,.

SOCti OF PETROIXUI$ ”ENGINEERS

6200 North (%rtralExpressway
EallaB}Texas 752o6

H. G. Allen and Paul Scott,Hycalog, Tnc., Shreveport,La.

.%
ABSTRACT coring operationson holes drilledwLth cable
tools in.Michigan$with uses expandingto some
The need for more compact2saferjmore drillingoperationsin those holes. “-power
efficient}more flexibledkillingrigsj with swivel use progressedto the drillingof up to
reduced costs in hole-making,has produceda 15-in.diametersurface’holesin glacial drift,
number of’approachesto the soluttonof these fomnaiiions,
problems. One approachis a hydraulicsemi-
automaticdrillingrig using a hydraulicPmer. During field testing on 30 differentwelJE
swivelmounted OR a special. mast fittedwith Lq North IJJUiSiana$ apo’wer swiveldrilled some
tracks for a traveling block and the swivel, 75,000ft Of 6-1/4-in.snd7-7/8-iu. diemeter
along with hydraulicpower tongssnd back-up holes to maximum depth of 3}700 ‘Ytwith no
tool, air slips, and hydraulicpipe-hanfiling stuck drill.stem or twist-offsexperienced.
equipment. This rig> which cm, -”operated Ilr$ilingrates,under avariety ofcontitiions
by two men, has been field tested and it has ovqr a wide area, averaged37 ft/hr on a numbel
proven to be highlyflexi.ble8mobileand effic- of’~ltheholes with the low experiencedof 16,4
ient in the drillingand coring of medium- ft~hr and the high 100 f’t/hr.
depth end shallowholes and in workoveroper- I
ations. Ii Equipmentused.in the 30-well, fieldtest
p~gram included.aModel 100 power swivels an
INTRODUCTION IMSCO D-175 slush pm ~ i+7/8-$n.drill.pipe,
an~ a Woodfield [H-25’drawworksmounted
f on a
— As in the case with much other oil and ga ,Lelandwell!.serviceunit truck.
industryequipment the-semi-automatic rig
discussedin this paper dtdnot have its begin, Stil.leuot@erfieldtest was a &3/4-in.
nings as a drillibgrig. However>the princi- diameter slim-holetest drilledto 42800 ft in
pai elements w the hydraulicpower swivel and South TexasnMng atrailer-mountedModel iOO
hydraulichoist -“were developedinitiallyas power swivel @r rotation.
drilling%001s.
During developmentof the hydraulicsemi-
Currentdevelopmentof the hydraulicpowe: automaticrig, “twotrailer-mountedhydraulic
swivel>plus the combinationof it with both power swivel rigs} capableof driXlingholes at
standard automatedrig equipmentand specially as high as SO degrees from the verticalJwere
fabrlcate~equipmentfor pipe handling}all assembled,tested and deliveredto the Atomic
mounted in comQactunit-fashion~has provided ‘mergy ConmIisSion;Used in~ost-shot oper=
the drillingindustrywith a new drillingtool ations foi rapid recovery of sub.mrfticeSSIS-
and a new concept--asemi-automaticrlg i’or ples as soon as pos~ible i’oXLowirrg
mdergrcwd
medium depth drillingwith a two-man~erew~
,...>.... . nuclear test explos$onsa%he two rige presen%ll
.{ are rated as the.most@Xicient found for that
<
BACKGROUNDAND PRmmINkmoRl!s ‘- purpose.
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%@-irit+%~-~evelc!$e~tLw&rC-
ou”the hy~ -
drkulicpower swivel and hydrauliclsolstwas
done in1955 by Paul Scott inhjichigan. By Reductionof,operat~ costswas one of
