Oilwell Primer

Rig Components

Rig Components

A rigs main job is to make hole

A multitude of rig components are needed to make
hole

Divided Into Four Systems

Power
Hoisting
Rotating
Circulating

Rig Components

The Power System

Hoisting
Rotating
Circulating

Power System

Source of power for the rig

Transmission of power to the rig

Source of Power

Almost all rigs use diesel engines because they

produce high torque & fuel efficient
The number of engines increase as the depth
capacity & power requirements of the rig increase.

Rig Power - Diesel Engines

Power Transmission

MECHANICAL - Through Compound

ELECTRICAL - Through Electrical Cables

Mechanical
System
Multiengine and
chain-drive
compound

Steel Guard

Two steel guards

cover the drive
bands (belts) from
the compound that
drive the mud
pumps

Diesel Electric System

Independent motors for each system

Mud
Pump

Chain
Guard

Electric
Motor

Electrical Vs. Mechanical

Electrical Advantages
No heavy, complicated mechanical compound to move,
setup & maintain
Engines off rig, reduce noise, vibration & heat
Rotary speed, pump speed, etc. varied easily

Mechanical Advantages
Less complicated electrical system
Cheaper to operate

Rig Components

The Power System

Hoisting

Rotating
Circulating

Hoisting System

Drawworks & catheads

Derrick
Crown block
Traveling block
Wire rope
Air hoist

The Hoisting System

Drawworks

Spool-shaped revolving drum

Wire rope is wrapped around it while hoisting
heavy loads
Band brakes stop the drum
Auxiliary brake absorbs some of the momentum
of a load

The Drawworks

Drawworks Brakes

Brake Bands

Catline in place of Air Hoists

Cathead

A friction cathead pulls on coiled rope to hoist.

An automatic cathead spools in chain & is used to
pull tongs.
In addition to catheads, air hoists are popular and
more safe

Catheads

Friction
Cathead

Makeup
Cathead

Because of safety
regulations, most
operations use air
hoists instead of
friction catheads

Drilling Line & Blocks

Drilling line runs from the

draw works (called fast
line).
To the crown block &
around a sheave.
To the traveling block &
around a sheave & back to
the crown block.
The number of raps depends
on the hoisting capacity

Wire Rope Drilling Line

Crown

Sheave

Crown
Block

Drilling Line is
reeved several
times through the
traveling block
sheaves.

Drilling
Line is
reeved
several
times
through the
crown block
sheaves.

Crown Block
Sheaves

Drilling Line

Dead Line Tie-Down

Last wrap of the drilling line leaves the crown and

is secured on the dead line tie-down on the
substructure.
This line is called the dead line and is run to the
wire rope supply spool

Dead Line Tie Down Anchor

Drilling Line on Supply Reel

Slipping Drilling Line

After specified usage, the drilling line must be

replaced using the supply spool

Secure blocks
Loosen line at dead head
Loosen line at drawworks
Slip line through blocks
Wire rope has ton/miles rating

Rig Components

Power
Hoisting
The Rotating System
Includes the devices that make the bit turn

Circulating

Rotating System
All the pipe between the swivle and
the bit, including the kelly, the drill
pipe, and drill collars, is the drill
stem.
The drill string includes only the
drill pipe.

Swivel

Carries weight of drill string

Permits drill string to rotate
Passageway for drilling fluid
Bail - connects swivel to block
Gooseneck - connects swivel to rotary hose

The large bail of

this swivel hangs
from the hook of
the traveling
block.

Hook
Bail
Gooseneck

Swivel

Kelly

About 40 foot length of 4 to 6 sided pipe

Connects drill string to swivel & carries drill
string
Passage way for drilling fluid
Flat sides provide a way to turn the kelly & thus
the drill string

The Kelly is connected to the Swivel

Swivel

Gooseneck

Kelly
Rotary Hose

Standard Kelly Length is 40 feet

Kelly Bushing Rotates the Kelly

Kelly bushing - fits on flat side of the kelly &

turns the kelly
Master bushing - supports & turns the kelly
bushing
Rotary table - supports & turns the master bushing

Rig Floor

Kelly

Kelly
Bushing
Master
Bushing

Rotary Table

Gives rotary drilling its name

Is driven by electric motor or the
compound/drawworks device
Drives the master bushing & thus the drill string
Supports the slips that holds the drill pipe during
connections and tripping

Slips

Fits around & wedges the drill string

Tooth like gripping elements
Slips & rotary table can support the drill string
hanging in the well bore

Slips prevent the

drill string from
falling through
the rotary table.

Slips

Final setting point

Top Drive

Replaces a conventional swivel

Has a powerful motor that turns the drill string
Rotates up & down through tight spots
Adds 3 joints of pipe at a time

Top Drive
Eliminates the need for a
rotary table and you can
drill three joints per
connection. More
expensive, but also more
efficient.

Drill String

Drill pipe
Drill collars

Drill Pipe & Drill Collars

Drill Pipe

Drill Collar

Drill Pipe

Carries drilling mud to the bit

Supports the drill collars
Turns the bit
Tool joints increase the strength of a drill pipe
connection
Dimensions & steel grade affect drill pipe strength

The derrick
hand and floor
hands on this rig
set back threejoint stands of
drill pipe.

Tool Joint Cross Section

All threads are lubricated

Floor hands
stab the pin
end of a tool
joint into the
box end.

Drill Collars

Carries drilling mud to bit

Supplies weight to run on bit. Collars are heavier
than drill pipe
Turns the bit

Drill Collar box and pin ends

Drill String Accessories

Additional pieces of equipment, or tools, in the

drill string when required
Bit sub, kelly saver sub, cross over sub, lifting
sub, pup joint, stabilizers, reamers, upper & lower
kelly cock, etc.

Bit Sub
Most bits are pin up, so a sub is
needed to mate with the pin down
drill collars.

Drill Collar Lifting Sub

Elevators

Lifting Sub

Drill Collar

Elevator Shoulder

Floor hands
position a stabilizer
over the hole prior
to making it up in
the bottom hole
assembly (BHA).

Stabilizer
Blade

Reamer Stabilizer (Roller Reamer)

Cutter

Upper Kelly Cock is

located between the
swivel and the top
of the kelly. When
closed, it protects
the swivel and
rotary hose from
pressure in the drill
stem.

Lower Kelly Valve

is located between
the bottom of the
kelly and the top
joint of drill pipe
and is has the same
function as the
upper kelly cock.

Open inside blow out preventer

Closed inside blow out preventer

Bits

Roller cone - steel tooth & TCI, journal & roller

bearing, sealed and non-sealed
Fixed cutter - PDC, natural diamond & TSP
Additional information covered on bits in this
school

Non-sealed steel
tooth roller
cone bit.

Sealed
bearing
carbide
tooth bit.

Various Natural Diamond Bits

Poly-Crystalline
Diamond
Compact (PDC)
bit.