B - DERRICKS, MAST & BLOCK LINE

Clickable list

Derrick load calculations B-1

Block line B-2
Block line work B-3
Cut-off lengths B-4
Drum laps B-5
Safety factors B-6
Block line weight B-7
Wire rope slings B-8
Sling chains B-9
Wire rope clips B-10
Fibre rope B-11

ii SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 DERRICK LOAD CALCULATIONS
(neglecting the weight of the derrick itself and the crown block)

Note:
In all calculations involving hook load, this is by convention taken to
include the weight of the hook itself , including also the travelling block.
Thus :
Hook load as shown on weight indicator (Martin-Decker)
= weight of string in drilling fluid + weight of travelling block and hook

Static loads
Under static conditions:
load in each line = fast line load = dead line load = hook load
where N = number of lines strung N

Static derrick load = hook load + fast line load + dead line load
= N + 2 x hook load
N
Dynamic loads
Under dynamic conditions, due to both friction in the sheave bearing and
internal friction in the block line, the tension on the fastline side of a given
sheave is higher than the tension on the deadline side by a factor "k". This factor
is normally taken to be 1.04 for roller bearing sheaves (API RP9B).
The result, for a constant hook load (i.e. no drag) travelling at a constant speed,
is that the dynamic fast line tension is higher than the static fast line tension by a
certain factor. The factor depends on the number of lines strung and its value for
different ‘N’s are tabulated below. In fact, for these ideal conditions, the dead
line load would actually decrease with respect to the static load, and these
factors are also shown in the table.

N 2 4 6 8 10 12
dynamic fast line factor 1.060 1.102 1.145 1.188 1.233 1.279
dynamic dead line factor 0.980 0.942 0.905 0.868 0.833 0.799

Also Dynamic derrick load = Hook load + dynamic fast line tension + dynamic
dead line tension
Notes :
1. Previous practice was to divide the static load by an "efficiency" factor which
was the reciprocal of the factor tabulated above.
2. The reduction in dead line tension is generally neglected (see note 3 below).
3. In theory, the decrease in dead line tension would cause the hook load
indicated on the weight indicator to be too low. In practice the effects of drag,
acceleration and shock loads, and the fact that crtical hook loads are generally
applied in small increments, make this error unimportant.

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 B–1

 BLOCK LINE

Breaking Strength of Rope

Safety Factor (S.F.) =
Fast Line Load

Breaking strength of blockline

for 6 x 19 I.P.S. (Improved Plow Steel)
I.W.R.C. (Independent Wire Rope Core)

Rope diameter Breaking Strength

inches mm short lbs kg kN
tons
1 25.4 44.9 89,800 40,726 399.4
11/8 28.6 56.5 113,000 51,247 502.6
11/4 31.8 69.4 138,800 62,948 617.3
13/8 34.9 83.5 167,000 75,737 742.7
11/2 38.1 98.9 197,800 89,705 879.7
15/8 41.3 114.6 230,000 104,600 1020.0
13/4 44.4 133.0 266,000 121,000 1180.0

Shell Safety Factors

Safety factor of 5 is normal for drilling operations
Minimum recommended safety factors are :
3.5 for drilling
2.5 for running casing and fishing operations

A.P.I. Safety Factors

Minimum recommended safety factors are :
3 for drilling
2 for running casing and fishing operations
Note: for 6 x 19 Seale drilling line the recommended Shell Value for
sheave diameter factor is 35-40 ratio sheave tread diameter to
blockline diameter (Refer A.P.I. RP9B)

B–2 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 BLOCK LINE WORK
Work done during a round trip
D.Wm.(Lst + D) + 4D(M + 1/2C1 + 1/2C2)
Tr =
k
Where : In oilfield units in SI units
Tr = Work done during round trip (short) ton-miles megajoules
D = Depth of hole, or trip ft m
Lst = Length of drill pipe stand ft m
Wm = Weight/unit length of DP in drilling fluid lbs/ft N/m
M = weight of block, hook, elevator, etc lbs N
C1 = Excess weight of DCs in drilling fluid* lbs N
C2 = Excess weight of HWDP in drilling fluid* lbs N
k = a constant 10,560,000 1,000,000
* Excess weight of tubulars = weight of tubulars less weight of same length of DP

Work done while running casing

D.Wc.(Lc + D) + 4DM
Tr =
2k
Where : In oilfield units in SI units
Tc = Work done while running casing (short)ton-miles megajoules
D = Setting depth of casing ft m
Lc = Length of average casing joint ft m
Wm = Effective weight/unit length of casing
in drilling fluid lbs/ft N/m
and other symbols are as given above