— late*1958,the PS-200model suive18a pmde- the priyary considerationsIn the development
“cessorto currentand more efficientmodels> of the hydra~ic semi-automaticrig, with
was designed. . particularconsiderationof reductionof rig-
<J c~w size, weight of drillingequipment and of
rig-up tear-downtiqe. ..
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;.Illustrations at end .—.
. of paper- :- - ~ --- ~ Otheti”pr@aryf actors consideredin-devek
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=6” . SEMI-AWN)tiTI DRILLINGRIG SPE-1376
.
opmen% of the rig were safermeans of power
transmission, 9ncrea8ed crew ga~e%yj versatility Rig-up end Tear-LbwnTime
in horsepowerdivlsionjand flexibilityin
power use and componentlocation. The hydraulic semi-automaticrXg has been
designedSor a mM.mum of rig-up and tear-down
OperatingCosts time, The drilling unit maybe mounted on a
truck, trailer, skid} self-propelledvehicle or
In reduci~’operatingcosts$ the present barge} and all componentsmaybe integrally
shortageof competent rig personnelwas car& mounted} xequiring”noplaceruent~ positioningor
fully consideredwith the result tna% the .’ alignment.
hydraulic semi-automaticrig has been developed
for operationby a two-man crew. The unit’s mast is raisedhydraulically}
and Is free-standingwith the floor assembl~
The use of automatictongs$ back-uptool$ ahd pipe handler attachedto It$ requiringno
and remote controlledair slips eliminatesthe rig-up or tear-downtime other than’for raising
need for floor men. The use of sitie Joints or loweringtb? mast. ,
or short standr?of drill pipe which are llfted
into and out of the mast by a hydraulically Safer Power Transmission
oper8%edpipe hand;erand stabbedautomatically
eliminatesthe need for “aderrickman. !l!hroughthe use of the power swivelwith
the semi-automaticrig, controlled“pre-settt
DrillingEquipmentWeight torque is transmittedfrom the qwivel to the
drill stem} helping to prevent shock-loadsand
The hydraulicsemi-automaticrig allows a reducingthe cheaceof twist-offs.
number of weight xefluctionswhich decreasethe
number of truck loads requiredin a rig ❑ eve. Power IS eas%ly dtvided“&d dilrected to
TMs is of particularimportancesince truckin~ the desired component--hoist, swivel~pipe
costs for rig ,movests a mador operatingex- ha@lerJ etc.--as it is needed,> with remote
pense. controlsoperatedby one crew member for all
equipmenton the rig itself. The hydraul$c
The hydraulicpower swivel is responsible system incorporatesa by-pass to prevent @m-
for a major weight reductionsince i.%replaces age or failure of equipmentthrc+ughexcessive
the kelly joint> the rotarytable, and the power application.
rotary drive. On the rig floor, it eliminates
the need forthe mous+h~le and the rat-hole. The pre-set torque allows operators%0
expect longer life of’bits> drill pipe> md.
Tra&smissionof power to the #ower swivel dril.lecollars, end the productionstring of
by hydraulichoses and fluid furtherreduces tubing naybe used in remedialworkovers and
weightj eliminating‘thewetght of ccmpoundsJ deepenlyg’operations without excessivetorque
chains and torque convertors. damage.

