NEW RIG DESIGNS

Transport features enable land rig mobility over desert terrain

Bentec’s Nomad-Class rig, jointly developed with international drilling contractor KCA DEUTAG is a new land rig designed for desert terrain conditions. The first of its type, the T-211, was mobilized to Algeria earlier this year to work for BP Exploration Algeria under contract for KCA DEUTAG.

The rig has been designed in response to customer demand for highly mobile and more efficient drilling rigs capable of drilling wells to 15,000 ft (4,572 m) or more. Existing rigs can take more than 10 days to move between locations, whereas the Nomad Rig is designed to take 5 days to move up to 6.2 mi (10 km) between well locations over flat terrain. It is equipped with special transportation carriages that allow the derrick and drill floor substructure to be moved as complete assemblies over flat terrain conditions, thereby reducing disassembly and assembly times. These assemblies can also be disassembled further into smaller rig packages for moves over sand dune conditions.

 

The design concept for the Nomad Class rig took four months to develop and features a newly designed mast with a 1 million-lb static hook load rating, which is greater than typical similar-sized rigs. As well as featuring a high level of rig mobility, the Nomad rig incorporates a number of special operational and safety features, such as:

• An open-faced, self-elevating mast that can be raised by emergency generator set
• Derrick anti-collision system
• Iron roughneck
• Automated driller
• Sound-proofed generator sets
• Hydraulic catwalk system
• Dedicated equipment maintenance platforms
• Special cabling arrangements to simplify rig up
• Bentec Infodrill computerized instrumentation and data recording system
• Designed for under-balanced and cluster-bay drilling operations.

The anti-collision system protects the derrick equipment against collisions and damage when operating on the traveling block. At the heart of the system is a computerized safety surveillance system that continuously monitors all movements of the traveling block. Safe operations are achieved by controlling the position of the traveling block with precisely predictable stops in any position within the safety zone. Any discrepancies between the two independent monitoring systems will automatically initiate emergency braking.

The rig has an upgradable design to suit client requirements, such that an additional mud pump or generator set can be simply added to the rig without the need for major modifications.