SPEIIADC

SPE/lADC 16092

A Cost-Effective Rig Move

by R. Buchanan. Transportation Time Study Co.

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ABSTRACT 4. Delays from breakdowns less.

USING A COST EFFECTIVL MOVE you can add UP The idea is not to see what can be run past
all of the equipment cost for each task and the laws and the railroad commission on a
all of the labor cost for each task and it move, but to reduce problems on all rig moves
will be the sare as the invoice and labor kimsaking the Law is borrowing problems.
cost for the rig move. If these items are
out of ba’!ance you have a reason to ask WHY? CONSTRUCTION OF A COST EFFECTIVE MOVE:

INTROOUCTION 1. Ways to improve methods.

A cost effective rig move has been measured 2. Ways to improve conditions.
by the man hours that are required to do each
single task, as well as a list of tools and 3. Oevelope a basis for timing of a rig move
equipment required to do each task.
4. Sizing of tools 8 equipment.
Having this information in hand each job from
RIG RELEASE to SPUO is put in a rotation so 5. Sets cost standards.
one Job or task doesn’t cost extra time for
another job or task. This will take out the t. Sets control standards.
variables and the double handling.
A Ji.iBSTUDY makes it possible to secure infor
Establishing the right amount of labor, the matir,n concerning the amount of work which ma
right size of tools and rig moving equipMent, be accomplished within a given time.
each having a starting time as well 3s a com-
pletion time. Divide a rig move into task which have like
elements, as well as lik~ size and kind of
Oo each job only once, the same way each time tools on equipment. B, vision of task into
and in the proper rotation with proper sized like elements all of t nigh cost equiRment
and scheduled equipment. UO NOT change rota- will be grouped into a ,]ort period of time.
tion. 00 NOT change loading.
Oetail analysis of equipment capabilities and
A Drilling Rig doesn’t change from move to performances are made, data is worked out
move. What creates the variables are the peo - which will give the hourly performances for a
ple involved and the equipment they are usi-; . given machine or a given job or a given rfg
move.
THE HIGtlWAY ANO TARIFF LAWS CAN BE YOUR
FRIEND: OROER OF HORK OR FIRODUCTION PLANNING SCHEDU-
LING:
1. Using highway and tariff laws as guide
lines to construct rig move plans takes 1. No task, time, or co!t, will increase be-
out variables. cause of another task interruptions.

2. Safety will improve. 2. Sizing of tools, trucks, cranes and fork-

lifts to match the job for which they are
3. Damages less. used.

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2 A COST EFFECTIVE RIG MOVE SPE/IADC 16092

3. Using labor and equipment only for the not h,w many trucks, but how fast it can be
time it is required for each tdsk. rioayd-down, loaded out, unloaded and rigged-
UP . If it iS hauled to fast the cost will be
4. Uork to flow, NO HURRY-UP ANO WAIT. high.

5. No blocking out of time for a total rig Transporting a rig faster than it can be as-
move. sembled helps only the trucking contractor,
because it creates more on location work for
6. No double handling. swampers, trucks, cranes and forklifts.

7. Co~t over-runs will be readily identified The speed a rig is moved must match the tim-
ing of the rig-down and the ability to rig-up
Cost over-runs will become items you can safe If it is hauled faster or slower your cost
ly bill back to operator. If delay is for wiil be higher.
truckers convenience the trucker cannot
charge for this service. IMPLICATION:

PROBLEMS OR OELAYS FROM IMPROPER SIZING: The largest problem we all face today (no
matter what industry or walk of life) is
One company moves a rig to a stack point usin resistance to change.
300” wheel blse tandem, another moves the satr
rig out and there tandem is only 250” wheel The bottom line of this system is the elimi-
base. What takes place, the junk box and nation of double handling of rig equipment,
other items that were loaded and mojed with and a more expedient method of disassembly
the 300” wheel base truck will have to be un- and reassembly that cuts down on the number
loaded so the 250:’ wheel base truck can handl of man hours and pieces of rig-up equipment
the lo~d. involved.

To eliminate equipment sizing problems all Priorities are set based on assembly needs,
loads must be loaded the same each ttine. Then labor and equipment. The job that takes the
when ordering equipment you can order by the longest first with grouping of jobs for crane
lift and haul size that is needed. truck and etc.

