Oil rigging remains a crucial means to extract natural gas and petroleum far beneath the earth’s floor. In 2018, there were well over 900 onshore oil rigs in the US alone. In this same year, there were over 180 offshore ocean oil rigs worldwide, working hard to process oil through drilled wells.
With so much commerce at stake, it’s important to find replacement parts fast. If you’re a rig’s Installation Manager, you need a purchasing process that helps you reach the right oil rig parts when you need them most.
Read further to find out how to shape a procurement process and find the parts that are right for you.
Rig Industry Basics
Oilfield parts companies sell wares to many different kinds of drilling rigs. These rigs are classified as either offshore or onshore rigs.
Offshore and onshore rigs share some similarities. They both use disc braking systems to control draw works. They both have projecting girders raised with hoisting systems.
Onshore models use cable tool drilling methods to raise and drop a metal bit into the ground. This metal bit penetrates the earth’s service.
Offshore rigs are either fixed or floating platforms. These offshore platforms fall within the following general formats:
Semi-submersible Rig
This rig model is a floating deck reinforced by pontoons and mooring lines. Semi-submersible rigs can operate in water depths over 12,000 square feet.
Drillship
Drillships are used at remote locations and operate and water depths around 10,000 feet. These “floaters” stay put with anchors and computerized positioning devices.
Jack-Up Drilling Rig
These rigs operate in shallower depths up to 500 feet. The Jack-up rig power system lower’s support legs to the ocean floor and raises the platform above the water’s surface.
Barge Rig
These offshore vessels are towed to their location where their hull is filled with water. These rigs work best in shallow areas and can drill in depths between 10 and 20 feet.
Oil Rig Parts Procurement and Planning
With so many different rig styles in operation today, it’s best to find an oil rig parts supplier that has the correct inventory to meet your specific needs. For example, if you’re operating a Semi-submersible Rig, you’ll need a steady supply of position-keeping propellers for quick repairs.
It’s also important to find the right company that can provide maintenance or service on surface or down-hole equipment. These companies not only sell you your oil rig parts but are also capable of making the repairs or workover that your rig might need.
The best way to make sure the right oil rig parts are available when you need them is to create a maintenance replacement plan. Maintenance replacement plans will allow you to have a stockpile of extra parts and limit your waiting for parts to arrive.
Your maintenance repair plan should also address the different power systems you have in place for your rigging option. These systems help protect your rigs ailing components until the scheduled repairs or replacements are necessary.
Next Steps
Create your oil rig maintenance replacement plan today. Regular attention to these factors can help extend your machinery’s lifespan.
Perform regular maintenance reviews on your hoist or circulation systems. These power systems will keep your rig alive until replacement parts arrive.
Keep an extra supply of augers and hydraulic hoses on sight. Without them, your production could come to a grinding (and expensive) halt.
Don’t forget to check out our website for more information on resourcing oil rig parts. It’s our job to help you in all ways possible.