Drillers, and their Industry

Drilling technology refers to the application of technology in the excavation of formations to create a bore on the Earth’s surface. It simply is the application of technology for purposes of drilling. The most basic requirement of drilling technology is that it provides safe, economic access to subsurface geologic formations to evaluate/optimize their production potential or to produce the resource existing there.

Well drilling is an ancient craft, although comparatively a modern industry. It occurs in all nations around the world, and in the seas surrounding those nations. The drilling industry contributes more than its expected share to a nation’s economy because it supports a number of other industries – construction and infrastructure development, mining, energy supply (oil, gas, coal, hydro-electricity, and geothermal) and housing, agriculture, and rural development through groundwater supply. The different well drilling methods include cable tool percussion, core drilling, hydraulic jetting, and rotary drilling. Geology plays an important role in good drilling and a study of the rock formation and stratification, in the locality where the well is to be drilled, is necessary to determine the type of drilling outfit best adapted to the purpose.

The industry is, and always has been, cyclical in response to circumstances outside each individual company’s control – changing resource demand, demand for varying energy sources, commodity prices, and even the weather. Any of these can result in changes in workforce demand or changes in emphasis in different sectors and applications of drilling. Thus the industry does from time to time lose some good drillers and drilling managers to other industries. Those who replace them are an entirely new generation of drillers.

People enter the drilling industry from a range of backgrounds, and it may sometimes be a struggle to find sufficient mechanically minded drillers to carry out all the tasks or expectations listed in this work. The cyclical nature of the industry highlights the need for a support base of skilled personnel.

History of Well Drilling

In the dry regions of Asia the climate, the universal scarcity of water, the locally dense population, and the dominance of agriculture resulted in the early development of the art of constructing wells. It is not surprising that in China, a country prolific in inventions that are in modern use, there should have been devised, centuries ago, for good drilling, a churn drill which in principle is like the churn drill used today. It is also to the early Chinese engineers that we are indebted for one of the few known methods of sinking wells through loose soil and quicksand to great depths; that is, by constructing a curb of stone or brick, which settles as the excavation is deepened and thereby reduces the pressure of the surrounding material.

In western China, near the borders of Thibet, a method of drilling for petroleum similar to cable tool percussion illustrates the primitive though scientific manner of well construction in that country. The drilling tool is of the free-falling kind, a hard-wood rod or lifter having an iron cap at each end serving as the hammer or maul.

This is fastened to the top of an iron link and falls on the chisel or bit attached to the bottom of the link. The tools are lifted and dropped by means of a windlass having an automatic release.

In Europe, two wells completed in France brought great impetus to the drilling industry. For instance, the Passy well in Paris which was completed in 1857, was drilled to a depth of 1,923 feet with a diameter of 2.33 feet. This well delivered 5.5 Million gallons of water daily to a height of 54 feet above the surface.

Drilled and bored wells for water supply have largely superseded dug wells in many parts of the United States, because water obtained from the deeper sources that are tapped by drilled wells is less likely to be contaminated than that obtained near the surface, and the supply of these deeper wells is also usually more constant than that of shallow dug wells. The methods of drilling water wells have been greatly improved during recent years by experience gained in the sinking of great depths for oil and gas, such drilling has resulted in the development of smaller and more efficient tools.

Advances in technology are not all simply random evolutionary advances but represent a step change in drilling technology. They often represent a major change in drilling paradigms brought on by pressure to develop new resources in the face of existing domestic depletion and more challenging drilling environments. In high-cost environments, such as deepwater offshore, technology is needed to maximize efficiency and minimize time on location.

Components of the Drilling Process

The driller knows the processes involved in making a hole, for example, crushing, abrading, impact, tearing, twisting, cutting, eroding, stirring/sluicing, and excavating. With this knowledge, he is able to alter the drilling method to suit each particular application.

