 6eav weight DP)

has thi,ker walls and longer tool =oints than standard DP. The longer tool =oints redu,e

wear on the $i$e?s bod. The kee$ the bod awa !ro" the side o! the hole. The wear

$ad also $revents wear+ it kee$s the "iddle o! the $i$e?s bod awa !ro" the side o! the

hole.

S$iral 6<DP

S$iral 6<DP is another t$e o! 6<DP. S$iral 6<DP has a s$iral groove in the $i$e?s

bod. Regular 6<DP has no groove% but s$iral 6<DP has no wear $ad. <hen s$iral6<DP ,onta,ts the side o! the hole% onl a s"all $art o! the $i$e bod a,tuall tou,hes it.

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OILWELL DRILLING

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In !a,t% onl the $art o! the $i$e bod between the s$iral grooves tou,hes it. The groove

doesn?t tou,h the wall o! the hole% thus redu,ing the sur!a,e ,onta,t area. Redu,ing the

sur!a,e ,onta,t area hel$s $revent the $i$e !ro" sti,king.

Drill 9ollars (D9)9rew "e"bers "ake u$ drill ,ollars at the botto" o! the drill string. Drill ,ollars have

thi,k walls and are ver heav. The $ut weight on the bit to "ake the bit?s ,utters bite

into the ro,k and drill. Drill ,ollars range in dia"eter !ro" *03& in,hes (or 8-.&0*'5.7)

""+ the range in weight !ro" about -2'0332''$ounds (or *''023''kg). This $arti,ular

- in,h drill ,ollar weighs about &8'' $ounds (3&&2kg). Sin,e the ,rew usuall installs

several D9s% ou ,an see that a bit re;uires a lot o! weight to drill $ro$erl.

6ow "u,h weight de$ends on the t$e o! !or"ation and the sie and t$e o! bit% where it

,an be several thousand o! $ounds. D9s are nor"all *'0*3 !t (.50.2") long and have

a threaded !e"ale ,onne,tion at on end and a treaded "ale ,onne,tion at the other end.

It is an interesting observation that in the drilling business tubular e;ui$"ent dia"eters

and hole0dia"eters are al"ost alwas "easured in in,hes but lengths are usu.

"easured in "eters or !t.

JTOO #OK: et?s see how well ou?ve been $aing attention. In the se,tion on drill $i$e%

we told ou what the na"es o! the "ale and !e"ale ,onne,tions re,ord on oil !ield

ter"inolog. Using the "ouse% label the $hoto o! the drill ,ollar and then $ress @a,,e$tA to

see i! ou?re right.

Sli,k S$iral D9s

JTOO #OK: So"e D9s are sli,k. The have a s"ooth wall+ so"e have s$iral groove

"a,hined into the wall. The rig uses sli,k ,ollars under nor"al ,ir,u"stan,es. The rig

uses s$iral ,ollars when drilling in !or"ations where the ,ollars "a sti,k to the wall o!

the hole.

arge dia"eter ,ollars are !airl ,lose to the dia"eter o! the well bore. Under ,ertain

,ir,u"stan,es% the ,an ,onta,t the wall o! the well bore and get stu,k. The s$iral in the

D9 hel$s $revent the D9 !ro" sti,king to the wall b redu,ing its ,onta,t area.

9rossover Subs

9rossover subs go on the drill string between the DP D9s and other $oints. 1

,rossover sub has a s$e,ial bo> and $in threads. 4anu!a,turers design the" to =oin $arts

o! the drill string that have di!!erent thread designs. Bor e>a"$le% a drill $i$e?s $in "a not

s,rew dire,tl into a drill ,ollar?s bo> so ,rew "e"bers "ake u$ a ,rossover sub in the

last =oint o! the DP where =oins the !irst D9?s =oint. The ,rossover sub?s bo> threads "at,h

the DP?s $in threads and the ,rossover sub?s $in threads "at,h the D9?s bo> threads.

These "at,hing treads allow ,rew "e"bers to =oin the drill $i$e string to the drill ,ollar

string. Drilling rigs t$i,all have a large variet o! ,rossover subs.

Rea"ers Stabiliers

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OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

9rew "e"bers o!ten "ake u$ rea"ers and stabiliers in the drill ,ollar string. Usuall

the $la,e one or "ore at various $oints on the drill ,ollar string near the botto".

Rea"ers and stabiliers hold the D9 o!! the wall o! the hole to $revent wear on the

,ollars% but even "ore i"$ortant% rea"ers and stabiliers hel$ guide the bit in the

dire,tion that should drill.Rea"ers have ,utters on rollers that a,tuall ,ut the ro,k the ,onta,t. Stabiliers have

blades that tou,h the wall o! the hole but do not ,ut it.

#otto" 6ole 1sse"bl (#61)

Foti,e the lower $ortion o! the drill string. It in,ludes the bit% D9s% stabiliers (or rea"ers)%

and 6<DP. 9rew "e"bers ,all this $art o! the drill string the #otto" 6ole 1sse"bl or

#61 !or short. The ,an "ake u$ "an di!!erent #61s% whi,h one de$ends on the t$e

o! !or"ation% whether the rig is drilling straight or dire,tional hole and so on.

Pi$e Ra,k

The $i$e ra,k is not $art o! the drill string but $las an i"$ortant su$$orting role. The rig

,rew ,annot $ut drill $i$e and ,ollars on the ground or de,k due to the debris will ruin

the". So the store the" on the $i$e ra,k. The also ,lean and ins$e,t the drill string

and other tubulars or $i$e on the ra,k.

DRI #ITS

Overview

1s we dis,ussed in the last se,tion% ,rew "e"bers install the bit on the botto" drill ,ollar.Two kinds o! bits are Roller 9one #its and Bi>ed 9utter #its. Bi>ed ,utter bits are also

,alled !i>ed head bits. Roller ,one bits usuall have * ,one0sha$ed devi,es with teeth or

,utters. 1s the bit rotates% the ,one and ,utters rotate to drill ahead. Bi>ed head bits also

have ,utters% but "anu!a,turers e"bedded the" in the bit?s head. The bit?s head "oves

onl when the bit rotates. It has no "oving $arts like the ,ones on the roller ,one bit.

#oth roller ,one bits and !i>ed head bits ,o"e in sies ranging !ro" onl & or * in,hes (or

about 2'082"") in dia"eter to "ore than *- in,hes (about a "eter) in dia"eter.

Roller 9one #its

Two basi, kinds o! roller ,one bits are available: one has steel teeth and the other has

tungsten ,arbide inserts.

Steel Tooth #it

On a Steel Tooth #it% also ,alled a 4illed Tooth #it% the "anu!a,turer "ills or !orges the

teeth out o! the steel that "akes u$ the ,one. Steel tooth bits are the least e>$ensive

bits. <hen used $ro$erl% the ,an "ake hole !or "an hours. 4anu!a,turers design

steel tooth bits to drill so!t% "ediu" and hard !or"ations.

Tungsten 9arbide #it<ith tungsten ,arbide insert bits% the "anu!a,turer $resses ver hard tungsten ,arbide

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OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

buttons or inserts into holes drilled into the bit?s ,ones. Tungsten ,arbide is a ver hard

"etal. Tungsten ,arbide insert bits ,ost "ore than steel tooth bits. 6owever% the usuall

last longer be,ause tungsten ,arbide is "ore resistant to wear than steel. In general%

tungsten ,arbide insert bits drill "ediu" to e>tre"el hard !or"ations% but ,an also drill

so!t !or"ations. So!t !or"ation bits usuall drill best with a "ud o! "oderate weight andhigh rotar s$eeds. 6ard !or"ation bits% on the other hand usuall drill best with high

weight and "oderate rotar s$eeds.

Bi>ed 9utter #it

Three t$es o! !i>ed ,utter bits are available: Pol,rstalline Dia"ond 9o"$a,t (or PD9

bits)% Dia"ond #its and 9ore #its.

PD9 bit

This PD9 bit has ,utters "ade !ro" "an0"ade dia"ond ,rstals and tungsten ,arbide.

Ea,h dia"ond and tungsten ,arbide ,utter is ,alled a ,o"$a,t. 4anu!a,turers $la,e the

,o"$a,ts in the head o! the bit. 1s the bit rotates over the ro,k% the ,o"$a,t shears it.

PD9 bits are ver e>$ensive% however% when used $ro$erl% the ,an drill so!t% "ediu" or

hard !or"ations !or several hours without !ailing.

PD9 9o"$a,t

1 ,o"$a,t PD9 laer is ver strong and wear resistant. 4anu!a,turers bond the dia"ond

,rstals to the tungsten ,arbide ba,king under a high $ressure and te"$erature. The

tungsten ,arbide ba,king gives the ,o"$a,t high i"$a,t strength+ it also rein!or,es the

wear resistan,e $ro$erties o! the ,utters.

Dia"ond #it

4anu!a,turers "ake dia"ond bits !ro" industrial dia"onds+ the dia"onds are the bit?s

,utters. Dia"ond is one o! the hardest substan,es. 1 dia"ond bit breaks down the ro,k

during drilling b either ,o"$ressing it% shearing it or grinding it as shown in this

edi"ation

6ere% the dia"ond is a,ting like sand $a$er wearing the ro,k awa. The e"bed the

dia"onds into the "etal "atri> that "akes u$ the head o! the bit. Dia"ond bits are

e>$ensive. <hen $ro$erl used% however% dia"ond bits ,an drill !or "an "an hours

without !ailing.

9ore #it and #arrel

9rew "e"bers run a ,ore bit in barrel when the geologist wants a ,ore sa"$le o! the

!or"ation being drilled. 1 ,ore bit is nor"all a !i>ed head PD9 or dia"ond bit. It has a

hole in the "iddle. This o$ening allows the bit to ,ut the ,ore. Dia"onds or PD9?s line

the o$ening and sides o! the bit. The rig ,rew !i> the ,ore to a ,ore barrel% the ,ore barrel

is a s$e,ial tube% usuall about *'0' !t (or 0&8 "eters ) long. The run the ,ore barrel at

the botto" o! the drill string+ it ,olle,ts the ,ore ,ut b the ,ore bit. 9ores allow geologists

to take a look at an a,tual sa"$le o! the !or"ation ro,k. Bro" the sa"$le% the ,an o!tentell whether the well will be $rodu,tive.

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OILWELL DRILLING

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SPE9I1 DRI STRIFG TOOS

Overview

S$e,ial e;ui$"ent o! the drill string in,ludes the drilling =ars% "easure"ent while drilling(or 4<D) tools and "ud "otors.

Drilling /ars

The rig ,rew installs a drilling =ar in the drill string i! there is a ,on,ern o! be,o"ing stu,k.

Drilling =ars are usuall "ade u$ on the u$$er $art o! the botto" hole asse"bl with drill

,ollars $la,ed above and below the =ars. <hen a,tivated% a drilling =ar $rovides a heav

blow to the stu,k $ortion o! the drilling string below the =ar. O!ten the blow delivered b

the =ar is enough to kno,k loose the stu,k string.

Drilling /ar O$eration

To ,reate a =arring blow u$ with a hdrauli, =ar% the driller lowers the drill string to ,o,k the

=ar. Then the driller a$$lies an u$ward $ull. The u$ward $ull $uts the u$ =ar in tension and

allows the =ar tri$ "e,hanis" to slowl bleed. Eventuall% the =ar tri$s when the hdrauli,

oil bleeds $ast the $orts. The drill string ,ontra,ts% ra$idl a,,elerating the botto" hole

asse"bl above the =ars. <hen it rea,hes !ull stroke% the =ar "e,hanis" suddenl sto$s

the "otion energ o! the string. <hen the "otion suddenl sto$s% it ,onverts the kineti,

energ (or energ in "otion) into i"$a,t !or,e on the stu,k $oint. This heav u$ward

blow "a !ree the stu,k string below the =ar.

4<D

4easure"ent while drillingL4<D tools are a big hel$ to the driller as the bit drills. 9rew

"e"bers usuall $la,e the tool in a s$e,ial drill ,ollar ,lose to the bit. 4<D tools send

down0hole ,onditions and trans"it the" to the sur!a,e. There% the driller "onitors the

,onditions in real ti"e. 4ost 4<D tools ,reate $ulses in the drilling "ud+ these $ulses

,arr the down0hole in!or"ation u$ to drilling string to the sur!a,e. In!or"ation ,olle,ted

b an 4<D tool in,ludes: Ro,k Pro$erties% the Dire,tion that the bit is drilling% Tor;ue

and <eight on bit.

4ud 4otor

O!ten% when drilling a dire,tional or a horiontal well% a "ud "otor is "ade u$ at the

botto" o! the drill string =ust above the bit as shown here. It?s ,alled a "ud "otor

be,ause drilling "ud rotates the bit. That is% when using a "ud "otor% onl the bit rotates%

not the rest o! the drill string. 4ud $u"$ed down the drill string enters the to$ o! the "ud

"otor when $ressuried drilling !luid is !or,ed between the elasti, stator and the e,,entri,

steel rotor. 1 tor;ue is a$$lied whi,h ,ause the rotor to rotate. The rotor is ,onne,ted to a

drive sha!t whi,h is ,onne,ted to the bit. Fote that all the drill string does not rotate.

Dire,tional <ellsSo"eti"es a well is drilled in an angle. This is ,alled a dire,tional well. The well is

19



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

steered in an angle s$e,i!ied in the drilling $rogra" !or "an di!!erent reasons.

Bor e>a"$le% the "a drill dire,tionall so"eti"es i! the oil or gas reservoir does not lie

dire,tl under the rig site.

6oriontal <ells6oriontal wells are drilled !or "an di!!erent reasons. 9ertain reservoirs ,an be

$rodu,ed better i! a horiontal $ortion o! the well $asses through the !or"ation. The

transition to the horiontal seg"ent o! the well begins at so"e $oint in the verti,al $ortion

o! the well bore as shown here. This $oint is ter"ed the @Ci,k0O!! PointA. The horiontal

seg"ent o! the well ,an e>tend !or several thousand !t. s$e,ialied drilling e;ui$"ent and

te,hni;ues are re;uired to drill horiontal wells.

;OLUM6 (/O "<+ OP 6FU<PM6A(

PRESSURE 9OFTRO

Overview:

Bluids in the !or"ation are under $ressure. <hen drilled% this $ressure ,an es,a$e to the

sur!a,e i! it is not ,ontrolled. For"all drilling "ud o!!sets !or"ation $ressure% that is the

weight or $ressure o! the drilling "ud kee$s !luid in the !or"ation !ro" ,o"ing to the

sur!a,e. Bor several reasons however% the "ud weight ,an be,o"e lighter than it?s

ne,essar to o!!set the $ressure in the !or"ation. <hen this situation o,,urs% !or"ation

!luids enter the hole. <hen !or"ation !luids enter the hole% this is ,alled a @ki,kA. 1

blowout $reventer sta,k is used to kee$ !or"ation !luids !ro" ,o"ing to the sur!a,e.

These are ,alled @#OPAs. # ,losing a valve in this e;ui$"ent% the rig ,rew ,an seal o!!the hole. Sealing the hole $revents "ore !or"ation !luids !ro" entering the hole. <ith the

well sealed or shut in% the well is under ,ontrol. Rig ,rews use a sur!a,e #OP sste" on

land rigs% =a,k0u$ rigs% sub"ersible rigs and $lat!or" rigs. The use a subsea #OP

sste" on o!!shore !loating rigs% like se"i0sub"ersibles and drill shi$s.

JTOO #OK: <h do ou su$$ose subsea #OP sste" are used on se"i0sub"ersibles

and drill shi$sM #lowout $revention e;ui$"ent is ver large and ver heav. Se"i0

sub"ersibles and drill shi$s are dna"i,% that is the !loat and thus "ove with wind

waves while in working "ode. On !loating rigs% it is not $ra,ti,al to "ount the #OP sta,k

on to$ o! the long riser $i$e. The #OP sta,k is "u,h too heav !or the relativel thin and

!le>ible walls o! the riser $i$e. 1lso be,ause the riser walls are relativel thin% the ,annot

withstand the high $ressures that ,ould develo$ inside the riser when the well?s shut in

on a ki,k. So the rig ,rew "ounts the #OP sta,k on the well head at the see !loor and

"akes u$ the riser on to$ o! the sta,k.

#lowout

1 blow out is dangerous. Bor"ation !luids like gas and oil blow to the sur!a,e and burn.

#low outs ,an in=ure or kill% destro the rig% and har" the environ"ent. Rig ,rews there

!or trained and work hard to $revent blowouts. Usuall the?re su,,ess!ul% so blowoutsare rare. #ut when the ha$$en% the are s$e,ta,ular and thus o!ten "ake news.

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OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Taking a Ci,k

1 ki,k is the entr o! !or"ation !luids into the well bore while drilling. 1 ki,k o,,urs when

the $ressure e>erted b the drilling "ud is less than the $ressure in the !or"ation that the

drill string is $enetrating. The "ud that ,ir,ulates down the drill string and u$ the hole isthe !irst line o! de!en,e against ki,ks. Drilling "ud ,reates additional $ressure as it

,ir,ulates. The "ud $ressure kee$s !or"ation $ressure !ro" entering the well bore. On

the rig% the sa "ud kee$s the well !ro" ki,king. So"eti"es however% ,rew "e"bers

"a a,,identall allow the "ud level or "ud weight in the hole to dro$% this dro$ in

weight or level ,an ha$$en !or several reasons.

Bor e>a"$le% the ,rew "a !ail to kee$ the hole !ull o! "ud when the $ull the $i$e out o!

it% or the "a $ull the $i$e too !ast% whi,h ,an lower the botto" hole $ressure. <hen the

"ud level or "ud weight dro$s% the $ressure e>erted on the !or"ation de,reases. I!

either ha$$ens% !or"ation !luids ,an enter the hole. I! the do% the well takes a ki,k. In

other words% when the !or"ation $ressure e>,eeds the weight o! the "ud ,olu"n% then

the well ,an ki,k.

JTOO #OK: i;uids and gases e>ert a !or,e against the ,ontainer. That is the li;uid or

gas $ushes against the wall o! the ,ontainer. I! we "easure the a"ount o! $ush or !or,e

being e>erted on ea,h unit o! area on the ,ontainer% we have the $ressure o! li;uid or

gas. So $ressure is de!ined as Bor,e $er Unit 1rea. 9o""on units that are used to

"easure $ressure are Pounds $er S;uare In,h and Cilo$as,als. This gauge shows the

down hole $ressure o! the "ud ,olu"n+ this gauge shows the reservoir $ressure.

9hange the $ressure o! the "ud ,olu"n and see what ha$$ens. To kee$ a ki,k !ro"be,o"ing a blowout% the rig ,rew uses blowout $revention e;ui$"ent.

#O<OUT PREEFTERS

#asi, 9on,e$ts

The blowout $reventerL#OP sta,k% ,onsists o! several large valves sta,ked on to$ o!

ea,h other. These large valves are ,alled blowout $reventers. 4anu!a,turers rate #OP

sta,ks to work against $ressure as low as two thousand $ounds $er s;uare in,h or &'''

$si% and as high as 32'''$si% that?s about 35''' Cilo$as,als to over 3''''' Cilo$as,als.

Rigs usuall have two kinds o! $reventers. On to$ is annular $reventer. It?s ,alled an

annular $reventer be,ause it?s around the to$ o! the wellbore in a sha$e o! a ring or an

annulus. #elow the annular $reventer are ra" $reventers. The shown o! valves in ra"

$reventers ,lose b !or,ing or ra""ing the"selves together.

The ,hoke line is a line through whi,h well !luids !low to the ,hoke "ani!old when the

$reventers are ,losed. Even though the $reventers shut in the well% the ,rew "ust have a

wa to re"ove or ,ir,ulate the ki,k and "ud out o! the well.

<hen the #OP shut in the well% "ud !or"ation !luids e>ert through the ,hoke line to the

,hoke "ani!old. The "ani!old is "ade u$ o! s$e,ial $i$ing and valves. The "ost

i"$ortant valve is the ,hoke. The ,hoke is a valve that has an ad=ustable o$ening. 9rew"e"bers ,ir,ulate the ki,k through the ,hoke to kee$ ba,k $ressure on the well. Cee$ing

21



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

the right a"ount o! ba,k $ressure $revents "ore ki,k !luids !ro" entering the well. 1t the

sa"e ti"e% the ,an get the ki,k out o! the well and $ut in heavier "ud to kill the well.

That is regain ,ontrol o! it. The well !luids leave the ,hoke "ani!old and usuall to a "ud

gas se$arator. 1 "ud gas se$arator se$arates the "ud !ro" the gas in the ki,k. The

,lean "ud goes ba,k to the tanks+ the gas is !lared or burned at a sa!e distan,e awa.

#OP O$eration

<hen the well takes a ki,k and the #OP is o$en% well !luids !or,e "ud to !low u$ the well

bore and into the #OP sta,k. <hen the driller ,loses the annular #OP% !low sto$s.

Usuall% drillers ,lose the annular #OP !irst. The ,losed annular #OP diverts the !low o!

the ,hoke line% whi,h goes to the ,hoke "ani!old. The driller ,an o$en a valve on the

,hoke line and sa!el ,ir,ulate the ki,k out o! the well through the ,hoke "ani!old.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is an annular $reventer% ,li,k on it to see how it works. 1n annular

#OP ,loses on drill $i$e% drill ,ollars or an sha$e o! tubular in the well. It ,an also ,lose

an o$en hole% a hole with no tubulars in it at all. It?s usuall the !irst $reventer used to

,lose in the well. 6ere are !our t$es o! Ra"0Preventers: Pi$e Ra"s% #lind Ra"s% #lind0

Shear Ra"s and ariable #ore Ra"s (#R Ra"). 9li,k on ea,h one to see how the

ra"s work.

Pi$e Ra"s

Pi$e ra"s are used when there is drill $i$e in the #OP sta,k. The $i$e ra"s !it around

the $i$e% ,losing o!! the annulars. Pi$e ra"s ba,k u$ the annular $reventer. That is then

it?s likel at the end the annular #OP !ailed% ,rew "e"bers ,ould shut the $i$e ra"s toseal the well. 1lso so"e $i$e ra" $reventers are used to hang o!! or sus$end the drill

string and so"e subsea #OPs.

#lind Ra"s

#lind ra"s are designed to seal an o$en hole. I! the annular #OP !ails and there?s no

$i$e in the hole% the ,rew ,ould seal the hole b ,losing the blind ra"s.

#lind0Shear Ra"s

#lind0shear ra"s are designed with blades that ,ut through the drill $i$e and then seal

the o$en hole. The?re used in e>tre"el e"ergen,ies% like when an o!!shore !loating rig

has to "ove o!! a well that the?re drilling be,ause o! a hurri,ane or other su,h

e"ergen,. #lind shear ra"s allow the" to ,ut the $i$e% seal the hole and then "ove the

rig a sa!e distan,e awa.

#R Ra"

ariable #ore Ra"s or #R are s$e,ial $i$e ra"s that ,an ,lose over a range o! $i$e

sies su,h as 2 in,h dia"eter to * in,h dia"eter.

#1SI9 #OP ENUIP4EFT

22



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Overview

6ere are the "a=or $arts o! a land% =a,k0u$% $lat!or" or sub"ersible rig?s blowout

$revention e;ui$"ent: the blowout $reventer or #OP sta,k% the driller?s #OP ,ontrol

$anel% the #OP o$erating unit a,,u"ulator% the ,hoke "ani!old% the ,hoke ,ontrol $anel%

the "ud gas se$arator% the !lare line !lare $it% the tri$ tank and drill string valves.

JTOO #OK: Pro"$t ;ui: You?ve =ust learned the na"es o! the e;ui$"ent used in well

,ontrol o$erations. et?s see how well ou ,an identi! the e;ui$"ent. Using the "ouse%

drag the labels to their ,orre,t lo,ations. <hen ou?ve ,o"$leted this e>er,ise% ,li,k the

@a,,e$tA button.

Driller?s #OP 9ontrol

Bro" this #OP ,ontrol $anel% the driller o$ens and ,loses or ,ontrols the blow out

$reventers and the line to the ,hoke "ani!old. Rig builders usuall $la,e the ,ontrol $anel

on the rig !loor% ,lose to the driller?s $osition. ever and swit,hes allow the driller to

;ui,kl o$en and ,lose the $reventers and other valves in the sste".

