Page 14 - The Rotary Rig and Its Components

AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT

Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin

Auxiliary Equipment

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In this chapter:
• Powering the auxiliaries

• Treating used mud
• Monitoring drilling parameters
• Storage facilities, crew accommodations, and telecommuni-
cations systems

n addition to the major pieces of equipment that make up a drilling
Irig, many relatively minor pieces of equipment are necessary. The For more information on
main systems—for power, hoisting, rotating, circulating, and well- auxiliary equipment, see the
control—all have support equipment that makes it possible for the rig Rotary Series, Unit I, Lesson
9: The Auxiliaries.
to function. How the rig will be used influences both the number and
types of auxiliaries chosen for operations. Variables such as terrain,
climate, remoteness from supply centers, and transportation require-
ments also have an influence on the choice of auxiliaries.
In the offshore environment, drillships and mobile offshore drilling
units (MODUs) capable of floating have the drilling rig and auxiliaries
so firmly integrated into the structure and function of the unit that it
is often difficult to differentiate between the equipment required for
drilling operations and the equipment required to operate the unit. For
example, the prime movers might be used to generate power for both
drilling and operating functions. For this reason, it is normal to refer
to one of these purpose-built whole units as a “rig,” even though the
rig is technically only constituted of the drilling equipment mounted
on the unit.

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