December 2004 Supplement    Rig Floor Equipment

New tong handling system debuts in UK

Leadhand MKIII hydraulic power-tong handling system on Shell’s Goldeneye North Sea development.

BJ Tubular Services (BJ) successfully completed the first of a series of casing and tubing running operations for Shell UK Ltd. on the company’s Goldeneye gas-condensate development in the UK sector of the northern North Sea. The operation ran casing ranging in sizes from 7-in. to 13-3/8-in. on Goldeneye Well GYA 04 in Block 14/29a-3 from the Maersk Innovator jackup.

A contributing factor to success of the operation was BJ’s new Leadhand MKIII. This latest addition to the company’s Leadhand family of hydraulic power tong handling systems was installed and used for the first time. Leadhand is designed to maneuver unwieldy hydraulic power tongs to and from the well center during casing and tubing operations. Its greatest benefit is improved safety because it requires no manual effort by the operator.

The newest tool is now track-mounted directly onto the rig floor, so it is fully self-supporting and self-propelled. It moves easily along the drill floor tracks featured on today’s latest generation rigs; the tracks provide support and propel the tong carriage to and from the well center. As a result, rig-ups can be carried out faster than ever, without compromising safety standards. Unlike other systems, the new tool’s unique propulsion system allows the tong to be moved back and forth over long distances.

The MKIII is very adaptable. Designed to accommodate every standard tong system, operators will always be able to use the appropriate type of tong for each individual project. Further, the tong can always be removed from the new system for conventional use. The tong and carriage may also be withdrawn when not in use. As opposed to the standard three-man crew required by other systems, it requires just one technician to operate it, which reduces required manpower. It is easy to install, and it maximizes lifting capacity efficiency. 

Well GYA 04 is one of five wells that BJ will be servicing over the coming months, as the result of a contract between Shell and the BOSS Alliance, of which the service company is a member. The MKIII will remain on the Maersk Innovator for use by BJ throughout the forthcoming program of casing/ tubing running operations on Goldeneye.

During the past three years, BJ has used the Leadhand to provide casing and tubing running services on Shell’s Northern Business Unit. Since it was launched in 1997, the system has earned a positive track record, performing for a number of major North Sea operators, even in the roughest terrain. The system has been successfully utilized for BP on the Stena Dee in Foinaven, the Glomar Arctic IV on Bruce Phase II, and Santa Fe’s Monarch on its ETAP Project in the UK. It has also operated effectively on Drilling Rig T47 at Wytch Farm, England.