Contents

DRILLING ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Types of drilling ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Auger drill ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Percussion rotary air blast drill (rab). ................................................................................................. 2
Reverse circulation (rc) drilling ........................................................................................................... 2
Diamond core drilling.......................................................................................................................... 2
Hydraulic rotary drilling ...................................................................................................................... 2
Air core drilling .................................................................................................................................... 3
PROCESSES OF DRILLING OIL .................................................................................................................. 3
Boring .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Circulation ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Casing .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Completion.......................................................................................................................................... 3
Production........................................................................................................................................... 3
Abandonment ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Transportation of oil ............................................................................................................................... 4
TYPES OF RIGS ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Derrick type ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Jack-up Rig .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Concrete Platform ............................................................................................................................... 5
Compliant tower: ................................................................................................................................ 5
Barge Rig ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Submersible Rig................................................................................................................................... 7
Tension-leg Platform ........................................................................................................................... 8
Spar Platform ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Drill Ships ............................................................................................................................................ 9
PARTS OF A RIG ..................................................................................................................................... 11
DESCRIPTION OF PARTS ........................................................................................................................ 12
OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR DRILLING ....................................................................................................... 15
Centrifuge ......................................................................................................................................... 15
Degasser ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Desander / desilter ........................................................................................................................... 15
CLASSIFICATION OF DRILLING RIGS ...................................................................................................... 16
BY POWER USED ............................................................................................................................... 16

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 BY PIPE USED..................................................................................................................................... 16
BY HEIGHT ......................................................................................................................................... 16
BY POSITION OF DERRICK...................................................................................................................... 17
References: ........................................................................................................................................... 17

DRILLING
Drilling is a process of boring holes through soil and rock to access geological
reservoirs that contain oil and gas.

Types of drilling
Auger drill
Auger drilling is done with a helical screw which is driven into the ground with
rotation; the earth is lifted up the borehole by the blade of the screw. Auger
drilling is restricted to generally soft unconsolidated material or weak weathered
rock. It is cheap and fast.
Percussion rotary air blast drill (rab).
This tool is also known as a Down-the-hole drill. The drill uses a pneumatic
reciprocating piston-driven "hammer" to energetically drive a heavy drill bit
into the rock. The drill bit is hollow, solid steel and has ~20 mm thick tungsten
rods protruding from the steel matrix as "buttons". The tungsten buttons are the
cutting face of the bit. The cuttings are blown up the outside of the rods and
collected at surface. Air or a combination of air and foam lift the cuttings.
Reverse circulation (rc) drilling
RC drilling is similar to air core drilling, in that the drill cuttings are returned to
surface inside the rods. The drilling mechanism is a pneumatic reciprocating
piston known as a "hammer" driving a tungsten-steel drill bit. RC drilling
utilises much larger rigs and machinery and depths of up to 500 metres are
routinely achieved which is deeper than the air core drilling process
Diamond core drilling
Diamond core drilling (exploration diamond drilling) utilizes an annular
diamond impregnated drill bit attached to the end of hollow drill rods to cut a
cylindrical core of solid rock.
Hydraulic rotary drilling:

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Air core drilling: In Air core drilling, the drill bit has three blades made of
hardened steel or tungsten blades arranged around the bit head. The rods are
hollow and contain an inner tube which sits inside the hollow outer rod barrel.
The drill cuttings are removed by injection of compressed air into the hole via
the annular area between the innertube and the drill rod. The cuttings are then
blown back to surface up the inner tube where they pass through the sample
separating system and are collected if needed. This method of drilling is used to
drill the weathered regolith, as the drill rig and steel or tungsten blades cannot
penetrate fresh rock.

PROCESSES OF DRILLING OIL

The processes of drilling an oil and gas production well involves the following
steps:
Boring: a drill bit and pipe are used to create holes vertically into the ground. A
process called directional drilling can be done to bore a well at an angle. This
process is done by boring a vertical well and then angling it towards a reservoir.

Circulation: drilling mud is circulated into the hole and back to the surface for
various functions including the removal of rock cuttings from the hole and the
maintenance of working temperatures and pressures.

Casing: once the hole is at a desired depth, the well requires a cement casing to
prevent collapse.

Completion: after a well has been cased, it needs to be readied for production.
Small holes called perforations are made in the portion of the casing which
passed through the production zone, to provide a path for the oil and gas.

Production: this is the phase where oil and/or gas is actually produced.

