DRILLING TEAMS Rotary Helpers- called the “floormen,”

“roughnecks” or “driller’s helpers,” assist the driller

COMPANY MAN - Also called company representative. and derrickman during routine drilling operations.
• He represents the operating company and their • There are at least two or three rotary helpers
interests at the drilling site. assigned to the crew.
• He usually live on a trailer on-site and is on duty • Their primary responsibility is to handle and
24 hours a day.
maintain the equipment and tools used in
• He is in charge of all the company’s activities,
routine drilling operations.
including the drilling plan or strategy of the well,
overseeing the safe and efficient operations of • A new inexperienced rotary helper is called a
the expensive complex equipment, coordination “worm.”
of services and supplies, and he makes any onsite
company decisions during drilling operations.
TOOL PUSHER - Also called rig superintendent WORKSHIFT
• He represents the drilling contractor at the • Drilling crews usually works a standard eight-
drilling area. hour shift called a “tour” once every 24
• Typically, the tool pusher is an experienced hours.
driller having worked as a rotary helper or • Several crews are usually rotated.
derrickman, and is an expert in drilling • Drilling operations are usually continuous
operations and rig equipment and machinery.
with three hours worked each day;
• He is on-site, is on duty 24 hours a day and is in
direct charge of drilling operations and related 1.) a morning or daylight tour from about 6AM to
matters, such as the coordination of drilling and 2PM;
service crews.
2.) an afternoon or evening tour from 2PM to 10PM;
DRILLER – and
• The driller is in charge of the drilling crew 3.) a midnight or graveyard tour from 10PM to 6AM.
that actually drills the well and is directly
responsible to the tool pusher. • OFFSHORE DRILLING CREWS usually work at
• He supervises the crew and the routine twelve-hour tour once every 24 hours for
drilling operations from a control console consecutive days. However, this may vary
located near the draw works on the rig floor. depending on the contractor and rig location
• The console allows him to operate the
equipment used in the rig’s component
system and to monitor drilling operations.
THE DRILLING CREW IS ASSIGNED
DERRICKMAN- called the “assistant driller” • The regular drilling crew is supported by a
number of other men, such as specialty
• During trips, when sections of the drill stem crewmen and service company personnel.
are moved in and out of the wellbore, he is • Specialty crewmen may be assigned to
stationed high above the rig floor on a several rigs on an “as needed” basis.
platform called monkey board. • In addition, many service companies are
• He is directly responsible for the condition of needed to assist in drilling the well. Of these
the drilling fluid and maintenance and repair certain company personnel are usually
of the circulating system equipment. needed on most wells.
SPECIALTY CREWMEN DRILLING RIGS - Are massive structural
equipment that is used to drill water, oil wells, or
THE MOTORMAN - He is responsible for keeping the
natural gas extraction wells. By rotating a bit, a hole
prime movers and auxiliary engines that supply
is drilled using a downward force.
most of the power equipments to the rig’s
component systems in good working order. He is
also responsible for their repair.
TYPES OF DRILLING RIGS
THE RIG MECHANIC- He is an all-around handy man LAND DRILLING RIGS - They typically come in light,
who can inspect, maintain and make minor repairs medium or heavy configuration.
on almost any piece of mechanical equipment on • Is moved using heavy trucks and cranes
the rig. • Small rigs may only drill to a thousand feet.
• But larger ones are capable of 12,000 and
more.
THE RIG ELECTRICIAN- He is responsible for
inspecting, maintaining and making minor repairs SUBMERSIBLE DRILLING RIGS - Tend to drill in fairly
on the electrical generators and their distribution or shallow water. They flood the legs with water and
wiring systems. This includes everything from rig submerge.
lighting to small electrical appliances • Some of the rig is above water, and crews
drill from that location.
• Swamp type, river and inland by areas.
SERVICE COMPANY PERSONNEL • Typical water depths are 20feet
MUD ENGINEER - Also called as mud man JACK- UP DRILLING RIGS - Have lattice legs which
can be hoisted and lowered at will.
• He is assigned to the drilling complex by the
“Mud” company that will supply the • They are hoisted and the rig is either towed
components for the drilling fluid used in the or transported by ship. When in location, the
circulating system during drilling operations. legs are lowered to the sea-bed.
• His major function is to test and maintain the • Jack-up rigs can drill in water depths up to
drilling fluid properties as directed by the 400ft.
“planned mud program” for the well and
PLATFORM DRILLING RIGS - Are immobile once built
down hole conditions encountered.
MUD LOGGER - He lives and works on-site in a • However, they drill several wells from one
portable trailer laboratory. location.
• They can be tender assisted.
• He monitors the cuttings, determines the • Steel Jacket, Caisson type, Concrete Gravity.
type of formation being drilled and whether
any oil or gas is present SEMISUBMERSIBLE DRILLING RIGS - Has hollow legs
and pontoons. Like the submersible, the legs are
CASING AND CEMENTING CREWS - They work for also Flooded.
specialty service companies that assist in the regular
drilling of a well. • However, anchors and/or thrusters and
positioners keep the rig in position.
• They assemble, operate and maintain their • When thrusters are used, it is called dynamic
specialized equipment, which is used during positioning.
casing cementing operations.
DRILLSHIP - Are self propelled, floating offshore drill - The derrick is assembled piece by piece at the
units. drilling site.
• A template which has holes drilled though it - The standard derrick has become rare today
is fitted to the sea bed. except for extremely deep wells and offshore
drilling.
MAST
RIG COMPONENTS
- has a smaller floor area.
- It can be raised from a horizontal to a vertical
position.
- The mast has almost completely replaced the
conventional derrick for drilling on land because:
– It can be quickly dismantled and erected on
another location by the regular rig crew

