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Oilfield Glossary of Terms The complexities of the oil and gas industry can make keeping up with all the terms and definitions related to drilling difficult. To simplify things, we’ve compiled a glossary of the most important terms related to drilling and to the oil and gas industry. A Abandon: To pause or stop drilling operations or production from a well. Reasons for abandoning are if a well is a dry hole or if it's not producing enough to be kept active. Absentee Bid: This process allows a bidder to participate in an auction without being present. An absentee bidder will usually submit their offer before the auction and they need to follow the guidelines set in place by the auctioneer. Absolute Auction: Also known as an auction without reserve, absolute auctions don't have any limiting conditions or amounts. The property under auction will be sold to the highest qualified bidder. Abstract of Title: The historical ownership records for a property. These records include surface rights and mineral rights among other details. Accredited Investor: When a person or institution is considered capable of understanding and affording the financial risks of unregistered securities, they are known as an accredited investor. The federal securities laws have more specific guidelines for who qualifies as an accredited investor in Rule 501 of Regulation D: 1. The institution is a bank, insurance company, registered investment company, business development company, or small business investment company. 2. An accredited investor can be an employee benefit plan if a qualified individual or organization (as identified above) makes the decision or the plan has assets over $5 million. 3. The institution is a charitable organization, corporation, or other partnership with assets over $5 million. 4. The person is an executive or partner of the company selling the unregistered securities. 5. The institution has equity owners that are accredited investors. 6. The individual has a personal, or joint net worth of over $1 million. 7. The individual has had a personal income of at least $200,000 for the past two years, or a joint income of at least $300,000. The income expectation for the next year must also be the same. 8. A trust with over $5 million in assets managed by a person capable of understanding the risks of unregistered securities is qualified. The trust's original intent must not have been to purchase the securities offered. Adsorption: A surface-based process where a substance's atoms, ions, or molecules adhere to the adsorbent. Adsorption Oil: Also known as wash oil, this light liquid hydrocarbon is used in wet gas streams to absorb or remove heavier liquid hydrocarbons. Acidizing: To increase the flow of oil or gas in drilling, hydrochloric acid can be pumped into the well. The acid works to break down limestone, reducing the restrictions the oil or gas was previously facing to increase flow. AESC Association of Energy Service Companies: This association provides training materials and represents the interests of energy service employees within the oil and gas industry. Alkaline Flooding: Also known as caustic flooding, the alkaline flooding process involves injecting alkaline chemicals during polymer flooding or waterflooding. Sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or other alkaline chemicals react with specific types of oils, and this reaction results in surfactants. These surfactants then increase oil production by reducing interfacial tension between oil and water. Alkaline flooding shouldn't be used in carbonate reservoirs. Aluminum Stearate: A salt mixture of aluminum hydroxide and stearic acid typically mixed with oil. The resulting solution is sprayed on foamy water mud to release gas bubbles from the mud. Aniline Point Test: A test of oil mud to determine if the aniline point temperature (aninline point) of the oil will damage elastomers (rubber compounds). The aniline point corresponds to the amount and type of hydrocarbons found in an oil sample, so a low aniline point indicates higher aromatics, and vice versa. Annular Velocity: Speed of drilling fluid or cement movement in a well column (typically measured in feet/minute or meters/minute) Annulus: An area between two concentric objects where fluid can flow. An example is the space between the wellbore and casing or the space between casing and tubing. Anticlines: Anticlines are folds in the earth's surface where at least 80% of the world's oil and gas has be found. An anticline has strata that slope downward on both sides and usually has surface formations like hills, knobs, and ridges. API American Petroleum Institute: This oil and gas industry trade organization publishes standards and best practices related to the industry. API - Monogram: The logo of the American Petroleum Institute (API) is added to equipment that meets their minimum standards. API also provides industry-related publications about recommended