December 2004 Supplement    New Rig Designs

Unique 200-ton drilling rig

Drillmec HH 200 rig on location.

The Italian company Drillmec, based in Piacenza and belonging to the Trevi Group, has launched the HH 150 and HH 200 drilling rigs offering fully hydraulic technological solutions not found in other rigs. Three HH 200 rigs are working, two in Venezuela and one in Iceland; a fourth rig is under construction and will be shipped shortly. Both HH 150 and HH 200 units share a common concept combining key features of safety, low environmental impact, cost reduction and high performance. Technical data for the two rigs is shown in the accompanying table.

Results achieved with the new rigs proved to be successful, allowing reduced drilling times and, consequently, overall costs, by more than 25%. Among the numerous innovations, the main feature is the exclusive top drive, capable of moving both vertically and horizontally, so that it can automatically and safely handle the drillstring without interventions by the drilling crew. It can make up one joint in just 40 sec. vs. several minutes on conventional rigs.

For safety, the automated system for pipe handling, the highly developed computerized control system that constantly monitors the drilling process and the unmanned rig floor even during trips, can reduce the drilling crew to only three people. This raises the workers’ safety standard to much higher levels than those typically considered for conventional rigs.

The HH 200 is fairly large and powerful, but still capable of respecting the environment. It has a spill proof/ closed loop system, integrated by a number of drainages and collecting wells, that prevent potentially polluting fluids from penetrating the ground. The high system technology allows a compact design that dramatically reduces location size to one third, even one fifth that required by conventional rigs of comparable potential. Further, the soundproofing has been developed to decrease acoustic impact on the crew and the environment.

Technically, the HH 200 is unique. The most impressive innovation concerns the automated top drive and the pipe handling system. Other advanced solutions that allow the rig to cut drilling time and cost are the drillers cabin, housing highly advanced instruments with a computerized system allowing complete/ constant control of all drilling parameters, thus increasing worker safety. Also, the entire rig and its surface aggregates are mounted on wheels, drastically cutting rig-up and rig-down time.