?@st weitit andsize--bothhe%@ and Crew Safety

width-;arereducedtwith the only requirement
betng a hefght suff’lc%entto handle single Comparedwith conventionalrigs, the hy-
joints or short standsof ~ill pipe. Width draulic semi-automaticrig considerablytn-
can be%arrow since automatictongs~ bacdc-up creasesthe working conditionsafety for the
tools and air slips do not require the space smallerdrilling crew.
needed for conventionaltongs> tong llnesJand
zxmually operatedslips- No rig personnelare on the rig fIoor2 in
., the derrickJor.workhg near any moving machin-
The travellingblock, s@ng assembly,~d ery$ and an ultimatereductionin insurance
power swivel in the mast are’combinedin a - costs ia anticipatedwith the hydraulic semt-
‘tracked$compactand relativelyshort assembl# automatic’rig. ..
in the mas~$ eliminatingthe weight or conven-
tional ta’avellingblock2hook and swivelsand. The by-pass incorporated+ the hydraulic
system is an added.crew safety feat~ since Zt
-pPe%eriti:-d~8gg- eqQipment:-thTough ... ..
w=f%tiu.re=of-
With tlier%g and mast designedfor pre- excessivepower application.
dominant use of singlejoints or short stands
of cWLU pipe> a smalleramount of drll.ling Another safety factor--onenot pos’siblein
-...Zine
is~requiredthan on a conventionalrig$ conventional rig design--isthat the package of
end the hoisting~drum can be both narrow an& power units for the hydrau$icSemi-aqtomaticr%
smaller, saving even more weight. may-be @aced at some distancefrom the wellbor
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3-i378 Il. G. Allen a
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reducingthe &anger of fire or I&i fZion while
permittingready ava.tlabilityof power in emer-
gency situations.
Power DivisionVersatility
-. .
Design of the hjdraulic semi-automatic
rig utilizesa singlepower package to protide
hydraullqpower for all major components--the
power swivelspower tongs and back-up%ool, the
hoist$ the “@pe handler>mast elevat+onUnitsj
and the pipe-handlingtrailer.
The hydraulicpower can btidivided’and ‘
directed,to the desired rig componentthrough
&e remote controlconsoleJwith torque Pre-set
and controlled,and with a by-pass to prevent
&hnage or failurethrough applicationof’ex-
cessivepower.
AU estimated80 per cent efficiencyrate
is attainedby the use of hydraulictransmissic
of powerto the hook orJ in the case of the
semi-automa~icrig,“tothe power swivel. With
kecentlydevelopedhydraulicpumps and motors~t
the estimatedefficiencyrate possibl~ can be
improved.
Flexibility
‘t
tie optiionof unit or integralmounting cd
component+of the hydraulicsemi-automaticrig
provides ameasure of flexibilityin use ~d
locationofpowerpack~es not possiblewith
conventionalrigs.
One centralpower pack~e furnishingpbwe~
to all componentsof the rig maybe placed in E
convenient locationrather than one dictatedbj
compoundsand drive trains as in the conven-
tional rig.
.
For example;in water operationsthe hoisl
and mast could be placed on a small platform
not large enough ‘tohandle locationof the
power package~which could be located on a
barge beside-’theplatform. 0r7 as previously
‘mentioned,the powerpackage could be located
‘sorne”distiance
fromthe wellbore fur safety
reasons.
Eight maJor components.am-incorporatedfi
,tlla.
a_~~ ~.wiraul%yla~$c.rig,.
.s@P???&?&.
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fabrication ass–tibly--tito
Unit,ssintiigx%il
rnounting~operatfon}maintetiancejand trsms-
portatton.
Componentsof the rig includethe hy-
d’rauiic power package;the hoist, the power
swive3., the automatia$loor assembly, the W@
“?!@%@?#.@~..rn~??# ?he,pipe @@ing.t?ailerJ
~“$uY&th#~~inaunti@i”:. “ 4“
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Paul Scott ,. 6
1. HydraulicPower Package’
The hydraulicpower package,which
preferablyLs.a centralpower unit,“con-
sists“Ofone or’moreprime movers7 &iv*
one or more hydraulicpumps, with allied
valvesz cqntrols>hoses and fittingstoil
reservoirs,filtersandoil coolers. It
“alsomay includean air compressorfor
opekationof the slips and the hoist
clutch [Fig.1]. ,
2. Hoist
@liehoist maybe $ingleor two-speed;
single or double drumJ.goweredby one or
more hydraulicmo~ors and equipped rith
.
air clutches.
3* Power Swivel
“ The p~er SM2VE!1is poweredby two
hydraulicmotors and is track-mountedon
rollersin the mast with hoses and mani-
folds connectedto it with swivel joints.
It is remote-controlledfor neutral.,for-
ward and reverse. [Fig.”2],
4. AutomaticFloor Assembly
Atitomaticfloor assemblyequipment,
consistsof I@raulia power tongs and ~
back-uptool, and r$?motecontrolledair
SlipS* [Fig3c 3 and 4] ,$’
‘<.
5. Pipe Handler .,
.
“ “ The pipe handler [Fig. 5] consistsof
an am attachedto the base of the mast
and Kligned so that when it Zifis pipe fro]
%the horizont~ to the ve~ical positionZn
the mastj the Joint of pipe,is’centered.
A hydraulic“cylinde actuatesa cazn%~e
in the am so that ~Lpe maybe stabbed~or
in the reverseoperationwill clear the bo:
and power tongs before being lowered from
the mast to the horizontalposition. The
pipe handler @ raised and loweredby a
hydratiiccylinderand-thepipe @lempstha
grip the drill pipe are actuatedby the
hydrauliccylinders.
6-. Mast
qp5@*_p$$..o?,.welded..
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aU.oy.s%Geltubing-construction, fttted--~
with tracks for the travellingblock end
swivel. The floor assemblyaqdthe pipe
handler are attachedto the,mast. The mas
is free-standingand is of width and
s@w&th sufficienttg accosunudate the.
gower stivel.andits relatedtorque.
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“’7. ;ydraulicPipe HandltngTrailer The most significantconsiderat$oisii” ,,