practices and standards. Aromatic Content Test: A quantitative test for measuring aromatic content of base oils used in oil mud. Artificial Lift: Used to describe any method for retrieving oil from a well and bringing it to the surface after the well ceases to produce. Asphaltic Mud Additive: Solid or high-viscosity hydrocarbons found in natural deposits or in petroleum refining residue that are used as additives of oil- and water-based muds (drilling fluids). "As Is": Also known as "As Is, Where Is" and "In Its Present Condition", "As Is" states there are no guarantees about the condition or usage of the property. The buyer is responsible for determining its condition and use cases. Assignee: The person who a property's interests, like a working interest, royalty, or net profits interest, are assigned to. Assignor: The person who expresses interest in a particular assignment. Associated Gas: Natural gas that's created with crude oil from the same resevoir. Auction With Reserve: The opposite of an absolute auction, auctions with reserves have minimum buying prices that may not be disclosed to the bidders. The seller also has the ability to deny a bid for any reason. Authorization for Expenditure: Abbreviated as an AFE, this is a proposal given to each stakeholder that estimates the cost of drilling and completing a proposed well. The proposal will contain dry hole costs, completion costs, and the total cost. Dry hole costs are the spend needed to drill to the casing point, while completion costs are the funds needed to complete the well. B Back In: Typically used to describe the payout to investors for their initial well investment, a back in is a type of interest in a well or property that becomes effective at a future time or after a future event. Baffle: The part of a separation vessel used to temporarily slow the flow of fluids; needed when attempting to separate oil and water. Bail: A steel bar that supports the swivel and connects it to the hook; resembles the handle of a bucket.  Bailer: A cylindrical container with a valve used in cable-tool drilling; used to remove oil, water, sand, and mud from a well. Barrel of Oil Equivalent (BOE): The amount of oil barrels produced from a site each day. Base Oil: Simply put, base oil is the continuous phase in oil-based drilling fluids (water-in-oil emulsions where water is in the dispersed phase and oil is in the continuous phase). BBL: BBL is simply the abbreviation for barrel. For context, a barrel of oil is 42 US gallons. Bit: A steel bar that supports the swivel and connects it to the hook. Resembles the handle of a bucket. Bitumen: An extremely viscous form of crude oil that contains sulfer and other metals; to be produced, bitumen must be heated or combined with lighter hydrocarbons. Blind Pool: An oil and gas limited partnership that has not comitted to a single lease or property yet. Blowout: Occurs when down-hole pressure gas is not properly balanced with the weight of the drilling mud; the uncontrolled flow of gas, oil, or other fluids. Bore: As a noun, a bore is the inside diameter of a pipe or drilled hole. As a verb, bore means to penetrate a surface with a rotary tool. Borehole: Also known as the wellbore, a borehole typically refers to the openhole or uncased portion that is created in well drilling. Bottomhole: As the name suggests, the bottomhole is the deepest part (the bottom) of the well. Broker Participation: In this situation, brokers will register potential bidders for properties being sold at an auction. The brokers are paid through commission by the property owner or auction firm. BTU: An acronym for British Thermal Unit, BTU is a measurement to describe the amount of heat generated from burning oil or gas. Burner Valve: There are two instances where burner valves are used. The first is in a dehy unit or line heater where it maintains a constant temperature in the process bath by controlling the flow of gas to the fire tube. The second is on a heater treater where constant temperatures are maintained in the vessel by the burner valve. C Cable: A rope, wire or braid of strong fibers. Cased Hole: A well that has the casing already inserted. The opposite of a cased hole is an open hole. Casing: A steel pipe that's placed in an oil or gas well after drilling is completed to prevent the well hole from caving in. Casing also prevents fluids from moving from one formation (like groundwater) to another and helps in well control. Drill Rig: The machinery that's used to drill oil and gas wells. There are two types of drill rigs: rotary and cable tools, with rotary drill rigs being more efficient.  Casing Tongs: A large wrench used for turning casing tubulurs when making up or breaking out casing. Cavitation: Describes the continous pumping of mud from surface-level mud tanks, down the drill pipe, out the drill bit nozzles, and through the gap between the drill pipe and the borehole to the surface. This movement carries rock cuttings via the shale shaker … [Read more...]

