Transporting Rigs
After the drilling rig is removed from the well site, the area is cleaned to remove leftover materials, tools, or debris. The surface is then re-leveled to make it safe and stable for bringing in the service rig. This step helps reduce risks when moving heavy equipment over the site.
Transporting a workover rig to the well site involves moving large equipment by truck over potentially long distances. The rig includes the hoist, mast, power systems, and tools that will be used during well servicing operations. Once the rig arrives at the location, it is carefully aligned and positioned over the wellhead.
Tripping Pipe on a Workover Rig
The rig must be positioned with accuracy to line up directly with the well. This process is guided by experienced personnel to make sure the rig is safely set up. Mistakes during this stage can lead to serious injuries or damage to equipment.
Best Practices
- Inspect the transport route before moving the rig to verify adequate vehicle access, stable ground conditions, and sufficient clearance. This helps prevent vehicular accidents, equipment instability, and incidents involving slippery or uneven lease roads.
- Ensure drivers are properly trained to transport heavy equipment to reduce the risk of traffic accidents, collisions with fixed objects, and unsafe maneuvering at the well site.
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on trucks and rig equipment before transport to reduce the likelihood of mechanical failures that could lead to accidents or equipment damage.
- Identify and maintain safe clearances from overhead power lines, buried utilities, and other fixed objects to prevent electrical contact, collisions, and damage to equipment or infrastructure.
- Follow a written procedure for positioning the workover rig over the wellhead to ensure proper alignment and reduce the risk of equipment damage, struck-by incidents, and setup errors.
- Use a trained ground guide when backing or positioning the rig to help avoid collisions with fixed objects, contact with the wellhead, and struck-by or caught-between hazards.
- Keep all personnel clear of the rig and transport vehicles while they are moving or being positioned to prevent struck-by and caught-between injuries.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-2. Why is it important to inspect the route to the drill site in advance?
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