MAINTENANCE BULLETIN

ORIGINATOR: OSP SECTION: VII

DATE: December 2002 BULLETIN NO.: 1062-B

Restraining Slings for Cement Heads

Service Quality Must Do
Note: Maintenance Bulletin 1062-A has been revised. Please remove Maintenance Bulletin 1062-A
dated November 2000 and replace with Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B. The purpose of this revision is to
communicate new size requirements for slings as applied to various sized cement heads.

Aim of Bulletin

To inform field personnel of the revision of the Twin-Path slings as the standard versus the wire rope
cables that we are currently using for securing cementing heads in the derrick.

To inform field personnel that the requirements in Standard 5, Section11 High Pressure Rig Up will be
changed per this document.

To inform the field as to the changes in which size cement heads require the use of the various rated
slings.

SAFETY CONSIDERATION: FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES AS DESCRIBED IN SAFETY AND

LOSS PREVENTION MANUAL
(URL Location: http://quality.sugar-land.dowell.slb.com/qhse/slpm/index.htm

"Must Do" Bulletin Compliance: Compliance to Must Do bulletins can now be recorded and
communicated through the use of the "Must Do" Bulletin Compliance Reporting software which
can be found on the OSP web site. The URL is: http://www.rd.oilfield.slb.com/emwd/must_do.htm

Implementation dead line

End of Q3 2003

Use of restraints on cement heads

The use of Twin Path slings to secure cement heads to the elevators or bails have been a requirement in
Standard 5 since the end of 2000.

Additional testing has been done on lighter weight slings and hooks. The table included in this
maintenance bulletin shows that cement heads thru the size 13 3/8can be secured by using the TPXC
1500 sling and the Crosby 3 ton hook.

Consult Table 1 for details.

Twin-Path slings versus wire rope for securing cement heads

Several tests have been performed to compare the efficiency of the Twin-Path sling versus wire rope
slings.
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 2 of 13

Tests prove that by using a Twin Path sling:

?? Safety margin is increased. A wire rope such as 6x19 IWRC EIP rope can support 960 lb
force load when it drops from 3 feet, but it fails at a drop of 5 feet. With a Twin Path sling, the
weight is safety supported even with a 5-foot fall.
?? Twin-Path slings provide three very visible means of identifying damage. The integrity of wire
ropes is often difficult to assess, especially in the presence of dirt and oil.
?? The synthetic slings are light weight and flexible making them user friendly in terms of
handling at heights and securing the load.

Description of the product

The Twin-Path slings (patented by Slingmax) use two hi-tech fiber rope cores that provide each other with
backup protection. The two cores are physically separated within the sling, and each core forms a
continuous loop and thus two conducting paths to share the load.

Additionally, the slings have a dual cover scheme such that the inner cover shows red. When the outer
cover has been cut, leaving the red inner cover showing the sling must be examined by looking at the
tell-tails.

The primary indicators of sling integrity involve the use of two tell-tail indicators built into the sling.

?? One indicator uses a solid fiber chord (Figure 1 & 2) that extends outside the sling cover for
each load path. The purpose of these solid cords is to indicate an overloaded sling when the
cord is pulled partially under the cover or disappears.
Fiber optic

Figure 1

Fiber cord

Black limit line

The black line indicates the

limit to which the yellow
fiber cord can be pulled to
Figure 2 before the sling should be
removed from service
 Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
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?? The other primary indicator uses a fiber optic line that follows the complete loop inside the
sling, one for each side. Each optical fiber is continuous and emerges from the sling at the
mid-point as shown in figure 3.

If light can be transmitted from one end of the fiber optic cable to the other end, then the sling has
not been overloaded or damaged and may remain in service.

If light cannot be transmitted from one end to the other, through the optical fiber, the sling must be
removed from service.

Note: The ends of the optical cable may be dirty from use. When performing the light continuity test
always insure the ends are clean. It may be necessary to cut a very small piece off each end before
testing.

Fiber optic

Fiber optic

Figure 3

Sling Characteristics

Twin-Path Extra Covermax high performance fiber lifting slings:

TPXC 1000* TPXC 1500 TPXC 3000*

Choker: 8,000 lbs 12,000 lbs 24,000 lbs

Weight: 0.31 lbs/ft 0.40 lbs/ft 0.80 lbs/ft
Width: 3 3 4

* The slings required in the original bulletin

The Choker mode is the application these will be used in for this service.

