Safety

It is often considered a challenge to find process improvements which will positively affect both safety and cost savings. The Rig-Hand system meets this challenge head on.

Rig-Hand improves the safety of performing routine drill-site tasks by changing the way tasks are physically performed. It can implement and enforce best practices in the field and it simplifies and improves the accuracy of 3rd party engineering analysis packages (such as torque and drag or fluid optimization) to result in a safer and more efficient operation.

• Potential Reduction in Pipe Failure

• Improved Safety While Measuring Pipe

• Value of Safety Improvements

The safety related cost savings associated with the process improvements gained by using the Rig-Hand system appear to be substantial. To date however, there is a lack of field data in this area. Consequently, no dollar estimates of safety related savings are yet included within our value analysis. Automation Innovation LLC is interested in conducting a field study to demonstrate the safety benefits and the related economic values of using our product.  If your company is interested in participating in a case study, please contact Automation Innovation LLC.

Potential Reduction in Pipe Failure

Rig-Hand increases the safety of routine drilling operations by reducing the risk of string failures, stuck pipe, failed fishing operations and poor fluid optimizations.

A drill string failure is dangerous and expensive, both during and after its occurrence. Not only have personnel been injured during the physical event, but well control is significantly impaired. Environmental and operational issues may also be raised about tools left in the well or the impact of sub-surface fluid migrations.

With the ability to finally have practical down-hole equipment component traceability, it is likely that drill string failures can be reduced. In addition, the enforcement of corporate ‘best practices’ can finally close the loop on many undesirable field operations.

Improved Safety While Measuring Pipe
 

Rig-Hand increases the safety of operations such as performing casing tallies, while simultaneously speeding up the process and improving accuracy.

At first glance it would seem that few things could be safer to perform on the worksite then measuring pipe using a steel measuring tape. However, you must take into account how the process is performed and then look at how it could be performed better by using the Rig-Hand system.
 

Typically, when pipe is measured on the pipe rack using a steel tape it requires two men at one end to read and record values and one man at the other end of the pipe to hold the tape. Usually there is an additional man somewhere in the middle to prevent the measuring tape from sagging and getting caught between sections of pipe. As joints (lengths) of casing are measured, the crew walks along the pipe, frequently rolling pipe out of the way as they measure. If the tape measure sags down in between pipe and gets caught (a frequent occurrence) then the crew resorts to using pry bars to move the pipe apart and pull out the tape measure. Having a crew walk around and work on a rack of pipe is potentially dangerous. When pipe is wet, icy or slippery it becomes quite hazardous. Reducing exposure to this work will result in a safer operation.
 

The Rig-Hand system would cut the manpower requirement from three or four down to two. It also eliminates the tape measure problems. Depending on the measuring process used, it may also eliminate having to roll pipe back and forth to get to pipe that is buried in the stack. Rig-Hand creates a safer, faster, more efficient and more accurate process than conventional methods allow.

Value of Safety Improvements
 

The economics of the safety improvements, while expected to be significant, have not yet been tabulated and are not yet included in the estimated value of using the Rig-Hand system. The additional values associated with safety advancements further improve the already impressive economic rewards of using the Rig-Hand system.