The Benefits of Casing Running Tools As you may be aware in 2015 nearly 77% of the most productive U.S. oil wells, those generating more than 400 barrels of oil per day, were horizontally drilled wells. Source: US Energy Information Administration Out on the field and dealing with both drilling and hydraulic fracturing has its challenges. However casing running tools (CRT) help make it much easier to ensure continued operations with significantly fewer workers. CRT maximizes the torque of the top drive, so casing tongs, drilling bails, and stabbers aren’t necessary. Manual issues from the stabbing board operator are gone. When CRTs are installed it includes the equivalent of spider elevator through drilling rig slips. Size of slips depend on the casing size transmitting the torque and the weight of casing strings. The CRT supports the single joint elevators as they lift to the well center. Once slips are on the joints, the top drive has enough energy. No Manual Backup Tongs With CRT you don’t necessarily need a manual backup tong. Not having to use tongs is likely preferable to most oil workers where most people argue over who is forced to use it when CRTs eliminate that undesirable task. Additionally you’re producing much faster as there’s no down time for manual tongs and other equipment. With fewer people and manual tools on the field, human error and hazards diminish. Less time rigging and less equipment also lets you finish tasks faster. Remote Operation Control panel only requires one person and is simple to operate. With the Casing Drive System and slips, it’s much easier to avoid dropped or lost pipes. Effectively with casing running tools you get a smoother and more efficient casing along with less hazards and labor needed. Learn more about CoreTech Materials Oilfield Tools. … [Read more...]
Buying New vs Refurbished Oilfield Equipment Whenever you’re purchasing oilfield equipment, you want to get the best deal possible. But what does the best deal look like to you? Based on your purchasing criteria buying new or refurbished oilfield tools could be the right direction. The Pros of New Oilfield Equipment Purchasing new equipment means you are leveraging the best versions of their products the manufacturers believe they’ve come up with. Meaning you’re getting the most reliable and optimized tool in their line yet. Many of the improvements come via feedback from the field. Some tools are also easier to service based on their design like the EZY Torque Hydraulic Cathead. New equipment may also have a return policy if you decide you’re unsatisfied with the product. See our return policy here. When you purchase new oil rig equipment, finding supporting accessories and tools can also be easier as you’re not dealing with legacy products. The Pros of Refurbished Oilfield Equipment Yes, cutting down on capital costs is an effective way to compete in the industry and even scale up your rig fleet. And beyond the lower upfront expense, most reputable refurbished sellers offer a warranty, so you are less likely to expose yourself to immediate risk. If you have a specific tool you’ve used successfully on the field and just need to replace, refurbished can also help your budget based on the supplier’s refurbished piece. They might even let you rent their equipment. Depending on how much use the equipment has gone through, you can luck out and acquire tools that are nearly new or very lightly used. Before buying, check with the supplier to see why the equipment was refurbished. As you compare and shop new versus refurbished, map out a four square matrix. It can help to visualize your priorities and purchasing criteria. Quadrant 1 is features or benefits that would be nice to have, but not completely necessary. Quadrant 2 is your must-have criteria. If a piece of equipment aligns with everything here, it’s a much easier yes. Quadrant 3 is your deal breakers/red flags and simply aren’t a good fit for you. Quadrant 4 is something you know is necessary but not necessarily something top of mind when out on the field such as a product warranty. Questions to Ask When Shopping New Versus Refurbished Oilfield Tools When inquiring and shopping for comparisons on oilfield tools ask: How does the warranty for refurbished equipment compare to new? Why was this specific tool refurbished? Was it used for one project and then returned? What does the refurbishing process look like for tools? Browse our lines of new and refurbished oilfield equipment including diesel hydraulic power units, elevator spiders, and casing elevators. … [Read more...]