comparingthe two types of rigs are bulk and
The hydraulicpipe handling‘frailer weigh% of equipment,, number of rig personnel
is % optionalpart of the rig equipment requiredJease of rig-up and tear-down$aid
“ and consists of’ a’trailer} tilting bol.-’ operatingcosts. The hydragllcsemi-automatic
sters$ and conve~or ams that%naybe po- rig would’appear to have the advantageover the
6itiqne&for differentheights, and it is conventional “rig insofar he these factorsare
operatedby one man during drillingoper- concerned,plus an Micabeci longer life of
attons.. It servesa doublepurpose by bits, drill pipe$ and drill collars. Aadi-
handling drillpi~e during drillingand tional.ly$ because of c~:-trolldd torque clrilli~
carryingdrill pipe during mo”ves, practices,there has been no fiel$%est “
experienceof stuck drill pipe or twist-offs,
8. Mouutinq
CONCLUSIONS
The hydraulicsemi-automaticrig may
be mounted on a truck$ trailer,skid> sell The hydraulicsemi-automaticdrillingrigr
propelledvehicle,or barge. using the power swivel,has proven itself tn
ex%eusivefieliitests to be capableof equaling’
FIEIJ)PERFORMANCE or exceedXngthe performanceof conventional
rigs in shallowto medium-depthdiillx.
SucceesfUl~efficientand economicaluse
of the hydraulicpower swivel in field oper- At the same time, the hydraulicsemi-
ations has been mxmied in drillingand corin$ automatic.rigoffers the advantageof reduced
-iLth early equipmen%in Michiganja field test operatingcods in rig personnel,equipment
dril.lprogrm in North Louisianawith the Model weight ,andmoving, ana speed of rig-up&nd
100 Power Swivel’andH-25 d.rawworkst sllm-hole tear-down$’plusmobtlityzflexibility,power
drilling South Texas; hydraulicrig drilling:1 package versa$ilitysand acidedsafetyto crews
North Louisiana;?_@raulicrig operationby the and equipment.
‘Atomic Eaergy Commission; and a number of”
spec+al-drillingapplications, With costs comparableto those,qf conven-
tional rigs of similarc~pacityahydraulic
~l!leldtest data~ accumulatedover the past semi-automaticrigs offer a new viewpointin
—. ten &‘e=s and briefly outlinedin the introduc” rig equipmentand a new approachto solutionof
“tionlofthis paper; indicatethat drilling =1, the probltis of operatingCOG%S and personnel.
time$.withthe hydraulicpower Swivelhave beez .
appr.bximately equal toJ or, in some cases}”
fast}r than those of conventional rigs for hol~
of c~mparabledepth
. . in the same areas, PublicationRights Reserved
i
\Adetailed.lletitig of test data compared
Withstiihi’ data from conventionalrigs drill.
Zng in the same areas would serve no real,pur-
pose in this paper, showing only that perform-
ance of “aconventional. rig and a much Ifghter$
I@%Clic semi-automakicrig of modern des~gn
was comparable’inhole-making.

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FIG. 5- HYCAIOGINC. RIG MODEL EH-15W (%?O-&)
-. “-Automatic Hpe Wal~n6.Tra~ler. - “ .“
Joint in Tuzwver @ Conv&yo&.”
Pipe Clamped in Arm ..
to
, Raise
! for Connection.
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