This article describes the casing and liner handling guidelines.
Safety Requirements
- ALWAYS wear gloves and eye protection when cleaning joints
- EXERCISE CAUTION when rolling casing/liner across racks to ensure feet and hand do not get trapped
- NEVER walk under loads suspended in the elevators or high line under crane
- NEVER get between loads and another object
- NEVER put hands between casing and power tongs
Casing / Liner Handling Practices
- Protectors shall be used during handling of casing/liner.
- Every effort shall be made to avoid any rough handling which may dent pipe and reduce collapse resistance.
- Move casing/liner only when thread protectors are in place.
- Use a spreader-bar and choker-chain arrangement near each end of a joint to prevent crushing when handling bundles of casing/liner joints with a crane.
- Store or rack casing/liner only on wooden dunnage.
- Racking arrangements shall incorporate planning for any programmed casing/liner inspection.
- Casing/liner ends shall all be easily accessible for thread-cleaning.
Note:The preferred method is to use high pressure wash system followed by a de-watering solvent which shall be applied to the threads with a soft clean brush. Connections shall be thoroughly dried to prevent subsequent corrosion. Diesel oil shall not be used.
Handling Equipment Checks
- Test dates of all lifting gear certificates are valid.
- Single joint elevators shall be used only for stabbing the casing. Side door elevators shall be used for lifting the casing out of the slips.
- Until there is enough weight on the blocks a safety clamp shall be used.
- Side door elevators shall be checked for uneven wear on the load profiles of the door latch. Do not grind load bearing profiles on elevators, as this action shall compromise the safe working procedures of the casing/liner running operation.
- Long link is to be used with top drive.
- Stabbing board is to be placed in good alignment.
- Spider/elevator slips and guides shall be checked for size, condition and the ability to operate evenly.
- Drilling line condition and load capabilities shall be checked. Slip and cut the drilling line whilst at the shoe on the last trip out of the hole if required.
- Mud pumps shall be fitted with the proper size liners and be in good mechanical condition. The mud pump relief valves shall be properly tested and set. A low pressure mud fill line shall be rigged up with a quick opening valve for high rate casing/liner fill requirements.
- Prior to running casing/liner the float shoe / float collar valve shall be tested for proper operation.
- Power JAM units and conventional casing/liner tongs shall be checked for the condition of dies and operation.
- Stabbing board safety checks shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s safety check list.
- Cementing accessories (shoe and float collars, stage equipment, cementing stinger, cement wiper plugs etc.,) shall be checked for compatibility and suitability.
- Safety valve and swedge shall be ready and available on the rig floor to stab into the casing/liner in case of flow
- Shear and setting pressures for accessories to be matched.