1,,u"ulator

The a,,u"ulator bottles store or a,,u"ulate hdrauli, !luid under ver high $ressure% u$

to *''' $si% over &'''' CPa. This high $ressure !luid ensures that the $reventers ,lose

ver !ast. The #OP o$erating unit a,,u"ulator is installed so"e distan,e !ro" the rig

!loor.

6drauli, ines<hen the driller a,tivates the #OP o$erating unit% it $u"$s the hdrauli, !luid through the

high $ressure $i$es o! lines into the #OP sta,k. The hdrauli, $ressure o$ens or ,loses

the $reventers.

O$erating ever on 1,,u"ulator

Usuall% the driller o$erates the a,,u"ulator !ro" a ,ontrol $anel on the rig !loor. In an

e"ergen, however% ,rew "e"bers ,an o$erate the #OPs b using the ,ontrol valves

on the a,,u"ulator itsel!.

9hoke 4ani!old H 9hokes

6ere is a ,hoke "ani!old. Blow gets to it !ro" the #OP sta,k via a ,hoke line. The

"ani!old usuall has two or "ore s$e,ial valves that ,alled ,hokes. Usuall well !low

goes through onl one o! the ,hokes% the others are ba,k u$s or used under s$e,ial

,onditions.

9hoke O$eration

# ad=usting the sie o! the o$ening in the ,hoke% "aking the o$ening larger or s"aller%

the driller ad=ust the a"ount o! the !low through the ,hoke. The s"aller the o$ening% the

less !low+ the larger the o$ening% the "ore !low. The less !low% the "ore ba,k $ressure onthe well+ the "ore !low% the less ba,k $ressure on the well. This ad=ust"ent o! ba,k

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OILWELL DRILLING

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$ressure kee$s the $ressure on the botto" o! the hole ,onstant so that no "ore ki,k

!luids ,an enter the well.

9hoke 9ontrol Panel

The driller or another ,rew "e"ber uses the ,hoke ,ontrol $anel to ad=ust the sie o! the,hoke?s o$ening as ki,k !luids !low through it. # wat,hing the $ressure on the drill $i$e

and ,asing% and b kee$ing the "ud $u"$ at ,onstant s$eed% the ,hoke o$erator ,an

ad=ust the ,hoke to kee$ the $ressure on the botto" o! the hole ,onstant. The ,hoke

o$erator "ust kee$ the botto" hole $ressure ,onstant to su,,ess!ull ,ontrol and

,ir,ulate a ki,k out o! the hole.

JTOO #OK

4ud0Gas Se$arator

O!ten% ki,k !luids and "ud !ro" ,hoke "ani!old go through a line to a "ud gas se$arator.

Bre;uentl% !or"ation gas is the "ain $art o! a ki,k. 6owever% ki,k !luids "a also ,ontain

water% oil% or ,o"bination o! these !luids. In an ,ase% the "ud gas se$arator re"oves the

gas !ro" the "ud. <ith the gas re"oved% the $u"$ ,ir,ulates gas0!ree "ud into the "ud

tanks and ba,k down the hole. The se$arated gas goes to a !lare line.

Se$arator O$eration

In the se$arator% "ud with gas in it !ro" ,hoke "ani!old enters the to$ and !alls over

several ba!!le $lates. The gas breaks out o! the "ud as it !alls over the ba!!le $lates and

goes into the !lare line. The gas0!ree "ud !alls to the botto" outlet where it goes to the"ud tanks !or ,ir,ulation down hole.

Blare ine Blare Pit

The !lare line ,ondu,ts gas !ro" the "ud gas se$arator to a !lare $it on land rigs. The

gas is burned or !lared at the !lare $it. Foti,e that the !lare line outlet is a good distan,e

awa !ro" the rig !loor% so even while gas is !laring% the ,rew ,an still sa!el work on the

rig !loor.

O!!shore% where there is no !lare $it% the !lare line ,ondu,ts the gas over the side o! the

rig. The line runs over the water% a sa!e distan,e awa !ro" the rig.

Tri$ Tank

1 tri$ tank is a s$e,ial "ud tank. It is used when the $ull drill string !ro" the hole% !or

e>a"$le% to ,hange out a dull bit. The also use the tri$ tank when the run drill string

ba,k into the hole. Pulling the drill string and running it ba,k in is ,alled a @tri$A% whi,h is

wh the ,all the s"all tank a @tri$ tankA. The use it to kee$ a,,urate tra,k o! how "u,h

"ud the drill string dis$la,es in the hole.

Tri$ Tank O$eration

<hen the ,rew $ulls drill string !ro" the hole% the "ud level in the hole dro$s. I! the letthe "ud level dro$ too !ar% it won?t e>ert enough $ressure to kee$ !or"ation !luids !ro"

24



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

entering the hole. So% as the ,rew $ulls $i$e% the ,ontinuall ,ir,ulate !luid !ro" the tri$

tank to re$la,e the drill string and kee$ the hole !ull. The also wat,h !or unusual

,hanges% and "a "ake sure that the volu"e o! "ud the $ut in e>a,tl re$la,es the

volu"e o,,u$ied b the drill string. Sin,e the volu"es are s"all% the level o! "ud in the

tri$ tank is ,alibrated in s"all in,re"ents% su,h as stands o! $i$e% or barrels or liters o!"ud% or both. I! the volu"e the $ut in is less than the volu"e o,,u$ied b the drill string

the re"oved% then it?s likel that !or"ation !luids have entered the hole. Bor e>a"$le%

let?s sa the ,rew $ulls one stand o! drill $i$e. In this instan,e% the stand dis$la,es .8

barrels or 333 liters. There !or% the should $u"$ .8 barrels or 333 liters o! "ud to re$la,e

the stand. The "ud level in the tri$ tank should sure dro$ .8 barrels or 333 liters. I! the

level in the tank shows less% then !or"ation !luids have entered the hole and the ,rew

"ust take ste$s to ,ontrol the well.

SU#SE1 #OP ENUIP4EFT

Overview

Subsea #OP e;ui$"ent is si"ilar to a sur!a,e sta,k. There are% however% so"e ver

i"$ortant di!!eren,es. This se,tion dis,usses these di!!eren,es.

Subsea sta,ks atta,h to the wellhead on the sea !loor. 4eanwhile% the rig !loats on the

water% hundreds or thousands o! !t or "eters above. 4a=or $arts in,lude: the Subsea

#OP sta,k% this is a lot like a sur!a,e #OP sta,k+ other $arts are di!!erent% however.

6ere?s the !le>ible or ball =oint.

The "arine riser with a ,hoke line and a kill line% guide lines% the teles,o$i, =oint with riser

tensioners% the hose bundle% and two ,ontrol $ods. The driller ,ontrols the subsea #OPvalves !ro" ele,tri, #OP ,ontrol $anel on the rig. The subsea hose bundle ,arries the

,ontrol signals and hdrauli, !luid !ro" the rig down to the ,ontrol $od and sele,ted

subsea #OP valves.

4arine Riser Sste"

4arine riser $i$e is s$e,ial $i$e and !ittings. It seals between the to$ o! the subsea #OP

sta,k and the drilling e;ui$"ent lo,ated on the !loating rig. 9rew "e"bers run the drill

string into the hole inside the riser $i$e. The riser $i$e also ,ondu,ts drilling !luid u$ to

the rig. 4anu!a,turers atta,h two s"aller $i$es ,alled the ,hoke and kill lines to the

outside. 9rew "e"bers use the" to ,ontrol the well during a ki,k or s$e,ial o$erations.

Guide lines guide and hel$ $osition e;ui$"ent su,h as the #OP sta,k to o,ean !loor. The

!le>ible =oint ,uts down on bending stresses on the riser $i$e and #OP. The teles,o$i,

=oint ,o"$ensates !or the verti,al "otion o! the !loating rig.

Riser Guideline Tensioner

9rew "e"bers also atta,h the riser tensioning sste" to it. Riser tensioner lines su$$ort

the long riser $i$e. The riser and guide line tensioners $ut ,onstant tension on the riser

$i$e and guide lines. This tension sus$ends the riser $i$e. It also ,o"$ensates what the

"ove"ent o! the rig ,aused b wave a,tion. Riser tensioner sste"s usuall range in,a$a,it !ro" over *''%''' to al"ost 3%'''%''' $ounds (that is 3*2%''' to over 52'%'''

25



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

o$erating wren,h to ,lose the valve and shut o!! !low. Driller should "ake sure the rig has

the right ,rossover subs at hand on the rig !loor. 9rew "e"bers should be able to "ake

u$ the sa!et valves and an drilling string "e"ber ,o"ing out o! the rotar. Bor

e>a"$le% i! a drill ,ollar is in the rotar% the sa!et valve?s threads "a not "at,h the drill

,ollar?s threads. The will need the right ,rossover sub to "ake it work.

JTOO #OK: This well is taking a ki,k. To shut it in% ,hoose one o! the two valves ou

see here: a one0wa sa!et valve and a !ull0o$ening sa!et valve. 9li,k on the valve ou

wan to use. 6old our "ouse button down and drag the valve to drill $i$e Good ,hoi,e

The !ull0o$ening sa!et valve is the ,orre,t valve to use in this situation. It ,an be stabbed

on the drill $i$e while it?s o$en and then ,lose to shut in the drill string. You?re not done

et though% the annulus hasn?t been sealed% so the well is still not !ull se,ured. 9li,k on

the ,orre,t $reventer on this #OP sta,k that should be ,losed !irst. That?s right The

annular $reventer is ,losed !irst. Good =ob You?ve su,,ess!ull ,losed in this well.

Bloat alves

Bloat valves also $revent !low u$ the drill string. 9rew "e"bers $la,e a !loat valve in a

sub% a s$e,ial drill string !itting% =ust above the bit. One t$e allows "ud to be $u"$ed

down but shut against u$ward !low. Under nor"al ,onditions% $u"$ $ressure "oves

drilling "ud through the o$en one0wa valve% and in!lu> o! !or"ation !luids !ro" below

,auses the !loat valve to ,lose. This $revents !urther !low u$ the drill string.

;OLUM6 (*R66 <A(RO$U+(<OA (O $R<LL<A: +LU<$"

OERIE<

Drilling !luid or drilling "ud as "an $eo$le ,all it is a vitalit in a rotar drilling $ro,ess.

The ter" @drilling !luidA in,ludes air% gas% water and "ud. @4udA re!ers to the li;uid that

,ontains solids and water or oil. The "ud is "ade u$ with ,la and other additives that

give it desirable $ro$erties.

4UD TYPES

<ater #ased 4ud

O!ten% water is the base o! drilling "ud. <ater "akes u$ the li;uid $art or $hase o! a

water0based "ud. 9rew "e"bers $ut ,la and s$e,ial additives into the water to "ake a

"ud with the $ro$erties needed to do its =ob well. Bor e>a"$le% ,las give it thi,kness or

vis,osit. The water in the "ud "a be !resh water% sea water or ,on,entrated brine (salt

water). The one used de$ends on its availabilit and whether it gives the "ud the needed

$ro$erties to drill the hole e!!i,ientl.

Oil 4ud

1t ti"es% down hole drilling ,onditions re;uire the ,rew to add oil to the "ud% or in so"e

,ases% ,rew "e"bers use oil instead o! water as the base o! the "ud. This is ,alled oil0based "ud. Oil based "ud has "an advantages. It ,an stabilie the !or"ation and

27



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

redu,e downhole drilling $roble"s. 6owever% it is harder !or the ,rew to work with

be,ause it ,an ,reate sli$$er ,onditions and environ"ental $re,autions "ust be used.

Bro" an environ"ental stand$oint% "ud with oil is "ore di!!i,ult to handle be,ause the oil

,lings to the drill ,uttings. The oil "ust be ,leaned o!! the ,uttings be!ore the?re dis$osed

o!.

Drilling with 1ir

So"eti"es drilling !luid is dr air or natural gas. 6ere% dr air is ,o"ing out o! the rig?s

#looe ine% ,arring ver !ine drilled ,uttings. 1ir drilling uses ver large air ,o"$ressors

instead o! "ud $u"$s. Drilling with air or gas ,an $revent !or"ation da"age and ,an

over,o"e severe lost ,ir,ulation $roble"s. 1nd it allows the bit to drill ver !ast. Down

hole ,onditions have to be =ust right !or air or gas to be usable. Bor e>a"$le% the bit

,annot drill through !or"ations ,ontaining large a"ounts o! water. The water "i>es with

the ,uttings and the air or gas and ,logs u$ the hole.

Boa" Drilling

I! s"all a"ounts o! water are $resent in the !or"ations being drilled% s$e,ial e;ui$"ent

,an in=e,t a !oa" agent into the air strea". The !oa" hel$s se$arate the ,uttings and

re"ove water !ro" a hole.

1erated Drilling

In so"e ,ases% the rig o$erator "a use aerated "ud% whi,h like !oa" drilling% hel$s

$revent ,logging o! the well bore. 1erated drilling uses both "ud and air $u"$ed into the

stand$i$e at the sa"e ti"e.

DRIIFG BUID BUF9TIOF

Overview

<hen ,ir,ulated down the drill string and u$ the hole% drilling "ud serves "an !un,tions.

Bor e>a"$le% "ud ,leans the hole% ,ools and lubri,ates the bit the drill string% li!ts

,uttings to the sur!a,e% ,arries in!or"ation about !or"ations being drilled% stabilies the

well bore% ,ontrols !or"ation $ressure and sus$ends ,uttings when $u"$ing sto$s.

9leaning the 6ole

One !un,tion o! "ud is to ,lean the hole. 1 ,lean hole allows the bit to drill into un,ut

!or"ation ro,k. 6ere is an e>a"$le o! what ,an ha$$en when ,uttings are not "oved o!!

botto". 4ud =ets out o! the bit and "oves ,uttings awa !ro" the botto" o! the hole. The

"ud then ,arries the ,uttings u$ the annulus and to the sur!a,e !or dis$osal.

9ooling H ubri,ation

6eat is en,ountered down hole. Dee$ !or"ations ,an be ver hot and !ri,tion !ro"

rotating drilling ,o"$onents generates a lot o! heat. 6igh te"$eratures in,rease drill

string and bit wear. Drilling !luid hel$s to redu,e the te"$erature in the drill string downhole while drilling. In addition% drilling !luid $rovides lubri,ation to the drill string and bit

28



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

that hel$s $revent wear.

Prote,ting <ellbore <alls

4ud stabilies the hole% kee$s it !ro" ,aving in. 1s "ud "oves u$ the hole% it usuall

!lows b $er"eable !or"ations. Per"eable !or"ations although allow the !luid to !low%when the "ud is ne>t to a $er"eable !or"ation% $ressure !or,es the li;uid $art o! the

"ud% the !iltrate% into tin o$enings or $ore s$a,es in the !or"ation. This leaves behind a

thin sheet o! solid $arti,les% known as "ud ,ake. These solids $laster the side o! the

hole% "u,h like the $laster on the wall o! a building. The wall ,ake hel$s kee$ the well

!ro" ,aving in.

9ontrolling Bor"ation Pressure

The ,olu"n o! "ud in the well ,reates $ressure down hole% ,alled hdrostati, $ressure.

The hdrostati, $ressure o! the "ud ,olu"n o!!sets !or"ation $ressure. 4ud is the !irst

line o! de!en,e in well ,ontrol. 1s long as the hole is !ull o! "ud% that is the right weight%

the well ,annot ki,k and $erha$s blowout. 1 ki,k is the entr o! !or"ation !luids into the

well bore. The ki,k !or,es drilling "ud out o! the hole. I! ,rew "e"bers !ail to ,ontrol a

ki,k% a blowout ,an o,,ur. 1 blowout is the un,ontrolled !low o! drilling "ud and !or"ation

!luids out o! the hole.

Obtaining Downhole In!or"ation

4ud is also used to obtain in!or"ation about !or"ations down hole. 4ud loggers% b

e>a"ining ,uttings at the sur!a,e% ,an gather i"$ortant in!or"ation about the !or"ation

being drilled and the ,onditions down hole.

4UD PROPERTIES 1DDITIES

#entonite

In water% or oil based drilling "ud% ,rew "e"bers usuall add ,la% ,alled bentonite% or

si"ilar "ineral. #entonite swells in water% there!ore thi,kens the "ud% gives vis,osit% to

hel$ ,lean the ,uttings !ro" the hole and $rovide other desirable $ro$erties.

JTOO #OK: is,ous !luids are "ore resistant to !low. 6one is a good e>a"$le o! a

vis,ous !luid% $ure water is not vis,ous.

#arite

#arite is a heav "ineral. The ,rew adds barite to "ud to "ake it heav or dense. #arite

is over !our ti"es heavier than water. Dense "ud e>erts "ore $ressure than light "ud.

<eighted "ud ,ontrols !or"ation $ressure. This is ,alled @Pri"ar <ell 9ontrolA.

JTOO #OK: Pri"ar well ,ontrol is using the densit or weight o! the drill !luid to $rovide

su!!i,ient $ressure to $revent the in!lu> o! !or"ation !luid into the well bore. I! su!!i,ient

"ud $ressure is not used while drilling% the $ressuried !or"ation !luid !or,es the "ud u$the well bore where it blows out o! ,ontrol. <hen the hole is !ull o! "ud that weighs the

29



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

right a"ount% the $ressure o! the "ud e;ualies the $ressure o! the !or"ation% so

!or"ation !luids ,an?t enter the well bore.

P6

The ,ontrol o! "an "ud $ro$erties de$ends on its P6. The P6 o! "ud is a "easure o!its a,idit or alkalinit. The P6 s,ale runs !ro" ' to 35. I! the "ud is neutral% neither a,idi,

nor alkaline% it has a P6 o! 8. 4ud with a P6 below 8 is a,idi,% a P6 above 8 shows that

the "ud is alkaline. 4ost drilling "uds re;uire a high P6% at least % or higher.

JTOO #OK: Pro"$t ;ui: <e?ve said that "ost drilling "ud should have a P6 o! or

greater. <ill the "ud be ,alled a,idi, or alkalineM

9austi, Soda

#e,ause "ud needs to have a high P6% another ,o""on "ud additive is 9austi, Soda

or Sodiu" 6dro>ide. 9austi, soda is o!ten ,alled @,austi,A. 9rew "e"bers add ,austi,

soda to the "ud to ,ontrol P6. 9austi, soda in,reases the P6 value% it "akes the "ud

"ore alkaline. In general% ,austi,s are the "ost dangerous ,he"i,als that ou?ll handle

on the rig. 6igh strength solutions ,an seriousl burn our skin. #e ver ,are!ul when

handling it to avoid in=ur% wear the $ro$er $ersonal $rote,tive e;ui$"ent% also re"e"ber

to alwas add ,austi, soda to water% never add water to ,austi, soda. I! ou do% the

,austi, soda will boil u$% s$latter and ,over ou with a burning ,he"i,al.

Gelled 4ud

<hen drilling sto$s% sa let the ,rew "ake a ,onne,tion (add a =oint o! drill $i$e to thestring)% the driller nor"all sto$s $u"$ing "ud. <hen $u"$ing sto$s% the "ud sto$s

"oving. 1t rest% "ud gels% that is it be,o"es a se"i0solid like gelatin. Gelled "ud

sus$ends the ,uttings. Gelling kee$s the ,uttings !ro" !alling down hole and $iling u$

around the bit. The abilit o! a gel to kee$ the ,uttings sus$ended is "easured b its gel

strength. <hen the driller starts the $u"$ and resu"es "ud?s ,ir,ulation% the "ud?s gel

strength redu,es% whi,h allows the drilling !luid to !low easier.

4UD TESTS

Overview

<e?ve =ust ,overed a !ew ke $oints about "ud additives and the $ro$erties that "ud

should have to allow a su,,ess!ul drilling. On the rig% it is i"$ortant !or ,rew "e"bers to

,onstantl "onitor and "aintain these $ro$erties. 1n i"$ortant "e"ber o! the drilling

tea" is the "ud engineer. The "ud engineer runs tests on the drilling !luid. The "ud

engineer?s =ob is to "onitor and "aintain the "ud?s $ro$erties to the s$e,i!i,ations o! the

well o$erator. 6e "a also re,o""end ,hanges to i"$rove drilling% su,h as adding "ore

,austi, soda to in,rease the "ud?s P6. In this se,tion% we will learn about tools that?re

used to "onitor "ud $ro$erties.

4ud #alan,e

30



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

The densit% or weight $er unit volu"e o! the drilling "ud deter"ines how "u,h

hdrostati, $ressure the "ud ,olu"n e>erts on the !or"ation. It is there!ore i"$ortant to

know the "ud?s densit at all ti"es. To deter"ine "ud densit% the "ud engineer or

hel$er uses a "ud balan,e. The $erson weighing the "ud $uts a s"all a"ount o! "ud in

the "ud ,ontainer at le!t on the balan,e. 6e then slides the ad=ustable ,ounterweight tothe right or le!t until the ar" balan,es on the !ork roo". The $erson then reads the "ud

densit at the $oint on the ar" ne>t to the ,ounterweight. In "an areas% "ud densit is

read in $ounds $er gallon but ,an also be re$orted in $ounds $er ,ubi, !oot% "illigra"s

$er liter% and other units. 4ud densit is usuall ,alled "ud weight b the rig ,rew.

JTOO #OK: 9al,ulate the densit o! "ud b ad=usting the ,ounterweight on the "ud

balan,e. 9li,k on the ,orre,t densit when ou?ve !inished.

4arsh Bunnel

The vis,osit o! the "ud is thi,kness or resistan,e to !low% is also an i"$ortant !a,tor.

The "ud?s vis,osit deter"ines how well it ,an ,arr ,uttings u$ the hole. One "easure

o! a "ud?s vis,osit is its !unnel vis,osit. That is how "an se,onds does it take e>a,tl

one ;uart o! "ud to !low out o! a s$e,ial !unnel ,alled a 4arsh Bunnel. 1 4arsh Bunnel

has a hole in the botto" that?s the standard sie. The "ud engineer or hel$er $ours one

;uart o! "ud into the !unnel and re,ords the ti"e that it takes to run out into a $it,her or

beaker. In this e>a"$le% one ;uart o! "ud !lows out o! the !unnel and into the beaker in

*2 se,% so this "ud has a !unnel vis,osit o! *2 se,. 1 less vis,ous or thinner "ud would

!low through the !unnel !aster+ a "ore vis,ous or thi,ker "ud would !low through the

!unnel slower.

Rotational is,o"eter

This devi,e also "easures "ud?s vis,osit. It is a "ore s,ienti!i, vis,osit "easure than

the 4arsh Bunnel. 1 Bann 0G 4eter "easures the "ud?s vis,osit in ,enti$oises. 1

,enti$oise is a unit o! "easure !or vis,osit% =ust as an in,h is a unit o! "easure !or

length. The Bann 0G 4eter works b s$inning a rotor or bob in a sa"$le o! "ud at two

di!!erent s$eeds. In addition% a Bann 0G 4eter is used to deter"ine a "ud?s ield $oint%

whi,h is a "easure o! the "ud?s resistan,e to !low. 9o"bined with a ti"er% the 4eter

also "easures the "ud?s gel strength. Gel strength is the "ud?s abilit to te"$oraril

solidi! or gel when it?s not !lowing.

JTOO #OK: 6ere?s a "ud with high gel strength. 9li,k the button labeled @lower gel

strengthA to see what would ha$$en i! the gel strength wasn?t this high.

Bilter Press

This is a Bilter Press. Inside the white ,ontainer is a $ie,e o! $orous $a$er ,alled !ilter

$a$er. 1lso inside the ,ontainer is a "ud sa"$le. The "ud engineer $uts the "ud

sa"$le under 3'' $ounds $er s;uare in,h o! $ressure !or *' "inutes. The $ressure

!or,es the li;uid $art o! the "ud% the !iltrate% through the !ilter $a$er and into thegraduated ,linder. # "easuring the a"ount o! the !iltrate% the "ud engineer ,an get an

31



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

indi,ation o! the a"ount o! !iltrate that will be lost to down hole !or"ations and the

a"ount o! solids or wall ,ake build u$ on the wall o! the hole.