Abandonment: when a well has reached the end of its useful life, it is plugged
and abandoned to protect the surrounding environment.
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Transportation of oil
Oil is transported through:
 Pipelines
 Rails
 Shipping
 Trucking

TYPES OF RIGS

Derrick type: This type of rig allows the derrick to be assembled on the
ground, and then raised to the vertical position using power from the draw
works, or hoisting system. These structures are made up of prefabricated
sections that are moved onto the location by truck, barge, helicopter,
etc.

Jack-up Rig: This is a self-elevating rig, and is used for smaller, shallower
offshore deposits. The rig’s floating platform is towed into position by
barges, then lowers its support legs down to the sea floor, raising the rig
above the water’s surface.

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Concrete Platform: Concrete offshore structures show an excellent
performance. They are highly durable, suitable for harsh and arctic
environment and can carry heavy topsides. Often offer storage capacities
and are very economical for water depths larger than 150m. Gravity type
platforms need no additional fixing because of their large foundation
dimensions and extremely high weight.

Compliant tower: Compliant tower rigs are similar to fixed platforms, since
both are anchored to the seabed and hold most of their equipment above

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the surface. Since its design consists of a narrow and flexible tower, it can
withstand large lateral forces by sustaining significant lateral deflections.

Barge Rig: Although Barge rigs are not moored to the sea floor, they are
explained in this section. They are floating offshore drilling vessels but it
is not self-propelled. The drilling equipment is on the barge. It is generally
towed to the location and then has its hull filled with water. This type of
rig is only used in relatively shallow, swampy areas and are generally
capable of drilling in water depths of less than 12ft, or, in the case of a
posted barge, perhaps to 20ft.

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 Submersible Rig: A Submersible rig is a larger version of a posted barge and
is capable of water depths of 18ft to 70ft. It has a floating drill unit that
includes columns and pontoons that if flooded with water, will cause the
pontoons to submerge to a depth that is predetermined.

Semisubmersible Rig. They are the most common type of offshore

drilling rigs, combining the advantages of submersible rigs with the ability
to drill in deep water. The semisubmersible rig does not rest on the
seafloor. This rig is a floating deck supported by submerged pontoons and
kept stationary by a series of anchors and mooring lines, and, in some
cases, position-keeping propellers. They have a water-depth operating
range of 20ft to 2000ft.

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 Tension-leg Platform:It consists of a floating surface structure held in place
by taut, vertical tendons connected to the seafloor. These long, flexible
legs allow for significant side to side movement, with little vertical
movement. TLP can operate as deep as 7000ft.

Spar Platform:Spar platforms are among the largest offshore platforms in

use. These huge platforms consist of a large cylinder supporting a typical
fixed rig platform. The cylinder however does not extend all the way to
the seafloor, but instead tethered to the bottom by a series of cables and
lines. The large cylinder serves to stabilize the platform in the water, and
allows for movement to absorb the force of potential hurricanes.

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 Drill Ships: Drill ships are most often utilized for extremely deepwater
drilling at remote locations. A “floater” like the semisubmersible, a
drillship must maintain its position at the drilling position by anchors and
mooring lines, or by computer-controlled dynamic positioning
equipment. Most drill ships have greater storage capacity than other
types of rigs, allowing efficient operation at remote locations.

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10
PARTS OF A RIG

Simple diagram of a drilling rig and its basic operation

1. Mud tank
2. Shale shakers
3. Suction line (mud pump)
4. Mud pump
5. Motor or power source
6. hose
7. Draw-works
8. Standpipe
9. Kelly hose
10.Goose-neck
11.Traveling block
12.Drill line
13.Crown block

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 14.Derrick
15.Racking Board (Sometimes referred to as the Monkey Board)
16.Stand (of drill pipe)
17.Setback (floor)
18.Swivel (On newer rigs this may be replaced by a top drive)
19.Kelly drive
20.Rotary table
21.Drill floor
22.Bell nipple
23.Blowout preventer (BOP) Annular type
24.Blowout preventer (BOP) Pipe ram & blind ram
25.Drill string
26.Drill bit
27.Casing head or Wellhead
28.Flow line

