Oil field drilling equipment

Oil field drilling wells use the same components or oil field drilling equipment for drilling but, they are configured differently to suit certain wells. Some of the oil field drilling equipments is: Annular blowout preventer A blowout preventer (BOP) is a valve which is used to monitor and control oil wells. While drilling the fluid might flow uncontrollably. A blowout preventer is used to stop the uncontrolled flow of fluid. This flow of fluid if uncontrolled can result in a blowout. There are two types of blowout preventers; ram and annular. An annular blowout preventer is placed on number of ram BOP. Annular BOP covers the drill string. It also covers and protects the drill pipe during the drilling process. Crown block:  Crown block is a very important component of...

Read more »

Annular blowout preventer

A lot has been discussed on the safety issues about working at an oil rig or well. Blowout preventer is meant to be the defense mechanism used when something goes wrong at an oil well.  The failure of a blowout preventer can result in a catastrophe. The blowout preventers or BOPs have been used since 60s. The invention of BOPs has resulted in the avoiding oil gushers and blowouts. Economically viable and advanced technologies have been introduced for the control mechanism. This has changed the face of off shore drilling systems leading to companies drilling in deeper waters. A system with 15,000 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) intervention capping systems has been introduced to handle extreme pressures at deeper wells. This technology is used when the blowout preventer fails...

Read more »

Reducing the Risk of Disaster

Oil and gas production may be a profitable industry, but it does come with an immense share of risks and danger. There are many risks involved with oilfield drilling equipment and these can have a huge impact, not only on the environment, but also on the workers and surrounding mammal life as well. Let us take a look at the different risks present. Environment: While many of us would not like to believe it, oil drilling can harm the environment as it a source of waste. A leak in the oilfield equipment can cause the fluids used in the drillers, which are made from oil based mud, to discharge into the environment. The mud contains mineral oil and diesel fluid, both of which are harmful to the environment. Companies are conducting endless amounts of research to create environment friendly...

Read more »

Failure of the blowout preventer

Blowout preventer: There are two type of BOPs; ram and annular blowout preventer. The investigation of the Gulf of Mexico spill questions if the individuals or companies neglected the environmental laws. The function of the BOP is similar to the air bag of a car. The accident cannot be prevented but the fatalities from it can be prevented. BOP is the last resort or last option to stop a gusher or a blowout. Drill Pipe: At the oil well at Gulf of Mexico the drill pipe was connected to the rig through a device and through the initial 3,000 feet of the well. This extended some 2 ½ miles in the earth. During the spillover the pressure of the blowout preventer knocked the drill pipe before the BOP could have a chance to perform its function of stopping a spillover. The drill pipe was deflected...

Read more »

Gate Valves and Dampeners: What’s the difference?

Two products that have become necessities in the oil and gas industry are the pulsation dampener and the expanding gate valve. For without these products, oil rigs would not be able to begin or complete oil and gas drilling. The products are both designed to control the flow of oil and gas in the well pipe. But there are significant differences between the two products. One can see the differences below.                Expanding Gate Valve: The gate valve is one among many valves available for use in the oil and gas industry. The reason for this is the requirement by the oil rig may change from partial flow, full or no flow. The expanding gate valve is used when there is either a complete, full flow of oil required or...

Read more »

Valves and blowout preventers

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; ...

Read more »

Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Pulsation dampeners are used to stabilize the flow of gas or oil. They also stabilize the pressure in the circuit with dosing pumps. Pulsation dampener is gas vessel. Generally the gas in the vessel is Nitrogen. The function of the pulsation dampener is to separate gas from the circuit liquid. Thus, it avoids loss of gas. The vessel separates both the fluids and is made of either of the 2 materials: rubber and thermoplastic material. When rubber is used it is referred to as bag type. The type of material to be used is decided on various factors; the pressure, the corrosive effect due to the liquid in the circuit, and the temperature. When these instruments are not in place there is a possibility of a blowout or spillover. One such spillover was the Gulf of Mexico or Deep water Horizon...

Read more »

Valves and blowout preventers

Valves control the flow of liquids like gas. Either it opens, closes or partially obstructs the passage through which the fluid flows. In an open valve, fluids flow from high pressure level to low pressure. Gate valves restrict or allow the flow of liquid. They are suitable where full flow is needed or where the flow needs to be restricted completely. The gate valve has to be operated fully closed or fully open. Gate valves have an ability to cut through liquids thus they are used in petroleum industry. Discs are part of gate valves. Rising stem and non rising stem are types of discs. Expanding gate valve can have either of these discs. Rising stem gate valve has a handle that rotates around a thread shaft. The shaft or the stem rises as the valve opens and descends as the valve...

Read more »