Hardware (Crosby) Characteristics

Hook Rated Capacity

WS-320: 5 tons
WSl-320 AN 3 ton

Shackle Rated Capacity

S-253: 12.5 tons
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 4 of 13

Temperatures

The Twin-Path sling is capable of temperatures to minus 40 C / 40 F. These slings should never be
expose to temperatures above 82 C / 180 F. If slings are used in applications outside of these
temperature limits, consult the manufacturer before use.

The standard Crosby fittings are only good for minus 18 C / 0 F.

For temperatures below this range, special cold-tuff hooks and shackles must be used at minus
40 C / 40 F. For the appropriate ordering information see page 5.

Assembly numbers and ordering information for slings in Original Bulletin

For weather above minus 18 C / 0 F
Bishop PN SLBl PN Cost Description

DSBAG 589889000 $692.99 Complete package including products below

CHSS3X12 589890000 $460.30 12' TPXC 3000 with a 3" S253 Crosby
sling saver shackle with 1/4"x3' lanyard
CHSS1X8 589891000 $122.69 8' TPXC 1000 with a 5 ton WSL-320 Crosby
sling hook
CHS253 589892000 $59.17 Replacement 3" S253 Crosby sling saver
shackle
For cold weather below minus 18 C / 0 F
Bishop PN SLB PN Cost Description

CWDSBAG 589894000 $1,088.34 Complete package including products below

CWCHSS3X12 589895000 $660.15 12' TPXC 3000 with a 3" S253 cold tuff Crosby
sling saver shackle with 1/4"x3' lanyard
CWCHSS1X8 589896000 $318.19 8' TPXC 1000 with a 5 ton WSL-320 cold tuff
Crosby sling hook
CWCHS253 589897000 $261.76 Replacement 3" S253 cold tuff Crosby
sling saver shackle
Storage Bag
Bishop PN SLB PN Cost Description

NSSB241018 589893000 $110.00 Replacement orange safety sling storage bag

Slings with 3 Ton Crosby Hooks

Bishop PN# Cost Description

CHSS1.5X8 $145.27 8TPXC 1500 with 3 ton hook

CHSS1X8A $111.16 8TPXC 1000 with 3ton hook

 Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 5 of 13

Slings w/ 3 ton hooks for cold weather below minus 18 C / 0 F

Bishop PN# Cost Description

CWCHSS1X8A $287.15 8TPXC 1000 with 3 ton hook

WSL-320AN
CWCHSS1.5X8 $321.26 8TPXC 1500 with 3 ton hook
WSL-320AN

The following parts can be purchase from:

Address: Bishop Lifting Products, Inc

1410 Harris Street
P.O. Box 15619
77220, Houston, Texas
USA
Contact: Jeff Bishop
Phone: (713) 674-2266
Fax: (713) 672-9229
Email: jeff.bishop@lifting.com

The information contained in Table 1 is the result of additional drop testing. The objective of the test was
to validate the restraining capability of the smaller slings and hooks under one time drop conditions.

In the initial testing of the Twin Path sling the same design criteria used in the lifting industry was applied
to this restraint application. When securing the cement head the sling is expected to perform once when
the head comes out of the pipe. Therefore the design factors and safety factors applied for operation on a
day to day basis in the lifting industry do not apply.

The results of the new testing confirm that the smaller sling and hook are more than capable of
performing as required for a one time drop.

Table 1 shows a major change in the size of the sling required for different sized cement heads. Also
shown are length and hook requirements. The major improvement is that one reduced size sling and
hook can be used on all sizes up to and including the 13 3/8 double plug container. This new application
applies to both the standard pressure and integral cement heads.

Also, only one sling will be required per cement head installation. See figures 4 and 5. The restraint
previously shown to the treating pipe is no longer required.

This new information will enhance the usability of the Twin Path sling system.

For those locations which already have sling in use, they can continue to be used on the 16 thru
20heads (TPXC 3000 12 ft) as shown in Table 1. The TPXC 1000 ( 8ft with 5 ton hook) can be used
on all cement heads up thru 9 5/8 single double cement head. This applies to both standard pressure
and integral cement heads.

Operation

In this application the slings will be used in the choke mode as shown in figure 4 & figure 5.

Even though this sling has a much greater load capacity than the cables used in the past, these
slings can be cut or crushed. Do not allow the sling to be stretched over sharp corners or between
the treating iron and the elevator where it can be damaged.
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 6 of 13

In the event that a cement head comes out of the casing and the sling breaks the fall, the sling
must not be returned to service with out performing a integrity check through the use of the
optical line and checking the mechanical tattle tale.