Work done while drilling an interval

Td = 2(T2 - T1) if hole drilled without reaming
Td = 3(T2 - T1) if hole reamed once
Td = 4(T2 - T1) if hole reamed twice
Where :
T1 = Tr at top of interval
T2 = Tr at bottom of interval
Work done while coring
Tco = 2(T2 - T1)
Where :
T1, T2 are as above

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 B–3

 RECOMMENDED CUT-OFF LENGTHS FOR ROTARY DRILLING LINES

B–4
(API RP9B)

ins
Drum diameter
Derrick mm
or mast height 11 13 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
279 330 357 406 457 508 559 610 660 711 762 813 864 914
ft. m. cut-off length in number of drum laps
66 and 20 and 12 11
smaller smaller
67-90 20-27 17 14 12 11

91-110 28-33 19 17 14 12 11 10 9 9 8

111-132 34-40 17 15 14 12 12 11 10 9 9

133-140 41-42 15 14 12 11 11 10 9

141-160 43-49 13 12 11 11 10
161 and 50 and 15 14 13 12 11
larger larger
NOTE: Add 1/4 lap for counterbalanced groove drums
Add 1/2 lap for all other types of drum

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 CONVERSION OF DRUM LAPS TO CUT-OFF LENGTH

In order to ensure a change of the point of drum crossover, where the wear
and crushing is very severe, either 1/4 or 1/2 lap should be added to the
number of laps listed on page B-4.

Add 1/4 lap for counterbalanced groove drums.

Add 1/2 lap for all other types of drum.

Conversion of laps to length is simply: Cut-off length = π x d x no. of laps

EXAMPLE: What is the recommended number of laps and cut-off length for
the block line on a rig with a derrick of 138 ft (42m) and a drum of 30"
(762 mm) diameter. The drum is counterbalanced.

From the table on page B-4 the number of laps = 10 + 1/4

In field units: Cut-off length = π x 30/12 x 101/4 = 80.5 ft
In S.l. units: Cut-off length = π x 0.762 x 101/4 = 24.5 m

WORK PER UNIT LENGTH CUT WHEN OPERATING

AT A SAFETY FACTOR OF 5

Size of rope Ton miles between cuts Megajoules between cuts

for each foot of rope cut for each metre of rope cut

1" 8 375.3
11/8" 12 562.9
11/4" 16 750.6
13/8" 20 938.2
11/2" 24 1,125.8
NOTE: 1 ton-mile = 14.30 MJ

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 B–5

 WHEN SAFETY FACTOR IS OTHER THAN "5"

Safety Factors will certainly be other than 5 for most operations. The block line
work should therefore be adjusted by the relative service factor.
Note: adjustments should only be made to the drilling block line work. Given
the high variations in the safety factors during casing and round trips
block line work during these operations should be calculated on a safety
factor of 5.
From the graph below, obtain the RELATIVE SERVICE FACTOR.
The calculated work must be divided by this factor to obtain the ADJUSTED
WORK. 1.5
Relative service factor

1.0

0.5

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Safety factor

EXAMPLE: A safety factor of 3.86 is calculated when drilling a section of

hole. The block line work calculated for drilling this section is 146 TM (6,849 MJ).
Referring to the graph an S.F. of 3.86 gives a Relative Service Factor of 0.76.
The adjusted work is therefore 146/0.76 = 192 TM or 6,849/0.76 = 9,012 MJ)

B–6 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 BLOCK LINE
BLOCK LINE WEIGHT

Construction Nominal Approximate

classification diameter weight
mm inch kg/m lbs.ft
26 1 2.75 1.85
29 11/8 3.48 2.34
32 11/4 4.30 2.89
35 13/8 5.21 3.50
6 x 19

38 11/2 6.19 4.16

42 15/8 7.26 4.88
45 13/4 8.44 5.67
48 17/8 9.67 6.50
51 2 11.0 7.39
54 21/8 12.4 8.35
57 21/4 13.9 9.36
61 23/8 15.5 10.4
64 21/2 17.3 11.6
6 x 37

67 25/8 19.0 12.8

70 23/4 20.8 14.0
74 27/8 22.8 15.3
77 3 24.7 16.6
80 31/8 26.8 18.0
83 31/4 29.0 19.5
86 33/8 31.3 21.0
90 31/2 33.8 22.7
96 33/4 38.7 26.0
103 4 44.0 29.6
109 41/4 49.6 33.3
6 x 61

115 41/2 55.7 37.4

122 43/4 62.1 41.7
128 5 68.8 46.2

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 B–7

 WIRE ROPE SLINGS
SAFE LOADS
Safe loads for single and double 6 x 37 improved plow steel wire rope
slings under different loading conditions

