Lessons Learned: Drill, Stem, Hoist
and Structure Incidents

Presentation and panel discussion at the Coking Conference in Galveston, TX, on May 4, 2012

Reliability of Drills and Drill Stems

(pending legal review)

Recent experiences drove our organisation to look closely at the key parameters that influence reliability of drill stems. Further study revealed that there is a complex mix of the following factors which comprise drill and drill stem performance
  - materials specification, condition and selection
  - assembly and hardware design and construction
  - drivers and driven hardware
  - loading and load factors
  - environmental conditions
  - process and operating parameters
Sources for guidance on this are very limited and rely almost entirely on in-house experience. One would presume that established knowledge from the conventional drilling industry would be front and centre, but it was found that the characteristics and behaviour of coker drilling and cutting makes the problems unique and at the same time widely variable.
Examining all of the above variables and determining their contribution significance was the only path forward to improve the overall performance and reliability.

Al Kaye, CNRL

Drill Stem Derrick Collapse Incident

This paper reviews partial collapse of a delayed coker drill stem derrick in 2010. All factors contributing to the incident (unit operations, spalling & procedures) will be reviewed relative to coke cutting and winch/derrick design.

Mitch Moloney, ExxonMobil

Drill Hoist Failure

Tom Meek, Shell

Call For Participation

The Coker Community thrives on participation. When cokers around the world share their experiences with drill stems, hoists, free fall arrestors and structure, how many incidents could be prevented? How much longer could we keep equipment running? It's up to you!

Join the refiners listed here. Explain issues you've had so we can avoid them. Describe procedures or new technologies that have made a difference for you.

Contact us now to reserve your 5 to 10 minutes during this presentation.

"The seminar was excellent. The breakout sessions and hall meetings were extremely useful. The [shop] tour was great." - Marsulex