For the cement head

1. The Twin Path sling is wrapped around the cement head between the manifold nipples
(Figure 4).

2. The sling is passed through itself, forming a choker.

3. The free end of the sling is wrapped around the bail until snug, and then secured back to the
sling between the head and bail using the special Crosby hook or shackle.

4. An alternate solution is to take the loose end of the sling to the upper eye of the elevator bail
to take up slack. This is to be passed through the eye and hooked back to itself as in step 3
(Figure 5).

TPXC 1000 TPXC 1500 TPXC 3000

Capacity with Capacity with Capacity with
DP STD Pressure DP Integral 5' Drop Safety Factor Safety Factor Safety Factor
Size Weight Weight Lbs Force Lbs Force Lbs Force Lbs Force

2 7/8" 884 1152 39023 50,000 75,000

3 1/2" 886 1136 38743 50,000 75,000
4 1/2" 922 1272 41069 50,000 75,000
5" 990 * 50,000 75,000
5 1/2" 950 1400 43153 50,000 75,000
7" 1108 1474 44318 50,000 75,000
7 5/8" 1176 1538 45303 50,000 75,000
8 5/8" 1418 * 50,000 75,000
9 5/8" 1398 1860 49995 50,000 75,000
10 3/4" 1650 2036 52400 50,000 75,000
11 3/4" 1694 * 50,000 75,000
13 3/8" 2000 2754 61347 50,000 75,000
16" 2343 3800 72655 150,000
18 5/8" * * 150,000
20" * * 150,000
Table 1

Usable range for the TPXC 1500 w/ 3 ton hook.

Usable range for the TPXC 1000 with 5 ton or 3 ton hook.

Usable range for the TPXC 3000 with shackle.

Slings included in the original restraint system called for in 1062

Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 7 of 13
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 8 of 13

Inspection

A durable carrying case is provided with each set of slings. After each use the sling should be
cleaned, inspected and placed in the bag.

Before inspecting the sling, we recommend to wash it with soap and water. The slings are approved for
washing with high-pressure washer.

Inspection of Twin-Path Slings

1. Tell-Tails should extend to the black line marked across both path of the sling. If both Tell-Tails are
not visible or past the black line remove the sling from service (Figure 6, Figure 7). If Tell-Tails show
evidence of chemical degradation, remove the sling from service and send to the manufacturer for
repair evaluation.

Figure 6 Tell-Tails

Black line

Figure 7

Sling
overloaded

2. Slings should be inspected for evidence of cutting or tearing of the outer cover. Slings must be
removed from service if the white core yarns become exposed. If cuts to the inner red jacket are
visible, remove from service immediately and send back to manufacturer for repair evaluation if
possible. Damage to the cover may indicate load core damage.

3. Inspect slings for evidence of heat damage. Slings with polyester or covermax covers should not be
exposed to temperatures above 82 C / 180 F. Cold temperature exposure down to minus 40 C / 40 F
does not effect the strength of the products. Any other temperature that the equipment will be
exposed to should be referred to the manufacturer for approval.
 Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 9 of 13

4. Fiber optic light transfer determines core integrity. If light can not be transmitted from one end of the
fiber optic cable to the other end, then the sling has been overloaded or damaged (Figure 8). If
deterioration is found, the sling must be removed from service and returned to the manufacturer for
evaluation. Test both optic fibers.
Optic fiber

A flashlight shone
into this end Reflection of light
from this end

Figure 8

5. Slings removed from service that are not capable of repair should be destroyed and rendered
completely unfit for future use.

6. Abrasion, heat damage or cuts to the cover may indicate a loss of strength to the load core and these
slings should not be used until evaluated by the manufacturer.

7. Slings should be examined throughout their entire length for abrasion, cuts, heat damage, fitting
distortion. Remove the sling from service if there is any doubt.

8. The slings should be visually inspected before each cementing job.

9. After the job, slings should be packed in the bag provided (Figure 9).

Figure 9
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 10 of 13

Inspection of Crosby synthetic shackles (S-253)

1. Check for wear, deformation, cracks, sharp nicks and modifications on all Crosby shackles.

2. The two major wear points on the Crosby S-235 sling saver shackles are at the pull of the bow (D)
and the pull of the pin (B). No more than 10 % of wear of original dimension is acceptable on any
Crosby shackles (Figure 10).

