Types Of Drilling Rigs And Their Uses
Most people do not think twice about drilling; they do not understand how important it really is. Things changed last year, when thirty-three miners had to be rescued in Chile. Despite this, the industry continues to grow, both domestically and internationally. All over the world, companies need more drilling rigs. Fortunately, there are many drilling rig manufacturers who are meeting this need.
Drilling rig manufacturers have many responsibilities. In addition to building new rigs, they must also repair older ones that are now out-dated. It does not matter if a rig works from natural gas or water, as both require regular maintenance. With these rigs, manufacturers must use a special machine to bore through the earth, a process that requires great skill and precision. When they are not doing this, they are making residual income selling rig equipment. This equipment could be anything ranging from hydraulic presses to oil-drilling gear. In any case, when this equipment is exported, manufactures have to make sure they are adhering to API guidelines.
Workover rigs are another concern for manufacturers. These “service units” are designed for special circumstances. Some are meant to drill in desert or swampy environments; others are meant to drill offshore. Of course, regardless of the situation, the workover rigs must meet the standards of the API. This is an organization that oversees the petroleum industry. To meet their standards, the workover rigs have to be built according to spec. The rigs must be the right size, and they need to have appropriate equipment. Otherwise, the company could face some serious problems down the road. Indeed, there can never be short cuts in the world of drilling. If there are, the process becomes ineffective.
To build workover rigs, manufacturers have to manipulate hoisting units, the component which distributes the rigs. The rigs also need power swivels once they are in place. Power swivels allow manufacturers to swab or fix the well containing the rig. This is important because it makes the repair process easier. Drilling rig manufacturers cannot assume that the rig will always hold up; sometimes even the best ones will malfunction. However, if the rigs are appropriately set up, the repair work should not be difficult.
In fact, it is quite common that pipes get clogged. This is due to paraffin, which is a build-up of materials. To remove it, manufacturers must use scrapers in either the workover rig or the wireline, (which is at the surface of the rig). The entire well has to be powered down and then sealed off. This ensures that area remains safe for workers. And considering the power of the engines, safety definitely needs to be a priority. A typical disel engine can reach 6,000 horse power when used in a typical workover rig. In a “mounted” rig, the power is lower, as it usually does not exceed 1,000. But even still, it is important that drilling rig manufacturers take the necessary precautions to ensure nobody gets hurt. They also want to protect the integrity of the rig itself. Reference: Drilling Rig Manufacturers