Paper: The Application of Technology to Enhance Rig Safety and Provide a Safer Work Environment

Safety must be paramount to both the service provider as well as the service recipient as our industry is mandated to provide a safe work environment for all personal involved in the well service and maintenance industry. It is incumbent on our industry to develop, implement, and accept safety systems that as managers we insure all that can be done is being done to meet that safety mandate.This paper deals with recent technological developments dealing with rig systems that will enhance both the safe operation of a rig and protect the wellbore environment against catastrophic failures and or mistakes that lead to costly workovers and occasionally the loss of a wellbore. Discussion topics, actual field data, and technology introduction will be centered around: - Decreasing the likelihood of a crown or floor out incident - Preventing over pulling and stretching of rods and tubular - Alarming the rig operator when the rig is being operated out of the safe envelope of weight and speed relationships - Measuring and alarming when uneven derrick loading or tilt has occurred.