An experienced driller uses several senses to keep track of what is happening down the hole. He will monitor instruments such as pressure gauges, feed, and weight indicators. He will feel vibrations and listen for

sounds of rough drilling as he observes the volume, color, and consistency of the returns from the hole. When these clues are combined they allow the driller to recognize what is happening.

A driller must have the skills to keep the hole open and stable long enough for it to be completed. Often the hole will have to be kept open for additional time to permit measurements and tests, or for material to be inserted.

His knowledge of the most suitable drilling method and circulating fluid is important to ensure that the hole will remain open and stable. He or she instructs his crew in proper drilling practices and organizes them to work as a team. The driller, where appropriate, delegates the crew to carry out daily services and will work with them when new parts and repairs are required. At all times drillers must be aware of the three components of the drilling process, as depicted in the figure below.

If one component is overlooked, the drilling process will deteriorate rapidly and the information obtained from the hole will be invalid. Each component produces valuable information, which, when combined, indicates what is happening.

Importance of Drilling

Drilling:

Provides information about resources (minerals, construction material, oil, gas, water) and also provides access to those resources.
Helps with developing infrastructure in foundations, piling, and constructing dams, and laying underground cables for energy transmission and communications.
Helps to gather information such as ground strength, ground formations and composition, and the presence and quality of groundwater (geotechnical, seismic, and environmental).

Drilling supports a number of other industries – construction and infrastructure development, mining, energy supply (oil, gas, coal, hydro-electricity, and geothermal), housing, agriculture, and rural development through groundwater supply.

Occupational Skills

The driller knows the processes involved in making a hole, for example, crushing, abrading, impact, tearing, twisting, cutting, eroding, stirring/sluicing, and excavating.
He knows how to keep track of what is happening down the hole. He does this by monitoring the pressure gauges, feeds and weight indicators, feel vibrations, listen for sounds of rough vibrations, observation of volume, and consistency of drill cuttings as they are blown out of the hole.
He must have the skills to keep the hole open and stable long enough for it to be completed.

The Drilling Team

For a drilling operation to be successful, a small group of people must work together to achieve common goals. Typically, these goals will be safety and productivity.

A drilling operation is a highly integrated process and demands highly integrated teamwork. At all times, every member of the crew must know what is expected of him, must be able to perform allocated tasks independently, and work cooperatively with the other crew members. Effective communication between team members is critical for many tasks and it enables the interaction between all the different roles. The composition of a drilling crew can vary between different companies or applications: The minimum crew would be a driller and a driller’s assistant. (It is unsafe for drillers to work alone.); large, high-production rigs can have a driller, a trainee driller, and one or two driller assistants. Utility workers can be employed when carting water or when camp and mess facilities are needed. the drilling team can be comprised of a supervisor, senior driller, driller, driller's assistant, trainee driller, and utility worker.

The Driller

The driller operates the drill and ancillary equipment with the assistance of one or more trainee drillers, driller’s assistants, and utility workers. The driller is everything from the cook to the project manager. He accepts a high level of responsibility and constantly makes decisions. His knowledge and skills, coupled with drive, initiative, and persistence are always in high demand. No drilling project could effectively begin or be completed without experienced drillers. They are the key people in the industry. A supervisor is usually employed to oversee a number of drill rigs or one drill rig working multiple shifts. Hence supervisors can have responsibilities for a single site or they may travel between multiple sites. The senior driller is an experienced driller who can operate a drill without direct supervision and is capable of managing site operations in isolated areas. In many ways, the senior driller’s responsibilities

are similar to those of the supervisor. A driller’s assistant helps the driller, as required. A trainee driller is an experienced and competent driller’s assistant who is being trained to operate the drilling equipment under supervision. Their responsibilities are the same as those of a driller’s assistant.

