List of components of oil drilling rigs
This article lists the main components of a petroleum onshore drilling rig.
Offshore drilling rigs have similar elements, but are configured with a number of different drilling systems to suit drilling in the marine environment.
The equipment associated with a rig is to some extent dependent on the type of rig but typically includes at least some of the items listed below.
List of items
- Mud tank
- Shale shakers
- Suction line
- Mud pump
- Motor or power source
- hose
- Draw-works
- Standpipe
- Kelly hose
- Goose-neck
- Traveling block
- Drill line
- Crown block
- Derrick
- Racking Board
- Stand
- Setback
- Swivel
- Kelly drive
- Rotary table
- Drill floor
- Bell nipple
- Blowout preventer Annular type
- Blowout preventer Pipe ram & blind ram
- Drill string
- Drill bit
- Casing head or Wellhead
- Flow line
Explanation
- Bell nipple is a section of large diameter pipe fitted to the top of the blowout preventers that the flow line attaches to via a side outlet, to allow the drilling mud to flow back to the mud tanks.
- Blowout preventers are devices installed at the wellhead to prevent fluids and gases from unintentionally escaping from the wellbore. #23 is the annular, and #24 is the pipe rams and blind rams.
- Casing head is a large metal flange welded or screwed onto the top of the conductor pipe or the casing and is used to bolt the surface equipment such as the blowout preventers or the Christmas tree .
- Centrifuge is an industrial version of the device that separates fine silt and sand from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top or just off of the mud tanks.
- Crown block is the stationary end of the block and tackle.
- Degasser is a device that separates air and/or gas from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top of the mud tanks.
- Derrick is the support structure for the equipment used to lower and raise the drill string into and out of the wellbore. This consists of the sub-structure and the mast.
- Desander / desilter contains a set of hydrocyclones that separate sand and silt from the drilling fluid. Typically mounted on top of the mud tanks.
- Draw-works is the mechanical section that contains the spool, whose main function is to reel in/out the drill line to raise/lower the traveling block.
- Drill bit is a device attached to the end of the drill string that breaks apart the rock being drilled. It contains jets through which the drilling fluid exits.
- Drill floor is the area on the rig where the tools are located to make the connections of the drill pipe, bottom hole assembly, tools and bit. It is considered the main area where work is performed.
- Drill line is thick, stranded metal cable threaded through the two blocks to raise and lower the drill string.
- Drill pipe is a joint of hollow tubing used to connect the surface equipment to the bottom hole assembly and acts as a conduit for the drilling fluid. In the diagram, these are stands of drill pipe which are 2 or 3 joints of drill pipe connected and stood in the derrick vertically, usually to save time while tripping pipe.
- Drill string is an assembled collection of drill pipe, heavy weight drill pipe, drill collars and any of a whole assortment of tools, connected and run into the wellbore to facilitate the drilling of a well. The collection is referred to singularly as the drill string.
- Elevators are hinged devices that is used to latch to the drill pipe or casing to facilitate the lowering or lifting into or out of the wellbore.
- Flow line is large diameter pipe that is attached to the bell nipple and extends to the shale shakers to facilitate the flow of drilling fluid back to the mud tanks.
- Goose-neck is a thick metal elbow connected to the swivel and standpipe that supports the weight of and provides a downward angle for the kelly hose to hang from.
- Kelly drive is a square, hexagonal or octagonal shaped tubing that is inserted through and is an integral part of the rotary table that moves freely vertically while the rotary table turns it.
- Kelly hose is a flexible, high pressure hose that connects the standpipe to the kelly and allows free vertical movement of the kelly, while facilitating the flow of the drilling fluid through the system and down the drill string.
- Racking board is the catwalk along the side of the derrick. The monkey board is where the derrick man works while "tripping" pipe.
- Mud motor is a hydraulically powered device positioned just above the drill bit used to spin the bit independently from the rest of the drill string.
- Mud pump is a reciprocal type of pump used to circulate drilling fluid through the system.
- Mud tank is often called mud pits and stores drilling fluid until it is required down the wellbore.
- Setback is a part of the drill floor where the stands of drill pipe are stood upright. It is typically made of a metal frame structure with large wooden beams situated within it. The wood helps to protect the end of the drill pipe.
- Rotary table rotates, along with its constituent parts, the kelly and kelly bushing, the drill string and the attached tools and bit.
- Shale shaker separates drill cuttings from the drilling fluid before it is pumped back down the wellbore.
- Stand is a section of 2 or 3 joints of drill pipe connected and stood upright in the derrick. When they are pulled out of the hole, instead of laying down each joint of drill pipe, 2 or 3 joints are left connected and stood in the derrick to save time.
- Standpipe is a thick metal tubing, situated vertically along the derrick, that facilitates the flow of drilling fluid and has attached to it and supports one end of the kelly hose.
- Suction line is an intake line for the mud pump to draw drilling fluid from the mud tanks.
- Swivel is the top end of the kelly that allows the rotation of the drill string without twisting the block.
- Traveling block is the moving end of the block and tackle. Together, they give a significant mechanical advantage for lifting.
- Vibrating hose is a flexible, high pressure hose that connects the mud pump to the stand pipe. It is called the vibrating hose because it tends to vibrate and shake due to its close proximity to the mud pumps.