9hloride Test

4ud engineers "a run other drilling "ud tests. One ,o""on test is !or salt or ,hloridein the "ud !iltrate. # adding Potassiu" 9hro"ate and other ,he"i,als% the engineer ,an

deter"ine i! the hole has $enetrated a salt !or"ation. It ,an also deter"ine whether salt

water has entered the well bore% whi,h "a be a sign o! a ki,k.

;OLUM6 2OUR MU$ +<R+UL(<OA ' (R6(<A: 6FU<PM6A(

4UD SYSTE4 OERIE<

Overview

The rig uses "an $ie,es o! e;ui$"ent to ,ir,ulate and treat or ,ondition the "ud.

4ud Tanks

4ud ,ir,ulation begins here% in the "ud tanks% so"eti"es ,alled $its. 9rew "e"bers

$re$are the "ud in these tanks and "ake it read !or ,ir,ulation

4ud Pu"$s

The heart o! the ,ir,ulating sste" is the "ud $u"$. O!ten% rigs have two $u"$s% one

$ri"ar $u"$ and one !or ba,k u$. Or% i! hole ,onditions re;uired% the driller ,an

,o"$ound or ,o"bine the two $u"$s to ,ir,ulate large volu"es o! "ud. In !a,t% on dee$

wells% the rig "a have three or !our ,o"$ound $u"$s. The $ower!ul $u"$% or $u"$s%$i,k u$ "ud !ro" the "ud tanks and send it to the drill string and bit. The $u"$ "oves

the "ud into the dis,harge line% u$ to stand$i$e and into the rotar hose.

Stand$i$e Rotar 6ose

The stand$i$e takes the "ud about hal! wa o! the "ast. The rotar hose is atta,hed to

the stand$i$e. The rotar hose is strong% !le>ible hose that "oves with the swivel as it

goes u$ and down in the "ast. Bro" the rotar hose% the $u"$ "oves "ud through the

swivel and then down the kell and drill string. On rigs with a to$ drive% the "ud "oves

through a $assage in the to$ drive and then into the drill string.

#it 1nnulus

The $u"$ "oves the "ud down the drill string to the bit. 1t the bit% the "ud =ets out o! the

o$enings or noles in the bit. The =ets o! "ud "ove ,uttings awa !ro" the bit. 4ud then

,ontinues u$ the annulus% ,arring the ,uttings with it.

Return ine% Shaker 4ud tanks

Bro" the annulus% the "ud with the ,uttings in it goes through the return line% so"eti"es

,alled the Blow ine% to the shale shaker. The shale shaker re"oves the ,uttings !ro" the

"ud. The "ud then !alls into the "ud tanks% where the "ud $u"$ ,an $i,k it u$ and,ontinue the ,ir,ulation $ro,ess.

32



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

JTOO #OK: 1rrange this ,ir,ulating e;ui$"ent in $ro$er order% $la,e the "ouse around

the ,o"$onent% ,li,k and hold on it and "ove it to its $ro$er $osition. The "ud $u"$ is in

$osition% what ,o"es ne>tM

4UD STOR1GE% T1FCS RESERE PIT

Overview:

4ud is "ade u$ at the rig lo,ation. 4ost rigs have several steel "ud tanks. 4ud and

additives are "i>ed and held in the tanks. So"e land rigs also have a reserve $it dug out

o! the ground. 4ud tanks are also ,alled "ud $its% a ,arrier over !ro" the das o! earthen

$its% "ud tank is the $re!erred ter". The rig does not ne,essaril use all the "ud tanks at

on,e% although it does use several. The a,tive tanks hold "ud the $u"$ a,tivel

,ir,ulates.

4ud 6ouse

O!ten% "ud ,o"$onents ,o"e to the rig in sa,ks. For"all% the ,rew stores the sa,ks in

a s$e,ial ,o"$art"ent ,alled the "ud house or sa,k roo". The house or roo" kee$s the

sa,ks dr and allows the" to be stored with ,are.

#ulk Tank

These silo0like tanks are bulk tanks or P0tanks. The hold "ud additives like barite and

bentonite. 9rew "e"bers use so"e additives in su,h large ;uantities that su$$liers load

the" into the bulk tanks to save ti"e and "one. #ulk tanks usuall have their own

ho$$er or $neu"ati, sste" !or trans!erring the additives to the "ud sste".

1,tive Tank

The $u"$ takes the "ud out o! the a,tive "ud tanks and ,ir,ulates it through the

sste". 9rew "e"bers ,onne,t the "ud tanks with the $i$ing and "ani!old. The nu"ber

o! a,tive "ud tanks de$ends on the a"ount o! "ud needed to kee$ the hole !ull% and the

volu"e re;uired on the sur!a,e to kee$ the "ud in good ,ondition !or ,ir,ulating.

Sand Tra$

The sand tra$ is the tank dire,tl below the shale shaker. The shale shaker re"oves

"ost o! the ,uttings !ro" the "ud% but so"e are so s"all the shaker ,annot tra$ the".

These !all into the sand tra$. The sand tra$ is the !irst settling tank. 9rew "e"bers have

to ,lean it regularl to re"ove the built0u$ solids.

Settling Tanks

So"e s"all or old rigs "a have two or "ore settling tanks in the tank sste". The

allow solids in the "ud to settle out% but settling tanks do not do a ver good =ob as

,o"$ared with newer generation solids0re"oval e;ui$"ent. So% toda% "ost rigs use a

dessander and desilter.

Reserve Tanks

33



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Reserve tank is not a $art o! the a,tive "ud tank sste"% instead% the ,rew uses the" to

hold e>,ess "ud% or the "a use the" to "i> a di!!erent t$e o! "ud in the $u"$?s

,urrentl ,ir,ulating. The "a also store heav "ud !or e"ergen, well ,ontrol

o$erations.

Slug Tank

1 slug tank is a relativel s"all se$arate tank% or it "a be a s"all se$arate $art o! a

larger tank. The ,rew uses the slug tank to "i> a slug. 1 slug is a s"all a"ount o! heav

"ud that is $u"$ed down the string. 9rew "e"bers "a also use the slug tank to "i> a

s"all a"ount o! "ud !or a s$e,ial $ur$ose. Bor e>a"$le% the driller "a need $la,e or

s$ot a s"all ;uantit o! high vis,osit "ud% also ,alled a $ill% at so"e $oint down hole.

Su,tion Tank

The su,tion tank is where the "ud $u"$ $i,ks u$ "ud read to ,ir,ulate down hole. 4ud

in the su,tion tank should be ,lean% !ree o! solids gas% and be $ro$erl !or"ulated or

,onditioned.

9he"i,al Tank

9rew "e"bers use the ,he"i,al tank to "ake s$e,ial ,he"i,als% su,h as ,austi,% that

the will $ut into the a,tive "ud tanks.

Reserve Pit

On so"e land rigs% the rig owner digs a large $it ne>t to the rig. This $it is ,alled the

reserve $it. The ,rew $uts waste "ud and run0o!! !ro" the rig site in the reserve $it. In ane"ergen,% the ,an also use it as a $la,e to $ut "ore "ud than the tanks ,an hold.

O!ten% the rig o$erator lines the reserve $it with a thi,k $lasti, sheet to $revent li;uids

!ro" lea,hing into the soil. 1nd i! the rig is on a "igrator bird !l wa% the o$erator ,overs

it with a netting to kee$ the water!owl !ro" landing in it. and rigs drilling in

environ"entall sensitive areas will not have a reserve $it. Instead% waste run0o!! o! a

hole to an a$$roved waste dis$osal area.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is our ,han,e to be the driller?s assistant and ,arr out task to kee$

the "ud sste" o$erating $ro$erl. Bor ea,h task the driller gives ou% ,li,k the lo,ation

where the task will be ,arried out. <hen ou sele,t the right lo,ation% ou?ll get our ne>t

instru,tions. See i! ou ,an ,arr out all !ive tasks be!ore the ti"er runs out. 9li,k @beginA

when ou?re read to start.

4UD PU4PS

Over iew

Power!ul "ud $u"$s $i,k u$ "ud !ro" the su,tion tank% and ,ir,ulate the "ud down

hole% out the bit% and ba,k to the sur!a,e. 1lthough rigs usuall have two "ud $u"$s% and

so"e ti"es three o! !our% nor"all the use onl one at a ti"e. The others are "ainl

used as ba,k u$ in ,ase one !ails. So"eti"es however% the rig ,rew "a ,o"$ound the$u"$s. That is% the "a use two% three or !our $u"$s at the sa"e ti"e to "ove large

34



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

volu"es o! "ud when re;uired. Rigs use one o! two t$es o! "ud $u"$s: tri$le> $u"$s

or du$le> $lu"$s. Tri$le> $u"$s have three $istons that "ove ba,k !orth in liners+

Du$le> $u"$s have two $istons that "ove ba,k !orth in liners. Tri$le> has "an

advantages: the weigh *'Q less than a du$le> o! e;ual horse$ower or kilowatts+ the

lighter0weighted $arts are easier to handle% and there!ore easier to "aintain. The otheradvantages in,lude: the ,ost less to o$erate% their !luid end is "ore a,,essible% and the

dis,harge "ud "ore s"oothl% that is the tri$le>?s out$ut does not surge as "u,h as

du$le>. One o! the "ost i"$ortant advantages o! tri$le> over du$le> $u"$s is that the

,an "ove large volu"es o! "ud at the higher $ressure re;uired !or "odern dee$ hole

drilling. Tri$le> $u"$s are graduall $hasing out du$le> units.

Tri$le> Pu"$

In a tri$le> $u"$% the $istons dis,harge "ud onl when the "ove !orward in the liner.

Then when the "ove ba,k% the draw in "ud on the sa"e side o! the $iston. #e,ause

o! this% the?re also ,alled @single0a,tingA. Single0a,ting tri$le> $u"$s $u"$ "ud at

relativel high s$eeds. In$ut horse$ower ranges !ro" &&' to &&'' (!ro" 3-503-53 C<)+

large $u"$s ,an $u"$ over 33'' gallons $er "inute (over 5''' liters $er "inute). So"e

big $u"$s have a "a>i"u" rated working $ressure o! over 8''' $si (over 2''''CPa)

with 2 in,h (3*8 "") liners.

Tri$le> Pu"$ O$eration

6ere?s a s,he"ati, o! a tri$le> $u"$. It has * $istons% ea,h "oving in its own liner. It also

has * intake valves and * dis,harge valves. It also has a $ulsation da"$ener in the

dis,harge line. ook at the $iston at le!t% it has =ust ,o"$leted $ushing "ud out o! theliner and through the o$en dis,harge valve. The $iston is at its "a>i"u" $oint o! !orward

travel+ the other two $istons are at the other $ositions in their travel% also $u"$ing "ud.

#ut right now% ,on,entrate on the le!t one to understand how the $u"$ works.

The le!t $iston has ,o"$leted its ba,k stroke% drawing in "ud through the o$en intake

valve. 1s the $iston "oved ba,k% it li!ted the intake valve o!! its seat and drew "ud in% a

strong s$ring holds the dis,harge valve ,losed. The le!t $iston has "oved !orward%

$ushing "ud out through the now o$en dis,harge valve% a strong s$ring holds the intake

valve ,losed. The le!t $iston has ,o"$leted its !orward stroke% the !ull length o! the liner%

,o"$letel dis,harging the "ud !ro" it. 1ll three $istons work together to kee$ a

,ontinuous !low o! "ud ,o"ing into and out o! the $u"$. 9rew "e"ber ,an ,hange the

liners and $istons% not onl ,an the re$la,e worn0out ones% but the ,an also install

di!!erent sies. Generall the use large liners and $istons when the $u"$ needs to

"ove large volu"es o! "ud at relativel low $ressure+ the use s"all liners and $istons

when the $u"$ needs to "ove s"aller volu"es o! "ud at relativel high $ressure.

JTOO #OK: You ,an ,ontrol the $osition o! the $iston with our "ouse to see how the

tri$le> $u"$ o$erates at an given $oint in this ,,le.

Du$le> Pu"$In a du$le> $u"$% the $istons dis,harge "ud on one side o! the $iston and at the sa"e

35



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

ti"e% taking in "ud on the other side. Foti,e the to$ $iston and liner. 1s the $iston "oves

!orward% it dis,harges "ud on one side as it draws in "ud on the other. Then% as it "oves

ba,k% it dis,harges "ud on the o$$osite side and draws in "ud on the side where it

earlier dis,harged. Du$le> $u"$s are there!ore double0a,ting. Double0a,ting $u"$s

"ove "ore "ud on a single stroke than a tri$le>% however% be,ause the?re doublea,ting% the have a seal around the $iston rod. The seal kee$s the" !ro" "oving as !ast

as tri$le>. In$ut horse$ower ranges !ro" 3' to 38' (or !ro" 35&03**2C<). The largest

$u"$?s "a>. rated working $ressure is about 2'''$si (al"ost *2'''CPa) with - in,h

(32& "") liners.

JTOO #OK: Tri$le> and du$le> $u"$s are ,alled re,i$ro,ating $u"$s be,ause o! the

ba,k !orth "otion o! their $istons. Use our "ouse to "ove this du$le> $u"$?s $iston

ba,k !orth so ou ,an stud the $u"$?s o$eration.

Pu"$ 9o"$onents

1 "ud $u"$ has a Bluid End% Power End and Intake Dis,harge alves. The !luid end

o! the $u"$ ,ontains the $istons with liners% whi,h take in and dis,harge the !luid or "ud.

The $u"$?s $istons draw in "ud !ro" the intake valves and $ush "ud out through the

dis,harge valves. The $ower end houses the large ,ranksha!t gear asse"bl that

"oves the $iston asse"blies in the !luid end. Pu"$s are $owered b a $u"$ "otor.

arge "odern D9 ele,tri, rigs use $ower!ul ele,tri, "otors to drive the $u"$.

4e,hani,al rigs use ,hain drives or $ower bands (belts) !ro" the rig?s engines and

,o"$ound to drive the $u"$.

#ladder0t$e Pulsation Da"$ener

1 $ulsation da"$ener ,onne,ted to the "ud dis,harge line s"ooth out surges ,reated b

the $istons as the dis,harge "ud. This is a standard bladder0t$e da"$ener. The

bladder in the da"$ener bod se$arates $ressuried nitrogen gas above !ro" "ud

below. The bladder is "ade !ro" sntheti, rubber and is !le>ible. <hen "ud dis,harge

$ressure $resses against the botto" o! the bladder% nitrogen $ressure above the bladder

resists it. This resistan,e s"oothes out the surges o! the "ud leaving the $u"$.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is a $u"$ without a $ulsation da"$ener. See the surges or $ulses o!

high $ressure "ud leaving the $u"$. These surges ,an ,ause vibrations and da"age or

wear e;ui$"ent. 1dd the $ulsation da"$ener to see the di!!eren,e it "akes. Using our

"ouse% ,li,k on the $ulsation da"$ener and drag it into $la,e.

Fon0bladder T$e Pulsation Da"$ener

6ere is the latest t$e o! $ulsation da"$ener. It does not have a bladder. It is a s$here

about !our !t (3.& ") in dia"eter. It is built into the "ud $u"$?s dis,harge line. The large

,ha"ber is !ull o! "ud. It has no "oving $arts% so it does not need "aintenan,e. The

"ud in the large volu"e?s s$here absorbs the surge o! the "ud leaving the $u"$.

Su,tion Da"$ener

36



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

1 su,tion da"$ener s"oothes out the !low o! the "ud ,o"ing into the $u"$. 9rew

"e"bers "ount it on a tri$le> "ud $u"$?s su,tion line. Inside the steel ,ha"ber is an

air0,harged rubber bladder o! dia$hrag". The ,rew ,harges the bladder about 3'032 $si

(2'03''CPa). The su,tion da"$ener absorbs surges in the "ud $u"$?s su,tion line

,aused b the !ast "oving $u"$ $istons. The $istons ,onstantl start and sto$ the "ud?s!low through the $u"$. 1t the other end o! the su,tion line% a ,harging $u"$ sends a

s"ooth !low o! "ud to the $u"$?s intake. <hen the s"ooth !low "eets the surging !low%

the i"$a,t is absorbed b the da"$ener.

Dis,harge ine Relie! alve

<orkers alwas install a dis,harge $ressure relie! valve. The install it on the $u"$?s

dis,harge side in or near the dis,harge line. I! !or so"e reason% too "u,h $ressure builds

u$ in the dis,harge line% $erha$s the drill bit or annulus gets $lugged% the relie! valve

o$ens. The o$en valve $rote,ts the "ud $u"$ and sste" against da"age !ro"

over$ressure.

Su,tion ine Relie! alve

So"e rig owners install a su,tion line relie! valve. The install it on to$ o! the su,tion line%

near the su,tion da"$ener. The "ount it on to$% so it won?t ,log u$ with "ud when the

sste" shut down. 1 su,tion relie! valve $rote,ts the ,harging $u"$ and the su,tion line

da"$ener. 1 su,tion relie! valve usuall has a & in,h (2' "") seat o$ening. The installer

nor"all ad=usts it to a 8' $si (2''CPa) reliving $ressure. I! both o! the su,tion and

dis,harge valves !ailed on the sa"e side o! the $u"$% a high ba,k !low or a $ressure

surge would o,,ur. The high ba,k!low ,ould da"age the ,harging $u"$ or the su,tionline da"$ener.

Pu"$ Dis,harge ine

The dis,harge line is a high $ressure line through whi,h the $u"$ "oves "ud. Bro" the

dis,harge line% the "ud goes through the stand$i$e% and rotar hose% to the drill string

e;ui$"ent.

4ud 9onditioning

Over iew:

The shale shaker "e,hani,all takes out the large ,uttings !ro" the "ud. It does not%

however% re"ove ver !ine ,uttings and other s"all solid $arti,les. These solids ,an be

!ine sand $arti,les and other ver !ine "aterials% o!ten ,alled @siltA. Good drilling $ra,ti,e

re;uires re"oving these undesirable solids. I! not re"oved% the solids ,an in,rease the

weight o! the "ud "ore than re;uired% redu,e the bit?s $enetration rate and signi!i,antl

in,rease the rate o! wear on ,ir,ulating e;ui$"ent. The rig uses "e,hani,al solids0

re"oving e;ui$"ent% su,h as hdro,,lones and ,entri!uges to re"ove the !ine solids.

So"eti"es the hole $enetrates a !or"ation that has s"all a"ount o! gas. This gas gets

into the "ud% be,o"es entrained in it and "ust be re"oved be!ore the $u"$ re0

,ir,ulates the "ud ba,k down hole. 1 degasser re"oves entrained gas !ro" the "ud.

37



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Shale Shaker

The shale shaker has ra$idl vibrating s,reens. The "ud and ,uttings !ro" the return line

!all onto it. The vibrating s,reens ,at,h the larger ,uttings. These ,uttings !all into the

reserve $it% the sea% or other ,ontainer !or dis$osal. The li;uid "ud goes into the sand

tra$% whi,h is a s$e,ial "ud tank. Shale shakers look si"$le% in !a,t% though%"anu!a,turers ,are!ull design the" to "ake the s,reens vibrate in a ver0,ontrolled

wa.

Degasser

So"eti"es% the ,rew sends "ud through a va,uu" degasser. The degasser re"oves

gas !ro" the "ud. I! the gas were not re"oved% it ,ould "ake the "ud too light% not

dense enough. 1s a result% the well ,ould ki,k% !or"ation !luids ,ould enter the well bore

and have to be ,ontrolled to $revent a blowout. 1nother $roble"% i! the driller re,ir,ulates

gas0,ut "ud% the gas ,ould ,ause the "ud $u"$ to gas0lo,k. Gas0lo,ked $u"$s $u"$

gas and "ud instead o! =ust "ud% whi,h is highl ine!!i,ient. So to re"ove gas% ,rew

"e"bers use a degasser.

a,uu" Degasser O$eration

In a va,uu" degasser% "ud with gas in it enters at the to$ and s$ills out over s$e,ial

ba!!le $lates% a s$reader. S$reading out o! the "ud $resents a large sur!a,e area !or the

gas to break out. 1lso the va,uu" $u"$ ,reates a va,uu"% $ressure lower than the

surround at"os$here inside the degasser. This va,uu" "akes it ver eas !or the gas to

es,a$e !ro" the s$read0u$ "ud. The re"oved gas leaves through a vent% whi,h sends

the gas a sa!e distan,e awa !ro" the rig. The gas0!ree "ud !alls to the botto" and goesba,k into the "ud tank?s down strea" !ro" the degasser.

6dro,,lone

1 hdro,,lone sste" ,onsists o! several ,ones. 4ud enters through a side o$ening at

the large end o! ea,h ,one. It swirls around inside the ,one. This ,entri!ugal !or,e or

,,lone "otion throws the larger $arti,les to the side o! the ,one. There the $arti,les

"ove to the botto" o! the ,one and dro$ out. 9lean "ud goes out the outlet at the to$. 1

desander has large ,ones% it re"oves $arti,les as s"all as about 5' "i,rons. 1 "i,ron is

one "illionth o! a "eter% whi,h is ver s"all. 1 desilter has s"aller ,ones than a

desander. Disilters re"ove $arti,les down to about &' "i,rons. 1 "ud ,leaner has steel

s"aller ,ones% it re"oves $arti,les down to bout 8 "i,rons. Sin,e barite% the desirable

solid% whi,h gives weight to the "ud% is also about 8 "i,rons% s,reens are in,luded on

"ud ,leaners to retrieve the barite so that it ,an be returned to "ud sste".

6dro,,lone O$eration

Inside the ,one% "ud enters !ro" the side and s$irals down. This "ove"ent !lings the

solids to the side. The s$iraling a,tion ,reates a vorte> in the ,enter% so"ewhat like a

tornado. It is an area o! lower $ressure% so the vorte> su,ks the li;uid "ud u$ through the

,enter and out through the to$ o! the ,one. 4eanwhile% the solids slide down the side andout o! the botto" o! the ,one. The s"aller the ,one% the s"aller is the $arti,le it ,an

38



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

re"ove% but "ore ,ones are needed to handle a given volu"e o! "ud.

9entri!uge

1 ,entri!uge s$ins "ud at high s$eed. This ,reates ,entri!ugal !or,e. 9entri!ugal !or,e

throws the $arti,les to the side o! the ,entri!uge% where the?re re"oved. 1 ,entri!ugere"oves $arti,les as s"all as &02 "i,rons% whi,h in,ludes barite. So"eti"es% ,rew

"e"bers run a ,entri!uge at a s$e,i!i, s$eed to re"ove barite so the rig ,an use it again

on a ne>t tool. O,,asionall% the rig owner runs two ,entri!uges% the !irst re"oves the

barite% and the se,ond the !iner $arti,les. 9rew "e"bers then re0add the barite to the

"ud sste".

1gitator

9rew "e"bers "ount agitators on one or "ore o! the tanks. 1gitators stir the "ud in the

tanks to kee$ solids !ro" settling and to "aintain uni!or" "ud $ro$erties. One $o$ular

agitator is the $addle0t$e% an ele,tri, "otor rotates $addle to stir the "ud.

Pit olu"e Totalier

1 Pit olu"e Totalier% or PT% alerts the driller to ,hanging the level o! "ud in the tanks.

1 !loat in ea,h tank rises or !alls i! the "ud level rises or !alls. Bor e>a"$le% i! the level

rises% the rising !loats send a signal to a re,order and to a digital $anel on the rig !loor.

The $anel alerts the driller o! the rise. This devi,e is ,alled a $it volu"e totalier% or PT%

be,ause it "easures the gain or !all in ea,h o! the tanks or $its% totals the gain or !all and

sends this in!or"ation to the driller on the rig !loor. I! the "ud level in the tanks !all% the

PT also alerts the driller. This !loat in a "ud tank is $art o! a $it volu"e totalier. Usuall%,rew "e"bers install a !loat in ea,h a,tive tank. The !loats rise or !all with the "ud level

in the a,tive tanks. 4ud level in the tanks is vital in!or"ation. I! the "ud level rises% it

o!ten "eans that the well has ki,ked% !or"ation !luids have entered the hole and !or,ed

"ud out. The ki,k !luids re$la,e "ud in the hole and ,ause the "ud level in the tanks to

rise. On the other hand% i! "ud begins going into a !or"ation% i! "ud is lost to the

!or"ation% the "ud tank level dro$s. ost ,ir,ulation ,an also be a serious $roble". The

de,rease in height o! "ud in the hole ,ould lead to a ki,k% be,ause hdrostati, $ressure

is redu,ed. 1lso drilling without "ud returning to the sur!a,e is like drilling blind% no

,o""uni,ation between the botto" o! the hole and the sur!a,e e>ists.

