Rig Components

This section covers the drilling rig and its components. It describes
hoisting, rotating, circulating, mud handling, pressure control and
power generation.

Chapter 9- page 77
 Rig Components

The main function of a rotary rig is to drill a hole, or as they say in the oil
patch, to “make a hole”. Making a hole with a rotary rig requires qualified
personnel and a lot of equipment. To learn about the components it takes to
make a hole, let’s divide them into five main systems:

1. Power System
2. Hoisting System
3. Rotating System
4. Circulating System
5. Blowout prevention or the well control system

Other Rig Components and equipment

The Hoisting System

It is one of the primary

components in the rig. Its primary
function is to support the rotating
system in drilling the well by
providing the appropriate
equipment and working areas
needed for lifting, lowering, and
suspending tremendous weights
required by the rotating system.

It is consists of two major sub-

components:
1. The Supporting Structure
2. The Hoisting Equipments
 The Supporting Structure

A steel framework assembled over the drilling site.

It includes the:
1. Substructure
2. Rig floor
3. Drilling Tower

Chapter 8- page 69
 Substructure

A large steel framework assembled directly over the drilling site that is the
base and the support for the drilling tower. Its height depends by the rig type
and the blowout preventer height. It provides workspace for men and
equipments on and below the rig floor. It is capable of supporting tremendous
weights.

There are two kinds of substructure the:

a) Box on box
b) Slingshot
 Box on box

A steel frame box which the crew

stacks on top of one another to
achieve the desired height.
 Slingshot

A self elevating substructure where crew members place it on the

site in a folded position, they then winches to unfold and raise the
substructure to full height.
 Rig floor
The relatively small work area in which the rig crew conducts operations, usually adding
or removing drill pipe to or from the drill string. The rig floor is the most dangerous
location on the rig because heavy iron is moved around there. Drill string connections
are made or broken on the drill floor, and the driller's console for controlling the major
components of the rig are located there. Attached to the rig floor is a small metal room,
the doghouse, where the rig crew can meet, take breaks and take refuge from the
elements during idle times.
Driller’s Console

The control panel, located on the

platform, where the driller controls
drilling operations.
 Doghouse

A small enclosure on the rig floor used as an office for the driller and
as a storehouse for small objects.
 Drilling Tower

A framework that covers the part of the rig floor & supports the
assemblage of tools and equipments used in modern rotary drilling. Its
height varies from 65-200 feet. Its height is governs whether the crew
pulls pipe from the hole in singles, doubles, triples, or in quadruples. The
drilling tower is rated by its:
 Rig capacity (the total weight it is designed to carry) which is referred
to light, medium, heavy, and very heavy based upon its capacity.
 Rig loading (the amount of wind they can stand) which most rigs can
stand from 100 to 130 mph.

There are two kinds of drilling tower the:

1. Mast
2. Derrick
 Mast

A tower-like framework that is

constructed from prefabricated
sections, which crew members
can raised and lowered above
the substructure as a unit.
Must be assembled horizontally
before raising up.
 Derrick

a tower-like framework that is

assembled and disassembled
piece by piece over the well site,
above the substructure.
A stationary derrick is used on offshore fixed structures and jacked
up rigs, whereas a dynamic derrick is used on a floating rig, which
is subjected to marine stress.
 The Hoisting Equipments

Specialized equipments that lift, lower, and suspend the drill stem and bit in
the well bore. These equipments include:
1. Drawworks
2. Overhead tools

Chapter 8- page 84
 Drawworks

A powerful hoisting assembly

usually located near the rotary table
on the rig which major functions are
to transmit power from the power
system to the drill stem during
tripping (the lifting and lowering
operations on a rotary drilling rig),
and to transmit power to the
catheads for making- up and
breaking-out drill stem connections.
It has clutches and chain-and-gear
drives so that the driller can change
its speed and direction.
 Parts of the draw works

Catheads- are winch, or windlass on which

a line, such as rope, cable, or chain is coiled.
Typically four catheads are mounted on the
side of the drawworks, two on each end.
There are two types of cathead the:

 Friction cathead- a steel spool a foot

or an inch in diameter. In the old days
they use friction cathead to move and
hoist objects around the rig floor, but
today air hoists or air tuggers are used.