If the trucker sends something larger than Studies made on movement of the rig equipment
ordered changing the loading plan to better around the location have found, depending on
utilize bigger equipment this will only cause the move, the equipment was being moved 40 -
problems on your next move. Oo not change 65% more than needed. This certainly can be
load plan, stay with a loading plan that most reduced by placing the equipment in the pro-
trucks can handle on every move, DO NOT OVfR per place the first time. Big savings can be
LOAO. accomplished during rig-up and rig-down. Be-
cause of the tariff rate, there is little
kfhen you try to move a rig with equipment which can be done about highway transporta-
that is too small it cost yo~ SAFETY, TIME, tion costs. except reduce weights and permits
AND OAMAGIS. wh:~ you load too heavy and use
too heavy equipment the same problems exist. Reducing r,,ntal equipmer.t (trucks) and labor
time requires a pattern of loading rotation
To be cost effective you must Rig-down, Load, that is different from the norm. Group to-
Haul and Rig-up the very same way each and gether load-out jobs. First, handle all
every time. Safety will improve, damages equipment that requires a ginpole truck or
will be less, and the cost of your move will forklift, second and last winch-on loads.
go down. Lost time can be reduced on rigs by having
such things as tools, braces, pins and gas-
When a COST EFFECTIVE RIG MOVE STUDY is com- kets arrive on the new location first. This
plete it is very surprising what a small a- way they are on-site when needed. Constantly
mount of labor and equipment are required. plan ahead.

All of the stories about how fast the riy Next a load-out plan must be developed. This
move went the last time are Probably true. plan is patterned after the unload and assem-
what’s left unsaid Is at what cost. bly needs. The equipment must be unloaded
under the crane swing or positioned where it
Most of the time if thr, drilling contractor To do this, you need to have the equip 1-
is happy with the time it takes to move a ri9 ~~~~”arrive at the time it is needed for as-
the same contractor will be unhappy with the sembly. This requires planning, implementa-
cost of the move. I tion and supervision. Never allow eauiDment
to be unloaded in a position that requires
When a trucker is asked about how fast he is double handling. If equipment is unloaded on 1
going to move a drilling rig he will answer the perimeter around the location (as is the
with the question “how many trucks do you easiest to do), the hourly rig-up equipment
want.” If the rig is to be rigged-down, and labor cost will increase.
a!oved, and rigged-up the limiting factor is

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SPE/lAIIC ----
16092 RON BUCHANAN 3

T:HE UNLOADING PLAN: site.

