- The hoisting system
The hoisting system has to lift, hold, and lower heavy pipe. The tall part of a drilling rig is called the derrick--this is part of the hoisting system.
Hoisting means lifting--the block-and-tackle on the derrick lift the heavy pipe.
- The rotary system
The rotary system must twist the drill bit. Some of it works above the rig floor, but the drill
bit may be kilometers below the ground. Rotary means turning--the drill bit turns round and round to grind up the rock.
- The circulating system
The circulating system pushes a special mud down the pipe, and pushes it back up again.
This mud does three things: (1) It lubricates the drill bit (makes it slippery so it doesn’t stick),
(2) When the mud comes back up, it brings with it all the little pieces of rock (rock cuttings)
that the drill has ground up, and (3) it stops the oil and gas from escaping up the outside of
the pipe.
“Circulating” means “moving round and round”--the mud moves down the hole and then
comes back up.
- The blowout prevention system
A blowout happens when the drill strikes oil or gas or water that is under a lot of pressure.
It could blow the mud out of the pipe and shoot oil (or gas, or water) high into the air. No-one
wants this to happen. The blowout prevention system (BOP) stops this by sealing off the
hole.
- The power system
The power system provides the energy that the oilmen need to run the rig. Usually diesel oil is burned to make electricity.
Little Quiz for Blogger -->
Match these terms: = Do Not Cheating =
1. Hoisting system _______ A. Moves mud down the hole and back up again.
2. Rotary system _______ B. Provides the power
3. Circulating system _______ C. Lifts and hold heavy pipe
4. Blowout prevention system ____ D. Twists the drill bit round and round
5. Power system _______ E. Seals the hole to stop a blowout
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