 Automatic cathead- cathead right on

the side of the drawworks. It is either

Makeup cathead- located on the

driller’s side of the drawworks
which plays a when the crew
makes up a drill pipe.

Breakout cathead- the automatic

cathead on the other side of the
drawworks opposite the driller’s
side. It is called breakout cathead
because the driller engages it to
break out drill pipe.
 Main brake

Provides the driller a way to

slowing and stopping the drum
or drawworks.
Auxiliary electric brake or Electromagnetic brake

It cannot stop the drawworks from

turning but only assists the main
brake by absorbing the momentum
created by the load being raised
and lowered. Big electromagnets
inside the auxiliary brake oppose
the turning forces on the drum and
help the main brake stop the load.
 Overhead tools

Are the connecting links with in the hoisting system. It includes:

1. Drilling line
2. Crown block
3. Traveling block
4. Hook
5. Elevators
Crown Block

An assembly of sheaves or pulleys

mounted on beams at the top of the
derrick. The drilling line is run over
the sheaves down to the hoisting
drum.

Crow’s Nest

The upper part of the mast or derrick

where the crown block is placed.
Traveling Block

An arrangement of pulleys or
sheaves through which drilling
cable is reeved, which moves up
or down in the derrick or mast.
Hook
A large, hook-shaped device
from which the elevator bails or
the swivel is suspended. It is
designed to carry maximum
loads ranging from 100 to 650
tons and turns on bearings in
its supporting housing.
Elevators

A set of clamps that grips a stand, or column, of

casing, tubing, drill pipe, or sucker rods, so the stand
can be raised or lowered into the hole.
Drilling Line

A wire rope hoisting line, reeved on

sheaves of the crown block and
traveling block (in effect a block and
tackle). Its primary purpose is to
hoist or lower drill pipe or casing
from or into a well. Also, a wire rope
used to support the drilling tools.

• 7/8” to 2” (22 to 51 mm) in

diameter
Deadline tie-down anchor

A device to which deadline is

attached, securely fastened to the
mast or derrick’s substructure. Also
called deadline anchor.
 The Rotating System

► It is one of the most important components in the rig. Its primary function is to
rotate the drill string and the bit that drills the hole. Generally, rigs can rotate
the bit in one of the three ways. The traditional way, the method that still
dominates drilling, especially on land sites, uses:

1. rotary-table system
2. top-drive system
3. downhole motor
 Rotary-Table System

It uses a rotary table and kelly to drill a

hole. It is consists of the:

1. Turntable or Rotary Table

2. Master bushing
3. Kelly bushing
4. Kelly
5. Swivel
 Rotary Table
The principal component of a rotary, or rotary machine, used to turn the drill stem and
support the drilling assembly. It has a beveled gear arrangement to create the rotational
motion and an opening into which bushings are fitted to drive and support the drilling
assembly.

One of the rotating system used in drilling operations.

 Master bushing
Is a removable device that fits into
the opening of the rotary table. The
turntable rotates the master
bushing. It provides a place to
attach either of the two of the
important rotary equipment: the
kelly bushing and the rotary slips.
The master bushing has an opening
through which crew members run
pipe into the well bore. A tapered
bowl fits inside the master bushing
this serves a vital function during
tripping. A master bushing could
either have four drive holes or a
square opening and no drive holes.
Rotary slips

A wedge-shaped pieces of metal

with teeth or other gripping
elements that are used to prevent
pipe from slipping down into the
hole or to hold pipe in place. Rotary
slips fit around the drill pipe and
wedge against the master bushing
to support the pipe. Power slips are
pneumatically or hydraulically
actuated devices that allow the
crew to dispense with the manual
handling of slips when making a
connection. Packers and other down
hole equipment are secured in
position by slips that engage the
pipe by action directed at the
surface.
 Kelly Bushing
A device fitted to the rotary table through which the kelly passes. It
is the means by which the torque of the rotary table is transmitted
to the kelly and to the drill stem. Also called the drive bushing.
Kelly
A special length of
pipe about 40 ft. It is
not round but either
square or hexagonal
in cross section
almost on its entire
length which is
suspended beneath
the swivel which
transmits torque to
the drill string. The
kelly slides easily in
the drive bushings
opening, even as it
rotates.
Swivel