I[n order to make thi S plan work we must follom Traffic on rig locations must be reduced so
tthe exact unloading plan for the specific rig. one piece of equipment is not waiting on an-
IIt is important to work through the job to other piece of equipment, too much equipment
c:ompletion with as few interruptions as Poss- and or too many people become an interruption! 1
iible. blith all the equipment and tools being which will slow clown the job and drive up thle
o>ff- loaded in the proper places, there will cost.
b]e very few interruptions and operations will
r‘un smoothly. OVER DIMENSIONAL ANO OVER WEIGHT LOAOS - Our.
ing the boom years of 1981 and before, littlf e
[f the priority
1 and reason for moving the rig attention was paid to weight. For this rea-
is to drill
i a new well, then the transporta- son alone most rigs “gained weight”. Contra
tion and crew priorities
t should be worked ry to popular belief illegal loads on highwa: Y
round
r the assembly time, and trying to keep moves do not speed up rig moves.
the assembly
t time as short as possible. [f
Lhe rig is moving from a well that has just PERMIT LOADS - On loads that must have a per
:~een completed to a new well, then the short- mit, measure the hei ht. weight and length
eest possible time from “release to spud” is (weigh when possible ! so you will know the
h#hat we are after, not how quickly we can problems with the load. If it is just over
transport
t it from the old location to the new height you may be able to get a special low-
Iocation.
1 These are not one and the same. boy, if so, permits may not be required.
TThe equipment must arrive in the rotation and
speed
s that is needed for assembly. Buy no more permits then needed and for the
sizes needei5. Look at loads, can you get
If you try to accomplish
1 to many task, you them smaller or lighter? The reason this is
eend up with some jobs that must be done over so important it will make less permit miles
dand others incomplete, then rework is requir- if it is known the reason fOr the permit.
eed. These problems exist throughout the rig-
LUP . Slow down your transportation to match All of the oilfield equipment manufactured b,Y
6assembly time, equipment cost will be less major manufactors was built to be moved over
dand each job is done only once. highways within the law with the aid of per-
mits.
EXAMPLE
E FOR BOX ON BOX RIG - First haul the
n
mast and all miscellaneous loads that must be To put efficiency in moves you must take out
loaded
1 with a forklift or pole trucks and the variables. The object is not to see wha t
1
last the winch-on loads. It may appear noth- we can get by with on one rig move but to co n .
1
ing is happening and it is very easy to gc in trol all the variables on all rig moves. Al 1
a
c hundred different directions trying to ac- rigs moved within the tariff rules. and high
complish
( more. The rig can be assembled in way laws will help control variables.
as
( short of time as any other way and it will
(
cost less. It becomes a slow start but a fas Order the equipment needed as specific as
1
finish. possible. Stay within the law. This will
make you haul more loads but the equipment
1
This is a general outline of a rig moving and people that moves. you will become more d e.
Iplan yours may need to be different because pendable and safer.
(of the style of rig that you are running.
IFor any rig to go well the rig must be ready CONCLUS1ON
1
to move in stages when trucks arr,ve at the
location. Rig move variables must be removed. A COST
EFFECTIVE RIG MOVE developed by an on-site
It is very hard to wait long enough to get Time and Motion Study where each step of a
<
dll the rig equipment unhooked before order- rig move project will be defined, timed and
ing trucks, moving in stages will help. This made more effective. The performance triter
rmust be watched very closely. New location of each man, truck, crane and equipment com-
1
must be checked out in advance and not to ponent will be better defined. Benchmarks of
just establish there is one, but wi}l it fit performance will be tailored to each drillin
the rig that will be moved in and will the rigs needs. A control schedule will monitor
surface hold, Ouring the course of drilling each man, truck, crane and piece of equipmen
, well
a some repairs are delayed to be done along with a precise cost and adequate docu-
I
during rig moves.This Is well b good but alo t mentation. This documentation can be used to
(
of scheduling is necessary if it is not going make a price list for future rig moves that
to delay the rig move and run UP rig move will be well under the trucking eStimate5.
costs. Damages during the rig move as well
as pipe inspection fall into this same cate- The built-in control schedule points out all
gory. changes in rig move, identifies cost deviant
allowing you to be able to know what changes
We do know for sure that more rig-up equip- take place early in a rig move. This will
I
sent and more people are not always better all but stoP cost over-runs and in most case Is
and faster, on moves it works just the OPPO- it will show a place for a bill-back to the

37s
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 .- -. -, . ..”” .“” <..

operator.

The basis of this work performed on time and

motion studies then placed into a critical
path schedule, 50% or more savings is not un-
usual.

The concept of scheduling activities no matter

how large or small is not new. Without an ef-
fective scheduling system the costs of MOSt
products we are accustomed to such as cars,
food, clothing, electronics, homes and much
more would cost too much for us to afford.
The one common factor among all scheduling
systems is the element of control. This is
the single most important factor of all, and
where real dollars ~.sn be saved.

Todays drill{ng industry is more efficient

and managers who realize the value of time
and motion will reap the benefits of proven
profits.

ACKNOMLIOGEMENT

Author was employed by Resource Orilling Co.,

Inc., while employed over one hundred (100)
rig move studies were conducted. Author wish-
es to thank Resource Orilling for the oppor-
tunity to make these studies.

REFERENCES

1. Richard H. Lansburgh and William R.

Spriegel, Ph. O., “Industrial Management”,
Third Edition, CoPy Right 1940, Published
by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ,New York,
Chapter XXIX, Preliminary Job-Study Con-
sideration, Page 371. Chapter XXX, Taking
Time Studies, Page 380. Chapter XXX], Set-
ting Rates By Time Study, Page 394.

2. F.K. Levy, G.L. Thompson, and J.O. Wiest,

“The ABC’s of the Critical Path Method”,
From Harvard Business Review, September-
October 1963, Vol. 41, No. 5, Page 98.

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