The oil industry makes about 2-3% of the global economy, which amounts to much larger figures when assessing the country-wise statistics. In 2019, the revenues from oil and gas drilling sectors were estimated at $3.3 trillion. There’s a need for more than one or a few oil drilling methods due to this industry’s magnitude.
The process begins with the digging of an oil well using a drilling mud pump. The deep, tubular framework creates pressure for the precious fuel to rise to the surface for extraction. This pressure is short-lived, and you need oil drilling mechanisms along to draw oil from the depths of the soil with force. That’s why there are so many different types of oil rigs and various ways they operate.
Let’s look at some of the more prominent examples of oil rigs work. Note that each of these platforms consists of a drill rod that’s lowered into the ground to draw oil as it rises. Read on for the details.
Grasshopper Oil Drilling
Such drilling platforms combine air balance rugs and horsehead rigs. The weights hang in the center of the walking beam, instead of being located at the very end. As the walking beam pulls, the drill rod pushes deeper into the oil well. The beam rises, and the drilling mechanism ascends to the surface to bring the drill rod back up.
Horsehead Oil Drilling
You’ll find that most oil drilling rigs follow the horsehead design for extraction. The walking beam is attached with massive steel beams, known as counterweights, on one end, and the drill rod on the other. The shaft is pivoted from the center. When the counterweights rotate, the beam lowers the drill rod into the ground at equally spaced intervals. Once the oil reserves are collected, the beam rises again to bring the fuel above ground.
Air Balance Oil Drilling
This system is designed to have the pivots at the far end of the walking beam. Air cylinders replace the counterweights in this design to perform the same function. As the drill rod descends into the ground, the air in the cylinder compresses further. Once the air compresses to the maximum, it expands and pulls the beam back over the ground.
Larger oil rigs are powered by diesel engines that convert fuel energy into electricity for the motors to run. The drilling system consists of a mechanical winch, a storage reel, a steel cable spool to wrap around the reel and a block-and-tackle pulley. Regardless of the drilling project’s size, the oil rigs follow the same mechanism with slight changes in design.
If you’re looking for premium industrial-grade drilling equipment, check out our oilfield instrumentation, including mud pressure gauges, custom cables, or clipper weight indicators.
Contact Instruments is a leading manufacturer of OEM instrumentation in Canada and has a production facility in Leduc, Alberta. We’re manufacturers and suppliers of drilling equipment for Canadian and American oil companies and assist producers with all drilling tools and equipment.