A rotary tool that is hung from the

rotary hook and traveling block to
suspend and permit free rotation
of the drill stem. It also provides a
connection for the rotary hose and
a passageway for the flow of
drilling fluid into the drill stem.
 Top Drive or Power Swivel
The top drive unit has been used primarily for drilling rigs, but has also been
designed for smaller work over operations. The system is generally viewed as a
significant improvement in rotating technology. The traditional kelly, kelly drive
bushing, and master bushing are not required. The drill string is rotated directly by a
D.C. electric motor. A conventional elevator is used to hoist and lower the string
when tripping.
 Downhole motor

A drilling tool made up in the drill

string directly above the bit. It
causes the bit to turn but the drill
string remains fixed. Drilling mud
powers most downhole motor. To
make a mud motor rotate the bit,
the driller pumps drilling mud down
the drill string as usual. When the
mud enters the motor, it strikes a
spiral shaft, which goes inside a
tubular housing. The shaft and
housing fit in such a way that mud
pressure causes the shaft to turn.
Because the bit is attached to the
motor shaft, the shaft turns the bit.
The mud exits the bit as usual.
 Drill String

The column, or string of drill pipe with attached tool joints that transmits
fluid and rotational power from the kelly to the bit.

It is consists of:
1. Drill Pipe
2. Drill Collar
3. Drill Bit
Drill Pipe

Are round hollow-steel tubes with

joints attached. They are used to
lengthen the drill string and acts
as a connecting link to the drill
collars and the bit. They are
mostly made of steel but
sometimes they also use
aluminum. A length of drill pipe
is about 30 ft long, and drilling
people call each length a “joint of
pipe”. Each end of joint is
threaded. One end has inside or
female threads called box; the
other has outside or male
threads called pin. Crew
members call the threaded ends
of drill pipe “tool joints” which is
normally welded onto the ends of
the drill pipe and cuts the
threads to API specifications.
 Drill Collar
are metal tubes like drill pipe but are made heavy because they are used in the
bottom part of the string to put weight on the bit. This weight presses down the
bit, so that its cutters can bite into the formation. Drill collars are either 30 or
31 feet long and those made to API specifications range in diameter from 2 7/8
to 12 inches in diameter. Manufacturers do not add tool joints to drill collars
because its wall is so thick that they can cut the threads directly onto and in the
drill collars. 30’ to 31’ long (API Specs).

Spiral

Slick
 Drill bit

Is a device that actually cuts or bores the hole in rotary drilling operations. The
bit consists of the cutting elements and the circulating element. The cutting
element is steel teeth, tungsten carbide inserts, industrial diamonds or
polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs). The circulating element permits the
passage of drilling fluid and uses the hydraulic force of the fluid stream to
improve drilling rates.
Bits fall into two main categories namely:

1. Roller Cone Bits

2. Fixed-head Bits
Roller Cone Bits

A drilling bit made of two, three or

four cones that are mounted on
extremely rugged bearings.
Surface of each cone has rows of
steel teeth or rows of tungsten
carbide inserts. They have nozzles
that eject high-speed streams, or
jets, of drilling mud. Because of
their jetting action they are
sometimes called “jet bits”. They
could either have

Steel Teeth- teeth are mill or

forged out of the steel body of the
cones
Tungsten Carbide Inserts- holes
are drilled in the cones and press fit
the carbide inserts in the holes.
 Fixed-Head Bits

Any bit, such as a diamond bit

whose cutting elements do not
move on the face or head of the
bit. It could either be made