Profile of a driller

Every drilling operation is different and requires a highly skilled person to ensure that the drilling process is successful. As such, they are a diverse group of people. They should have a mechanical background and enjoy working with machinery. They must be able to communicate effectively with geologists, engineers, consultants, landholders, and all others involved in a drilling project so that it can be completed in the most efficient and economical manner. Many operational drill sites are remote, and personnel may be required to handle heavy and cumbersome equipment, therefore, stringent physical requirements are a consideration.

Specific Skills Required by a Driller

Drilling skills

Keep the hole stable and open
Know rocks and anticipate formation changes
Interpret drill and hole behaviors
Operate the drill rig, and adjust the speed and feed to suit changing conditions
Recognize and record what is happening

Technical skills

Understand different types of drilling and solve drilling problems
Learn new technology as it comes on-site
Evaluate and select the best drilling techniques and appropriate tools for the job
Mechanical skills (e.g. servicing and maintaining all equipment, making emergency repairs)
Anticipate and maintain an adequate supply of parts and tools.

Management skills

Keep correct and up-to-date records
Prepare detailed reports on required or important matters
Organize the drill crew and team operations
Maintain an efficient, well-supplied camp
Understand contracts and associated obligations
Manage on-site operations and ensure a safe workplace
Be aware of all aspects of the emergency response plan and implement it when required.

Communication skills

Be able to communicate effectively with:

geologists, engineers, consultants
clients or client’s representative(s)
drill crews, drill supervisors, and other company staff
landowners, leaseholders, or other interested parties.

Training skills

Instruct the crew in proper drilling practices
Instruct drilling crews how to work safely
Train assistants in skills of drilling.

Drilling industry sectors

Since the development of drill rigs, techniques and applications have led to the industry’s expansion into the following specialized sectors:

Blast hole: Holes are drilled for explosives, which are detonated to remove rock, ore, or minerals.

Environmental: uses specialized geotechnical drilling and water well drilling methods to monitor the quality of groundwater and assist in the control and remediation of groundwater pollution; test and monitor landfill sites, pollution of lagoons, and sensitive sites (e.g. protected land, water supply well fields, chemical, or hydrocarbon storage sites); determine the source or extent of pollution problems; sample and construct wells for recovering or remediating pollutants in groundwater.

Foundation and Construction: This sector use drilling to establish stable foundations; increase bearing capacity by drilling deeper into stronger rock; provide shear strength between the rock face and in situ concrete; form foundations for buildings or other constructions, such as bridges, railways, factories, processing plants, wharves, and dams.

Geotechnical (site investigation): is carried out to determine soil and rock characteristics. In some cases, it is also used to gather information about the nature and position of the water table from particular sites. Drilling is conducted to assess potential construction sites and to confirm conditions.

Geothermal: uses drilling to generate electric power from steam turbines, which are powered by steam that is produced from hot water recovered from the drill holes.

Mineral exploration: Drilling is conducted to search for new ore bodies; determine the size and grade of an ore body (resource definition); collect stratigraphic information; carry out geochemical surveys.

Mineral production and development: This industry sector drills holes on the surface and

underground to develop mines and to produce ore.

Oil and Gas: Offshore:

Oil and Gas: Onshore

Seismic: entails drilling shallow holes for explosives used in reflection and refraction surveys.

Trenchless technology: drilling large holes in hard rock. It uses directional drilling is used to drill large diameter bores in hard rock or other difficult geology.

Water well: This industry sector uses drilling to monitor water levels or wells; construct production wells; dewater wells at mine and construction sites; create injection wells.

Current Drilling Status in Kenya

Boreholes are necessary for areas where a steady supply of clean water is unavailable. A Borehole is drilled for many uses including industrial, irrigation, and domestic consumption. Drilling boreholes is a science that must follow strict rules to ensure they are beneficial to all dynamics including the environment. Before beginning the process of drilling a borehole in Kenya, one requires licenses from different relevant authorities.

The entire process including surveys, actual drilling, and installation of the pump may cost anything from Ksh 1.2 m to 3 million. Factors affecting the cost include the physical distance from where the drilling company is located, their pricing policies, geological characteristics of the site, and extent of the hole, and pump used. There are also several licensing requirements that cost money.