DESCRIPTION OF PARTS
 Bell nipple (#22) is a section of large diameter pipe fitted to the top of
the blowout preventers that the flow line attaches to via a side outlet, to
allow the drilling mud to flow back to the mud tanks.
 Blowout preventers (BOPs) (#23 and #24) are devices installed at the
wellhead to prevent fluids and gases from unintentionally escaping from
the wellbore. #23 is the annular(often referred to as Hydril named after a
manufacturer), and #24 is the pipe rams and blind rams.
 Casing head (#27) is a large metal flange welded or screwed onto the top
of the conductor pipe (also known as drive-pipe) or the casing and is used
to bolt the surface equipment such as the blowout preventers (for well
drilling) or the Christmas tree (oil well) (for well production).
 Centrifuge (not pictured) is an industrial version of the device that
separates fine silt and sand from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted
on top or just off of the mud tanks.
 Crown block (#13) is the stationary end of the block and tackle.
 Degasser (not pictured) is a device that separates air and/or gas from the
drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top of the mud tanks.
 Derrick (#14) is the support structure for the equipment used to lower and
raise the drill string into and out of the wellbore. This consists of the sub-
structure (structure below the drill floor level) and the mast.

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 Desander / desilter (not pictured) contains a set of hydrocyclones that
separate sand and silt from the drilling fluid. Typically mounted on top of
the mud tanks.
 Draw-works (#7) is the mechanical section that contains the spool, whose
main function is to reel in/out the drill line to raise/lower the traveling
block.
 Drill bit (#26) is a device attached to the end of the drill string that breaks
apart the rock being drilled. It contains jets through which the drilling
fluid exits.
 Drill floor (#21) is the area on the rig where the tools are located to make
the connections of the drill pipe, bottom hole assembly, tools and bit. It is
considered the main area where work is performed.
 Drill line (#12) is thick, stranded metal cable threaded through the two
blocks (traveling and crown) to raise and lower the drill string.
 Drill pipe (#16) is a joint of hollow tubing used to connect the surface
equipment to the bottom hole assembly (BHA) and acts as a conduit for
the drilling fluid. In the diagram, these are stands of drill pipe which are 2
or 3 joints of drill pipe connected and stood in the derrick vertically,
usually to save time while tripping pipe.
 Drill string (#25) is an assembled collection of drill pipe, heavy weight
drill pipe, drill collars and any of a whole assortment of tools, connected
and run into the wellbore to facilitate the drilling of a well. The collection
is referred to singularly as the drill string.
 Elevators (not pictured) are hinged devices that is used to latch to the drill
pipe or casing to facilitate the lowering or lifting (of pipe or casing) into
or out of the wellbore.
 Flow line (#28) is large diameter pipe that is attached to the bell
nipple and extends to the shale shakers to facilitate the flow of drilling
fluid back to the mud tanks.
 Goose-neck (#10) is a thick metal elbow connected to
the swivel and standpipe that supports the weight of and provides a
downward angle for the kelly hose to hang from.
 Kelly drive (#19) is a square, hexagonal or octagonal shaped tubing that
is inserted through and is an integral part of the rotary table that moves
freely vertically while the rotary table turns it.
 Kelly hose (#9) is a flexible, high pressure hose that connects
the standpipe to the kelly (or more specifically to the gooseneck on the
swivel above the kelly) and allows free vertical movement of the kelly,

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 while facilitating the flow of the drilling fluid through the system and
down the drill string.
 Racking board (#15) is the catwalk along the side of the derrick (usually
about 35 or 40 feet above the "floor"). The monkey board is where the
derrick man works while "tripping" pipe.
 Mud motor (not pictured) is a hydraulically powered device positioned
just above the drill bit used to spin the bit independently from the rest of
the drill string.
 Mud pump (#4) is a reciprocal type of pump used to circulate drilling
fluid through the system.
 Mud tank (#1) is often called mud pits and stores drilling fluid until it is
required down the wellbore.
 Setback (#17) is a part of the drill floor (#21) where the stands of drill
pipe are stood upright. It is typically made of a metal frame structure with
large wooden beams situated within it. The wood helps to protect the end
of the drill pipe.
 Rotary table (#20) rotates, along with its constituent parts, the kelly
and kelly bushing, the drill string and the attached tools and bit.
 Shale shaker (#2) separates drill cuttings from the drilling fluid before it
is pumped back down the wellbore.
 Stand (#16) is a section of 2 or 3 joints of drill pipe connected
and stood upright in the derrick. When they are pulled out of the hole,
instead of laying down each joint of drill pipe, 2 or 3 joints are left
connected and stood in the derrick to save time.
 Standpipe (#8) is a thick metal tubing, situated vertically along the
derrick, that facilitates the flow of drilling fluid and has attached to it and
supports one end of the kelly hose.
 Suction line (#3) is an intake line for the mud pump to draw drilling fluid
from the mud tanks.
 Swivel (#18) is the top end of the kelly that allows the rotation of the drill
string without twisting the block.
 Traveling block (#11) is the moving end of the block and tackle.
Together, they give a significant mechanical advantage for lifting.
 Vibrating hose (#6) is a flexible, high pressure hose (similar to the kelly
hose) that connects the mud pump to the stand pipe. It is called
the vibrating hose because it tends to vibrate and shake (sometimes
violently) due to its close proximity to the mud pumps.