Industrial Diamonds- makers

embeds industrial diamonds in
the bottom and sides of the bit
head. As the bit rotates, the
diamonds contact the face of the
formation and plow and grind it
to make a hole.
Polycrystalline Diamond
Compacts (PDCs)- this widely
used bit feature tungsten carbide
compacts to which are bonded
synthetic diamonds. A
manufacturer machines pockets
into ribs or blades on the bit body
and inserts the diamond-coated
compacts into the pockets.
Hybrid- combine natural and
synthetic diamonds and
sometimes tungsten carbide
inserts on a fixed head bit.
Circulating System

It is one of the major components

in the rig. Its primary function is
to support the rotating system in
drilling the well by providing the
appropriate equipment, materials
and working areas needed to
prepare, maintain, and revise the
lifeblood of rotary drilling. It is
consists of four major
subcomponents namely:

1. The Drilling Fluid

2. Preparation Area
3. Circulating Equipment
4. Conditioning Area
 Is the special liquid mixture that is circulated
down the hole, assisting the bit in drilling the
Drilling Fluid hole, and helping control conditions within
the well bore. Its major functions are to
a) provide hydraulic horse power to the bit for
cleaning the bottom of the well bore,
b) b) transport cuttings out of the hole,
c) c) support the wellbore wall,
d) d) prevent the entry of formation fluids into
the well bore, and
e) e) to cool and lubricate the bit. There are
several types of drilling fluids used depending
on the drilling conditions encountered.
Drilling Fluid Types
There are several types of drilling fluids used depending on the drilling
conditions encountered:
• Water-based muds are used most frequently. The base may be either:
• fresh water, or
• salt water.
• Oil-based muds.

• Synthetic materials. The oil and gas extraction industry has developed
many new oleaginous (oil-like) base materials from which to formulate
high-performance drilling fluids.
A general class of these fluids is called synthetic materials, such as
• The vegetable esters,
• Poly alpha olefins,
• Internal olefins,
• Linear alpha olefins,
• Synthetic paraffins,
• Ethers, and
• Linear alkylbenzenes, among others.

• Air and foam fluids may be used in drilling wells.

• These fluids are less dense than drilling muds.
Drilling Fluid Types - factors that determine selection of fluid

COST

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT
Drilling Fluid Types - factors that determine selection of fluid

WATER BASED FLUIDS

-most widely used type of fluid

-used approximately 80% of all wells

-base fluid may be fresh water, seawater, brine, saturated brine, or a

formate brine
Drilling Fluid Types - factors that determine selection of fluid

OIL BASED FLUIDS

This type of fluid addresses the following well problems

-formation clays that react swell or slough after exposure to WBF

-increasing downhole temperatures

-contaminants

-stuck pipe
Drilling Fluid Types - factors that determine selection of fluid

SYNTHETIC BASED FLUIDS

These are developed in order to reduce the environmental impact of

offshore drilling operations without sacrificing the cost effectiveness of
OBF.

-maximize ROPs

-increase lubricity in directional and horizontal wells

-Minimize wellbore stability problems such as those caused by reactive

shales
Drilling Fluid Types - factors that determine selection of fluid

AIR & FOAM FLUIDS

These are used when formation pressures are low and risk of lost
circulation and formation damage is high.

Advantages:

-little or no formation damage

-rapid evaluation of cuttings for the presence of HC

-prevention of lost circulation

-higher penetration rates in hard rock formations

Drilling Fluid Additives
Drilling mud typically have several additives. (Air and foam fluids typically do not
contain many additives because the additives are either liquid or solid, and will not
mix with air and foam drilling fluids.) The following is a list of the more significant
additives:

• Weighting materials, primarily barite (barium sulphate), may be used to increase

the density of the mud in order to equilibrate the pressure between the well bore
and formation when drilling through particularly pressurized zones.
• Corrosion inhibitors such as iron oxide, aluminum bisulfate, zinc carbonate,
and zinc chromate protect pipes and other metallic components from acidic
compounds encountered in the formation.

•Dispersants, including iron lignosulfonates, break up solid clusters into small

particles so they can be carried by the fluid.

• Flocculants, primarily acrylic polymers, cause suspended particles to group

together so they can be removed from the fluid at the surface.

• Surfactants, like fatty acids and soaps, defoam and emulsify the mud.

• Biocides, typically organic amines, chlorophenols, or formaldehydes, kill

bacteria and help reduce the souring of drilling mud.