The process of drilling a borehole begins with a hydrogeological survey. This survey is carried out to determine such factors as groundwater levels and hydraulic characteristics. It should be done by a qualified and registered geologist. This survey is meant to determine the availability of water below the ground and the depth at which water is likely to be struck. Water Resources Authority has the mandate to develop policies that govern the conservation of groundwater by balancing sustainable use and national development. The authority issues permit required for the abstraction of water from all machine drilled boreholes, which excludes hand-dug shallow wells.

Once the geologist is satisfied with the groundwater potential, authorization to proceed is obtained from the Water Resource Authority (WRA). This is followed by an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA). If the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) is satisfied that the proposed drilling will not have an undesirable impact on the immediate environment, the organization then issues a license.

Before you get a NEMA approval License, you will have to carry out a successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed site and take the reports to the NEMA office for approval. Section 9(i) of the EMCA Act mandates the Authority to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment and to be the principal instrument of the Government of Kenya in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment.

In some cases, one may require a no-objection letter from the local water services provider.

Mobilization of equipment then follows and the actual drilling gets underway.

Legal/institutional context

Part II section 16 of the Water Resources Rules of 2007 states that any person intending to develop water resources as defined in the Water Act 2016 shall obtain approval from the Water Resources Authority.

The rules further state that no authorization and permit shall be issued or renewed for purposes of the supply of water for domestic, public, commercial, or industrial use within the limits of the supply of water service provided without the applicant having received consent (no objection letter) of the licensed water service provider for the area.

Section 24 calls for any person who intends to use water under categories B, C, or D to apply for a water use permit. Section 27 requires that a site assessment be conducted by a registered water resources professional and a site assessment report (hydrogeological survey report) and technical report prepared. Section 72 outlines the requirements for the development of groundwater.

The Water Act 2016 establishes the Water Resources Authority, whose mandate is to regulate the management and use of water resources, as well as receive water permit applications. Section 36 of the Act outlines the procedure for permit application for anyone who intends to develop/abstract water resources. The fourth schedule of the water Act 2016 outlines the guidelines for the abstraction of groundwater resources.

Environmental management and Coordination Act of 1999 established institutions that are charged with the responsibility of protecting the environment. Section 58, sub-section 1 of the Act requires that all projects outlined in schedule two should be subjected to an Environmental and Social impact assessment. Such assessment should be carried out by a qualified and registered expert or firm, and a report of the same submitted to the relevant authority. The second schedule lists all the projects that should be subjected to an Environmental Impact Assessment. Part IV (d) of the schedule includes drilling for the purposes of utilizing water resources, geothermal energy, oil, gas, mineral ores, etc.

Other regulations that should be considered include the national water resources management strategy, national environment policy, water resources authority strategic plan, and national water policy.

Drilling Codes of Practice

Codes of good practice are a set of rules and standards on how some tasks can be done and completed. The drilling codes of practice in Kenya are provided by the Water Resources Authority and can be downloaded from their website codes of practice

Drilling Objectives

Drilling occurs in all nations around the world, and in the seas surrounding those nations, using drilling rigs to bore into the earth. There are many reasons to drill a hole, for example, to:

Put something in for storage or disposal
Pass through something for access (e.g. shafts, tunnels)
Gain information from the drilling itself, from tests/measurements made in the hole, or from formation samples recovered from the hole
Produce oil, gas, steam, water, molten, or dissolved minerals.

A drilling objective consists of four parts; statements, statements, conditions, and checks.

