Rig designs tackle new challenges

Journal Article · Mon Sep 19 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6558499

Moore, III, W D

From dynamically positioned (DP) semis to mini-workovers, new rig designs are emerging faster than ever. New offshore rig designs are becoming common-place. The ordinary rig is rare and the days when all rigs looked and worked alike are fading. Contractors find themselves in a period now where their equipment must often be misused (modified for use outside its original design parameters) for the owner's business to stay profitable. Deep-water drillships are making hole in shallow water; 30,000-ft rigs are drilling 6,000-ft routine wells. Workover rigs are now drilling, and sometimes to depths greater than their original rated capacity. Forced conversions are not a problem at present. In the offshore arena, jackups are already in tight supply and the supply/demand balance for other types of offshore units is slowly becoming more favorable to drilling contractors. Many new rigs are not unique but do represent an improved design. For instance, Parker Drilling Co. is building rigs so that the same equipment layout will be found on each of their newly constructed units. Parts, and in most cases modules, will be interchangeable between rigs. Standardization of design will tend to make the units more competitive on some types of drilling.

• OSTI ID: 6558499
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 75:39; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
420206 -- Engineering-- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities-- (1980-1989)
DESIGN
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING RIGS
EQUIPMENT
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OIL WELLS
STANDARDIZATION
WELLS