• Fluid loss reducers include starch and organic polymers and limit the loss of
drilling mud to under-pressurized or high-permeability formations.
 Preparation Area

It is located at the start of the circulating system near the mud pumps where
drilling fluid is initially prepared, and maintained depending on well bore
conditions. The area contains:

1. Steel Mud Tanks/Mud Pits

2. Bulk Mud Components Storage
3. Mud Mixing Hopper
4. Reserve Pit
Steel Mud Tanks/Mud Pits

Steel container that facilitate

handling of drilling fluid at surface
Bulk Mud Components Storage

Large bins used to facilitate

handling additives used in large
quantities
Mud Mixing Hopper

A device used to rapidly add

additives to drilling fluid
Reserve Pit

It is a large earthen pit next to the

rig. In the past it was used as
storage for reserve drilling fluid but
in the present used to hold wastes
from the well bore
 Circulating Equipment

Is the specialized equipment that physically moves the drilling fluid from the
preparation area for recirculation. The equipments includes:

1. Mud Pump
2. Discharge Line
3. Stand Pipe
5. Rotary Hose
6. Annulus
7. Return Line
Mud Pump

Are large, high pressure

reciprocating pump used to
circulate the mud on a drilling rig
Discharge Line

Connecting line that transport

drilling fluid to the well bore
Stand Pipe A steel pipe clamped vertically to the derrick or mast connecting the
drilling fluid discharge line to the rotary hose
 Rotary Hose

A reinforced flexible tube on a

rotary drilling rig that conducts the
drilling fluid from the stand pipe to
the swivel and kelly. Also called the
mud hose or the kelly hose
Annulus

The space around a pipe in a well bore,

the outer wall of which may be the wall of
either the bore hole or the casing;
sometimes termed the annular space.
Mud Return Line

A trough or pipe, placed between the surface connections at

the well bore and the shale shaker. Drilling mud flows through
it upon its return to the surface from the hole.
 Conditioning Area

It is the area where drilling fluid is cleaned up after it had been brought out of
the well bore. The area includes:

1. Shale Shaker
2. Desander
3. Desilter
4. Degasser
Shale Shaker

A vibrating screen used to

remove cuttings from the
circulating fluid in the
rotary drilling operations.
The size of the openings in
the screen should be
carefully selected to be the
smallest size possible to
allow 100 percent flow of
the fluid
Desander

Centrifuge device for removing

granular/sand particles from drilling
fluid to prevent abrasion of the
pumps
Desilter

Centrifuge device for removing very

fine/minute particles, or silt in the
drilling fluid to keep the amount of
solids in the fluid at the lowest
possible point.
Degasser

The device used to remove gas

from drilling fluid
 Power System

It is also one of the major components of the rig which primary function is to
support ALL of the other systems by providing a source of energy
requirements in drilling. Power is transmitted either by:

1. Mechanical Power Transmission

2. Electrical Power Transmission
 Mechanical Power
Transmission
Engines drove special machinery which is composed of big chains, and sprockets
called compounds, which, in turn, provided power to the components. With
compounded engines, the driller can use one, two, or all of them at once if required
 Electrical Power Transmission

Powerful diesel engines drive large

electric generators. The generators,
in turn, produce electricity that
flows through cables to electric
switch and control equipment
enclosed in a cabinet. From the
control gear, the electricity goes
through more cables to electric
motors
 Well Control

With continued increases in drilling depth came increasingly higher formation

pressures that had to be controlled during the drilling process. If released by
the penetration of the formation by the drill bit, these enormous pressures
could spit drillpipe out of the hole, unleashing raging inferno-like fires that
would instantly destroy the drilling rig. Such a catastrophic event could delay
drilling operations for days or even months, until the fires could be
extinguished. This made the development of some sort of blowout-prevention
device a priority among those engaged in oilwell drilling.
 Blowout Prevention System

It is a pressure control system that is designed specifically to control a “kick”.