Drilling Health and Safety

By any standards, working on a drilling rig is risky. Therefore, safety should be a matter of paramount concern if injuries are to be prevented and employees' protection from injuries and accidents is to be guaranteed. Teaching a new employee good safety practices at the start of his career will both bring an awareness of the areas of work that represent the greatest potential danger and lead to the cultivation of work habits that will lessen the chances of injury being sustained. In nearly all well drilling or pump installation operations hazards do exist. Working with electricity, hand tools, drilling rigs, pump hoists, and other equipment heightens the possibility of accidents occurring, not to mention the potential risks involved in merely moving to and from the work site. Accidents that result from failure to pay attention to safety protocols and procedures happen all too often. The principle that no job is so important or service so urgent that rig operations cannot be done with a “safety first” mindset should always guide the drilling process. A safety management plan, touching on drilling operations, safety on the rig, electrical equipment, cleaning machinery & motors, handling heavy drilling items, dealing with flammable fluids, moving the rigs & vehicles, safety on the road, and how to lessen the risk of accidents is key in any drilling project.

Drilling Health

Safety should be a primary concern of water well contractors engaged in drilling and constructing monitoring wells. Besides the usual physical herds of normal drilling activities, chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive hazards are added when drilling monitoring wells. Some chemicals may have acute long-term effects, causing premature death, unusual forms of cancer, or generally poor health. Some of the most significant dangers are:

Explosions from methane gas are produced by the decay of organic materials in sanitary landfills.
Toxic substances are used in manufacturing pesticides, herbicides, solvents, paints, and other common products.
Biologic wastes from hospitals or medical laboratories at universities contain bacteria and viruses.
Chemical wastes that are corrosive, highly reactive, flammable, or explosive.
Vapors from any type of waste.
Radioactive wastes from hospitals and industrial and university laboratories.

One crucial thing that must always be kept in mind is the mixture of materials at garbage sites may be more detrimental to human health than they would be separate.

Any form of drilling is relatively dirty in the sense that it is difficult to avoid contact with cuttings, water encountered in the borehole, and surficial residues at the site. The following practices must be followed:

"Personnel should wear properly selected and fitted protective clothing and respirators at all times. They must be given suitable training in the use, limitations, maintenance, cleaning, and storage of protective clothing and equipment."
"Personnel should not eat, drink, chew gum or tobacco, smoke, take medicines, or perform any other practice that might increase the hand-to-mouth transfer of toxic materials from gloves, unwashed hands, or equipment."
"Personnel should not have excessive facial hair (heavy mustaches, beards) which can prevent the proper fit of respirators."
"Personnel should avoid unnecessary contact with hazardous materials by staying clear of puddles, vapors, mud, discolored surfaces, and containers or site debris."

Carelessness during routine daily activities at the site can lead to serious personal contamination or to contamination of others. Several important habits should be practiced:

Always wash your hands after using the restroom.
Leave the site for lunch, remove all protective (contaminated) clothing, and wash thoroughly.
Wash hands after handling contaminated equipment.
Do not take contaminated clothing home to launder.
Wear the required protective clothing at all times, even if the need is not apparent. Demand that it be fitted properly. Even a short exposure to a toxic substance can be deadly.
Because protective clothing is cumbersome to wear and is often uncomfortable in hot weather, take appropriate rest periods to avoid accidents caused by fatigue or physical irritation.

Even if every safety precaution is taken, an emergency may develop at any time during drilling. Emergency plans should be well established and understood by everyone involved in the project. First aid equipment should be available, the routes to emergency care centers known, and the necessary personal contacts established at the care centers. All steps of the standard emergency procedures should be practiced so that any team member can take charge.

Safety

Rig safety should be the first concern of every driller. To eliminate potential hazards and prevent damage it is essential to make sure that:

Fire extinguishers are in their correct positions and maintained in good condition
Overhead components are all well secured
Working parts are not worn to the point of being weakened
Tools are correctly stored.

On-Job Safety

Serious thought must be given to the subject of on-the-job safety for a number of reasons:

Accidents cost money, be it in the form of time lost on the job, the payment of benefits to the injured employee during his period of recuperation, or in the form of increased insurance premiums.
In the case of a fatality, no amount of compensation can make up for the loss of life.

