What Is a Drilling Rig?

A drilling rig is a complex set of machines. It consists of machines, units and mechanisms. Drilling rigs are machinery and equipment that drive drilling tools to underground to obtain physical geological data during exploration or development of mineral resources (including solid ore, liquid ore, and gas ore). Also called drilling rig. The main function is to drive the drilling tool to break the rock at the bottom of the hole, and the drilling tool that is run into or out of the hole. It can be used to drill cores, cores, cuttings, gaseous samples, liquid samples, etc. to find out the underground geology and mineral resources. ^[1]

There are usually 7 types of drilling equipment:

Conventional land rig

1. Lifting system

   Composition: derrick, winch, swimming system, wire rope, crane, traveling crane, big hook;

   Role: to play drill, casing, control drill and drill.

2. Rotary system

   Composition: turntable, square drill pipe, drill string faucet, top drive system, downhole power drilling tools, etc.

   Role: Drive drilling tools, drill bits and other rotating broken rocks, loading and unloading drill tools, special operations (connecting the lifting and mud circulation system).

3. Circulatory system

   Composition: vibrating screen, sand remover, desilter

   Role: circulating mud fluid

4. power system

   Composition: motor and diesel engine, etc.

   Function: To drive the working machine such as winch, turntable, drilling pump, etc.

5. Transmission system

   Composition: reducer, clutch, shaft, chain, etc.

   Role: The main task of the transmission system is to transfer and distribute the energy of the engine to each working machine. Due to the gap between the characteristics of the engine and those required by the working machine, the transmission system must include mechanisms such as deceleration, parallel running, reverse rotation, and speed change. Sometimes on the basis of mechanical transmission, there are also hydraulic transmission or electric transmission.

6. Control System

   Composition: computer, sensor, signal transmission medium, control actuator, etc.

   Role: Coordinate the work of various systems. According to the requirements of drilling technology, each working machine can respond quickly, operate accurately and reliably, and facilitate centralized control and automatic recording. Enables the operator to ensure the safety or normal work of the components of the rig according to his own wishes.

7. Base

   Composition: The rig base is mainly composed of the rig base, the pump base and the two main auxiliary equipment bases, etc., which are generally made of steel pipe welding.

   Role: It is convenient to install various equipment of fixed drilling rig to meet the requirements of relocation or towing construction. The deep well drilling rig should also be beneficial to install wellhead blowout prevention facilities and facilitate personnel operation and maintenance.

8. Auxiliary equipment

   Modern rigs must also have a set of auxiliary equipment, such as power supply, gas supply, water supply, oil supply and other equipment, equipment storage, blowout and fire prevention facilities, drilling fluid preparation, storage, processing facilities, and various instruments and automatic recording instruments. Workers in remote areas need to have facilities for living and rest. In order to communicate, communication equipment such as telephones, radios, and walkie-talkies are also required. Heating and insulation equipment is needed for drilling in cold areas. ^[2]

   For use between the rings and the ring seat

   1. The drilling site should be kept clean.

   2. When installing and disassembling the rig, ensure that it is correct and complete.

   3. When lifting the mast of the rig, the operator should stand in a safe position.

   4, start

   I. Items inspected regularly by the rig ^[4]

   Replacement of rig accessories throttle valve: 1. Replace the valve plate and valve seat: Remove the valve chamber pressure, remove the valve cover bolt, and take out the valve plate and the upper part of the valve cover together. After removing the slotted round nut, switch pin, hexagonal screw, front and rear stop caps, the cylindrical valve plate can be replaced, and the valve seat can be replaced at the same time. When cleaning the valve cavity, pay special attention to the sealing surface. When replacing the new valve plate and valve seat, the gap between the valve plate and the bonnet boss part should be filled with sealing grease, and the inside of the upper cover should be filled with calcium-based lubricant to lubricate the bearing.

   2. Replace the lip seal packing: first remove the valve cavity pressure, then remove the shield, round nut, handwheel, bearing gland, bearing, packing gland, and then replace the lip seal packing.

   3. Replace the bearing: Remove the shield, round nut, handwheel, bearing gland, and then replace the bearing. If you want to replace the lower bearing, you need to remove the stem nut. The bearing clearance is adjusted by the bearing cover. After the adjustment, the handwheel should be flexible and free of jams.