Reducing the cost of top-drive installation

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Drilling Contractor; (United States)

OSTI ID:5869436

Hock, C J ^[1]

---

1. Sonat Offshore Drilling Inc., Houston, TX (United States)

To equip an older jackup, the Offshore Mercury, with a completely workable and reliable top drive at minimum cost and without sacrificing performance, Sonat Offshore Drilling installed a power-swivel drilling system that did not require heightening or strengthening the derrick. An electronic crown protection system was installed to allow the driller use of all available reduced crown clearance, thereby increasing drilling safety by reducing the probability of accidentally running the traveling block into the crown. In addition, they modified the DC-DC drilling power equipment to create a completely functional and low-cost alternative to installing additional AC power-generating capacity and an SCR system. When planning a cost-effective top-drive installation on the Offshore Mercury, they recognized that the rig did not fit the average jackup profile: It has a DC-DC electric power drilling system and only a 140-ft (43-m) derrick, rather than the more common SCR system and 147-ft (45-m) derrick. From costs studies made up to the middle of 1991, they believed they could save a significant amount if it were possible to install and use a top drive in a 147-ft (45-m) or even a 140-ft (43-m) derrick without having to extend and strengthen the derrick. This paper reviews the design of this system and the effectiveness of its performance.

• OSTI ID: 5869436
• Journal Information: Drilling Contractor; (United States), Journal Name: Drilling Contractor; (United States) Vol. 49:5; ISSN 0046-0702; ISSN DRCOA2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
42 ENGINEERING
422000* -- Engineering-- Mining & Underground Engineering-- (1980-)
COST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DESIGN
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING RIGS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EQUIPMENT
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OFFSHORE SITES
OIL WELLS
OPERATING COST
RETROFITTING
SPECIFICATIONS
WELL DRILLING
WELLS