9entri!ugal Pu"$

The "ud sste" nor"all has several ,entri!ugal $u"$s. 1 ,entri!ugal $u"$ $uts out

relativel low $ressure but it ,an "ove a large volu"e o! "ud. 9rew "e"bers there!ore

use the" in several was. One =ob a ,entri!ugal $u"$ o!ten does is su$er,harge the "ud

intake o! the "ain "ud $u"$. The s"all $u"$ takes the "ud !ro" a su,tion tank% "oves

it through a line ,onne,ted to the "ain $u"$ su,tion line and kee$s the su,tion line !ull o!

"ud at all ti"es. I! the sste" does not use a ,harging $u"$% the !or,e o! gravit alone

!eeds the $u"$?s su,tion line. So"eti"es% gravit ,annot kee$ the $u"$?s intake

,o"$letel !ull o! "ud. The $u"$?s $istons su,k in the "ud so !ast that gravit ,annotkee$ the su,tion line !ull o! "ud. The ,rew also uses a ,entri!ugal $u"$ to "ake so"e

39



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

"ud ,o"$onents.

6o$$er

1 ho$$er is like a big !unnel. 9rew "e"bers $ut sa,ks o! "ud "aterial into it. The do

not% however% use the ho$$er to "i> ,austi, soda. The ho$$er ,an blow dr ,austi, ba,kinto the !a,e o! the worker "i>ing it. In addition to being dangerous% adding ,austi,

through the ho$$er ,an !lo,,ulate the "ud% ,ause it to ,log u$.

JTOO #OK: It takes s$e,ial $ersonal $rote,tive e;ui$"ent to handle ,austi, soda.

<hen working with ,austi,% one "ust wear goggles% a !a,e shield% rubber gauntlets%

sa!et boots% ,overalls% and a hard hat. 9austi, soda should be "i>ed using the ,he"i,al

tank% not the ho$$er.

/et 6o$$er

1 ,rew "e"ber o$ens the sa,k o! "aterial at the to$ o! the ho$$er and !eeds the

"aterial into the !unnel. 1t the sa"e ti"e% a =et o! "ud !ro" a ,entri!ugal $u"$ goes

through a nole at the botto" o! the !unnel. This =et ,reates su,tion. The su,tion $ulls

the "aterial into the "ud strea" and thoroughl "i>es it.

JTOO #OK: et?s see how well ou?ve learnt the na"es o! "ud ,onditioning e;ui$"ent.

Bor ea,h $ie,e o! e;ui$"ent ou see% ,li,k on its na"e.

;OLUM6 2<;6 *O<"(<A: 6FU<PM6A(

OERIE<:

Bun,tion o! 6oisting E;ui$"ent

1 rig is ,o"$li,ated% but easier to understand i! divided into related $arts. In this se,tion%

we well ,over the e;ui$"ent used in hoisting. 6oisting e;ui$"ent hangs or sus$ends the

drill string in the hole. It also allows the driller to raise and lower the drill string into out

o! the hole. Burther% it allows the driller to ad=ust the weight on the bit% whi,h is re;uired to

"ake the bit drill.

6oisting Sste" 9o"$onents

The e;ui$"ent used in hoisting is shown here: the 9rown #lo,k% the Traveling #lo,k

6ook% the Drilling ine% the Drill ine Su$$l Reel% the Deadline to ,rown blo,k% the Bast

ine to drawworks% the Drawworks and the Deadline 1n,hor.

6oisting Sste" O$eration

6ere is an overview o! how the hoisting sste" o$erates. The su$$l reel stores drilling

line. To reeve the line% ,rew "e"bers start it at the deadline an,hor. The $ull the line

!ro" the su$$l reel and s$ool it around the disk on the an,hor. The then li!t the line to

the to$ o! the "ast% to the ,rown blo,k. 9rew "e"bers then reeve the line several ti"es

between the ,rown blo,k sheaves and traveling blo,k sheaves. The nu"ber o! ti"esde$ends on how "u,h weight the sste" needs to li!t. In this ,ase% the run the line 2

40



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

ti"es between the two blo,ks to ,reate 3' lines. On,e the?ve strung the right nu"ber o!

lines% the run the line to the drawworks and !ir"l ,la"$ the line to the dru". The driller

then takes in the drilling line% whi,h wra$s around the dru". The driller usuall takes in

enough line% so that the line "akes it at least - wra$s around the dru". The then ,la"$

the line at the deadline an,hor. 1s the driller a,tivates the drawworks to take in line% thetraveling blo,k "oves u$. The driller uses the brake to sto$ the traveling blo,k at an

$osition. <hen the driller releases the brake% the !or,e o! gravit $ulls the traveling blo,k

down.

JTOO #OK: 6ere are the ,o"$onents o! the hoisting sste"% drag the labels to the

a$$ro$riate ,o"$onents.

9RO<F #O9C

9rown #lo,k O$eration

The rig builder "ounts the ,rown blo,k at the to$ o! the "ast. The ,rown blo,k has

several $ulles ,alled sheaves. The blo,k "anu!a,turer "ounts the sheaves side b side

on a sha!t. The drilling line runs over the grooves in the sheaves. So"eti"es% like this

one% the ,rown blo,k has a s$e,ial !ast sheave. The drilling line runs over the !ast sheave

as it leaves or enters the side0b0side sheaves on the ,rown blo,k. 9rown blo,ks have

load ratings that range !ro" about 5&' to 35'' tons (about *7'03*'' "etri, tonnes).

Sheave dia"eters range !ro" 5& to 8& in,hes (or about 3'8037' ,").

TR1EIFG #O9C 6OOC

Overview:

1 traveling blo,k also has several side0b0side sheaves. 1 steel housing en,loses the".

9rew "e"bers thread or reeve the drilling line over the sheaves. JTOO #OK: The ,rew

"ust use drilling line that is the right sie !or the sheave groove that it !its in. 6ere are

,ross se,tion o! use o! three dia"eters o! drilling line. Drag ea,h one into this sheave to

see what ha$$ens. S"all: the dia"eter o! this wire ro$e is too s"all. The ro$e will "ove

ba,k !orth in the sheave groove% ,ausing it to !latten on one side and wear out

$re"aturel. 4ediu": the dia"eter o! this wire ro$e is =ust !ight. The wire ro$e ,an?t "ove

ba,k !orth in the groove and it won?t wear e>,essivel on the sides o! the sheave

groove. arge: the dia"eter o! this wire ro$e is too big. It will rub on the sides o! the

sheave groove and wear out $re"aturel. 1 hook is atta,hed to the botto" o! the

traveling blo,k. The hook sus$ends the swivel% kell and drill string or a to$ drive drill

string.

4otion (6eave) 9o"$ensator

This is a traveling blo,k on an o!!shore !loating rig. It has a drill string "otion

,o"$ensator. The "otion ,o"$ensator is between the traveling blo,k and the hook.

O!!shore !loating rigs "ove u$ and down with sea "ove"ents. The "otion ,o"$ensator"aintains drill string $osition b ,ountera,ting u$ down vessel "ove"ent or heave. On

41



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

so"e se"i0sub"ersibles and drill shi$s% rig owners "ount the "otion ,o"$ensator on

the ,rown or the to$ o! the derri,k.

4otion 9o"$ensator O$eration

The ,o"$ensator eli"inates the "otion o! the drill string !ro" hook to the bit. 1s thevessel "oves u$ down% hdrauli, $ressure inside a $iston and ,linder kee$ the hook

in a !i>ed $osition relative to the sea !loor. The ,o"$ensator kee$s the drill bit on the

botto" o! the hole% within the weight on bit li"its set b the driller. 1 t$i,al ,o"$ensator

,an ,o"$ensate !or u$ down "ove"ent as "u,h as 320&2 !t (5.208.2 "). T$i,all% two

sies o! "otion ,o"$ensators are available: one ,an handle loads u$ to 5''%''' $ounds

(or about 37'%'''kg)+ another one whi,h is bigger ,an handle loads u$ to -''%'''

$ounds (or about &8'%'''kg).

9o"bination 6ook0#lo,k

So"e traveling blo,ks have built0in hooks% the are single integrit unit. The ,o"bination

6ook0#lo,k is shorter% and there!ore allows "ore traveling distan,e when "ast height is

li"ited. T$i,al ,o"bination hook0blo,ks have load ratings ranging !ro" 382 tons to -2'

tons (about 3-'0 2' "etri, tonnes).

Se$arate 6ook and Traveling #lo,k

So"e traveling blo,ks hooks are se$arate units. In this t$e% the bail o! the hook !its

into a ,levis on the botto" o! the traveling blo,k. 9rew "e"bers sus$end the swivel and

drill string !ro" the hook. The o$en the hook?s lat,h% insert the swivel?s bail and ,lose

the hook?s lat,h. 1 sa!et ,at,h ensures that the hook stas lat,hed. Se$arate travelingblo,ks are available in load ranges !ro" 3'' to 3&2' tons (or about ' to 33&2 "etri,

tonnes). Sheave dia"eters range !ro" &5 to 8& in,hes% -3 to 37* ,". That is & to - !t% or

over hal! a "eter to nearl & "eters in dia"eter. 6ooks have load ratings o! !ro" *2' to

3''' tons (about *'' to '' "etri, tonnes).

6ook% inks Elevator

The hook has two link ears. The ,rew atta,hes on $ie,e o! !orged links and an elevator to

the ears. The lo,k the links to the ears with the link0lo,king ar"s. 9rew "e"bers lat,h

the elevator to tubulars% =oints o! drill $i$e and other t$es o! $i$e as the running into

out o! the hole.

Elevator

9rew "e"bers lat,h the elevator around the to$ =oint o! the drill $i$e. Then when the

driller takes in drilling line% the traveling blo,k goes u$% raising the elevator and atta,hed

$i$e. 9onversel% when the driller lowers the traveling blo,k% the elevator and atta,hed

$i$e also go down.

T$es o! Elevators

9rew "e"bers use "an t$es o! elevators% whi,h one de$ends on the kind and sie o!the tubulars. Bor e>a"$le% "ost drill $i$e and li!ting subs re;uire a ,enter0lat,h

42



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

bottlene,k elevator. #ut so"e drill ,ollars re;uire a side0door ,ollar t$e elevator+ tubing%

a light0weight $i$e used in ,o"$leting wells usuall needs a sli$ t$e tubing elevator+

,asing% large $i$e the ,rew lines the hole with re;uires a s$e,ial heav0weight ,asing

elevator. The two t$es here are the Single0/oint% 9asing Pi,k0U$ t$e and the 2''0ton

(or 52'0"etri, tonne) 9asing Elevator0S$ider.

6ook Positioner Swivel o,k 1sse"bl

4ost hooks have two lo,ks: a rotation lo,k and auto"ati, $ositioner lo,k. 9rew "e"bers

use a long steel rod% ,alled a she$herd sti,k or a ,he,king hook to unlo,k and lo,k the

rotation lo,k and the auto"ati, hook $ositioner. <hen ,rew "e"bers unlo,k the rotation

lo,k% the rotate the hook to "ake the elevator !a,e a desired dire,tion. On,e $ositioned%

the lo,k the rotation lo,k to kee$ the hook in $osition. 9rew "e"bers ,an also release

the rotation lo,k when the hook needs to rotate !reel. The other lo,k% an o$tional

auto"ati, hook $ositioner $revents rotation o! the elevator links when the hook is

traveling e"$t. For"all% =ust be!ore "aking a tri$ in ,ased hole% ,rew "e"bers unlo,k

the rotation lo,k% turn the hook% and relo,k it% so that the elevator !a,es the derri,k "an.

This "akes it eas !or hi" to lat,h and unlat,h the elevator. I! ,rew "e"bers are tri$$ing

$i$e in o$en hole% the a,tivate the auto"ati, hook $ositioner. This lets the hook rotate

!reel when hoisting the drill string% allowing the drill string to turn in o$en hole as it is

being $ulled% kee$s it !ro" da"aging the hole and $revents the reeve to drilling line !ro"

twisting. Then% when the elevator rea,hes the derri,k "an and the driller sto$s hoisting%

the $ositioner auto"ati,all rotates the elevator into ,orre,t $osition !or the derri,k "an.

6drauli, Snubber Inside the hook is a hdrauli, snubber. The snubber is like a sho,k absorber. It $revents

drill $i$e boun,e and tool =oint da"age when s$inning out the ,onne,tion.

DRIIFG IFE

Drilling ine

Drilling line is high strength heav0dut wire ro$e. The "anu!a,turer braids several wires

together to !or" the ro$e. Drilling line ,o"es in dia"eters ranging !ro" 8H7 to & in,hes

(about &&023 ""). 9rew "e"bers string or reeve drilling line between the ,rown blo,k

and the traveling blo,k. The "ore lines the reeve% the "ore weight the sste" ,an

su$$ort. 6ere !or e>a"$le% the reeve the line 2 ti"es between the blo,ks% so that ten

lines su$$ort the traveling blo,k.

Reeving Drilling ine

6ere is the ,rown blo,k traveling blo,k strung together b drilling line. Fote how the

traveling blo,k goes u$ down as the driller takes in or lets out drilling line. The deadline

is drilling line that runs to the deadline an,hor. The !ast line is drilling line that runs to the

drawworks. Foti,e the !ive wra$s o! drilling line between the ,rown the traveling blo,k.

Bive wra$s "akes !or ten lines. Ten lines ,an li!t ten ti"es the weight o! a single line. 1lsonoti,e that the ,rown blo,k has one "ore sheave than the traveling blo,k. This e>tra

43



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

sheave is !or the !ast line.

JTOO #OK: This $hoto shows the !ast line and the deadline on a rig. Using our "ouse%

drag ea,h label onto the ,orre,t line% then ,li,k the @a,,e$tA button to see i! ou?ve gotten

it right.

Su$$l (Storage) Reel

Drilling line ,o"es to the rig on a large su$$l reel. For"all ,rew "e"bers string the

needed a"ount o! line through the traveling ,rown blo,ks and onto the drawworks.

Then the kee$ the e>tra line on this su$$l reel. The reason the kee$ the e>tra line is

!or a Sli$0and09ut Progra".

<ear PointS on ine

1s the driller raises and lowers the traveling blo,k and its asso,iated loads% the drilling

line wears. It tends to wear "ore where it $asses over the traveling blo,k sheaves and

the ,rown blo,k sheaves. The line has to bend around the sheaves and this $uts e>tra

stress on it. The line also wears "ore where it rea,hes the end o! the drawworks? dru". It

has to reverse dire,tion here% and start ba,k the other wa on the dru". This dire,tion

,hange $uts e>tra stress on the line.

JTOO #OK: Fot onl does the drilling line wear% but the sheaves do also. One thing that

the ,rew does to $rolong the li!e o! the sheaves is to rotate the traveling blo,k 37'°

degrees. 9li,k on it and we?ll see wh this is done. During o$eration% ea,h sheave "oves

at a di!!erent s$eed. The one ,losest to the !ast line "oves the !astest and the one,losest to the deadline "oves the slowest. Sin,e the !aster "oving sheaves wear

;ui,ker% the wear ,an be distributed evenl a"ong the sheaves b rotating the traveling

blo,k $eriodi,all. This is o!ten done between wells.

Sli$$ing and 9utting Drilling ine

To distribute the wear on the drilling line% the ,rew sli$s the line a $redeter"ined a"ount.

Sli$$ing the line "oves the wear $oints on the line. To sli$ the line% ,rew "e"bers lower

the traveling blo,k to the rig !loor. The then rig u$ a s$e,ial hang line !ro" the ,rown

bea" to the to$ o! the traveling blo,k. The hang line kee$s the blo,k !ro" "oving. <ith

the blo,k unable to "ove% the un,la"$ the drilling line at the deadline an,hor. The driller

then uses the drawworks to $ull new line o!! the su$$l reel. The line sli$s through the

deadline an,hor and stationar traveling blo,k. The worn line reels onto the drawworks?

dru". To kee$ too "u,h line !ro" a,,u"ulating on the dru"% ,rew "e"bers ,ut o!! the

end o! the worn !ast line and dis,ard it.

JTOO #OK: This is an e>a"$le o! bird0,aged or wi,ker wire. #ird0,aged wire is unsa!e

and needs to be re"oved b sli$$ing ,utting. #ird0,aged wire is ,aused b sudden

dro$$ing o! the traveling blo,k. Driller should raise lower the traveling blo,k as

s"oothl as $ossible.

44



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Deadline 1n,hor

This is the deadline an,hor. It !ir"l se,ures the drilling line and kee$s it !ro" "oving.

Drilling line ,o"es o!! su$$l reel% and loo$s several ti"es around the an,hor. The rig

,rew then !ir"l ,la"$s the line to the an,hor. The line leaves the an,hor% goes through

the ,rown traveling blo,ks and then to the drawworks. 9la"$ing the deadline to thedeadline an,hor "e,hani,all isolates the drilling line !ro" the su$$l reel. #e,ause the

line is stationar% it is ,alled the deadline.

DR1<<ORCS

Overview

The drawworks has a large s$ool or dru" around whi,h the ,rew "e"bers wra$ the

drilling line. Power !ro" the engines or ele,tri, "otors drives the drawworks? dru". <hen

the driller a,tivates its ,ontrol and releases the brake% the dru" reels in drilling line.

Reeling in drilling line raises the traveling blo,k and whatever?s atta,hed to it. To lower

the traveling blo,k% the driller releases the drawworks? brake. The !or,e o! gravit $ulls

the blo,k down. The driller ,ontrols the des,ent b a$$ling the brake to slow or sto$ the

downward travel. The s"allest drawworks are around 22' h$% while the largest have

5''' h$% about 5''0*''' C<. S"all drawworks ,an handle wells drilled to around *'''

!t (3'''") dee$+ the largest ,an handle 5''''0!oot or 3&'''0" de$th.

#raking Sste"

<hen the driller "oves the brake handle down% the drawworks? brake bands e>ert !ri,tion

on both ri"s o! the dru". <e?re onl showing one ri" to kee$ it si"$le. This !ri,tion

slows or sto$s the dru". <hen the driller li!ts the brake handle a s"all a"ount% tensionon the band eases. <ith tension eased% the drawworks? dru" rotates a s"all a"ount to

graduall lower the load. <hen the driller li!ts the handle u$ !ull% the bands do not tou,h

the dru" ri"s at all% the dru" rotates !reel and the load dro$s in !ree0!all.

Disk #rake Sste"

4an new drawworks use a disk brake sste". Disk brakes are "ore e!!i,ient than dru"

brakes. 1 t$i,al disk brake sste" ,onsists o! three "a=or ,o"$onents: two Disks% one

on ea,h end o! the dru"+ a 6drauli, O$erating Sste"% whi,h ou ,an?t see here% and

9ali$er0and0Pad 1sse"blies. The sste" has - servi,e ,ali$ers% * on ea,h disk% and &

e"ergen, ,ali$ers% one on ea,h disk. <hen the driller engages the brake% hdrauli,

$ressure $ushes in the $ads inside ea,h servi,e ,ali$er. The $ads ,onta,t the disk and

slow or sto$ the dru". I! hdrauli, $ressure !ails% the e"ergen, ,ali$er set auto"ati,all.

Ele,trodna"i, #rake

4ounted on the end o! the drawworks? dru" sha!t% is an ele,trodna"i, brake. It is an

au>iliar brake that uses $ower!ul ele,tro"agnets. The ele,tro"agneti, !or,e works

against the turning !or,e o! the drawworks? dru" sha!t. It assists the "e,hani,al dru" or

disk brake ou =ust saw. It ,ontrols the s$eed o! the load as it goes down. The driller ,an

not ,ontrol the load?s s$eed with the dru" or disk brake alone. The weight o! the load$lus the tre"endous inertia ,reates when "oving is =ust too great. So the driller a,tivates

45



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

the eletrodna"i, brake. The ele,trodna"i, brake $rovides "ost o! the braking !or,e

when the drawworks? dru" is turning.

JTOO #OK: Drag the labels to $ro$er lo,ation to identi! the ,o"$onents in this $hoto.

atest Drawworks

The "ost "odern drawworks? braking sste" does not use an ele,trodna"i, brake.

Instead% the drawworks is $owered b a s$e,ial ,o"$uteried "otor and ,ontrol sste".

The ,o"$uter0,ontrol sste" allows the drive "otor to $ower the drawworks and $rovide

the au>iliar braking !or,e.

9rown Saver

4ounted on the drawworks% near the drawworks? dru"% is a ,rown saver% or a ,rown O0

4ati,% a brand na"e. 1 ,rown saver kee$s the driller !ro" a,,identall raising the

traveling blo,k into the ,rown blo,k. It has a $robe that a,tivates an air0a,tuated toggle

swit,h i! the driller takes in too "u,h drilling line onto the drawworks? dru". Too "u,h line

indi,ates that the driller has raised the traveling blo,k too high in the "ast. I! he raised

the blo,k an "ore% it would ,rash into the ,rown blo,k% or se$arate the rotar hose%

,ausing a lot o! da"age. Too "u,h line on the dru" a,tivates the toggle swit,h. The

swit,h then i""ediatel engages the drawworks? brake and disengages the drawworks?

,lut,h. 9lut,h disengage"ent dis,onne,ts the drawworks? dru" !ro" its $ower sour,e.

The latest drawworks uses an ele,tri,all a,tuated ,rown saver sste"% but still

"aintains the $neu"ati, ,rown saver as ba,k u$.

;OLUM6 "<D RO((<A: 6FU<PM6A(@ M"( ' "U"(RU+(UR6

ROT1TIFG ENUIP4EFT

Overview

So"e rigs use a kell and rotar table to rotate the drill string and bit. This sste"

,onsists o! the Swivel and Rotar 6ose% the Cell 1sse"bl and the Rotar Table. So"e

rigs use a to$ drive sste" to rotate the drill string and bit. 1 "odern to$ drive% also ,alled

a $ower swivel% is an integrit unit that in,ludes a Pi$e 6andler 1sse"bl% #lo,k% Swivel

and a $ower!ul 4otor or "otors to rotate the drive sha!t. 9rew "e"bers "ake u$ the drill

string to the drive sha!t.

CEY ROT1RY T1#E

Cell 1sse"bl

9rew "e"bers "ake u$ the kell to the swivel ste". The kell has either !our or si>

sides and $asses through a !our or si>0sided o$ening in the kell drive bushing. The kell

drive bushing "eets with the "aster bushing% so when the "a,hine inside the rotar

table rotates the "aster bushing% the kell drive bushing rotates the kell and atta,hed

drill string and bit.

46



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Cell Detail

The kell is !lat0sided% with either a s;uare or he>agonal ,ross se,tion. It is s;uare in this

drawing. It is hollow so the drill !luid ,an !low through it. The kell "oves through a

s;uare or he>agonal o$ening in the kell drive bushing. The kell drive bushing "eets

with the "aster bushing in the rotar table. The rotar table turns the "aster bushing% thekell drive bushing% the kell and the atta,hed drill string bit. The kell ,an "ove

verti,all while rotating.

Rotar Table O$eration

The rotar table $er!or"s two !un,tions. Birst% it trans"its rotar "otion to the "aster

bushing% whi,h drives the kell and drill string% and with sste"s o! sli$s% hangs the drill

string. The "aster bushing goes inside an o$ening in the rotar table. S"all "aster

bushings are usuall a solid single $ie,e as shown here. arge "aster bushings are

either s$lit or hinged.

9rew "e"bers install a two $ie,e or s$lit insert bowl in a re,e$ta,le in the ,enter o! the

"aster bushing. The insert bowl is ta$ered inside and su$$orts the ba,k o! the sli$s.

