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.