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What is a Top Drive System? If you’re interested in drilling, rigs, and wells, you’ve probably heard of Top Drives - but what actually are they? Let’s start with a definition: A Top Drive is an essential piece of drilling equipment; it is basically a large motor system which is hoisted in a derrick, mast or drilling rig. Top Drives can be used in a variety of rigs including truck-mounted rigs and offshore rigs.  Now that you understand Top Drive basics, let’s dive into some more detailed information.  Benefits of Top Drive Systems Top Drive Systems have a plethora of benefits! Like we mentioned above, one of the most substantial benefits of this system is that they can be easily installed on any mast or derrick. Top Drive Systems also work as replacements for Rotary Officers and Kelly Systems - meaning there are fewer systems and parts to keep track of.  Top Drives are also extremely safe. Because their operation can be handled remotely, there is no need for rig workers to directly deal with this heavy equipment. Additionally, Top Drives can provide the necessary torque needed to tighten connections and can pierce 90-foot sections, which reduces connection and monitoring time, as well as provides improved directional control.  Components of a Top Drive System The following list is an inclusive explanation of Top Drive System components:  Torque Track Optional Swivel Torque Bushing Swivel Sub Extend Frame Quill Mainframe Assembly Load Nut Pipe Handler Assembly Tilt Assembly Stabbing Valve Saver Sub Grabber Assembly Bail Assembly Elevator Differences Between Top Drives and Kelly Systems Top drives start the necessary rotation that is needed to move the drill stem. This means that a Kelly System and Kelly bushing are not required for Top Drive Systems; rather, a master bushing and a rotary table should be used for support. Mast bushings and rotary tables will support the weight of the slip and drill stem, and also serve as a conduit for the drill stem to be lowered or raised into a wellbore.  Because a Kelly System is not necessary, the length of each strand is longer than normal and makes up more than a single joint. When you drill with a Top Drive, you can expect the stand of the drill pipe to be composed of three drill pipe joints. This means that Top Drives can drill about 90 feet before making a connection, whereas with a Kelly System, you will make a connection at about 30 feet deep.  Another difference between a Kelly and a Top Drive is that a Top Drive System allows rotation and circulation while back reaming out of a hole. Kelly Systems do not have this capability and cannot rotate the drill stem.  Now that you understand what a Top Drive System is, how it differs from a Kelly System and what the benefits of Top Drives are, give us a call today to purchase one for your drilling site. … [Read more...]

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A Guide to Safety Clamps What are Safety Clamps? Safety clamps are an important safety feature of any drill site! They are primarily used as a backup safety mechanism against drill pipe slippage for slips and other gripping devices. Safety clamps can also provide additional control in the case of component failure. In this blog post we will focus on a detailed explanation of safety clamps and how they should be implemented on your drilling site for optimal performance. Let’s dive in! Safety Clamp Implementation  Slips are created to taper and wedge tightly with the rotary bushings. They were designed this way so that the serrated teeth inside the slips will grip the pipe and stabilize and suspend the drill string in the rotary table. However, if the slips don’t have sufficient grip, the pipe could slip and cause major damage - so safety clamps were created.  Safety clamps are used in conjunction with slips as an extra precaution against costly damaged and lost production time. Safety clamps are manufactured using individual, tapered links that are hinged for flexibility. Depending on the type of safety clamp, individual sections can be added or removed to accommodate different sized pipes, making them a flexible solution for a variety of drill sites.  Each link that composes the safety clamps is created with its own set of spring-loaded teeth to firmly grip the pipe. If the slip fails or the pipe begins to fall, the spring-loaded teeth absorb the impact and the safety clamps wedge tighter against the pipe. This ensures that there is no further slippage and keeps the pipe free from damage.  Types of Safety Clamps There are three main types of safety clamps: Type C, Type T, Type MP.  The Type C safety clamp is available in multiple sizes (3.75” to 47’) and variations, including single screw and double screw designs. Type T clamps on the other hand are designed to fit smaller pipes (ranging from 1.125” to 30.5”).  Type MP safety clamps are designed for pipes with a diameter range of 2.875” to 30.5” and offer significant flexibility. Unlike the other clamp types, each MP safety clamp comes standard with its own aluminum box. All three safety clamp options are outfitted with handles or a lifting clevis to improve physical handling. No matter which safety clamp type you select, you can rest assured that they will add an extra layer of safety precautions without complicating your drilling operations.  Adding safety clamps to your drilling site is a no-brainer, and so is sourcing your clamps through Texas International Oilfield Tools. Give our experts a call today to place your safety clamps order! … [Read more...]