The ,o"e in varied sies. The ,rew ,hanges out the insert bowls to "at,h with the

t$es o! sli$s in use. Insert bowls are also ,alled inserts or bushings. Rotar tables have

o$enings that range in dia"eter !ro" 3805 in,hes (5* ," to about3.& "). The s"allest

,an hold a non"oving load o! &2' tons (about &&2 "etri, tonnes). The largest ,an hold a

non"oving load o! 7'' tons (about 8&2 "etri, tonnes). So"e s"all rotaries ,an s$in as

!ast as 2'' revolutions $er "inute% r$"+ large rotaries s$in a bit slower% with u$$er

ranges about *'' r$".

Setting Sli$s

4anu!a,turers ta$er the inside o! the insert bowl. The ta$er it to "at,h the ta$er o! the

ba,k o! the sli$s. The sli$s grab the drill string and sus$end it inside the insert bowl. The

insert bowl !its inside the rotar table?s "aster bushing. Sus$ending the drill string in this

"anner allows ,rew "e"bers to dis,onne,t the kell or to$ drive and break out =oints o!

drill $i$e. 9rew "e"bers ,an re"ove the insert bowls to $rovide a larger o$ening

through the rotar table. I! ne,essar% the ,an also re"ove the "aster bushing. The

"a have to do this to run a large hole o$ener bit or large ,asing. 9asing is $i$e that the

,rew runs to line the walls o! the hole a!ter the drill it.

Swivel Rotar 6ose

1 rotar table kell sste" in,ludes a swivel rotar hose. The swivel has a bail% like

the bail or the handle on a bu,ket% onl "u,h larger. The swivel bail hangs !ro" the hook

on the traveling blo,k. The swivel allows the atta,hed kell drill string to rotate. 1t the

sa"e ti"e% the rotar hose ,ondu,ts drilling "ud into a ,urved $i$e% ,alled the

goosene,k. The goosene,k atta,hes to the swivel and ,arries drilling !luid to the swivel

via the wash$i$e. The rotar hose is !le>ible% steel0rein!or,ed hose that allows the swivel

to "ove u$ down within the "ast. 1 $assage wa inside the swivel ste" ,ondu,ts the

high $ressure drilling "ud into the kell and drill string.

47



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

Swivel O$eration

6ere is an isolated view o! the swivel. The bail hangs the swivel !ro" a hook% whi,h is not

shown. The rotar hose ,ondu,ts drilling "ud to the goosene,k. 4ud !lows through the

goosene,k% down the wash$i$e% and into the ste" drill string below. <ash$i$e $a,king

seals the high $ressure "ud in the wash$i$e as the ste" rotates. The ste" rotates onheav0dut radial bearings thrust bearings. The "ain thrust bearings su$$ort the entire

weight o! the drill string as it rotates. Swivels have dead load ,a$a,ities ranging !ro" 32'

to 3&2' tons% about 3*2 to 33&2 "etri, tonnes. 1n oil reservoir lubri,ates the bearings

and rotating $arts.

JTOO #OK: 6ere are all the $ie,es o! the rotating asse"bl. Put the" together% starting

!ro" the rig !loor and working our wa u$. Drag ea,h $ie,e into $la,e with our "ouse.

TOP DRIE (PO<ER S<IE)

Overview

So"e rigs use a to$ drive sste" to rotate the drill string bit. 1 to$ drive has a $ower!ul

"otor or "otors% and a drive sha!t. The ,rew atta,hes the drill string to the drive sha!t.

<hen the "otor rotates the drive sha!t% the atta,hed drill string bit also rotate. 9rew

"e"bers atta,h the to$ drive to Guide Rails or Tra,ks% whi,h kee$s the whole unit !ro"

rotating. <ith a to$ drive% the rotar table does not rotate the drill string.

To$ Drive 1dvantages Disadvantages

The "ost i"$ortant bene!it o! a to$ drive is that it redu,es drilling ti"e. It also rotates the

drill string "ore e!!i,ientl than the kell rotar table sste". Burther% it handles stands

and $i$e "ore e!!i,ientl. 1 to$ drive sste" $rovides "ore variable rotating $ower than arotar table. It allows drill string rotation and ,ir,ulation at an $oint in the hole% when

tri$$ing in% drilling% or tri$$ing out. These !eatures hel$ $revent hole $roble"s. It $rovides

ra$id res$onse to well ki,ks during tri$$ing or running ,asing. The driller ,an "ake u$

and re"otel shut the built0in I#OP to sto$ drill string !low !aster than the ,rew ,an set

sli$s% stab and ,lose a !ull o$ening sa!et valve. In highl deviated holes% it hel$s to

$revent the $i$e !ro" getting stu,k b allowing the driller to i""ediatel rea" or ba,k

rea" the drill ste". I! the ,rew ,an "ake three =oint stands o! $i$e be!ore drilling starts% a

to$ drive ,an drill tri$le stands% instead o! =ust one =oint% as is ne,essar on a kell drive

rig. 4aking u$ * =oint stands redu,es the nu"ber o! ,onne,tions re;uired to 3H*. In "an

,ases on large o!!shore rigs% the ,rew no longer needs to la down $i$e between wells.

That is the ,rew ,an set stands ba,k verti,all in the derri,k% and the rig ,an be "oved a

short distan,e without the $i$e being laid down.

To$ drives have a !ew disadvantages. The?re "ore e>$ensive to "aintain and the?re

ver large. #e,ause o! the additional weight% the rig?s drilling line wears !aster. The are

"ore di!!i,ult to "ove on land rigs that "ust be disasse"bled.

To$ Drive 1sse"bl

1 to$ drive does not use a kell or the rotating ,o"$onents o! the rotar table. The to$

drive in,ludes a traveling blo,k and an integrated swivel. The rotar hose ,ondu,tsdrilling "ud to the integrated swivel via an S0$i$e asse"bl. 1 $assage inside the swivel

48



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

drive sha!t dire,ts "ud into the drill string. The to$ drive "otor% ,onne,ts to the traveling

e;ui$"ent at the integrated swivel asse"bl. Drive "otor horse$ower ranges !ro" -''

u$ to &3'' (or 5&' to 32'' C<). The "otor turns the "ain drive sha!t through a gear bo>

or trans"ission. 9rew "e"bers "ake u$ a saver sub on the botto" o! the drive sha!t

and "ake u$ the drill string onto the saver sub. The saver sub ,uts down on wear tearto the drive sha!t?s threads. To$ drive have hoisting ,a$a,ities ranging !ro" *2' to 82'

tons (or *32 to -7' "etri, tonnes). Guide tra,ks or rails in the "ast kee$ the to$ drive

unit !or" rotating as the "otor in the drive sha!t asse"bl turns the drill string. The to$

drive dull asse"bl "oves u$ or down on the guide rails. Servi,e loo$s whi,h are

bundled ,ables and hoses trans!er the re;uired ele,tri,% $neu"ati,% and hdrauli, $ower

between the "ast?s stand$i$es and the =un,tion bo>es lo,ated on the to$ drive. The to$

drive unit also in,ludes a $i$e handler asse"bl that has an u$$er inside blowout

$reventer% I#OP% a lower I#OP and a tor;ue wren,h. The tor;ue wren,h "akes u$ (or

,onne,ts) or breaks out (or dis,onne,ts) =oints o! drill $i$e. The driller ,ontrols the to$

drive?s o$eration !ro" a ,onsole. The $i$e handler asse"bl also in,ludes links% an

elevator% and an auto"ati, ink0Tilt asse"bl. The driller a,tivates the link0tilt asse"bl to

$osition the links and elevator at the "ouse hole !or $i,king u$ or laing down drill $i$e.

The link0tilt asse"bl also assists the derri,k "an in ra,king stands.

JTOO #OK

41ST DERRI9CS

Overview

The rig?s "ast is a strong tower that su$$orts the e;ui$"ent atta,hed to the traveling

blo,k hook. 9rew "e"bers so"eti"es use the words @"astA and @derri,kAinter,hangeabl. In realit% a "ast stands inde$endentl on the rig !loor and is raised as a

single $ie,e unit. In the old das% rig owners used a lot o! derri,ks. 1 standard derri,k as

it?s ,alled% is usuall bolted together. It has !our legs% bea"s and girds% or ,ross bra,es.

Unlike the "ast% the derri,k ,annot be lowered or raised as a single unit. Toda "asts

are "u,h "ore ,o""on than derri,ks.

4ast

4anu!a,turers usuall weld and $in the "ast together !or easier to asse"bl or

disasse"bl. 1 sel!0ere,ting "ast "a be a 9antilever t$e% a !olding t$e% or a

teles,o$ing t$e.

JTOO #OK:

Trans$orting 4ast: On,e take a look at so"e o! the alternative was that heav roading

here ,an be used to trans$ort a "ast to the land rig well site. These trans$ort "ethods

,an be used in terrain that?s !airl !lat and o$en% like desert. 6ere ou see a "ast

together with the substru,ture being towed in the u$right $osition. 6ere is another "ast

being towed with its substru,ture. 6owever% this one is being towed in a horiontal

$osition. On,e it?s at the well lo,ation% it will be raised u$ into $osition using the

drawworks. This "ast is also being towed in a horiontal $osition% but its substru,ture is

towed se$aratel. The "ast will have to be "ounted and raised on the substru,ture on,eit arrives at the well lo,ation.

49



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

6eight 9a$a,it

1 "ast or derri,k is tall% nor"all having a ,lear height !ro" 3'' to 3-' !t (*'02' ").

The?re also strong+ the?re able to su$$ort stati, weights ranging !ro" &82%''' $ounds

to *3H5 "illion $ounds (or 3&2%''' to 3.2 "illion kg). 1 rig?s "ast "ust be tall enough toallow ,rew "e"bers to set ba,k drill $i$e% tubing and other tubulars the $ull out o! the

hole during a tri$ out. It also has to be tall enough to allow the driller to raise the traveling

blo,k above the height o! the derri,k "an?s "onke0board.

Stands

<ith the traveling blo,k high in the "ast% and the elevator at the derri,k "an?s $osition on

the "onke0board. The derri,k "an sets ba,k drill string ele"ents or stands. 4ost rigs

$ull three0=oint stand o! drill $i$e and drill ,ollars. 1 three0=oint stand is three "ade0u$

=oints o! drill $i$e or ,ollars. S"all rigs "a $ull two or even one =oint stand. In rare

,ases% a reall large rig "a $ull !our0=oint stand. Regardless o! the nu"ber o! =oints%

$ulling $i$e in stands instead o! a single =oint at a ti"e s$eeds u$ the tri$$ing $ro,ess.

9rown <alkaround (<ater Table)

The working $lat!or" at the to$ o! the derri,k or "ast that $er"its a,,ess to the ,rown

blo,k is ,alled the walkaround. It is also ,alled the water table.

4onke0board

The "onke0board is the derri,k "an?s working $lat!or" when ,rew "e"bers $ull $i$eor run it ba,k into the hole. The derri,k "an sets stands o! $i$e ba,k into a !inger board%

a $lat!or" with $ro=e,tions that holds the to$ o! the $i$e in $la,e as it stands in the "ast.

Stabbing #oard

1 stabbing board is si"ilar to the "onke0board. It is a s"all $lat!or" in the "ast or

derri,k about *'05' !t (or 03&") above the rig !loor. 1 drilling ,rew "e"ber% usuall the

derri,k "an% works on the $lat!or" when running ,asing or tubing. The derri,k "an

guides the to$ o! the ,asing or tubing !ro" the stabbing board. The ,rew "e"ber ,alls

the stabber% ad=ust the stabbing board?s height with a hdrauli,% ele,tri, or air0$owered

"otor. The height varies de$ending on the length o! the ,asing or tubing being "ade u$

and running into the hole.

JTOO #OK

6ere is a $i,ture o! a rig. <hen ou?re given a rig ,o"$onent% ,li,k on the $hoto where

the ,o"$onent is lo,ated.

SU#STRU9TURE

Overview

The substru,ture is a rugged set o! bea"s. It su$$orts the "ast or derri,k and the heavhoisting rotating e;ui$"ent. It also su$$orts the drilling tubulars on the rig !loor. It "ust

50



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

be high enough to a,,o""odate the blowout $reventer sta,k underneath the rig !loor.

0Door% Pi$e Ra"$ 9atwalk

9rew "e"bers hoist $i$e and e;ui$"ent !ro" the ,atwalk u$ to the rig !loor b raising it

u$ the $i$e ra"$. The hoist it onto the rig !loor through the 0door.

JTOO #OK

The 0Door takes its na"e !ro" the earl das o! the oil $at,h. On old standard derri,ks%

this o$ening looked like a large u$ side down @A. The na"e?s stu,k% even though toda

the o$ening "a not look "u,h like a @A.

;OLUM6 "6;6A P<P6 *A$L<A: 6FU<PM6A(

PIPE 61FDIFG

Overview

The rig ,rew needs $i$e handling e;ui$"ent !or several reasons. One is to "ake a

,onne,tion% to add a =oint o! $i$e as the hole dee$ens+ another is to tri$ the $i$e% to take

the $i$e out and $ut it ba,k in the hole% so the ,an ,hange out bit% $ut a new botto" hole

asse"bl and drill string or $er!or" an other a,tion that re;uires the drill string?s

re"oval !ro" the hole. 9rew "e"bers ,an "ake ,onne,tions either b using a kell

rotar table sste" or a to$ drive unit. 6andling $i$e% tri$$ing it in and out o! the hole%

,onne,ting =oints together% and "oving it around the rig !loor re;uires a lot o! e;ui$"ent.

In,luded in this e;ui$"ent are the elevator% sli$s% tongs% $ower tongs% s$inning wren,hes%

,atheads% kell s$inner% Iron Roughne,k% rathole% "ousehole and air hoist. 4u,h o! this

e;ui$"ent is ,ontrolled at the driller?s ,onsole. Trans!erring $i$e !ro" the de,k to the rig!loor "a also involve s$e,ial handling e;ui$"ent.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is a little e>er,ise to hel$ ou learn the na"es o! all this e;ui$"ent.

<hen ou?re given the na"e o! a ,o"$onent% ,li,k on it with our "ouse. I! ou don?t get

it the !irst ti"e% kee$ tring until ou do.

PIPE 61FDIFG OPER1TIOF

4aking a 9onne,tion with Cell

Foti,e that the kell is drilled down% that is the rig ,an drill no dee$er without adding a

=oint o! $i$e. 6ere?s the se;uen,e to "ake a ,onne,tion with the kell and rotar table

sste". The driller $i,ks u$ the kell with the hoisting sste" and the !loor ,rew sets the

sli$s to sus$end the drill string in the hole. Using large wren,hes% ,alled tongs% the ,rew

loosens or breaks out the kell !ro" the drill string. The lat,h one set o! tongs ,alled the

ba,k u$ tongs around the drill $i$e to kee$ the $i$e !ro" turning when the a$$l break

out tor;ue with the se,ond set o! tongs% ,alled the lead tongs.

The driller a,tuates the break out ,athead% whi,h is an auto"ati, win,h on the

drawworks. The break out ,athead $ulls a line atta,hed to the lead tongs and loosens the

,onne,tion. <ith the ,onne,tion loosened% the driller s$ins $ut the drill $i$e !ro" the

kell% usuall b slowl turning the rotar table. The ba,k u$ tongs lat,hed onto the kellsaver sub% kee$s the kell !ro" turning as the $i$e s$ins out. The ,rew then "oves the

51



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

kell over to the new =oint o! $i$e $la,ed in the "ousehole% a lined o$ening in the rig !loor

that holds the =oint to be added. The stab the kell into the new =oint. The lat,h the

ba,k u$ tongs around the tool =oint o! the $i$e =oint in the "ousehole. The ba,k u$ tongs

kee$ the =oint !ro" turning as the driller s$ins u$ the kell into the =oint% using the kell

s$inner. The kell s$inner is a $neu"ati, or hdrauli, devi,e "ounted near the to$ o! thekell. To "ake u$ the kell onto the drill $i$e to !inal tightness% the ,rew lat,hes the lead

tongs around the kell while holding the ba,k u$ tongs on the $i$e?s tool =oint bo>. The

driller then a,tuates the "ake u$ ,athead on the drawworks. The "ake u$ ,athead $ulls

a ,hain atta,hed to the lead tongs and tightens the kell onto the drill $i$e =oint. The

driller% using the hoisting sste"% $i,ks u$ the kell and new drill $i$e =oint out o! the

"ousehole% and the ,rew guides it to the drill $i$e =oint% hanging in the rotar table. The

,rew stabs the new =oint into the sus$ended =oint% and the driller a,tuates the kell

s$inner to s$in u$ the new =oint.

JTOO #OK: 9li,k on the $la button to see a video o! the kell being "ade u$.

On,e bond u$% the ,rew lat,hes the ba,k u$ lead tongs around the =oints to "ake the"

u$ to !inal tightness. <ith the =oints "ade u$% the driller $i,ks u$ the kell and drill string.

The ,rew $ulls the sli$s% and the driller lowers the kell and "eets the kell drive bushing

with the "aster bushing. Drilling then ,ontinues.

4aking 1 9onne,tion with a To$ Drive

6ere is how to "ake a ,onne,tion using a to$ drive. 1!ter drilling down the stand% the

,rew sets the sli$s. The driller sto$s ,ir,ulation% and the ,rew breaks out the saver sub!ro" the drill $i$e using the tor;ue wren,h and the to$ drive?s $i$e handler. The driller

then uses the to$ drive?s drilling "otor to uns,rew the ,onne,tion. The driller $i,ks u$ the

to$ drive and a ,rew "e"ber o$ens the drill $i$e elevators to allow it to $ass over the

bo> o! the $i$e% setting in the sli$s. The driller raises the to$ drive asse"bl to the

"onke0board. The derri,k "an lat,hes the tri$le drill $i$e stand in the elevators. The

elevators $i,k u$ the stand and the !loor ,rew stabs the botto" $in into the drill $i$e bo>

in the rotar table.

JTOO #OK: 9li,k on the $la button to see the =oint being stabbed into the drill string.

The driller lowers the to$ drive to stab the saver sub into the bo> at the to$ o! the stand.

Using the to$ drive?s drilling "otor% the driller s$ins u$ both the to$ ,onne,tion and the

lower ,onne,tion at the rotar table. The rotar hel$ers use ba,k u$ tongs to kee$ the

,onne,tion stationar as the $i$e s$ins. Binall% the driller begins ,ir,ulation% the ,rew

$ulls the sli$s and drilling resu"es.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is our ,han,e to su$ervise the "aking o! a ,onne,tion% using a to$

drive. The stand has been drilled down and it?s ti"e to set the sli$s. The to$ drive has

alread been broken u$ !ro" the drill string and atta,hed to the stand o! $i$e in the "ast.Raise the stand o! drill $i$e b ,li,king on the to$ drive Good Fow lower the tool =oint

52



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

on to the drill string b "oving the to$ drive downwards with our "ouse. 1,tivate the to$

drive b ,li,king on it with our "ouse. i!t the drill string b "oving the to$ drive

u$wards. 1nd !inall% re"ove the sli$s b dragging the" out o! the insert bowls. E>,ellent

work Fow ou are read to "ake hole.

Tri$$ing Out with Cell

6ere is a ,rew on a rig with the kell rotar table sste" tri$$ing $i$e out o! the hole.

That is the rotar hel$ers% the derri,k "an and the driller are working together to $ull the

drill string !ro" the hole. 4abe to ,hange the bit% or so"ething si"ilar.

Birst% the ,rew sus$ends the drill string in the hole with sli$s. Then the break out the

kell asse"bl. The swing the asse"bl over to a lined hole% ,alled the rathole% and the

driller lowers the asse"bl into the rathole. <ith the kell asse"bl in the rathole% the

,rew unhook the swivel bail !ro" the hook% this a,tion !rees u$ the elevator. 9rew

"e"bers lat,h the elevator around the =oint o! $i$e hanging in the rotar table o$ening.

The driller% using the hoisting sste"% then li!ts the $i$e !ro" the hole. Usuall% the driller

li!ts $i$e until the third =oint ,lears the rotar table o$ening. The !loor hands then set the

sli$s around the to$ o! the !ourth =oint. Using the tongs and a s$inning wren,h% the ,rew

breaks out the three0=oint stand !ro" the drill string and sets it ba,k in the "ast.

4eanwhile% u$ on the "ast% the derri,k "an handles the u$$er end o! the three0=oint

stand. 6e $la,es the to$ o! the stand into a !ingerboard% a series o! $ro=e,tions near the

derri,k "an?s work $lat!or" ,alled the "onke0board. The driller% rotar hel$ers and

derri,k "an re$eat the $ro,ess until all the drill string is out o! the hole.

Tri$$ing with Cell6ere% the ,rew is tri$$ing $i$e ba,k into the hole. The !loor0hands% derri,k "an and the

driller work together to get the drill string ba,k into the hole. Tri$$ing in is $rett "u,h the

o$$osite o! tri$$ing out. The driller sends the elevator u$ to the "onke0board% where the

derri,k "an lat,hes the elevator around the to$ o! the stand. The driller then $i,ks u$ the

stand a little% and the rotar hel$er guides the lower end over to the string hanging in the

rotar table o$ening. The stab the stand% using the s$inning wren,h to s$in u$ the stand

and "ake it u$ to !inal tightness with the tongs. The ,rew re$eats this $ro,ess until all the

string is ba,k in the hole.

Tri$$ing with To$ Drive% 3

<hen tri$$ing with a to$ drive% ,rew "e"bers use the drive?s elevator as "u,h as the

use a ,onventional elevator when tri$$ing with a kell rotar table rig. <ith a to$ drive%

the driller ,an $osition the links elevator ,lose to the derri,k "an on the "onke0board.

The driller "oves the links elevator b a,tuating the re"ote0,ontrolled link0tilt

"e,hanis" on the to$ drive. 4oving the links elevator "akes it eas !or the derri,k

"an to lat,h unlat,h the elevator around the drill $i$e stand?s to$ tool =oint.

Tri$$ing with a To$ Drive% &

The drilling ,rew ,an also $osition the elevator in an dire,tion b unlo,king the rotationlo,k and rotating the $i$e handler asse"bl. #eing able to $osition the $i$e handler

53



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

asse"bl in an dire,tion enables the derri,k "an and rotar hel$ers to $osition the

elevator where the need it to "ake a lat,h. The elevator returns to its original $osition

when rotated b the drill string.

Tri$$ing with a To$ Drive% *One advantage o! a to$ drive over a ,onventional kell sste" is its abilit to rea" or

ba,k rea" at an $osition in the "ast while tri$$ing. The driller ,an rotate and "ove the

string u$ down through tight se,tion o! hole. These a,tions ,an rea" out the tight

se,tion o! hole.

SIPS EE1TOR SYSTE4

Sli$s

9rew "e"bers use wedge0sha$ed gri$$ing devi,es ,alled sli$s to sus$end the drill

string in the hole. The !it it around the to$ =oint o! $i$e and wedge in the ta$er o! the

rotar table?s o$ening. Sli$s have seriated inserts or dies. The inserts gri$ the outside

dia"eter o! the sus$ended tubular. To set the sli$s% ,rew "e"bers $la,e the" around

the $i$e. The driller then slowl lowers the $i$e until the sli$s ,an take u$ the load. The

seriated inserts or dies in the sli$s !ir"l hold the $i$e. To re"ove the sli$s% ,rew

"e"bers gras$ the sli$s? handles. 1nd as the driller $i,ks u$ the $i$e% the li!t the" out

o! the rotar table o$ening and set the" aside.

Sa!et 9la"$ on Drill 9ollar

<hen using drill ,ollars and other tubulars that don not have an elevator shoulder% ,rew

"e"bers install a sa!et ,la"$ above the drill ,ollar sli$s. I! the gri$$ing ele"ents on thedrill ,ollar sli$s !ailed% the drill ,ollar will slide down. #e!ore the ,ollars ,ould slide all o!

the wa out o! the sli$s% however% the sa!et ,la"$ would hold the ,ollars against the to$

o! the sli$s.