Safety on the Rig

Several common sources of accidents encountered in rotary and percussion drilling must be considered when thinking of safe work practices. Some sources of the hazards in drilling operations include: Starting drill rig motors when brakes are not set and when gears are not in neutral; starting the air compressor motors when the receiver tank valves are closed; moving the drilling rig over rough terrain, steep inclines, narrow roadways, and slippery road surfaces; and contacting power transmission lines while moving the rig.

Safety Drilling Operation

There are also some errors that can be made by operators during the operation of the drilling equipment that can lead to injury. Among the safety measures include;

Do not touch the revolving drill steel;
Wear gloves while disconnecting the hot drill rod from the drill head, or while removing hot drill from the hole;
Employees should not position themselves where they can be struck or can lose their balance if the drill steel breaks or sticks;
Do not hang on the mast while the drill is in operation;
Always cover or guard drill holes that have been completed;
Do not let drill rods or reamers slip into the drill hole;
Never operate the drill from positions where it is difficult to reach lever controls;
Do not work on machinery that is moving;
Do not wear loose clothing;
Always wear personal protective equipment;
Do not shut down the drill improperly; or
Do not leave the drill rig in a hazardous area at the end of the work day.
Care should be taken that open gears, fans, drive belts, and chains have adequate guards.
The new employee should be cautioned to exercise care while working around drilling sites.

Positioning the rig prior to drilling

Avoid obviously hazardous faults or positioning the rig on slips that are filled with loose clay or other unstable material.
Do not set up rigs on surface soils or vegetation overlying sloping rock surfaces;
Do not position rigs on old rock fills
Avoid positioning rigs close to traffic hazards; under dangerous banks.
Avoid positioning rigs where weather conditions are conducive to bank failures or slides
Avoid positioning rigs within 15 feet of energized electrical transmission lines

Some inevitable complications might arise:

The accidental parting at hose connections, rupturing, or severing of the air hose;
Rods might fall from racks, particularly from racks at the top of the mast;
Employees neglect precautions against slips and falls;
Leaving machinery unguarded and failing to properly ground machinery;
Poor maintenance of equipment that could cause a hazardous situation; and
The possibility of fire and dust hazards.

Check rotary drilling tools prior to drilling:

Lubricate and check for frozen bearings before using water/air swivels and hoisting plugs. Water/air swivel bearings must be free before using, and stay clear of water/air swivel hose when rotating.
Check drill rod chuck jaws periodically and replace them when necessary.
Check the capacities of hoists and sheaves against the anticipated weight to the drill rod string plus other expected hoisting loads.

Handling Electrical Equipment

Failure to ground portable electrical equipment, especially if it is defective and used where resistance to ground is low, can cause burns and shock which can be fatal.

Cleaning machinery and motors

Machinery and electrical equipment are at their best when it is free of dirt and grime. This cleaning also reduces the possibility of accidents. However, care must be taken in cleaning this machinery and electrical equipment.

Before any cleaning is started, the machine or electric motor should be stopped and the power disconnected.

Handling of Heavy Items

Backaches and strains are but two of the complications that can arise through the faulty lifting of heavy items.

Back injuries resulting from the improper lifting of heavy weights, or not so heavy weights, can be substantially reduced by following several simple rules:

If the weight appears to be too heavy or bulky to lift, get some assistance.
When preparing to lift something, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and bend at the knees to grasp the item to be lifted.
With the weight centered between the knees, lift slowly, keeping your back as straight as possible.
This procedure can be reversed when lowering a heavy weight.

Care must also be exercised when handling weights that must be moved with artificial means, such as pipe used for casing, etc. Employees assigned to loading or unloading such pipes should be required to wear hard hats and safety shoes. Leather gloves which afford some protection to the hands should also be mandatory.