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How to Case a Well You’ve drilled your well, but to complete it you need to add casing. Casing serves two functions: protecting the well from itself and protecting the well from outside contaminants. The first job the casing has is to essentially protect the drilling hole from being caved in on. Think about it: when you drill into rock, the raw sides of the well will cave in on themselves because they’re not supported and you will have to drill a completely new hole. The second job of casing is to protect your well from outside contaminants that could spoil your water, oil or gas that you’re drilling for. Casing a well is also known as setting pipe because when you’re casing a well, you’re running a steel pipe into the well’s drilling hole. The small space in between the pipe and the raw well sides are filled with cement to steady and properly set the casing pipe into place. Now that you understand the importance of casing, we will go into how to actually case your well below! Casing a Well Casing is created in sections (also known as joints) that are screwed together to form longer lengths of casing. This manufacturing ensures that they’re customizable for any drilling length. Here’s a breakdown of how casing is screwed together: Each end of the casing sections has male threads Each joint connector (called collars or coupling) has female threads and is used to connect the two male joint ends Because the joint connectors are wider in diameter than the casing joints, the joints are become tightly sealed together To reinforce the seal a thread compound is added to the connection When you run casing, you start on the rig floor, using casing elevators (which are stabbed into the previous casing string) on a traveling block to move the pieces of casing up and down through the drilling hole. While they’re hanging above the drilling floor, casing tongs screw the casing joints and the casing strings together. To properly place the casing, the first casing string and a guide shoe are used the direct the casing crew into the correct position. Casing has officially run into the well when the weight of the casing string is transferred to the casing hangers, located on the top of the well. At this point, a drill bit is inserted and drilling fluid is circulated to remove any leftover cuttings from the well. Once the leftover cuttings have been removed, cement is added to the narrow gaps in between the casing and the raw well walls to harden and set the casing in place. Do you need to add casing to your well? We have all the casing and implementation tools you will need available! Just give us a call today. … [Read more...]

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What are Rig Tongs Used For? Rig tongs are large self-locking wrenches that are used to spin pipe and in some cases apply the final makeup torque. There are a variety of rig tongs available dependent on what application they’ll be used for. Some examples are: chisel tongs, casing tongs, power tongs, rotary tongs and manual tongs. Below we will dive into everything rig tongs - how they’re used, how they can benefit your drill site and why they’re essential to any drilling operation. What are Rig Tongs? Rig tongs are used for one of two things; to either breakout or makeup casing, tubing or drill pipers. Rig tongs are further classified based on their function. Tongs that are used during loosening operations are called breakout tongs, while those used in tightening operations are called makeup tongs. One thing to note is that rig tongs are always used in pairs. The first set of tongs is tied to the derrick with a cable or chain, while the second set is pulled with mechanical catheads. When strategizing how to properly make this connection with the rig tongs, you need to take into account the necessary torque. To precisely determine what torque is needed, you multiply force and the length of the tong. What are the Different Types of Rig Tong Drivers? There are three main types of rig tong drivers: Straight Tong Die Driver The straight tong die driver is the simplest type of rig tong and is used for die slot redressing. It’s important to note that although this is the simplest rig tong to use, it’s also the most dangerous because its handle and handguard protect hammer blows from falling into the grip. Angled Tong Die Driver Unlike the straight tong die driver, the angled rig tong has a grip that’s angled away for the perpendicular tong. The angled tong die driver also boast brass guards for the tong tip and handle which makes this rig tong safer than it’s straight tong counterpart. However, with this tong, it’s much more difficult to keep the angle tong die driver in its proper place. Hammerless Tong Die Driver Like the same suggests, this tong die driver is composed of a hand pipe that can be used to apply pressure without using a hammer. The hammerless tong die driver is the safest of the three driver types because there is no hammer involved, but it’s also the slowest driver for the same reason. Now that you understand more about rig tongs, do you need them for your drilling site? TIOT has all of your drilling tool needs covered. Give us a call today! … [Read more...]