Sli$s S$iders

9rew "e"bers use several t$es o! sli$s and s$iders. 1 s$ider% like sli$s% sus$ends $i$e

in the hole% but s$iders do not !it inside the rotar table?s o$ening. Instead% the rest on

to$ o! it. S$iders are used instead o! sli$s when the rotar table?s bushing sie is not

,o"$atible with the tubulars being run. 6ere ou ,an see Drill Pi$e Rotar Sli$s% Drill

9ollar Sli$s% Drill Pi$e 9oil0S$ring Power Sli$s and 1ir0Powered Tubing S$ider and a

82'0ton 1ir09ontrolled 9asing S$ider. 9rew "e"bers use ea,h one to hold the

,orres$onding drill $i$e% drill ,ollars% ,asing or tubing. Power sli$s are $owered b a

heav dut% high strength ,oiled s$ring or b air. Instead o! "anuall $la,ing air0$owered

sli$s in the "aster bushing% ,rew "e"bers or the driller o$erate the" b re"ote ,ontrol.

Elevator

9rew "e"bers lat,h the elevator around the to$ o! $i$e =oint in the drill string. On,e

lat,hed% the driller ,an raise and lower $i$e in and out o! the hole. 9rew "e"bers atta,h

the elevator to the hook with & !orged high grade steel rods ,alled links or bails. One endo! the links !its into the link ears on the hook% link lo,king ar"s se,ure the links into the

54



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

ears. 9rew "e"bers then atta,h the elevator to the other end o! the links. 4ost elevators

are hinged. 9rew "e"bers o$en and ,lose the" b o$erating the lat,h with two handles

on ea,h side. Foti,e that this elevator has a ta$ered seat. This ta$er "at,hes the ta$er

on a tool =oint o! a length o! drill $i$e. <hen $ro$erl lat,hed% the tool =oint ta$er rests in

the elevator ta$er and "akes a !ir"% $ositive gri$ without da"aging the drill $i$e.

i!ting Sub

On drill string "e"bers that do not have an elevator shoulder% ,rew "e"bers "ake u$ a

li!ting sub into the end o! the =oint. Bor instan,e% this drill ,ollar does not have a shoulder%

it is sli,k. So the ,rew "ade u$ the li!ting sub. The lat,h the elevator onto the ta$er on

the li!ting sub to raise or lower drill ,ollars into and out o! the hole.

Elevator on To$ Drive

On a to$ drive% the links holding the elevator have an air0o$erated or $neu"ati, tilt

"e,hanis". The driller a,tivates the tilt "e,hanis" when the $i$e is being $ulled !ro"

the hole. <hen the to$ o! the drill string rea,hes the derri,k "an?s $osition at the "onke

board% the driller ,an tilt the to$ o! the stand o! the $i$e toward the derri,k "an. The

derri,k "an ,an then unlat,h the elevator and set the stand ba,k in the !inger board. The

!inger board is a ra,k that su$$orts the to$ o! the stands o! $i$e being sta,ked in the

"ast or derri,k.

JTOO #OK: It?s ti"e !or a ;ui,k ;uestion: <hi,h one o! these tubulars would re;uire a

sa!et ,la"$M 9li,k on the ,orre,t one and then $ress the @a,,e$tA button.

SPIFFIFG TORNUIFG DEI9ES

Tongs

Tongs are large wren,hes that ,rew "e"bers use to "ake u$ and break out $i$e. The

,rew uses two sets o! tongs to "ake u$ break out $i$e. One set is the lead tongs. The

lead tongs a$$l tor;ue to tighten or loosen the ,onne,tion. The other set is the ba,k u$

tongs. The ba,k u$ tongs kee$ the lower =oint o! $i$e !ro" turning as the lead tongs

a$$l tor;ue to the u$$er =oint.

JTOO #OK:

/ust what is tor;ue% well tor;ue is a twisting !or,e. 6ere !or,e is a$$lied in a straight line.

Bor,e a$$lied in a straight line is not tor;ue. Tor;ue is !or,e a$$lied in a turning or

twisting "otion. 6ere is a to$ view o! a tong ar". <e ,an ,al,ulate the tor;ue or the

twisting !or,e that the tong ar" is $utting on the $i$e b "ulti$ling the length o! the tong

ar" b the a"ount o! line0$ull in $ounds or kilogra"s a$$lied to it. In this ,ase% the tong

ar" is 5.& !t or 3.*" long and &''' lbs or '' kg o! line0$ull is a$$lied to it. 9li,k on the

tong ar" to rotate it. <ith this length o! ar" and this a"ount o! line0$ull% the tong a$$lies

75'' !t0lbs or 338' kg0" o! tor;ue to the $i$e. That?s 5.& ti"es &''' e;uals 75'' and 3.*

ti"es '' e;uals 338'. To in,rease the tor;ue% ou ,an either a$$l "ore $ounds orkilogra"s o! $ull or ou ,an a$$l the sa"e a"ount o! the line0$ull but use a longer tong

55



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

ar". Bor e>a"$le% here the tong ar" is 2 !t or 3.2 " long. The line0$ull is% however% the

sa"e &''' lbs or '' kg. 9li,k on the tong ar" to see how "u,h tor;ue the longer ar"

gives. It?s 3'''' !t0lbs or 3*2' kg0" o! tor;ue with a 2 !t (or 3.2") tong ar". Bive ti"es

&''' e;uals 3'''' and 3.2 ti"es '' e;uals 3*2'. So in,rease o! the length o! the tong

ar" or the line0$ull in,reases the tor;ue.

4akeu$ 9athead

9rew "e"bers use the tongs in ,on=un,tion with s$e,ial ,atheads or win,hes on the

drawworks. <hen "aking u$ drill $i$e% the driller a,tuates the "ake u$ ,athead on the

drawworks. The ,athead takes in the tong $ull line% a ,hain in this ,ase% and e>erts a

strong $ull on the tong ar". This $ull ,auses the lead tongs to a$$l tor;ue to the =oint to

"ake it tight.

#reakout 9athead

<hen breaking out $i$e% ,rew "e"bers use the break out ,athead on the drawworks.

The break out ,athead takes in the tong $ull line and e>erts a strong !or,e on the tong

ar". This !or,e breaks out the $i$e ,onne,tion.

6drauli, 9athead

This is a hdrauli, ,athead. It?s an au>iliar tor;uing devi,e. It hel$s ,rew "e"bers break

out and "ake u$ ver large drill ,ollars. er large ,ollars re;uire a lot o! "ake u$ tor;ue

so "u,h in !a,t that the break out ,athead?s $ulling !or,e "a not be strong enough. One

solution is to use a hdrauli, ,athead with rig tongs. The hdrauli, ,athead in,ludes a

hdrauli, ,linder housing and a wire asse"bl. The hdrauli, ,athead is ,ontrolledre"otel b the driller !ro" his $osition on the rig !loor. This devi,e $rodu,es a sa!e%

$ower!ul% and stead tong line $ull to break high tor;ue ,onne,tions.

Power Tongs

4anu!a,turers "ake "an t$es and sies o! $ower ,asing tubing tongs. 9rew

"e"bers use the" to ,onne,t ,asing and tubing ,ou$lings. Power tongs allow !ast and

uni!or" "akeu$ break out o! ,onne,tions. The "ake u$ tor;ue ,an be $reset b

ad=usting a built0in $ressure0relie! valve.

S$inning <ren,h

1,,o"$aning a rig?s regular tongs is the s$inning wren,h or $i$e s$inner. 9rew

"e"bers use a s$inning wren,h to s$in u$ or s$in out $i$e ,onne,tions. Bor e>a"$le%

on,e a ,onne,tion is lubri,ated and stabbed% the $la,e the s$inning wren,h on the

u$$er =oint and a,tivate the wren,h. Rollers engage the $i$e and turn it ra$idl until

shoulder "eet shoulder. Then the ,rew lat,hes the regular tongs to "ake u$ the =oint to

!inal tightness. The ,an also reverse the dire,tion o! the s$inning wren,h to s$in out a

=oint that it loosens with the regular tongs.

Cell S$inner To s$in u$ or s$in out the Cell% "ost rigs have a Cell s$inner. The Cell s$inner is

56



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

hdrauli,all or $neu"ati,all o$erated. <hen the driller a,tivates it% the Cell s$inner

ra$idl s$ins u$ or s$ins out the Cell !ro" a =oint o! drill $i$e. 9rew "e"bers atta,h it to

the Cell below the swivel.

Iron Roughne,kSo"e rigs have this verti,al $i$e handling devi,e. The "anu!a,turer ,alls it an Iron

Roughne,k. It ,o"bines the lead tongs and ba,k u$ tongs into a single $a,kage. The

built0in tongs are hdrauli,all $owered% sel!0,ontain tor;ue wren,hes. The allow the

,rew to "ake u$ and break out =oints without using ,atheads on the drawworks. 1n Iron

Roughne,k "ounts on the rig !loor and rolls into $la,e on tra,ks. It redu,es the labor

involved in "aking u$ and breaking out $i$e. 6owever% ,rew "e"bers have to "aintain it

,are!ull to ensure $ro$er o$eration.

PIPE TR1FSBER

Pi$e Ra,king Sste"

So"e rigs working in rough seas or harsh environ"ents use auto"ated $i$e ra,king

sste". The rig owner "ounts the ra,king sste" on the rig !loor and to the "ast. The

devi,e ra,ks $i$e stands in the "ast?s !ingerboard. The o$erator ,ontrols the $i$e ra,ker

!ro" a re"ote station and views the o$eration !ro" a ,a"era lo,ated dire,tl above the

!ingerboard. The $i$e ra,king sste" works in ,on=un,tion with the Iron Roughne,k.

1nother t$e o! $i$e ra,king sste" !ound on drill shi$s ra,ks the drill $i$e stands in

horiontal ra,ks outside the "ast or derri,k.

Rathole9rew "e"bers $la,e the Cell asse"bl in the rathole when the?re read to "ake a tri$.

The rathole is "ade o! large dia"eter $i$e that e>tends below the rig !loor. The rathole

also $rotrudes above the rig !loor to "ake it easil a,,essible.

4ousehole

The "ouse hole is a length o! large dia"eter $i$e that e>tends below the rig !loor. The

,rew $la,es a =oint o! drill $i$e in the "ousehole in $re$aration !or adding it to the drill

string.

JTOO #OK: Drag ea,h label to its $ro$er lo,ation b the "ousehole and the rathole%

then% $ress the @a,,e$tA button.

1ir 6oist

9rew "e"bers use an air hoist to "ove $i$e and other drilling e;ui$"ent around the rig

!loor. 1n air hoist is an air0$owered win,h that ,ontains a reel o! wire ro$e. <hen a ,rew

"e"ber a,tuates the hoist% it takes in ro$e to li!t a $ie,e o! e;ui$"ent. It also has a wire

ro$e guide that the ,rew "e"ber uses to kee$ the line !ro" winding unevenl on the

reel. Usuall rigs have several air hoists $la,ed around the rig !loor.

Pi$e Trans!er Sste"So"e rigs use auto"ati, $i$e trans!er sste" to $i,k u$ and la down tubulars. The $i$e

57



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

trans!er sste" also "oves tubulars onto the $i$e de,k. The auto"ati, $i,k0u$ and la0

down sste" (PS) hoists tubulars !ro" the 0Door $osition to a verti,al $osition. The

PS ,onsists o! the Guide Rail 1sse"bl% 6drauli, i!t 1r" with slue ,a$a,it% 9arriage%

<in,h and ,ontrol ,onsole. The sste" ,an $i,k u$ or la down drill $i$e% drill ,ollars or

,asing =oints weighing u$ to 8''' lbs (over *'''kg) and u$ to &' in,hes (or 2'' "") india"eter. The Pi$e De,k 4a,hine (or PD4) has a hdrauli,all ,ontrolled "e,hani,al

ar". This ar" "oves tubulars between the $i$e ra,k on de,k and the drill !loor. The PD4

$i,ks u$ the tubular !ro" the $i$e ra,k% "oves $er$endi,ularl on a !loor tra,k% and then

lowers the tubular to a ,onveer. The ,onveer ,arries the $i$e u$ to the 0Door. There%

the PS $i,ks u$ the tubular and "oves it to the elevator !or hoisting. Pi$e trans!er

sste"s are used on =a,k0u$s% se"i0sub"ersible% $lat!or" and land rigs.

9OFTROS BOR ENUIP4EFT

Driller?s 9onsole

The driller ,ontrols the rig?s o$erations !ro" this $osition at a ,onsole. The ,onsole is

usuall on the rig !loor% either in the o$en ne>t to the drawworks or on the latest rigs in a

,ontrol house on the !loor.

<eight Indi,ator% Gauges% 9ontrols

One i"$ortant gauge on the instru"ent $anel is the weight indi,ator. It tells the driller the

weight on the bit and the hook load. The hook load is the weight that is sus$ended !ro"

the traveling blo,k and hook. <eight on bit is the $ortion o! the botto" hole asse"bl

weight a,ting on the bit. Several gauges show the driller $u"$ $ressure% $u"$ rate%

rotar s$eed% rotar tor;ue and tong line tor;ue. The driller?s ,ontrol $anel allows thedriller to o$erate the rotating% hoisting and "ud $u"$ e;ui$"ent on the rig.

;OLUM6 6<:*( +"<A: ' +6M6A(<A:

91SIFG 9E4EFT

Overview:

irtuall ever well drilled re;uires ,asing ,e"ent. 9asing is steel $i$e that the ,rew

$uts into the well bore. The ,asing $revents the hole !ro" ,aving in and seals o!!

!or"ations. To do its =ob% though% the ,asing has to be ,e"ented in $la,e. 1 ,e"ent ,rew

$u"$s ,e"ent down inside the ,asing and u$ the annulus. The ,e"ent hardens or sets

to hold the ,asing in $la,e.

9asing S$e,i!i,ations

9asing is steel $i$e that ,o"es to the rig in individual =oints. 1 ,asing ,rew ,ou$les the

=oints together to run the" into the well bore. 9asing ,o"es in three ranges o! lengths.

Range one is 3- to &2 !t (or 5.77 8.-&") long+ range two is &2 *5 !t (or 8.-&03'.*-")

long+ range three is *5057 !t (or 3'.*-35.-*") long. The length used de$ends on the

well owner?s re;uire"ent and the $hsi,al re;uire"ents o! the well. 9asing also ,o"es in

di!!erent grades or strengths. <hi,h strength is used de$ends on the well?s

,hara,teristi,s.

58



OILWELL DRILLING

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Running 9asing

To run the ,asing% the ,rew =oins the =oints with threaded ,onne,tions ,alled ,ou$lings or

,ollars. Do not ,on!use ,asing ,ollars with drill ,ollars. 9asing ,ollars are ,ou$lings. The

use s$e,ial heav0dut elevators and large ,asing sli$s% ,alled s$iders. The "ake u$

the ,asing =oints with "ulti0s$eed $ower ,asing tongs. Power ,asing tongs not onl s,rewthe threaded ,onne,tions together% but also tor;ue the" to the ,orre,t a"ount.

JTOO #OK: <hi,h o! these is a ,asing ,ollarM 9li,k on the ,asing ,ollar with our

"ouse and then ,li,k on the @a,,e$tA button.

91SIFG STRIFG

Overview

# the ti"e the ,rew drills the well to !inal de$th% it usuall has several strings o! ,asing in

it. These strings are ,alled ,ondu,tor ,asing% sur!a,e ,asing% inter"ediate ,asing and

$rodu,tion ,asing. Foti,e that the ,ased well looks so"ething like a teles,o$e $ulled out

a !ull length. That is as the ,rew drills the well dee$er% the sie o! the hole and the sie o!

the ,asing gets s"aller in dia"eter. 1l"ost or alwas% the drilling ,ontra,tor ,an not

begin drilling at the sur!a,e and go all the wa to total de$th in one ste$. Bor one thing%

!or"ations near the sur!a,e tend to ,ru"ble and ,ave in easil% so ,ondu,tor ,asing

$revents ,ave0ins. Bor another thing% !or"ations near the sur!a,e "a also hold !resh

water that the well ,an not ,onta"inate. So sur!a,e ,asing $rote,ts !resh water ones.

Bor still another thing% dee$ !or"ations are so"eti"es so0,alled troubleso"e !or"ations.

That is the ,an be drilled b ad=usting the $ro$erties o! the drilling "ud% but on,e drilled

need to be sealed o!! to $revent $roble"s in drilling the dee$er $ortion o! the well. Sointer"ediate ,asing seals o!! troubleso"e ones. So"eti"es dee$ wells re;uire "ore

than one inter"ediate ,asing string. Binall% on,e the $rodu,ing one is drilled% it needs

to be $rote,ted and sealed. So $rodu,tion ,asing isolates the $rodu,ing one.

JTOO #OK: 6ere are all o! the ,asing strings unlabeled. To the right ou?ll see all o! the

labels. Using our "ouse% drag ea,h label to the $ro$er $la,e on the diagra". <hen

ou?ve !inished% ,li,k on the @a,,e$tA button.

PROGRESSIE 91SIFG STRIFGS

9ondu,tor 9asing

The !irst string o! ,asing is the ,ondu,tor ,asing. The hole drilled !or is $rett big% o!ten as

"u,h as *- in,hes or "ore (al"ost a "eter in dia"eter). The ,ondu,tor hole has to start

u$ $rett big be,ause as drilling goes on% the hole?s dia"eter de,reases. In so"e ,ases%

the rig will ha""er the ,ondu,tor ,asing in $la,e i! the ground near the sur!a,e is reall

so!t. I! the ,ondu,tor hole is drilled% the ,asing is ,e"ented in it. Using a bit whose

dia"eter is s"all enough to easil go inside the ,ondu,tor ,asing% the rig drills the hole

below the ,ondu,tor to a $res,ribed de$th.

Sur!a,e 9asingThe dia"eter o! the sur!a,e hole ,an still be relativel large% sa 38 in,hes (over 5'' ""

59



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

"ouse% ,li,k on the ,orre,t na"e o! the ,asing shown.

91SIFG 199ESSORIES

Overview:

#e,ause the ,rew will ,e"ent the ,asing string in $la,e% the also have to install so"es$e,ial devi,es on this string% whi,h ,o"e to $la during the ,e"enting o$eration.

Guide Shoe

The guide shoe is a heav steel and ,on,rete !itting that the ,rew "akes u$ on the end o!

the !irst ,asing =oint to go in the hole. It guides the ,asing $ass the rough s$ots and

ledges on the well bore. It also has an o$ening in the end. Drilling "ud enters this

o$ening when the ,rew runs the ,asing into the well bore. ater% ,e"ent will ,o"e out o!

this o$ening on its wa into the annulus.

Bloat 9ollar Shoe

Usuall% the ,rew installs a !loat ,ollar in the se,ond or the third ,asing =oint run into the

well bore. Or so"eti"es the install a !loat shoe. <hether a !loat shoe or a !loat ,ollar is

used% ea,h has a one0wa valve in it. Bluids ,an !low downwards through the valve% but

,an not !low u$ward $ass the valve. The !loat ,ollar or !loat shoe kee$s drilling "ud !ro"

entering the ,asing string as the ,rew runs it into the hole.

Cee$ing the ,asing e"$t o! "ud allows the ,asing to $artiall !loat in the "ud. That is%

in the annulus% =ust as a hollow steel boat !loats on water. etting the ,asing !loat ,uts

down on stress and !atigue on the hoisting e;ui$"ent. #ut the ,rew ,an not kee$ the

,asing totall e"$t o! "ud. I! the did% the hdrostati, $ressure o! the "ud in theannulus ,ould ,rash the ,asing. So !ro" ti"e to ti"e% the ,rew $uts "ud into the inside o!

the ,asing !ro" the sur!a,e to o!!set hdrostati, $ressure. The !loat valve also holds the

,e"ented $la,e on,e it is dis$la,ed into the annulus+ otherwise it would u0tube% ba,k into

the ,asing.

9entraliers

On various =oints o! ,asing% ,rew "e"bers also install ,entraliers. 9entraliers kee$ the

,asing !ro" leaning against the side o! the hole. In other words% ,entraliers kee$ an

o$ening between the outside wall o! the ,asing and the wall o! the hole. 9entraliers

redu,e drag and di!!erential sti,king while running the ,asing. Drag is resistan,e to

"otion ,aused b the ,asing ,onta,ting the well bore. Di!!erential sti,king ha$$ens when

the ,asing ,onta,ts a $er"eable !or"ation in the well bore. 1nd the $ressure in the hole

is greater than the $ressure in the !or"ation. The higher hole $ressure tenses the hole

the ,asing in ,onta,t against the area o! lower !or"ation $ressure. Cee$ing the ,asing o!!

the wall o!! the hole also ensures that ,e"ent will surround the outside o! the ,asing and

bond it se,urel to the hole.

JTOO #OK: In order !or the ,e"ent to !ill the annulus $ro$erl% it is i"$ortant that the

,asing string be as ,entered as $ossible. 9li,k on the button "arked% add ,entraliers tosee the e!!e,t o! ,entraliers. 6ere ou see a ,asing string that has ero $er,ent stando!!%

61



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

this "eans that it?s u$ against the side o! the well bore. 9hange the stando!! to see how

stando!! e!!e,ts ,e"enting. 0 percentG This string has a 2'Q stando!!. 1s the ,e"ent

!lows u$ the annulus% it will !ill the wider side o! the annulus "ore ;ui,kl. This leads to an

inade;uate ,e"ent =ob+ 4 percent: This string has a 82Q stando!!. -8Q stando!! is the

"ini"al a,,e$table stando!!. So it?s 82Q% this ,e"ent is ade;uate. 6owever% it?s noto$ti"al+ 100 percentG 6ere the string has a 3''Q stando!!. That "eans it is $er!e,tl

,entered. 1t 3''Q stando!!% the ,e"ent !lows evenl on both sides o! the ,asing% leading

to a good ,e"ent =ob.

S,rat,her

1nother devi,e that hel$s ensure a good bond o! ,e"ent to the hole is a s,rat,her.

De$ending on the well bore?s ,hara,teristi,s% ,rew "e"bers install several on the ,asing

string. /ust be!ore the $u"$ the ,e"ent into the ,asing in hole% the rotate the ,asing

string. <hen "ove it u$ down% that is re,i$ro,ate it. De$ending on the t$e o!

s,rat,hers the install. In either ,ase% the s,rat,hers re"ove wall ,ake le!t b the drilling

"ud during drilling. Re"oving the wall ,ake% solid $arti,les in the "ud is sti,k to the wall

o! the hole% hel$s the ,e"ent bond better to the hole.

JTOO #OK: et?s see what ha$$ens when the ,e"ent does not bond $ro$erl to the

hole. 9li,k on the buttons to ,o"$are a good ,e"ent =ob to a bad one. GOOD: The

,e"ent in this well bore is $ro$erl bonded+ the $rodu,tion !luids enter the ,asing through

$er!orations% and !low u$ the ,asing to the sur!a,e. Bluids and gas !ro" other !or"ations

are not allowed into the well. #1D: The ,e"ent in this well bore is not $ro$erl bonded to

the hole. This ,reates ,hannels that allow the !luids gases !ro" !or"ations besides the

one being $rodu,ed to enter the annulus. This is undesirable sin,e the well and other!or"ations ,an be da"aged.

9E4EFTIFG

Overview

6ere is an overview o! ,asing ,e"ented in a well% ,alled $ri"ar ,e"enting% the ,e"ent?s

"ain =obs are to ,o"$letel isolate or totall seal o!! all the oil% gas and water ones !ro"

the well bore% and to bond the ,asing !ir"l to the wall o! the hole.

9asing Point

6ere% the ,rew has drilled the well to the ,asing $oint% the de$th at whi,h the?ll set and

,e"ent ,asing.

9onditioning the 6ole

The driller ,ir,ulates drilling "ud to ,lean the hole and "ake sure the "ud is in good

,ondition. Then the ,rew $ulls the drill string out o! the hole.

Running the 9asing

The ne>t ste$ in $ri"ar ,e"enting is !or the ,asing ,rew to run the ,asing into the well%

one =oint at a ti"e. Foti,e that at the botto" o! the ,asing% the guide shoe and !loat ,ollar. 1lso noti,e the ,entraliers and s,rat,hers. The guide shoe guides the !irst =oint o! ,asing

62



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

into the well bore. 1 valve in the !loat ,ollar lets the ,rew !loat the ,asing into the well to

lessen the load on the rig?s hoisting sste". 9entraliers kee$ the ,asing o!! the wall o!

the hole to ensure a good ,e"ent =ob. 1nd s,rat,hers re"ove wall ,ake to ensure a good

,e"ent bond to the wall o! the hole.