Single Two ropes Two ropes Two ropes

vertical rope used at 30° used at 90° used at 120°

Diameter

Inch mm lbs kg lbs kg lbs kg lbs kg

3/8 9.5 1,500 680 2,600 1,180 2,000 910 1,500 680
1/2 12.7 3,000 1,360 5,000 2,270 4,200 1,910 3,000 1,360
5/8 15.9 5,000 2,270 8,000 3,630 7,000 3,180 5,000 2,270
3/4 19.1 7,000 3,180 12,000 5,440 10,000 4,540 7,000 3,180
7/8 22.2 10,000 4,540 17,000 7,710 14,000 6,350 10,000 4,540

1 25.4 13,000 5,900 22,000 9,980 18,000 8,160 13,000 5,900

11/8 28.6 16,000 7,260 28,000 12,700 22,000 9,980 16,000 7,260
11/4 31.8 19,000 8,620 32,000 14,520 27,000 12,250 19,000 8,620
13/8 34.9 23,000 10,430 40,000 18,140 32,000 14,520 23,000 10,430

11/2 38.1 27,000 12,250 46,000 20,870 38,000 17,240 27,000 12,250
15/8 41.3 32,000 14,520 55,000 24,950 45,000 20,410 32,000 14,520
13/4 44.5 36,000 16,330 62,000 28,120 51,000 23,130 36,000 16,330
17/8 47.6 42,000 19,050 73,000 33,110 59,000 26,760 42,000 19,050
2 50.8 48,000 21,770 83,000 37,650 68,000 30,840 48,000 21,770

B–8 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 SLING CHAINS
SAFE WORKING LOADS (based on 62,5 % of proof test)
Alloy sling chains
Single Double sling Double sling Double sling Double sling Double sling Double sling Double sling
sling chain chain used at chain used at chain used at chain used at chain used at chain used at chain used at
Size o o o o
60 angle 90 angle 120 angle 140 o angle 150 angle 160o angle 170 o angle
of
chain o
o
60 90
o
120

inch mm pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs pnds kgs
9/ 7.1 3,425 1,554 5,935 2,692 4,845 2,198 3,425 1,554 2,340 1,061 1,775 805 1,185 538 600 272
32

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

5
/ 16 7.9 5,500 2,495 9,525 4,321 7,775 3,527 5,500 2,495 3,760 1,706 2,840 1,288 1,905 864 960 435
3
/8 9.5 8,250 3,742 14,290 6,482 11,665 5,291 8,250 3,742 5,645 2,561 4,275 1,939 2,860 1,297 1,445 655
7
/ 16 11.1 11,000 4,990 19,050 8,641 15,555 7,056 11,000 4,990 7,525 3,413 5,695 2,583 3,815 1,730 1,925 873
1
/2 12.7 14,000 6,350 24,250 11,000 19,800 8,981 14,000 6,350 9,575 4,343 7,250 3,289 4,855 2,202 2,450 1,111

9/ 14.3 17,150 7,779 29,700 13,472 24,250 11,000 17,150 7,779 11,730 5,321 8,885 4,030 5,950 2,699 3,000 1,361
16
5
/8 15.9 20,600 9,344 35,680 16,184 29,130 13,213 20,600 9,344 14,090 6,391 10,670 4,840 7,150 3,243 3,600 1,633
3
/4 19.1 28,750 13,041 49,800 22,589 40,655 18,441 28,750 13,041 19,665 8,920 14,895 8,457 9,970 4,522 5,035 2,284
7
/8 22.2 36,000 16,330 62,350 28,282 50,900 23,088 36,000 16,330 24,625 11,170 18,645 11,170 12,490 5,665 6,300 2,858
1 25.4 48,400 21,954 83,830 38,025 68,440 31,044 48,400 21,954 33,100 15,014 25,070 15,014 16,795 7,618 8,470 3,842
Wrought iron sling chains
3 2,700 1,225 4,700 2,132 3,800 1,724 2,700 1,225 1,850 839 1,450 658
/8 9.5 940 426 470 213
7 3,450 1,565 5,900 2,676 4,900 2,222 3,450 1,565 2,350 1,066 1,750 794
/16 11.1 1,200 544 600 272
1 4,500 2,041 7,800 3,538 6,350 2,880 4,500 2,041 3,100 1,406 2,300 1,043
/2 12.7 1,570 712 780 354
5/
8 15.9 6,900 3,130 12,000 5,443 9,750 4,423 6,900 3,130 4,700 2,132 3,550 1,610 2,400 1,089 1,200 544
3/
4 19.1 10,100 4,581 17,500 7,938 14,000 6,350 10,100 4,581 6,900 3,130 5,200 2,359 3,500 1,588 1,750 794