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All About Drill Pipes: What are They & What are They Used For? Drilling oil, gas, water and other natural resources requires a wide-range of essential tools and equipment for the project to be completed effectively. Drill pipes are one of these tools that are absolutely necessary for any drilling project. Below we will take a look at drill pipes, and breakdown their classification, uses and sizing. What is a Drill Pipe? A drill pipe is a seamless steel pipe that composes around 95% of the length of a drill string. For clarity, a drill string is what is used to actually drill into the ground to extract resources. The drill pipe is hollow, which allows drilling fluid to flow freely throughout the pipe and the pumping process to be completed successfully. Drill pipes are manufactured to transfer drilling torque the entire length of the pipe - often several miles. They are also created to resist pressure changes and need to have the ability to hold the entire weight of the deeper drilling components. Drill pipes are manufactured by welding together the threaded tool joint, the box tool joint and the pin tool joint. These joints are used in the top section of the drill string to pump fluid and transfer torque to the bit. How are the Sizings of Drill Pipes Measured? The individual joints of the drill pipe are called a “Single”. The “Singles” are then further identified by their length. Specifically, the lengths are identified using a three-part API length range, so the lengths will be classified as a one, two or a three. The most common length of drill pipes is range two. This is important, because when looking to determine the depth of drilling, you need to exactly take into account the length of the drill string (including the drill pipe). Drill pipes are manufactured in a variety of sizes and materials, meaning there is a perfect drill pipe for your project. Similar to the API length ranges, there are also groupings of API classes, based on the size and material of the drill pipe. The API classes measure yield strength, tensile strength, the drill-pipe body and the tool joint. API classes are given based on inspection, and these inspections are especially important after the drill pipes have been used. Ultrasonic testing and a wide-range of other tools are used to give these measurement ranges. Determining the proper drill pipe for your drilling project can be a difficult choice to make. Luckily, our drilling experts are available to answer questions on your drilling tool selection. Give us a call for answers today! … [Read more...]

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What are Slips and Elevators in the Drilling Industry? For those new to the drilling industry, or those looking in from the outside, the tools and processes used to extract resources can be confusing. There are oil field tools and equipment that are essential to a drilling rig, while others are optional. If you’re interested in getting into the drilling industry, it’s imperative that you are familiar with all of these tools, including the essentials like slips and elevators. Learn more about these slips and elevators below! Slips and Their Importance Slips fit around the body of a drill pipe and are used to suspend the drill string in the drilling hole. When installed, they are wedged in the taper of the rotary table’s opening and because they have serrated insets, they are able to grip the outside of the tubular when it is set on the rotary table. Slips are typically installed by the drilling rig team. To set them, the slips are placed around the drill pipe, which is then lowered until the serrated insets take hold of the drill pipe. When it is time to disassemble the slips and drill pipe, the rig team will work backwards. One crew member will lift the drill pipe up, while another will take the slip by the handles and remove them from the rotary table. One thing to note when using slips is if the drill collar does not have an elevator shoulder, a safety clamp will need to be used above the slips. This safety clamp will ensure that if the serrated insets of the slips fail, the slips won’t fall into the drilling hole, rather, they will be “caught” by the safety clamp. Elevators and Their Importance An elevator is used to raise and lower the drilling pipe in and out of the drilling hole by latching around the top of the drill string pipe joints. Most elevators are hinged and the drilling rig team can open and close them by using the latch with handles on either side of the elevator. When installing the elevator, it should be attached to the hook or the Top Drive with either links or bails and because a drilling elevator is tapered, it can tightly latch to the drilling pipe without damaging it. Beckets and bails can then be added to an elevator to give extra room for your crew to maneuver the elevator and complete their work efficiently. In important to mention that in special circumstances a drill string won’t have a shoulder, so a lifting sub will be added to the end of a joint to help lift the drill string. The elevator will then be attached to the lifting sub to lower and raise the drill collars from the drilling hole. As you can see slips and elevators are essential to a drilling rig. If you’re ready to purchase your slips and elevators, give us a call today! Our experts will be able to answer any questions you may have about your specific drilling sites. … [Read more...]