4i>ing the 9e"ent

The ,e"enting ,rew ne>t to read the ,e"enting unit. The ,e"enting unit ra$idl "i>es

water% dr ,e"ent% and s$e,ial additives to the ,e"ent to "ake a li;uid ,e"ent slurr. 1

high $ressure ,e"ent $u"$ing unit "oves the slurr down the ,asing.

Pu"$ing 9e"ent

To get the ,e"ent slurr down the ,asing% the ,e"enting ,rew "akes u$ a ,e"enting

head% also ,alled a $lug0retainer% on the to$ =oint o! ,asing sus$ended in rig?s elevator.

The ,e"enting head has an inlet !or the ,e"ent slurr !ro" the ,e"ent $u"$. Slurr

enters the head at the ,onne,tion on the side. The valves on the head allow the ,rew to

,ontrol the $oint at whi,h the slurr enters the head. Bro" the ,e"enting head% the slurr

goes into the ,asing. The head also holds s$e,ial $lugs ,alled wi$er $lugs. The wi$er

$lug retainers kee$ the wi$er $lugs in head until the ,rew releases the" to allow the

$lugs to be $u"$ed down the ,asing. The !luid inlet allows the ,rew to $u"$ "ud% water

or s$e,ial dis$la,e"ent !luid% the !luid that $ushes the ,e"ent into the annulus. This

head holds two wi$er $lugs% a botto" wi$er $lug% and a to$ wi$er $lug. The botto" $lug

goes into the ,asing !irst. It wi$es "ud o!! the inside o! the ,asing and se$arates the "ud

!ro" the ,e"ent. The to$ $lug !ollows the last o! the ,e"ent into the ,asing. It wi$es

,e"ent o!! the inside o! the ,asing and se$arates ,e"ent !ro" the dis$la,e"ent !luid.

JTOO #OK: O!ten the wi$er $lugs are identi!ied b di!!erent ,olors to avoid ,on!usion.

The botto" $lug is usuall red or orange. It has a dia$hrag" that breaks when the $lug

gets to the botto" o! the ,asing string+ so that the ,e"ent ,an $ass through the $lug. The

to$ $lug is usuall bla,k.

Binishing the /ob

9e"ent $u"$ $ressure "oves the ,e"ent slurr to the ,e"enting head where a ,rew

"e"ber releases the botto" wi$er $lug. Slurr $ushes the botto" $lug down the ,asing

until it seats in the !loat ,ollar. <hen the $lug seats% ,ontinued $u"$ $ressure on the

slurr ra$tures the dia$hrag" on the botto" o! the $lug. This allows ,e"ent slurr to go

out the guide shoe and into the annulus. <hen the ,al,ulated a"ount o! ,e"ent slurr

has been $u"$ed% a ,rew "e"ber releases the to$ wi$er $lug. Dis$la,e"ent !luid !or,es

the to$ wi$er $lug down the ,asing until it seats in the !loat ,ollar on the to$ o! the botto"

$lug. #e,ause the to$ $lug is solid% $u"$ $ressure rises when the $lug seats. 1 shar$

rise in $u"$ $ressure signals the $u"$ o$erator to shut down the $u"$. The !loat valve

holds the ,e"ent in $la,e% not allowing it to u0tube ba,k into the ,asing on,e it is

dis$la,ed into the annulus. The ,e"enting =ob is ,o"$lete. De$ending on hole ,onditions

and the t$e o! ,e"ent used% the ,e"ent slurr hardens or sets u$ !ir"l generall with3& to &5 hours.

63



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

;OLUM6 A<A6 /6LL LO::<A:@ MU$ LO::<A: ' $R<LL "(6M (6"(<A:

<E E1U1TIOFOverview

One ;uestion that o!ten !a,es the well owner is @will this well $rodu,e oil and gasMA To

hel$ answer this ;uestion% one or "ore "ethods o! evaluation are used in,luding: 4ud

ogging% <ell ogging and Drill Ste" Testing (or DST). 4ud logging involves doing tests

on the drilling "ud and ,uttings ,ir,ulated out o! the hole+ well logging is the re,ording o!

in!or"ation about subsur!a,e geologi, !or"ations+ drill ste" testing is a wa to test a

!or"ation using the drill ste"% a s$e,ial tool $a,ker asse"bl installed in the drill ste"%

re,ords down hole $ressures and te"$eratures and retrieves !luids e>a"$les.

4UD OGGIFG H TESTIFG 3

4ud ogging Testing

1s the bit drills% drilling "ud li!ts ,uttings u$ the hole. The drilling "ud also ,arries tra,es

o! an hdro,arbons other substan,es the hole "a have $enetrated. There!ore%

,at,hing and analing the "ud and the ,uttings that ,o"e to the sur!a,e ,an tell the well

owner and geologist a great deal about what?s going on down hole as the bit drills.

1naling the drilling !luid is ,alled "ud logging.

4ud ogging Unit

1n overview o! a land rig shows the "ud logging unit. O!!shore% a si"ilar skid0"ountedunit houses the "ud logging e;ui$"ent. #oth ,ontain so$histi,ated data a,;uisition

sste" and e;ui$"ent !or analing drilling !luid ,uttings. 6ere is the inside o! a "ud

logging unit. You ,an see so"e o! the e;ui$"ent used to anale or log "ud. This

drawing o! a "ud logging unit shows "an ite"s o! e;ui$"ent used to anale and

"onitor the drilling $ro,ess. Fot all rigs will have su,h a set0u$ and so"e will even have

"ore so$histi,ated set0u$s.

Rig 4onitors

Rig "onitors give read0out to the "ud logger% a $erson whose s$e,ialt is observing and

analing "ud ,uttings. The rig "onitors show the rate o! $enetration (or ROP)% how

!ast the bit is drilling% weight on the bit (or <O#)% total hook load% Cell or to$ drive height%

rotar s$eed (or RP4)% rotar tor;ue (the twisting !or,e on the drill string)% $it volu"e (the

level o! "ud in the "ud tanks)% "ud weight (in and out o! the hole)% "ud te"$erature%

$u"$ strokes% ,asing stand $i$e $ressure% and other in!or"ation. 4ud loggers ,an

,o"bine rig in!or"ation with other in!or"ation !ro" the driller% the wire line o$erator and

area well re,ords to hel$ i"$rove the well?s $rogress.

9hro"atogra$h

1 ,hro"atogra$h dis$las the $er,entages o! hdro,arbon gases in the "ud returning tothe sur!a,e. The ,hro"atogra$h has sensors in the "ud return line. These sensors

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OILWELL DRILLING

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dete,t su,h gases as "ethane% ethane% and $ro$ane that "abe in the "ud.

9ore Plugging 1$$aratus

The ,ore $lugging a$$aratus takes a s"all $lug out o! a ,ore sa"$le. The "ud logger

,an anale the $lug to get an idea o! what the larger ,ore sa"$le "a ,ontain.

Bluoros,o$e

1 !luoros,o$e ,ontains an ultra violet la"$. <hen the "ud logger or geologist $uts

,uttings or $lug under the !luoros,o$e% the ,uttings or $lug glow or !luores,e i! the

,ontain hdro,arbons.

4i,ros,o$e

1 "i,ros,o$e% this unit has two% hel$s the "ud logger or geologist identi! the !or"ations.

# looking at ,uttings or $lugs under the "i,ros,o$e% the loggers ,an note ver s"all

ro,k ,hara,teristi,s% the "a also !ind !ossils that hel$ identi! the ro,k.

JTOO #OK: 1 !ossil is the re"ains or i"$ressions o! a $lant or ani"al o! $ast geologi,al

ages% that?d been $reserved in or as ro,k% be,ause ,ertain kinds o! !ossils tend to o,,ur

in ,ertain kinds o! ro,k. Identi!ing the !ossils hel$s identi! the ro,k.

9o"$uters

9o"$uters hel$ "ud loggers anale and inter$ret an i"$ortant in!or"ation the gain

!ro" "ud logging e;ui$"ent. In so"e logging units% $ower!ul ,o"$uters dire,tl read

drilling in!or"ation% $ro,ess it% and $rint out detail re$orts on the status o! the well.

a,uu" Oven

4ud loggers use a va,uu" oven to dr u$ !or"ation sa"$les. Then the evaluate the

dried sa"$les !or !urther !a,ts about the !or"ations being drilled.

4ud ogging Testing &

9ore 6eat Sealer

Geologists use a ,ore heat sealer to "ake an air0tight ,ontainer !or ,ores. The heat seal

air0tight ,ontainer kee$s an !or"ation !luids in the ,ore !ro" leaking out while it is being

shi$$ed to a ,ore laborator !or analsis.

1nalti,al #alan,e

oggers use an analti,al balan,e to a,,uratel weigh ro,k sa"$les. The ,al,ulate a

ro,k?s densit $orosit !ro" e>a,t a,,urate weight.

Porosi"eter

1 $orosi"eter "easures ro,k $orosit% the a"ount o! $ore s$a,e in a ro,k. The "ore

$ore s$a,e a ro,k has% the "ore s$a,e available !or the ro,k to store oil and gas.

JTOO #OK: Bor"ation !luids su,h as oil% water gas ,an !low through ro,k !or"ations

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OILWELL DRILLING

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when the ro,k has e"$t s$a,es or $ores and the s$a,es are ,onne,ted ($er"eable).

9li,k on the "agni!ing glass to get a ,loser look at the $ore s$a,es. The ratio o! the

volu"e o! e"$t s$a,e to the volu"e o! solid ro,k is ,alled $orosit. The "easure at the

ease at whi,h the !luid !lows is ,alled $er"eabilit.

Gas 1naler

oggers use a gas analer to e>a"ine sa"$les o! gas !ro" the well. Gas analers not

onl indi,ate what kind o! hdro,arbon gases the "ud brings u$% but also non0

hdro,arbon gases% su,h as hdrogen sul!ide and ,arbon dio>ide.

JTOO #OK: Gas that has hdrogen sul!ide in it is ,alled sour gas+ gas that ,ontains little

or no hdrogen sul!ide is ,alled sweet gas.

0ra Di!!ra,to"eter

1n 0ra di!!ra,to"eter $enetrates a ro,k sa"$le with >0ras. Di!!erent t$es o! ro,k

rea,t di!!erentl to the >0ras% whi,h allows well loggers to identi! a ro,k?s stru,ture.

9entri!uge

The ,entri!uge s$ins !or"ation !luid sa"$les at a high0rated s$eed. oggers $ut the !luid

sa"$les into a test tube and then $ut the test tube into the ,entri!uge. The s$inning or

,entri!ugal "otion se$arates the !luid into its ,o"$onents. The heaviest ,o"$onents

(usu. water) ,olle,t on the botto" o! the tube% the lighter ,o"$onents (su,h as oil) ,olle,t

in the tube above the water.

Dr Sa"$le Tra

1 dr sa"$le tra holds dr ro,k sa"$les. oggers $ut dr sa"$les on the tra and then

$la,e the tra under the "i,ros,o$e where the e>a"ine the sa"$les. 4i,ros,o$i,

e>a"ination o! dried sa"$les tells loggers and geologists "u,h about a !or"ation?s

,hara,teristi,s.

69 Testing

4ud loggers use hdro,hlori, a,id or 69 to test !or li"estone. I! the logger $uts a dro$

o! hdro,hlori, a,id on a sa"$le and the sa"$le bubbles u$ or !ies% then the sa"$le

,ontains li"estone. i"estone so"eti"es holds hdro,arbons.

4ud ogs

This is a ,o"$uter0generated "ud log% and it?s "ost basi,. The log re,ords the rate o!

$enetration% $er,ent hdro,arbons !ound in the "ud at various de$ths% and the

$er,entage o! ro,k t$es in sa"$les ,aught at the shale shaker. The log "a also re,ord

other well ,hara,teristi,s to hel$ the well owner drill the well e!!i,ientl and sa!el.

JTOO #OK: <hat would ou use to !ind out i! ,uttings ,ontain hdro,arbonsM

<E OGGIFG

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OILWELL DRILLING

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Overview

In "ost wells% the owner orders a well log. 1 well log ,an review whether there is enough

oil or gas in a !or"ation to go to the e>$ense o! running and ,e"enting $rodu,tion ,asing

to ,o"$lete the well.

#asi, ogging O$eration

To log a well% the well owner usuall ,alls a well logging ,o"$an. On land rigs% the

logging ,o"$an sends a tru,k0"ounted logging unit to the well. O!!shore% the logging

unit is usuall $er"anentl installed on the rig. In either ,ase% the logging unit lowers a

logging tool on ,ondu,tive wire line into the well to the de$th o! investigation. The unit

then reels in the tool. 1s the tool ,o"es u$ the hole it dete,ts ,ertain as$e,ts o! the

!or"ations it $asses. It sends this in!or"ation u$ the ,ondu,tive wire line to the sur!a,e.

On the sur!a,e% ,o"$uters in the logging unit re,ord the in!or"ation. The ,o"$uters then

$rint out the in!or"ation% $rint a log that the well owner ,an e>a"ine. O!ten the log gives

enough in!or"ation !or the well owner to deter"ine whether oil or gas e>ists in the

!or"ation.

ogging Unit

6ere is a logging tru,k% it ,ontains the ,o"$uters% the wire line on a reel and the ,ontrols

that "ake the logging o$eration work. O!!shore% instead o! a tru,k% the e;ui$"ent is

installed in a s"all house% a logging unit.

ogging Unit Details

The logging unit% whether tru,k0"ounted or skid0"ounted% houses ,ondu,tive wire line ona reel% wire line ,ontrols whi,h allow an o$erator to lower% sto$ and raise the wire line%

and the ,o"$uters that re,ord and dis$la the in!or"ation rela !ro" a logging tool

through the ,ondu,tive wire line.

ogging Tools

The well owner ,an ,hoose !ro" "an t$es o! logging tools. Plus% the owner ,an run

so"e o! the tools in ,o"bination. ogging ,o"$anies grou$ logging tools into !our broad

areas: ele,tri,% nu,lear% soni,% and other.

Ele,tri, og

Ele,tri, logging tools "easure and re,ord ,ertain ele,tri,al $ro$erties o! the !or"ation.

This is a re,ording% a log% "ade b an ele,tri, logging tool as it ,a"e u$ out o! the well%

$assed the !or"ations. The s;uiggles on the log ,alled ,urves. Foti,e that the ,urves

"ove to the le!t and to the right on the log. This is ,alled de!le,tion. 1 $erson !a"iliar with

these ,urves ,an look at the wa the de!le,t and learn a lot about the !or"ations.

1 basi, $re"ise o! the sa"$le listed ele,tri, logs is that the salt water ,ondu,ts ele,tri,it

,onsiderabl better than oil. Thus a !or"ation ,ontaining oil de!le,ts the log?s ,urve

di!!erent !ro" a !or"ation ,ontaining salt water.

Fu,lear og

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OILWELL DRILLING

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1 nu,lear log% so"eti"es ,alled a radioa,tive log% looks a lot like an ele,tri, log be,ause

it has ,urves that de!le,t le!t right. Fu,lear logs "easure either natural or indu,ed

radiation in the !or"ation. Fatural radiation ,an indi,ate the t$e o! ro,k and its densit.

#o"barding the !or"ation with a low level radioa,tive sour,e and a logging tool ,an

indi,ate whether li;uids or gases are in the !or"ation.

Soni, og

1 soni, log re,ords the ti"e that it takes sound to travel through a !or"ation. 1 soni,

logging tool ,reates a sound that hits the !or"ation ro,k near the tool. Sound "oves

!aster through solid ro,k than through ro,k that has !luid !illed $ores. The ,urves re,ord

the travel ti"es% and allow an e>$ert to deter"ine whether the ro,k is solid or !luid0!illed.

I! !luid0!illed% the !luid "ight be oil or gas.

Other ogs

4an other logging tools are available. 1 ,o""on one is a ,ali$er log. This log shows the

dia"eter o! the hole and an irregularities in it. One thing ,ali$er logs ,an do is hel$ the

,e"enting ,rew deter"ine the volu"e o! the hole. <ith hole0volu"e known% the ,rew

knows how "u,h ,e"ent the will need to $ro$erl ,e"ent the ,asing.

DRI STE4 TESTIFG

Overview

In addition to logs% the well o$erator will so"eti"es order a drill ste" test. The drill ste"

test% or DST% te"$oraril $rodu,es hdro,arbons through the rig?s drill string or ste".

DSTs also "easure and re,ord !or"ation $ressure and te"$erature data. To deter"ine!or"ation $er"eabilit and the "akeu$ o! hdro,arbons% the well owner "a run a drill

ste" test% DST tool. The ,rew runs this asse"bl on the drill string% or the drill ste" as is

so"eti"es ,alled. The test evaluates a sele,ted test one. <hile ;ual. logging% DSTs

hel$ well owner de,ide whether to run ,asing and ,o"$lete the well. 1 DST tool lets

!or"ation !luids !low to the sur!a,e or so"eti"es into a sa"$le ,ha"ber inside the down

hole tool. <hile the well !lows% the well owner ,an deter"ine the $rodu,ing

,hara,teristi,s o! the well. Su,h in!or"ation allows the owner to $rodu,e the well "ore

e!!i,ientl when ,o"$leted.

DST Tool 9o"$onents

6ere is a drill ste" test tool% "ade u$ on the botto" o! the drill ste". Bro" to$% it has a

reverse ,ir,ulation sub% shut0in valve% hdrauli, b$ass% re,order% hdrauli, =ar% sa!et

=oint% $a,ker% $er!orated $i$e and an an,hor shoe. The ,rew lowers this asse"bl to the

de$th the well owner wants to test% in this ,ase% the botto" o! the hole. You?ll see what

the $arts do as ou go along.

JTOO #OK:et?s see i! ou ,an build a DST tool !ro" a botto" u$. 6ere are the label

$arts o! the DST. Using our "ouse% drag ea,h ,o"$onent into $la,e in the $ro$er order.

owering DST Tool

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OILWELL DRILLING

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The ,rew lowers the DST tool into the hole on the drill $i$e a!ter the well is well0,ir,ulated

and ,onditioned with drilling !luid. The hdrauli, b$ass is o$en% be,ause the DST $a,ker

has li"ited ,learan,e with the u$$er ,asing in o$en well bore. The o$en b$ass allows

drilling !luid in the hole to !low u$ inside the tool as the ,rew lowers it. etting drilling !luid

!low u$ inside the tool $revents it !ro" ,reating $ressure surges. Pressure surges ,ould!ra,ture the !or"ation to be tested.

Sealing the 6ole

<ith a DST tool on the botto"% the driller sla,ks o!! the drawworks? brake to $ut weight on

the tool. <eight ,auses the $a,ker to e>$and. The $a,ker seals o!! the hole beneath it.

<ith the hole sealed b the e>$anded $a,ker% the DST o$erator rotates the drill string.

Rotation o$ens $orts inside the DST tool. <ith the $orts o$en% !or"ation !luids !low into

the tool and to the sur!a,e. During this ti"e% ,rew "e"bers ,losel "onitor annulus

$ressure. The "onitor annulus $ressure to "ake sure the $a,ker "aintains a good seal

between the hole se,tion being tested and the annulus above the $a,ker.

<ater 9ushion

The test ,rew $uts water into the drill $i$e above the DST tool. This is a water ,ushion.

The water ,ushion su$$orts the drill $i$e against "ud $ressure in the annulus% until the

test starts. The water ,ushion also $uts hdrostati, $ressure on the !or"ation when the

DST tool $orts are o$en. The hdrostati, $ressure is however% not enough to kee$ the

!or"ation !ro" !lowing into the DST tool. The water ,ushion is =ust that% a ,ushion. It

kee$s the !or"ation !luids !ro" surging with great !or,e into the tool and the drill string. I!

allowed to surge% the !or,e ,ould da"age the re,ording instru"ents and the tool and the!or"ation ro,k.

Bluid Blow

<ith the $orts o$en in the DST tool% !or"ation !luids !low. The $ush an drilling !luid in

the hole below the $a,ker into the tool. Then the !low u$ the tool and the drill string to

the sur!a,e. The test ,rew !irst lets the well !low !or a short ti"e to ,lear out the drill ste".

The then shut in the well !or a ti"e to allow $ressure to build. The well owner then

allows the !luid to !low !or a !ew hours o! !or several das de$ending on the well.

Produ,ed !luids are ,ontained in a holding tank or burned o!! i! the rea,h the sur!a,e.

During the !low $eriod% the owner deter"ines the well?s $rodu,tion $otential and !luid

$ro$erties.

Pressure 9harts

1!ter letting a well !low !or the re;uired ti"e% the test ,rew ,loses the shut0in valve b

rotating the drill string. The !low o! !or"ation !luids sto$s. <ith !lows sto$$ed% !or"ation

$ressure builds u$ inside the tool. This $ressure build u$ is re,orded on a $ressure ,hart

in the tool. ater the well owner e>a"ines the ,hart on the sur!a,e. The re,ord o! the

$ressure build u$ rate gives in!or"ation about the $er"eabilit and sie o! the !or"ation.

JTOO #OK: Per"eabilit is the ;ualit o! a !or"ation that allows oil and gas to !low

69



OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

through the $ore s$a,es o! ro,k. 6ighl $er"eable !or"ations allow !luids to !low easil.

1 !or"ation with low $er"eabilit is ,alled @tightA !or"ation. It is harder to $rodu,e than a

!or"ation with high $er"eabilit.

Reverse 9ir,ulatingTo re"ove the DST tool !ro" a hole% the driller !irst o$ens the reverse ,ir,ulation sub. The

driller usuall o$ens the reverse ,ir,ulation valve hdrauli,all b $u"$ing drilling !luid

down the annulus. This in,reased $ressure in the annulus o$ens the sub. <ith the sub

o$en% drilling !luid reverse ,ir,ulates down the annulus and u$ the tool and drill string to

the sur!a,e. Reverse ,ir,ulation $u"$s the re"aining !or"ation !luids out o! the drill ste"

and $uts drilling !luid ba,k in. The drilling !luid kills the well% that is the drilling !luid on,e

again kee$s the !or"ation $ressure under ,ontrol.

Re"oving DST Tool

To $ull the drill string DST tool !ro" a hole% the driller !irst releases the $a,ker b

easing u$ on a string. I! ne,essar% the driller uses the built0in hdrauli, =ar to =ar on the

DST tool. In "ost ,ases% =arring loosens the $a,ker and !rees the tool. I! the driller ,an

not $ull the $a,ker !ree !or so"e reason% he ,an se$arate the tool at the sa!et =oint.

Re"oving the tool above the sa!et =oint gets all o! the tool above the $a,ker% in,luding

the re,order with its data.

;OLUM6 (6A PO/6R "E"(6M ' <A"(RUM6A((<OA

PO<ER SYSTE4Overview

There?re three basi, was a rig distributes or trans"its $ower: an 19 to D9 $ower

sste"% or S9R $ower sste"% a D9 to 19 $ower sste"% and a "e,hani,al $ower

sste". 1t the heart o! ever rig $ower sste"% whether ele,tri,al or "e,hani,al% is the

$ri"e "over. 1 $ri"e "over is the rig?s "ain sour,e o! $ower. 4ost rigs have "ore than

one $ri"e "over. Pri"e "overs are al"ost alwas large and tu"ult ,o"bustion engines.

So"e e;ui$"ent on the rig re;uires hdrauli, $ower and $neu"ati, $ower. The rig?s

hdrauli, $neu"ati, sste"s also obtain their $ower !ro" one o! the three basi,

distribution sste"s.

JTOO #OK: /ust what is $ower and how is it "easured. <ell% to understand $ower% we

have to understand !or,e and work. Think about a !or,e is a $ush or a $ull. I! a ,onstant

!or,e is a$$lied over a distan,e% we have work. <ork Bor,e Distan,e. Power is the

a"ount o! work done $er unit o! ti"e. See these horses $ulling their loads% the to$ one is

"oving "u,h slower than the se,ond. #ut b the ti"e the?ve gone the sa"e distan,e%

the?ve done the sa"e a"ount o! work. The botto" one though% !inished !ive ti"es

;ui,ker than the !irst. So it did !ive ti"es as "u,h work $er se,ond as the to$ one. That

"eans the botto" horse delivered 2 ti"es as "u,h $ower as the to$ one.