– can be moved in large units without

complete disassembly.
– 135 to 145 feet in height is the most
common size.
SUBSTRUCTURE
- The rig floor, rotary table, casing and drill pipes
rest on a substructure.
- The rig floor provides an area for handling the
drill stem and related equipment.

MAJOR SYSTEM IN A DRILLING RIG

1. HOISTING SYSTEM

DERRICK - To support the rotating system in drilling the

well by providing appropriate equipment and
- Standard drilling rig derricks are tall steel
working areas needed for lifting, lowering and
structures with four supporting legs standing on
suspending the tremendous weights
a square base.
- Used to lift, lower and suspend the drilling stem.
- The derrick and substructure plays an important
role in drilling operations.
- The derrick provides the vertical height
necessary for the hoisting system to raise and
lower the pipe.
 - Drilling Fluid is used as a circulation fluid
(water + bentonite + weighting material +
chemicals.

Hoisting Equipment:
1. Drawworks
1. Mud Pumps - remove large volumes of
- enabling heavy loads to be raised or drilling fluid under high pressure
lowered by means of wire rope wound on a
drum. 2. Shake Shaker - removes drill cutting

- It also enables the driller, through the 3. Desander - removes granular waste
catheads, to make or break drill pipe, drill 4. Desilter - removes fine particles
collars, and other connections equipment.
5. Degasser - removes toxic gasses
2. Hoisting tackle (tackle system)
- Crown block is static and rests at the top of the
derrick and the traveling block moves up and Desilters and Desanders: The desilters/desanders
down during making/breaking of the drilling must be equipped with centrifugal pumps capable
joint’s block and has a number of pulleys. of providing sufficient pressure to the
hydrocyclones to allow them to operate in the
2. Overhead tools - crown block, traveling block, desired pressure range.
hook, elevator
3. Drilling Line
3. ROTARY SYSTEM
- To rotate the drilling string and to rotate the
2. CIRCULATING SYSTEM drill bit on the bottom of the hole
- To circulate drilling fluid down and up the - It includes a rotary table and kelly which is a
drilling string rectangular-shaped pipe placed in the rotary
- Main functions: table.

- To remove drilled cuttings - The rotary system is the set of equipment

necessary to promote the rotation of the bit.
- To exert a hydrostatic pressure to
prevent formation fluid - The bit must be mechanically and
hydraulically connected to the rig.
 - This is the connection made by the - The thread connector of the swivel is cut left-
drillstring. hand so that it will not tend to disconnect when
the drill string is rotated by the kelly or by the
top drive.
3. Drill Pipes - furnish the necessary length for the
drill string and serve as a conduit for the drilling
fluid.
4. Drill Collars - provides weight and stability to the
drill bit, maintain tension on the drill pipe and
help keep the hole on a straight course.
5. Heavy Wall Drill Pipes - provides additional hole
stability and aids in directional control.
6. Stabilizers - centralize the drill collars, help
maintain the hole at full-gauge diameter
7. Jars - provide sharp upward or downward
impact to free stuck pipe
8. Reamers - helps to maintain a full-gauge hole
diameter
9. Crossover subs - join components having
different types of connections.
10. Kelly Bushing - torque is transmitted to the kelly
Major Components of ROTATRY SYSTEM: by the kelly bushing.

1. Kelly - a square or hexagonal length of pipe that 11. Kelly Valves

fits into a bushing in the rig rotary table. As the
- consists of a ball valve which allows free passage of
rotary table turns to the right, Kelly turns with it.
drilling fluid without pressure loss.
- To transfer energy from the rotary table to the
- It isolates the drillstring from the surface
rest of the drill string.
equipment and allows disconnecting the kelly
- 40 to 54 ft (12 to 16.5m) during critical operations.

- To transmit rotary motion and torque to the 12. Kelly Saver Sub
drillstring and consequently to the drill bit.
- male threads and female on the other.
2. Swivel
- it is screwed onto the bottom of the lower kelly
- suspends the drill string and allows rotation at the valve or top drive and onto the rest of the drillstring.
same time.
13. Master Bushing and Master Casing Bushing
- Without the swivel drilling fluid could not be
- The kelly bushing fits in the master bushing
pumped downhole, or the drillstring could not
which, in turn, attaches to the rotary table.
rotate.
- Master bushing is used to handle casings,
14. Rotary Table - If formation fluid does enter the well, it may rise
to the surface and cause some of the drilling
- Receives power from the power system.
fluid to flow out of the hole.
- A gearbox allows several combinations of torque
- If the drilling crew cannot control the flow, it is
and speed.
called a kick.
15. Top Drive
- If the flow is continuous and cannot be
- Combined rotary table and kelly. controlled, a blowout has occurred.

