Rig components

A rotary rig`main job is to make hole. To make hole, the drilling crew places a bit on bottom,
then the driller rotates it and pumps drilling mud to it. A rig needs a multitude of equipment to
make these operations happen. A first look at all the gear on a drilling rig`s components if you
divide theninto systems: power, hoisting, rotating and circulating.

Power system

Without power nothing on a rig operates. Machinery must have an energy source to make it go.
On virtually every drilling rig, the power comes from internal-combustion engines, which are
called prime movers. A rig`s engines are sililar to the one in your can. Rig prime meversare,
however, biggerandmore powerful. Further, they often use diesel fuel. Because of the way
diesel engines operate they deliver more turning force, or torque, than gasoline ingines. As a
result, many industries, including the drilling industry, use diesels.

A rIg may need from two to four prime movers, depending on its size. The bigger the rig have
theree or four prime movers. Together, they develop 4500 horsepower (about 3300
kilowatts)or more. In comparison, a powerful car engine may puy out 300 horsepower (220
kilowarrs) or so: most develop even less.
This power must be transferred to the rig`s components to make them work. For example, at
the same time as the rotary table needs power to turs the bit, the mud pump needs power to
circulate drilling mud.what is more, to provide maximum power to a component, the driller
must also be able to combine the power the power of two or today`s rigs and allow the driller
to combine engine power: mechanical transmission and electrical transmission.

Mechanical power transmission

On a mechanical rig, belts, pulleys, chains, and sprockets send engine power to various parts of
the rig. On a mechanical rig, a special machine-the compuund-transfers and directs the power of
the engines. A compount consists of several sprockets and chains. The chainsare not like the
chains you use to keep your dogin the yard. Rather, chains in a compoundreseble large bicycle
or motorcycle chains ganged together for strength. The sprockets are correspondingly large.
Teeth heavy-duty sprockets. The engine sprockens turs sets of chains running between each
engine. Adictional sets of chains and sprockets in the compound transfer the power.

One chain-and-sprocket set goes from the engines to sprockets in the drawwords, or hoist.
From a spoit near the drawworks, the driller can move levers to engage and disengage the
sprockets to operate the drawworks, the rotary table and other components. Another chain-
and-sprocket set goes from the engines to pulleys on the mud pumps. Usually, large rubber
belts-called power bands-drive the mud pumps. To protect personnel and to contain a
lubricating oil spray, steel huards cover not only the mud pump`s power bands, but also all
moving parts in the compound.
Electrical power transmission

Electric rigs do not require chains and sprockets to transfer power. Most new rigs are electric,
because they are easier to rig up and maintain than mechanical rigs. Like mechanical rigs,
however, rigs with electric motors also use internal-combustion engines.

On a electric rig, each diesel prime mover powers an electric generator connected directly to it.
The generators produce electricity. Cables conduct the electricity to electric motors. The rig
builder attaches an electric motor directly to the equipment that requires power, such as the
drawworks, the rotary table, and the mud pumps.

Comparison of mechanical and electric power transmission

A diesel-electric rig has saveral advantages over a mechanical rig. For one thing, a diesel-electric
rig eliminates the heavy and complicated compound and chain drive. By eliminating the
compound, the rig-up crew does not have to worry about getting the compound lined up with
the engines and the drawworks(aligning the engines, the compound, and the driven
components can be time-consuming).

What is more, in a diesel-electric drive, the crew can place the engines well away from the rig
floor, because the power cables that send electricity to the motors can be relatively long, which
allows remote placement of the engines. Remote engine placement reduces noise and vibration
on the rig floor, thus making the drilling crew`s job a little more pleasant.

In a mechanical drive, on the other hand, the engines must be fairly close to the components
being driven. The mechanical elements of the compound are large and bulky and, unlike electric
cable, cannot easily be run long distances. Since the drawworks must be on or very near the rig
floor, the engines in a mechanical setup must therefore also be near the floor.