The system is consists of four components the:
1. Blowout Preventer Stack
2. Accumulator Unit
3. Choke Manifold
4. Kill Line
5. Mud Gas Separator
Blowout Preventer Stack

It is an assembly of high-pressure
valves designed to contain well bore
pressure in the event of kick. It is
an assembly of special devices that
may include:

1. Annular Preventer
2. Ram Preventer
3. Drilling Spool
4. Casing Head
Annular Preventer

It is located at the top of the BOP

stack assembly. It contains a steel-
reinforced rubber-packing element
that closes to seal on drill pipe,
kelly or open hole
Ram Preventer

They closed only on specific size of

pipe, tubing, or an open hole. They
are designated as:

Pipe Rams- it closes only on pipe

which they are matched

Blind Rams- it only closes on open

holes

Shear Rams- it cuts the drill pipe

and seal the resulting open hole
 Drilling Spool
Are spacers between preventers that provide hookups for the
choke line and kill line during a kick
 Casing Head-
► It is an attachment on the top of
the casing on which the BOP stack
is engaged.
 Accumulator Unit
Its a hydraulic pressure unit that keeps liquid under pressure in the tanks and
provides a method to open and close the blowout preventers quickly and reliably
 Choke Manifold

An arrangement of piping and special valves, called choke. In drilling, mud is

circulated in the choke manifold when a kick occurs
 Kill Line

It is attached to the blowout

preventer stack, usually directly
opposite the choke manifold. Heavy
weight fluid is pumped to the kill
line into the well bore until balance
has been restored
 Mud Gas Separator

► A device that is used to remove gas

from the mud coming out of a well
when kick is being circulating out

► Then the gas is burned on the flare

Other rig components
and Equipments
 Monkeyboard

The derrickman's working platform.

Double board, tribble board,
fourable board; a monkey board
located at a height in the derrick or
mast equal to two, three, or four
lengths of pipe respectively.
 Water Tank

Is used to store water that is used

for mud mixing, cementing, and rig
cleaning.
Fuel Tanks

Fuel storage tanks for the power

generating system.
Pipe Racks

A horizontal support for tubular goods.

Catwalk

The ramp at the side of the drilling rig where pipe is laid
to be lifted to the derrick floor by the catline or by an air
hoist.
Pipe Ramp

An angled ramp for dragging drill pipe up to the drilling

platform or bringing pipe down off the drill platform.
Mousehole

Shallow bores under the rig

floor, usually lined with pipe, in
which joints of drill pipe are
temporarily suspended for later
connection to the drill string.
Rathole
A hole in the rig floor 30 to 35 feet deep, lined with
casing that projects above the floor. The kelly is placed
in the rathole when hoisting operations are in progress.
Cellar

A pit in the ground to provide additional height between

the rig floor and the well head to accommodate the
installation of blowout preventers, ratholes, mouseholes,
and so forth. It also collects drainage water and other
fluids for disposal.
Spinning Chain

A relatively short length of chain

attached to the tong pull chain on the
manual tongs used to make up drill
pipe.
Stairways

Stairs leading from one level to another. Protected with handrails.

Weight Indicator

A device for measuring the weight of the drill

string. Monthly calibration to calculated drill
string weight is required by API.
Tongs

The large wrenches used

for turning when making up
or breaking out drill pipe,
casing, tubing, or other
pipe; variously called casing
tongs, rotary tongs, and so
forth according to the
specific use.
Next topic Drilling Rig
Crews
1. Accumulator 1. Drawworks 1. Production Tubing
2. Agitator 2. Drill Bits 2. Reamer
3. Casing 3. Drill Pipe 3. Rotary Table
4. Casing Elevators 4. Drill Pipe Elevator 4. Safety Clamps
5. Casing Slips 5. Drill Pipe Slip 5. Subs
6. Cementing Head 6. Fishing Tools 6. Swivel
7. Centrifuge 7. Hammer Union 7. Sweivel Joints
8. Choke Manifold 8. Kelly Bushing 8. Tong
9. Christmas Tree 9. Lifting Caps and subs 9. Top Drive
10. Crown Block 10. Master Bushing 10. Travelling Block
11. Desander 11. Mud Motor
12. Desilter 12. Production Tubing