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OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR DRILLING
Centrifuge; is an industrial version of the device that separates fine silt and sand
from
the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top or just off of the mud tanks.

Degasser; is a device that separates air and/or gas from the drilling fluid. It is
typically mounted on top of the mud tanks.

Desander / desilter; contains a set of hydrocyclones that separate sand and silt
from the drilling fluid. Typically mounted on top of the mud tanks, desander
removes the abrasive solids from the drilling fluids which cannot be removed by
shale shakers.

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CLASSIFICATION OF DRILLING RIGS
There are many types and designs of drilling rigs, with many drilling rigs
capable of switching
or combining different drilling technologies as needed. Drilling rigs can be
described using any
of the following attributes
BY POWER USED
Mechanical — the rig uses torque converters, clutches, and transmissions
powered by
its own engines, often diesel
Electric — the major items of machinery are driven by electric motors,
usually with power generated on-site using internal combustion engines
Hydraulic — the rig primarily uses hydraulic power
Pneumatic — the rig is primarily powered by pressurized air
BY PIPE USED
Cable — a cable is used to raise and drop the drill bit
Conventional — uses metal or plastic drill pipe of varying types
Coil tubing — uses a giant coil of tube and a downhole drilling motor
BY HEIGHT
(Rigs are differentiated by height based on how many connected pipe they are
able to "stand" in the derrick when needing to temporarily remove the drill pipe

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from the hole. Typically this is done when changing a drill bit or when
"logging" the well.)
Single — can pull only single drill pipes.
Double — can hold a stand of pipe in the derrick consisting of two connected
drill pipes, called a "double stand".
Triple — can hold a stand of pipe in the derrick consisting of three connected
drill pipes, called a "triple stand".
Quadri — can hold a stand of pipe in the derrick composed of four
connected drill pipes, called a "quadri stand".

BY POSITION OF DERRICK
Conventional — derrick is vertical
Slant — derrick is slanted at a 45 degree angle to facilitate horizontal drilling

References:

 Baars, D.L.; Watney, W.L.; Steeples, D.W.; Brostuen, E.A (1989).

Petroleum; a primer
 for Kansas (Educational Series, no. 7 ed.). Kansas Geological
Survey. p. 40.
 Xianyao Li; Zhewen Luo (3 March 2011). China's Museums.
Cambridge University
 Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-0-521-18690-2. By the time of the
Song Dynasty,
 Chinese craftsmen had invented special tools for digging small-
mouth-diameter wells Mark Kurlansky (18 March 2011). Salt: A
World History. Random House. p. 364.
 ISBN 978-0-307-36979-6. One or more of the preceding
sentences incorporates text from a publication now in
 the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Petroleum".
Encyclopædia Britannica

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 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. Roughnecks, Rock Bits
And Rigs: The Evolution Of Oil Well Drilling Technology In
 Alberta, 1883-1970 By Sandy Gow, Bonar Alexander Gow
Published by University of
 Calgary Press, 2005 ISBN 1-55238-067-X "Ensign Launches
Newest And Most Powerful Automated ADR 1500S Pad Drill Rigs
In
 Montney Play", New Tech Magazine, Calgary, Alberta, 21
November 2014, archived
 from the original on 10 December 2014, retrieved 6 December 2014
"Deer Creek And Ensign Spud First SAGD Wells Using Slant
Automated Drilling Rig".
 newtechmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-10.
Krah, Jaclyn; Unger, Richard L. (7 August 2013). "The
Importance of Occupational
 Safety and Health: Making for a "Super" Workplace". National
Institute for
 Occupational Safety and Health.
 Shadizadeh Seyyed Reza, Offshore Drilling Engineering, Course
Note
 Sadeghi Kabir, An Overview of Design, Analysis, Construction
and Installation of Offshore Petroleum Platforms Suitable for Cyprus
Oil/Gas Fields, Girne American University, Department of Industrial
Engineering, Mersin 10, Turkey, 2007

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