Flammable liquids

Flammable liquids, especially gasoline and liquefied petroleum, are found at all drilling sites. Some simple safety precautions must be followed when using these substances. When refilling gas tanks, the engine should be stopped and it should be allowed to cool. The tank should not be over-filled, and some room should be left in the tank for the expansion of the gasoline. Also, if any of the gasoline leaks or spills from the tank it should be cleaned up immediately.

Safety on the road

While the possibility of becoming injured on the job site exists, the possibility also exists of becoming injured while traveling to and from the job site. Accidents involving vehicles can result from either inattention while driving, or from operating unsafe equipment. Employers should be sure that employees have been checked out on trucks that they have never driven before to insure that they will be able to operate them safely. Some sort of checklist should also be available with which to make a physical check of the truck. This checklist should include such things as the condition of the tires, brakes, lights, turn signals, etc. Any deficiencies in the equipment should be corrected immediately as they might contribute to injuries that could have been avoided.

Lessening the risk of accidents

The vast majority of accidents that happen on the job can be avoided if attention is given to minor details before they happen. Many of the accidents which happen share common ingredients. A check of accidents that have occurred in the past may well show a common failing that may contribute to present accidents, be it inadequate safety procedures, faulty equipment, or carelessness. Whatever the causes, the chances are quite good that the accident could have been avoided. Recognition of the causes of previous accidents may result in the prevention of future accidents.

Personal Safety

Tools are used to do a specific task or series of tasks, speed up our work and production, and allow us to work without danger to ourselves and others. must be kept in good condition and stored safely if injury is to be avoided.

As drilling activities can cause serious injury, it is necessary to use/wear personal protection. Head protection — safety helmet: should be of the suspension type, suitable for reducing an impact force to a level that can be sustained without injury.

Foot protection — safety boots: Good boots should be comfortable, water-resistant, with sure-footed grip and toe protection (steel or plastic) that will withstand crushing and a slicing force at the toe.

Other protective pieces of equipment include eye protection, lung protection, hand protection, and ear protection.

Maintenance

Good maintenance will make drilling operations safer. Also, maintenance must be performed safely. Two aspects of safety are:

Safety for maintenance
Maintenance for safety

Maintenance for safety is achieved through servicing. Servicing and maintenance are essential to:

Provide safe working conditions for the drill crew
Ensure that the machines/tools/equipment perform correctly
Minimize costs and delays resulting from breakdown or inefficient operation.

An effective servicing and maintenance program will depend on:

Knowing what the equipment looks like, sounds like, and feels like when it is in good condition
Recognizing any changes in appearance, sound, or feel that have occurred or are occurring
Understanding what effect these changes will or could have on the safety, reliability, or performance of the equipment
Doing everything to restore safe conditions and keep the equipment working efficiently. For this, someone must have the necessary skills to perform essential maintenance tasks.

Inspections establish a definite procedure to recognize changes in the appearance, sound, and feel of the equipment. Inspections are of two types: continuing: continuous monitoring of the operation of the equipment, and Periodic: planned/regular checks of the condition and other features of the equipment.

Making an inspection is one certain way of becoming aware of the condition of the equipment and tools allowing the driller to avoid costly breakdowns or accidents. The driller must do daily pre-start checks including rig stability (and anchors), rig position, mast verticality or angle, fan belts, etc. The condition of the protective equipment, safety belts, vehicles, safety whip checks, and internal hose cables should be checked. For more information on rig maintenance, read the Drilling Manual by the Australian Drilling and Training Industry Committee. You can follow the following link to download the Drilling Manual

Surface equipment such as wash pipes, pump rods, and seals, structures, mast fittings and sheaves, winches and breaks, electrical components, compressors & air systems, fishing tools, downhole hammers & tools, engines, injection systems, cooling systems, lubrication systems, transmission systems, hydraulic systems, vehicles, ancillary systems & drilling tools, and hoses should be maintained.
Drilling Basics Drilling Technology

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Introduction to the Drilling Technology