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Why are Beckets and Bails Essential to Elevators? When it comes to using a drilling elevator, you don’t want to miss a step. While it’s important to understand the function of an elevator, it is even more important to understand all of the parts and devices that are used in conjunction with the elevator. With this knowledge, your elevator can be properly installed for your team to use. If your elevator is placed incorrectly, your expensive drilling equipment could be damaged and crew members could be injured, so it's imperative to get it right.   While there are plenty of oil field tools and addons that you can use with an elevator on your drilling site, we strongly recommend implementing beckets and bails. Why? Find out below. What is an Elevator? To clarify, in drilling, an elevator is a hinged clamp used to raise and lower the drilling pipe in and out of the hole. To properly work, the elevator must be latched around the top of a drill string, specifically at the pipe joints. The crew can then maneuver the elevator accordingly. There are a variety of different elevators available on the market today, and they differ depending on how they’re made. No matter what types of elevators are on your drilling site, you will be able to use beckets and bails during installation and manipulation. Installing an Elevator Using Beckets and Bails A becket is bar that’s shaped like an upside down “U” and is used to suspend the elevator from the holes on the traveling block. Elevator Bails on the other hand are straight rods, with an hole on each end, that are used in conjunction with the beckets to suspend the elevator. Both beckets and bails are available in a variety of sizes, meaning there will be a fit for any type of elevator. Elevators are installed by attaching two bails to the becket through the two holes on each side, while the other ends are attached to the elevator. When you use beckets and bails, you can stay further away from the elevator. This extra distance gives the drilling rig crew more room to work, making it a safer work environment. Using beckets and bails is not necessary, but it is definitely recommended. Not only will your crew be safer, but from a financial perspective, they can save you a lot of money because the extra working space that beckets and bails provide can prevent work injuries and damage to your expensive drilling equipment. If you’re ready to add beckets and bails to your drilling site, our experts are available to take your order. Additional questions? We have been in business for over 25 years, so we will have the answers to all of your drilling questions. … [Read more...]

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Top 2022 Tools and Equipment in the Oil and Gas Industry With a new year comes a new set of trends in any line of work, but this is especially the case in oil and gas industry. Oil and gas are in constant demand, so oilfield tools need to be able to evolve to meet that demand. Below we will take a look at the tools we predict will be especially popular in 2022 for their cutting-edge technology and ease-of-use. Tool: Power Tongs We predict that power tongs will continue to be an invaluable tool in the oil industry as they are continuously developed to improve efficiency and the safety of drill floor operations. These wrenches are well-known for their ability to apply torque and gripping drill string components which is something that will not be replicated in 2022 by any other tool. Power tongs are generally categorized into four types: casing tongs, tubing tongs, drill pipe tongs and riser tongs. Each variation has its place in 2022’s tool line-up. Casing tongs come in a variety of sizes and are used to make or break casing tubulars. They’re essential is maintaining the opening of the well. As you might imagine from their name, tubing tongs are used to run tubulars. This allows oil and gas to actually be extracted from reservoirs. Drill pipe tongs screw together drill pipe and tubulars to form drill strings. Drill strings are then used for drilling into the ground. Riser tongs are used when working with the seafloor. They move materials from the blowout (located on the seafloor) to the drilling rig. When you invest in any essential power tong variation you can be sure that it will continue to be used for years to come. Tool: Elevators If you need to raise and lower pipe into the drilling hole, you need a drill pipe elevator. The use of an elevator in the oil industry ensures that the project can be completed. Without an elevator, many jobs would go unfinished which is why it’s on our list for the top oil and gas tools in 2022. For some additional context, the elevator attaches to the top of the pipe joints in the drill string. This allows your driller to manage the movement of the pipe. Many elevators are hinged, so they are operated by opening the latch with two handles on each side. If you’re working on a heavy-duty drilling project, you will need to add an elevator to your arsenal of tools. Tool: Top Drive Systems A top drive system is used to apply clockwise torque to the drillstring to create a borehole. These mechanical systems are an alternative to the rotary table and kelly drive.  