Pri"e 4overs

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OILWELL DRILLING

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arge diesel engines are the "ain $ower sour,e% the $ri"e "overs% !or "ost rigs. These

engines o!ten $rodu,e !ro" 2'' to over 7''' h$ (or *2'02-'' C<). Rig builders usuall

house several engines together to drive the rig?s e;ui$"ent. The also kee$ e>tra engine

sets available !or ba,k0u$ engines. 4ost rig engines are diesel% be,ause unlike gasoline

engines% the ,an $rodu,e a lot o! $ower when running slow. 1lso diesel !uel is not asvolatile as gasoline% so it is sa!er to use% trans$ort and store.

JTOO #OK: 1 diesel engine takes ,he"i,al energ or !uel and ,onverts it to "e,hani,al

energ% rotational !or,e to $ower the rig e;ui$"ent.

19 to D9 Power Sste"

6ere is an 19 to D9 $ower sste". The $ri"e "over% usuall a diesel engine% su$$lies

$ower to the 19 generator% also ,alled an alternator. Bro" the 19 generator% 19 ,urrent

is sent to the S9R (the sili,on ,ontrolled re,ti!ier). 1n S9R is a high0te,h solid state

ele,tri, devi,e. The S9R ,onverts 19 to D9 ,urrent% whi,h drives the heav rig

e;ui$"ent% su,h as the "ud $u"$s% the drawworks% and the rotar sste". 1u>iliar

loads su,h as s"all $u"$s and rig lighting need lower voltage 19 $ower% so a

trans!or"er ste$s down or redu,es the voltage to the rig?s au>iliar ele,tri, e;ui$"ent.

D9 to D9 Power Sste"

6ere is a D9 to D9 $ower sste". The $ri"e "overs% usuall diesel engines% $ower D9

generators. Bro" the generator% D9 ,urrent goes through a ,ontrol $anel dire,tl to D9

"otors. The D9 "otors $ower the "ud $u"$s% the drawworks% and the rotar sste". 1

s"aller 19 generator is also $art o! the sste". It su$$lies 19 ,urrent !or e;ui$"ent thatworks best with this ,urrent t$e% !or e>a"$le% a ,he"i,al "i>ing $u"$ re;uires 19

$ower.

4e,hani,al Power Sste"

6ere is a "e,hani,al rig sste". 4e,hani,all $owered rig?s usuall s"aller than those

rigs whi,h use ele,tri, $ower. The $ri"e "over drives a "e,hani,al ,o"$ound

trans"ission% whi,h in turn% $owers the drawworks% the rotar table% and the "ud $u"$s.

1u>iliar loads su,h as s"all "otors are su$$lied with 19 !ro" an alternator ,onne,ted

to the $ri"e "over.

19 to D9 PO<ER SYSTE4

Overview

1lternating ,urrent $ut on b the 19 generators goes through heav0dut ele,tri, ,ables

to a s$e,ial devi,e ,alled sili,on ,ontrolled re,ti!ier (or S9R). The S9R ,onverts 19 to

D9. Other heav0dut ele,tri, ,ables ,arr D9 ele,tri,it to the D9 "otors. The D9

"otors ,onvert ele,tri,al energ ba,k into "e,hani,al energ to drive the $ower!ul

hoisting% rotating and ,ir,ulating e;ui$"ent.

Diesel 19 Generator Rig owners like to use 19 generators be,ause the ,an be built to be ver $ower!ul !or

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OILWELL DRILLING

-----SCHLUMBERGER

their sies% whi,h is an advantage over D9 generators. 1lso rig e;ui$"ent ,an distribute

19 easier than D9. #ut dire,t ,urrent has ,ertain advantages when driving large

e;ui$"ent. 4ainl D9 "otors $rodu,e a lot o! tor;ue at low s$eed that the drillers ,an

easil ,ontrol. Using re"ote swit,hes on this ,onsole to ,ontrol the S9R ,ontrol $anel%

the driller ,an sele,t and deliver the $ower !ro" the various generators wherever it isre;uired. #ut so"e 19 generators $ower big "otors. In !a,t% "ost o! toda?s diesel

ele,tri, rigs use 19 generators and a sste" ,alled an S9R $ower sste". 6ere% a large

19 generator% an alternator% is ,onne,ted to the diesel engine $ri"e "over. 1s the engine

"e,hani,all drive the 19 generator% the generator $rodu,es alternating ,urrent% or 19

ele,tri,it. 19 is like the ele,tri,it used in "ost ,ities and ho"es.

JTOO #OK: Re"e"ber% an ele,tri, generator or alternator takes "e,hani,al energ

and ,reates ele,tri,al energ. 1n ele,tri, "otor does =ust the o$$osite. It takes ele,tri,al

energ and ,reates "e,hani,al energ.

S9R Swit,h 9ontrol Gear

E;ui$"ent in this ele,tri,al ,abinet ,onverts or re,ti!ies (as the ele,tri, ter") "ost o! the

19 ,urrent $rodu,ed b the 19 generators into dire,t ,urrent. 1s "entioned be!ore% rig

owners usuall $re!er D9 ,urrent !or driving the ver large e;ui$"ent that re;uires

$re,ise variable s$eed ,ontrol and high tor;ue. The ,ontrol e;ui$"ent in,ludes solid

state ele,tri,al ,o"$onents ,alled sili,on ,ontrolled re,ti!iers or S9Rs. 6eav dut

ele,tri,al ,ables ,o"e out o! the ,abinet and ,arr D9 ele,tri,it to the $ower!ul "otors%

driving the ,ir,ulating% hoisting and rotating e;ui$"ent.

D9 4otors

Usuall large D9 "otors su$$l $ower to the "ud $u"$s% the drawworks% and the rotar

table or to$ drive. So"eti"es the drawworks "e,hani,all drive the rotar table% but on

so"e rigs the rotar table has its own "otor. The driller ,an ,ontrol the s$eed o! a D9

"otor ver a,,uratel% whi,h is wh rig owners use D9 instead o! 19 "otors. <ith

a,,urate s$eed0,ontrol% the driller ,an a,,uratel set the s$eed the drawworks sli$s% the

"ud $u"$ o$erates% and the rotar table turns on rigs without a to$ drive.

19 4otors

arious s"all ,o"$onents on a rig need $ower% too. Bor instan,e% these two ,entri!ugal

$u"$s "ove "ud !ro" a tank to su$er,harge the intake o! the "ud $u"$s. In this ,ase%

it is "ore e!!i,ient to use s"all "otors to $ower the ,entri!ugal $u"$s rather than using

the $ri"e "overs% hdrauli, !luid or air. 6ere is another 19 "otor+ it $owers the $addles

on the "ud agitator in a "i>ing tank. 19 "otors generall $ower e;ui$"ent that does not

re;uire a lot o! horse$ower. So the var in $ower !ro" less than 3 h$ (or .82 C<) to

"ore than 32' h$ (3'' C<).

JTOO #OK: 6ere is a ,hart ,overing the uses o! advantages o! 19 D9 "otors. Drag

ea,h test bo> to its $ro$er $la,e on the ,hart% then ,li,k on @a,,e$tA.

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D9 to D9 PO<ER SYSTE4S

Overview

Bor ele,tri, $ower distribution% so"e rigs use D9 to D9 $ower. D9 to D9 was the !irst

ele,tri, $ower sste". In a D9 to D9 sste"% ea,h engine drives a D9 generator. The

D9 generator ,onverts the rotating "e,hani,al energ o! the diesel engine into D9ele,tri,it. 6eav dut ele,tri,al ,ables ,arr D9 ele,tri,it via the ,ontrol $anel to large

3''' h$ (or 8'' C<) D9 "otors. The "otors ,onvert the ele,tri,it ba,k into "e,hani,al

energ. This "e,hani,al energ $owers the hoisting% rotating ,ir,ulating e;ui$"ent.

D9 4otors

Bor large e;ui$"ent% "ost rig owners $re!er D9 "otors over 19 "otors. D9 "otors $ut

out high tor;ue (twisting !or,e) at low s$eed. Burther% the driller ,an easil ,ontrol the

tor;ue !ro" his ,onsole on the rig !loor. Cee$ in "ind% though% that re,ent te,hnologi,al

advan,es are allowing ,o"$uteried ,ontrols and variable s$eed 19 "otor drives to be

used where onl D9 "otors were used in the $ast.

19 Generator (1lternator)

This is a generator (or alternator) on a D9 to D9 rig. It generates the 19 ele,tri,it that

D9 to D9 rigs need. The alternator $owers s"aller e;ui$"ent on a D9 to D9 rig% like the

s"all 19 "otors on ,entri!ugal $u"$s% air ,onditioners% lights% !ans% water0"aker units

and other s"all e;ui$"ent.

JTOO #IK: <hi,h o! these two "otors do ou think is an 19 "otorM Sele,t one and

then ,li,k the @a,,e$tA button.

4E961FI91 DRIE PO<ER

Overview

4e,hani,al drive rigs nor"all ,o"$ound (or ,onne,t) two or "ore engines to drive the

"ain $u"$ing% rotating and hoisting e;ui$"ent. Generall s"all to "ediu" sie land rigs

use "e,hani,al drives. The use ,lut,hes% ,onverters% ,hains% sha!ts% belts or

,o"$ounding trans"issions to ,onne,t the $ri"e "overs to the driven e;ui$"ent. 6ere

is a ,o""on wa to get $ower to the ,o"$onents on a "e,hani,al drive rig. This shows

three engines that the rig owner ,o"$ounded. That is the $ower !ro" ea,h engine goes

through a series o! s$ro,kets and ,hains housing% ,alled a ,o"$ound. The ,o"$ound

trans!ers engine $ower to the drawworks% the rotar table% and the "ud $u"$s.

JTOO #OK:

You?ve $robabl noti,e that the engines and "otors are ,o""onl rated a,,ording to the

a"ount o! $ower the $rodu,e in horse$ower or kilowatts. Power is the a"ount o! work

$er!or"ed over a $eriod o! ti"e. In the English sste" o! "easure"ents% $ower is o!ten

"easured in !oot0$ounds $er se,ond. One !oot0$ound $er se,ond is the a"ount o! $ower

that would li!t a one0$ound weight one !oot o!! the ground in one se,ond. 9li,k on the

weight with our "ouse to li!t it. One horse$ower is e;ual to 22' !oot0$ounds $er se,ond.So one horse$ower is the a"ount o! $ower that would li!t 22' !oot0$ounds one !oot o!!

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the ground in one se,ond. 9li,k on the weight. In the "etri, sste" o! "easure"ents%

$ower is o!ten "easured in =oules $er se,ond. 1 =oule is e;uivalent to one Fewton0"eter.

One =oule $er se,ond is the a"ount o! $ower that would li!t a .3'& kg ob=e,t one "eter o!!

the ground in one se,ond. 9li,k on the weight with our "ouse to li!t it. One horse$ower

is e;ual to 85- =oules $er se,ond. So one horse$ower is the a"ount o! $ower that wouldli!t a 8-.3 kg ob=e,t one "eter o!! the ground in one se,ond. 9li,k on the weight.

9o"$ound Drive

In a ,o"$ound drive% engine $ower usuall goes through tor;ue ,onverters to the

s$ro,kets ,hains. Steel guards ,over the s$ro,kets ,hains% re"oved here so ou ,an

see the". Tor;ue ,onverters s"oothl trans!er engine $ower to the ,o"$ound. 6ere ou

,an see the steel guards ,overing the "a,hiner in the ,o"$ound. Fot onl do the

guards $rote,t $ersonnel% the also kee$ a lubri,ating oil s$ra ,on!ined to the ,hains

s$ro,kets. 1lso% note that large 0belts ,alled $ower bands drive the "ud $u"$s. Steel

shrouds also guard the".

6YDR1UI9 PFEU41TI9 PO<ER SYSTE4

Overview

4an tools use hdrauli,s to trans"it $ower. E>a"$les in,lude the Cell s$inner% the Iron

Roughne,k% and ,asing tongs.

6drauli, Bor,e

6drauli,s "eans trans"itting $ower b $ushing on a ,on!ined li;uid. 6ere is a $iston

"oving inside a ,linder. 6drauli, !luid !ills the ,linder to the le!t o! the $iston. The$iston?s sur!a,e area is 3' in&. I! a $u"$ $uts 3''' $ounds $er s;uare in,h (or $si) o!

hdrauli, !luid $ressure on one side o! the $iston% this 3''' $si a,ts on the 3' in & $iston to

$rodu,e 3'''' lbs o! !or,e. That?s a lot o! !or,e available !or $owering ,ertain tools and

e;ui$"ent.

6drauli, Power Pa,k

6ere is a t$i,al hdrauli, $ower $a,k used on "an rigs. It has an ele,tri,al "otor or

internal ,o"bustion engine to $ower the high $ressure $u"$. The $u"$ takes hdrauli,

!luid !ro" the reservoir and sends it out a high strength steel0rein!or,ed hose to the

devi,es needing hdrauli, $ower. The !luid returns to the reservoir a!ter it $asses through

the Cell s$inner or other tool. The hdrauli, $ower $a,k is a ,losed sste"+ the !luid is

used over and over.

Pneu"ati,all Powered E;ui$"ent

9ertain ,ontrols% valves and tools on the rig are air o! $neu"ati,all o$erated. Bor

instan,e% the driller uses $neu"ati, ,ontrols on the driller?s ,onsole to engage

disengage ,lut,hes on e;ui$"ent like the drawworks. The rig ,rew "a use air0$owered

hand tools% like a grinder. The also use an air hoist% an air $owered win,h% to hoist and

"ove relativel light e;ui$"ent onto and around the rig !loor. 4an diesel engines on rigshave an air starter% whi,h is air0o$erated "otor that turns the engine ,ranksha!t over to

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start it. Binall% a !loating rig?s "otion ,o"$ensator o$erates large a"ounts o!

,o"$ressed air to ,o"$ensate !or vessel heave or kee$ing the drill string in $osition.

JTOO #OK: <hi,h o! the rig t$es uses a "otion ,o"$ensatorM Sele,t the ,orre,t

answer or answers and then $ress @a,,e$tA.

Rig 1ir 9o"$ressor

1n air ,o"$ression sste" $rovides air $ressure to o$erate the $neu"ati, ,ontrols%

valves tools on the rig. Rigs use rotar s,rew ,o"$ressors or re,i$ro,ating

,o"$ressors to ,o"$ress air. 1 t$i,al re,i$ro,ating air ,o"$ressor has two% three or

!our $istons "oving inside ,linders. The ,o"$ressor takes in air !ro" the at"os$here%

and raises its $ressure% that is% ,o"$resses it. The volu"e tanks stores a given a"ount

or volu"e o! ,o"$ressed air that is read !or use when needed.

JTOO #OK: 1ir% ,o"$ressed 3'' $ounds $er s;uare in,h% or -8' CPa% ,an be

dangerous. 9are "ust be taken when working on or around air sste"s. 1lwas wear

$ro$er sa!et e;ui$"ent% su,h as a hard hat% ee ear $rote,tion% work ,lothes and work

boots. Fever atte"$t to o$en a ,o"$onent o! an air sste" or a se,tion o! $i$e without

"aking sure that all o! the air has been bled o!! !irst. Periodi,all ,he,k $ressure and

te"$erature gauges to be sure the?re at the $ro$er level. 1lso% ins$e,t $i$es and

vessels !or ,orrosion. 1nd be aware% i! there?s a !ire on the rig% an break in the air

sste" instantl adds o>gen !ro" the air to !an the !la"es.

RIG IFSTRU4EFTSOverview

1 drilling rig has "an instru"ents and gauges. The hel$ the driller and other ,rew

"e"bers kee$ tra,k o! the drilling o$eration. Rig instru"ents var !ro" the "ost basi, to

so$histi,ated ,o"$uters with video dis$las. 6ere we?ll ,over the basi,s.

Driller?s 9onsole

The driller?s ,onsole is the driller?s work station on the rig !loor. It has several instru"ents

and gauges. 1ll o! the" hel$ drillers tra,k the drilling $ro,ess and kee$ the" in!or"ed o!

the situation. Indi,ators and gauges on the driller?s ,onsole in,lude the weight indi,ator%

the $u"$ rate indi,ator% "ud $u"$ $ressure gauge% rotar ta,ho"eter% rotar tor;ue

gauge% tong tor;ue gauge% "ud return "ud !low rate indi,ator% "ud tank level indi,ator

and tri$ tank volu"e indi,ator.

<eight Indi,ator

The weight indi,ator is the largest gauge on the driller?s $anel. It indi,ates the hook load%

and weight on the bit. The hook load is the total a"ount o! the weight hanging !ro" the

hook. <eight on the bit (or <O#) is the a"ount o! weight $ut on the bit b the drill string.

It is less than the hook load. The weight indi,ator is e>tre"el sensitive to hook load

,hanges. Drillers ,an use the hook load ,hanges to "onitor the a"ount o! drag or !ri,tionthe well bore $uts on the drill string when the "ove the $i$e u$ or down. Or be,ause it

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OILWELL DRILLING

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is so $re,ise% the driller ,an use it to "onitor the o$eration o! down hole tools re;uiring

s"all variations in weight.

Pu"$ Rate Gauge

The $u"$ rate gauge shows the nu"ber o! ti"es one "ud $u"$ $iston "oves $er"inute. This ,onsole has two $u"$ rate gauges be,ause this rig has two "ud $u"$s.

The driller ,an deter"ine the total volu"e o! "ud being $u"$ed b "ulti$ling the $u"$

rate b the nu"ber o! $istons in the $u"$ ti"es the a"ount o! "ud ea,h $iston $u"$s.

Pu"$ Pressure Gauge

The "ud $u"$ $ressure gauge shows drillers the a"ount o! $ressure the $u"$ is

$utting out. The "onitor $u"$ $ressure !ro" the stand$i$e to ensure that it is the

,orre,t a"ount needed to kee$ the hole ,lean and return ,uttings ba,k to the sur!a,e.

Rotar Ta,ho"eter

The rotar ta,ho"eter shows the revolutions $er "inute (or r$") o! the rotar table or a

to$ drive unit. Drillers "onitor rotar r$" be,ause the need to know the rate the bit is

turning. Di!!erent bits rotate at di!!erent r$"s. R$" ranges !or a bit are s$e,i!ied b the

"anu!a,turer.

Rotar Tor;ue Gauge

Drillers use the rotar tor;ue gauge to see how "u,h twisting !or,e or tor;ue the rotar is

a$$ling to the drill string. Cnowing rotar tor;ue hel$s kee$ drillers !ro" $arting the drill

string be,ause o! too "u,h rotar tor;ue. Parting the drill string in this "anner is ,alled@twisting0o!!A.

Tong Tor;ue Gauge

1 tong tor;ue gauge hel$s the driller and the rotar hel$ers "ake u$ the drill $i$e and

drill ,ollars with the right a"ount o! tor;ue. Too little tor;ue or tightness in the ,onne,tion

"a leak or uns,rew while drilling+ too "u,h tor;ue ,an da"age or gall threads% whi,h

,ause the" to leak and eventuall to ,o"e a$art.

JTOO #OK: These two $hotos show how i"$ortant it is to $ro$erl tor;ue u$ the

,onne,tions. #oth o! these ,onne,tions were under tor;ued% whi,h lead to severe

erosion.

4ud Return Blow Rate Indi,ator

Drillers use the "ud return !low rate gauge as a relative indi,ator o! how "u,h drilling

!luid is returning at the !low line. The sensor is "ounted in the "ud return line% the !low

line. 1 $addle inside the return line "oves as "ud !lows $ast it. 1s the $addle "oves% it

sends a signal to a readout $anel% "ounted on the driller?s ,ontrol ,onsole $anel. The

driller sets the readout so that as long as return !low is nor"al with ,onstant $u"$ s$eed

and out$ut% no alar" sound or lights u$. 6owever% when the return !low rate ,hanges%in,reases or de,reases% the $addle?s "otion also ,hanges. This ,hange in $addle "otion

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sends a signal to the driller?s readout and sounds or alu"inates an alar". 1 ,hange in

the return !low rate o! the "ud "a indi,ate one o! the two things: i! the !low rate

de,reases% "ud "a be being lost to a down hole !or"ation+ i! the !low rate in,reases%

!or"ation !luids "a have entered the hole and are !or,ing drilling "ud out. So a "ud

return !low rate indi,ator ,an hel$ drillers dete,t ki,ks and loss o! ,ir,ulation.

4ud Tank evel Indi,ator

This "ud tank has a s$e,ial !loat in it. It goes u$ or down as the "ud level in the tank

rises or !alls. Usuall several "ud tanks have !loats in the". The !loats send a signal to a

digital totaliing $anel "ounted on the driller?s ,onsole. This $anel takes the tank level

signals !ro" all the !loats in the tanks% totals the" and sends the in!or"ation to the ,hart

re,order ne>t to the $anel on the rig !loor ,lose to the driller?s ,onsole. I! the level o! "ud

in the tanks !alls and no one has re"oved "ud !ro" the tanks% then that it is likel that

"ud is being lost to a down hole !or"ation. I! the level o! "ud in the tanks rises and no

one?s added "ud to the sste"% then it is likel that !or"ation !luids are !lowing into the

well. Thus a "ud tank level indi,ator is another tool to hel$ the driller dete,t ki,ks and

loss o! ,ir,ulation.

Tri$ Tank olu"e Indi,ator

1 tri$ tank volu"e indi,ator hel$s the driller "onitor the a"ount o! "ud being dis$la,ed

b the tubulars or wire ro$e being run in and $ulled out o! the hole. 9rew "e"bers

,al,ulate tubular dis$la,e"ent be!ore ea,h tri$ using tables !ro" a handbook. Then

during a tri$% the ,o"$are the ,al,ulated volu"es to the a,tual dis$la,e"ent. 9lose

"onitoring o! the tri$ tank during tri$s is ,ru,ial to $ro$er well ,ontrol.

JTOO #OK: 6ere is a ;ui,k little review !or ou. 9li,k on the weight indi,ator on this

,ontrol $anel then ,li,k on the @a,,e$tA button.

Drilling Re,order

1 drilling re,order "akes a re,ord o! drilling variables su,h as the hook load% weight on

bit% rate o! $enetration% tor;ue% $u"$ strokes and $u"$ $ressure during drilling. It?s

usuall lo,ated in the doghouse on the rig !loor. The driller $uts a ,hart onto the revolving

dru". Several $ens with ink in the" tra,e re,ords onto the ,hart. Drilling re,orders "a

have !ro" one to several $ens de$ending on how the?re hooked u$. The re,order gets

signals !ro" sensors "ounted near the gauges that "easure the drilling variables. Bor

instan,e% a load ,ell on the dead line an,hor sends its hook load and weight on bit. 6ere

is a $hoto o! a drill re,order. Fote that it has a hinged $le>iglass ,over+ the drillers ,an

raise it to ,hange the ,hart when ne,essar.

6&S Instru"entation

6drogen Sul!ide% 6&S or Sour Gas% is the "ost $oisonous gas en,ountered in drilling

o$erations. It o,,urs worldwide in various ,on,entrations asso,iated with gas% oil and

water $rodu,ed !ro" wells. It is e>tre"el to>i,% e>$losive and heavier than air. It is also,olorless so ou ,an not see it. In low ,on,entrations% it s"ells like rotten eggs% but ou

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,an not de$end on our sense o! s"ell to es,a$e har". 6&S ;ui,kl deadens our abilit

to s"ell. <here 6&S "a be $resent% rigs are e;ui$$ed with sensors% auto"ati, "onitors

and alar"s. This is an audible and visual 6 &S alar". The horn sounds a siren or the light

!lashes brightl i! the?re a,tivated b 6 &S sensors $la,ed on the rig. This 6&S sensors

$la,e near the "ud tanks+ others "a be at the bell ni$$le on the rig !loor% shale shakers%!low line% rig a,,o""odation?s air intake and other $la,es on the rig. <hen a sensor

$i,ks u$ 6&S gas above a $redeter"ined level% the "onitor triggers both the visual and

audible alar"s. U$on hearing or seeing the alar"% ,rew "e"bers ,an take a,tion to

avoid in=ur or death. You?ll re,eive detailed 6&S training i! our rig is working in an area

where 6&S "a be en,ountered.

Slb Forex Drilling Training Manual

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Transcript of Slb Forex Drilling Training Manual