7 14,000 6,350 24,000 10,886 19,500 8,845 14,000 6,350 9,600 4,355 7,250 3,289
/8 22.2 4,900 2,223 2,400 1,089
1 25.4 18,600 8,437 32,000 14,515 26,000 11,794 18,600 8,437 12,700 5,761 9,650 4,377 6,500 2,948 3,200 1,452
1 23,400 10,614 40,000 18,144 33,000 14,969 23,400 10,614 16,000 7,258 12,000 5,443
1 /8 28.6 8,000 3,629 4,000 1,814
1 1/ 4 31.8 28,800 13,064 50,000 22,680 40,500 18,371 28,800 13,064 19,700 8,936 15,000 6,804 10,000 4,536 5,000 2,268
1 3/ 8 34.9 34,500 15,649 60,000 27,216 49,000 22,226 34,500 15,649 23,500 10,660 17,800 8,074 12,000 5,443 6,000 2,722

1 1/2 38.1 40,800 18,507 70,000 31,752 57,500 26,082 40,800 18,507 28,000 12,701 21,000 9,526 14,000 6,350 7,000 3,175
1 5/8 41.3 46,500 21,092 80,000 36,288 66,000 29,938 46,500 21,092 31,800 14,424 24,000 10,886 16,000 7,258 8,000 3,629
1 3/4 44.5 52,500 23,814 91,000 41,278 74,000 33,566 52,500 23,814 36,000 16,330 27,000 12,247 18,000 8,165 9,100 4,128
2 50.8 66,600 30,210 115,000 52,164 94,000 42,638 66,600 30,210 45,600 20,684 34,500 15,649 23,000 10,433 11,500 5,216

B–9
 WIRE ROPE CLIPS
METHOD OF ATTACHMENT AND NUMBER REQUIRED

Distance between clips should be equal to six rope diameters

Correct method : U-BOLTS OF CLIPS ON SHORT END OF ROPE

Wrong : U-BOLTS ON LIVE END OF ROPE

Wrong : STAGGERED CLIPS

Number of clips needed for safety

Length of rope
Diameter Number of Space
clips turned back
of rope between clips
exclusive of eye
inch mm inch mm inch mm
3 1
/8 10 2 2 /4 57 5 127
1
/2 13 3 3 76 9 229
5
/8 16 3 3 3/4 95 11 279
3
/4 19 4 4 1/2 114 18 457
7
/8 22 4 5 1/4 133 21 533

1 25 4 6 152 24 610
11/8 29 5 7 178 35 889
1 1/4 32 5 8 203 40 1,016
1 3/8 35 6 9 229 54 1,372
1 1/2 38 6 10 254 60 1,524

NOTE : When clips are properly applied efficiency is approximately 80 %

B–10 SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001

 FIBRE ROPE
FIBRE ROPE FOR GENERAL USE

Manila Rope, Grade 2 Standard Quality

Material : New genuine long fibre manila,

i.e. Abaca or approved equivalent.
Construction : 3-strand, plain laid.
Lay : right hand

Circ. of Approx. Minimum breaking

rope diameter strength Approx. weight
of rope ( For 3 stand fibre rope.)

inch mm inch mm lbs kg lbs/ft kg/m

7/8 21.9 1/4 6.4 720 330 0.023 0.036
1 25.4 5/16 7.9 1,060 480 0.035 0.053
11/4 31.8 3/8 9.6 1,400 630 0.046 0.067

11/2 38.1 1/2 12.7 2,100 950 0.070 0.106

2 50.8 5/8 15.9 3,970 1,800 0.13 0.19
21/4 57.2 3/4 19.1 4,760 2,150 0.15 0.23

23/4 69.9 7/8 21.9 7,500 3,400 0.23 0.35

3 76.2 1 25.4 8,960 4,060 0.28 0.41
31/2 88.9 11/8 28.6 11,920 5,400 0.38 0.57

33/4 95.3 11/4 31.8 13,600 6,170 0.43 0.63

43/4 120.7 11/2 38.1 21,000 9,520 0.71 1.04
6 152.4 2 50.8 32,700 14,830 1.12 1.66

7 177.8 21/4 57.2 43,900 19,910 1.52 2.26

8 203.2 21/2 63.5 56,440 25,600 2.00 2.95
10 254.0 31/4 82.6 86,460 39,210 3.20 4.61

12 304.8 33/4 95.3 123,200 55,880 4.46 6.63

14 355.6 41/2 114.3 165,760 75,180 6.08 9.02

SIEP: Well Engineers Notebook, Edition 2, January 2001 B–11