3. Deformation of the Crosby S-253 sling saver shackle can be measured by the overall length of the
shackle (A), the width between the ears of the shackle (C) and if the pin fully seats in the shackle
(Figure 10).

Figure 10

4. Cracks can show anywhere on the shackle, but the pulling surfaces tend to show most deterioration.
Sharp nicks on the shackle should be removed so as to not damage the sling and cause failure.

5. No modification should be done to Crosby fittings without the consent of the manufacturer.

6. If any indications of wear noted above is observed, the shackle is to be removed from service.

Inspection of Crosby hooks (5 ton WS-320)

1. Check for wear, deformation, cracks, nicks and gouges on all Crosby hooks.

2. The two major wear points on the Crosby WS-320 synthetic sling saver hook is at the pull of the eye
(B) and the bowl of the hook (D). Acceptable wear on the Crosby hook is no more than 5 % of original
dimension (Figure 11).

3. Never use a hook where the throat opening has been increased or whose tip has been bent more
than 10 degrees out of plane from the hook body, or is in any other way distorted or bent.
Note: a latch will not work properly on a hook with a bent or worn tip.
 Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 11 of 13

4. Remove from service any hook with a crack, nick, or gouge. Hooks with a crack, nick, or gouge shall
be repaired by grinding lengthwise, following the contour of the hook (no more than 5 % of the original
dimension). (Figure 11)

Figure 11 (5 Ton Hook)

5. Deformation indicator: Two strategically placed marks, one just below the shank or eye and the other
on the hook tip, allow for a quick check to determine if the throat opening has changed, thus
indicating abuse or overload.

Use a measuring device (tape measure) to measure the distance between the marks. The marks
should align to either an inch or half-inch increment on the measuring device (Figure 12). If the
measurement does not meet these criteria, the hook should be inspected further for possible
damage.
For the WS-320 hook, the reference is 2.5 inches.
Deformation
indicators

Figure 12
Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 12 of 13

6. No modifications should be done to Crosby fittings without the consent of the manufacturer.

7. If any modification or wear noted above is found, remove from service.

Inspection of Crosby hooks (3 ton WS-320AN)

1. Check for wear, deformation, cracks, nicks and gouges on all Crosby hooks.

2. The two major wear points on the Crosby WS-320AN synthetic sling saver hook is at the pull of the
eye (B) and the bowl of the hook (D). Acceptable wear on the Crosby hook is no more than 5 % of
original dimension (Figure 13).

3. Never use a hook where the throat opening has been increased or whose tip has been bent more
than 10 degrees out of plane from the hook body, or is in any other way distorted or bent.
Note: A latch will not work properly on a hook with a bent or worn tip.

4. Remove from service any hook with a crack, nick, or gouge. Hooks with a crack, nick, or gouge shall
be repaired by grinding lengthwise, following the contour of the hook (no more than 5 % of the original
dimension) (Figure 13)

Figure 13 (3 Ton Hook)

 Maintenance Bulletin 1062-B
Section: VII
Page 13 of 13

SAFETY SLING ACCEPTANCE

I have seen the training tape and the proper way to secure treating equipment and plug containers using
the safety slings has been explained. It has also been explained to me that these slings can prove to be
as ineffective as wire rope cables if not used properly.

Initials_______

It has been explained and I understand that these slings are to completely replace the cable slings that
we are currently using.
Initials_______

It has been explained that I can wash these slings using soap and water, and that they can be washed
with a high pressure washer.

Initials_______

It has been explained that I am to keep these slings in the carrying case provided, and keep them
secured so that unauthorized use will not occur.

Initials_______

It has been explained and I accept the responsibility for communicating the proper use and care of these
slings when necessary.

Initials_______

It has been explained that I am to hand carry these slings to the rig.

Initials_______

It has been explained how to check the slings for damage, and how to verify that the slings are safe to
use. I further understand that I am not to at any time use the slings to secure treating iron, or cement
heads if it is determined the slings are damaged in any way.

Initials_______

It has been explained that if at any time any slings fail to pass inspection, I will re-order slings from my
FSM, and I will notify my supervisor immediately to obtain replacement slings.

Initials_______

FSM:

Name (Printed) :_______________________ Date:________

Signature:____________________________

Issued by:____________________________

This acceptance sheet may be modified with agreement between Local Management and the Area Asset
Manager.