- Consists of a DC drive motor that connects - A blowout preventer (BOP), in conjunction with
directly to the drill string without the need for a other equipment and techniques, is used to shut
rotary table. off and control a kick before it becomes a
blowout.
- Is mounted on the rig’s swivel.
- Several BOPs are usually installed on top of a
- Elevator and Elevator links are supported on a
well, with an annular preventer above and two
shoulder located on the extended swivel stem.
or more ram preventers below.
- Advantages: it circulates while back reaming,
- An annular preventer has a resilient sealing
running a hole or pulling out of hole in stands.
element.
- When activated by fluid pressure, the sealing
4. POWER SYSTEM element closes on the kelly, drill pipe or drill
collars.
Prime Movers
- Ram preventers have two steel ram segments
- used to supply power to drilling operations.
that are pushed together from both sides to seal
- these can be steam engines, electric motors or around the drill pipe.
internal combustion engines.
- Both annular and ram preventers are operated
by hydraulic fluid pressure.

5. WELL PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM (BLOWOUT - Blind ram preventers can be used to close an
PREVENTERS) open hole (hole with no drill pipe in it).

- The main components of the well pressure - Blowout preventers are opened and closed by
control system are the blowout preventers hydraulic power.
(BOPs), which are located under the rig floor
- The fluid is stored under pressure in an
on the casing head.
accumulator.
Blowout Preventer
- High-pressure lines carry the hydraulic fluid from
- a large, specialized valve used to seal, control the accumulator to the BOP stack.
and monitor oil and gas wells.
- When the driller turns the proper valves, the
- developed to cope with extreme erratic fluid operates the BOPs.
pressures and uncontrolled flow emanating
- Because the preventers must be able to close
from a well reservoir during drilling.
quickly, the hydraulic fluid is put under 1,500 to
- Drilling fluid in the hole helps prevent formation 3,000 psi of pressure by nitrogen gas in the
fluid from entering the borehole. accumulator unit.
 Draw works, Fast line, Dead Line transferred from the top of the wellbore to the
shale shakers. Sometimes called a “flowline”.
Draw works- enabling heavy loads to be raised or
lowered by means of wire rope wound on a Blind vs shear vs pipe ram
drum. It also enables the driller, through the
catheads, to make or break drill pipe, drill Blind Ram - can be used to close an open hole (hole
collars, and other connections equipment. with no drill pipe in it). one of the valves on the
BOP stack. It is designed to close off the wellbore
Fast line – travels when the drill string is out of the hole.
Dead line – do not move or static Shear Ram - the component of the BOP stack which
Cellar, Rathole, Mousehole cuts through the drill pipe and forms a seal across
the top of the wellbore.
Cellar – pit kung saan nakalagay BOP
Pipe Ram - a sealing device in a blowout preventor
Rathole - a hole in the rig floor 30’-60’ deep and which closes off the annulus around the drill pipe.
lined with pipe. It is used for storing the Kelly while The size of ram must fit the drillpipe which is being
tripping. That part of the wellbore which is below used.
the bottom of the casing or completion zone.
Casing spool - a large receptacle which is installed
Mousehole – a small diameter pipe under the
on top of the casing head housing or a previous
derrick floor in which a joint of drill pipe is spool. It has both an upper and lower flanged
temporarily stored for later connection to the drill connection. Once it is installed it provides: a
string. landing shoulder for the next casing string; access
to the annulus between the casing strings and a
Two main types of bits: flanged connection for the BOP stack to be
connected to the well.
Rolling cutter bits - consist of cutting elements
arranged on cones (usually three cones, but
Drilling spool - Choke and Kill lines may be
sometimes two) that rotate on bearings about
connected either side outlets of the BOP or to
their own axis as the drill string turns the body of
Drilling Spool installed below at least one BOP
the bit. These bits can have teeth or buttons
capable of closing on pipe.
Fixed cutter bits - also known as drag bits, consist
Choke line - a pipe connected to the BOP stack
of stationary cutting elements that are integral
which allows fluids to be circulated out of the
with the body of the bit and are rotated directly by
annulus and through the choke manifold when a
the turning of the drill string. The principal types of
well killing operation is being performed.
fixed cutter bits are natural diamond and
polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC)
Kill line - High-pressure line between the mud
pump and the blowout preventer to facilitate the
pumping of fluid into the hole to overcome well
Rotary slip - edge-shaped pieces of metal with pressure with the preventers closed.
teeth or other gripping elements that are used to
prevent pipe from slipping down into the hole or
to hold pipe in place.

Make up vs break up thongs

Mud return line - a trough or pipe through which

the mud being circulated up the annulus is