Top drive systems can be found on the drilling rig, below the traveling block, at the swivel’s place. They move up and down to evenly apply torque to the drillstring and can be used in a variety of rigs including truck-mounted rigs and offshore rigs.  Because top drives don’t require kelly drives, a master bushing and rotary table should instead be used for support. The lack of kelly drive makes a top drive system more scalable and is essential for 2022 drilling operations. With a top drive system you can drill 90 feet before making a connection whereas with kelly systems you only have 30 feet before making a connection.  The last benefit of a top drive system we will mention is they allow rotation and circulation while back reaming out of a hole; kelly drives do not have this capability and can’t rotate the drill stem. Tool: Rig Tongs We can’t discuss the top tools of 2022 without touching on rig tongs. Rig tongs are self-locking wrenches that are used to breakout or makeup casing, tubing, or drill pipes. Examples of rig tongs are chisel tongs, casing tongs, power tongs, rotary tongs, and manual tongs.  Rig tongs are always used in pairs - one set is tied to the derrick with a cable or chain, while the other is pulled with mechanical catheads. The application of the rig tongs is dependent on torque necessary to breakout or makeup the casing or tubing.  There are three main types of rig tongs: straight tong tie drivers, angled tong tie drivers, and hammerless tong tie drivers. While all variations are used for die reslotting, they each have their own features for their specific applications.  Straight tong tie drivers are the simplest rig tong as they are straight, but they can also be the most dangerous as there is nothing to protect the operator from the hammer. As the name suggests, angled tong tie drivers have a grip that’s angled to create a perpendicular tong; they also have brass guards for the tips and handle. Finally, hammerless tong tie drivers don’t involve the use of a hammer, so they’re the safest, but they’re also the slowest for the same reason. The rig tong you choose should be specific to your jobsite. Although there are a plethora of other tools vital to the oil and gas industry in 2022, power tongs and elevators are two of our favorite. If you’re ready to purchase the drilling rig equipment, contact us today! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have or help you complete your purchase. … [Read more...]

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How to Work With Casing Slips Safely When you go to work, or when your employees go to work, you need them to be safe. For example, when you work in retail or the food industry, you need to make sure there isn’t water on the floor someone could slip on. It’s the same thing with the oil industry. Except for when you work in oil and gas, you need to make sure that your casing slips are intact. What are Casing Slips? Essentially, casing slips keep the drilling assembly from falling into the well you’re extracting oil from. Without casing slips the drilling assembly could fall through the drilling hole, causing potential injuries, not to mention thousands of dollars of damages. Casing slips grip different types of tubulars to secure it in the rotary table and enable connecting and disconnecting. The slip carries the entire weight of the string or singular tubular to keep it from falling into the drilling hole. The way casing slips are manufactured and used is essential to any drilling project. Slips are made of steel wedges which are then hinged together so they can fit around the OD of a tubular. When the tubular is attached to the rotary, the slips will securely fit in between the OD of the tubular and the rotary bushings. Increasing Safety with Casing Slips Before you start any project, the casing slips should be thoroughly inspected for damage or wear and tear; the most important area to focus on is the toe of the slip. Other things you will want to look for are sharpness, correct size and of course ensuring the parts are from the same manufacture. Although less upstanding manufactures will assure you their parts will fit, it’s best to keep them updated from the same high-quality manufacture like Texas International. If your casing slips don’t check out, you need to replace them. Working on a drilling project with less than perfect casing slips can be disastrous to your oilfield equipment and the people working on it.  vAnother thing to consider when looking to improve the safety of your worksite is the automation of casing slips. Not only does the automation of the casing slips create a more efficient work environment, but it also contributes to the safety of the team. When casing slips are automated, workers don’t have to place their hands on the potentially dangerous tools and rotary. As technology continues to evolve, there will be more and more strides in the industry to improve safety when working with casing slips. The best practices we listed above however, will keep your worksite and employees safe on the job, which is the most important thing. If your casing slips need to be replaced with new ones, give us a call today for the highest-quality slip products available on the market today. … [Read more...]

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