This article lists the main components of a

petroleum Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crud ...

onshore

drilling rig A drilling rig is an integrated system that drills wells, such as oil or water wells, or holes for piling and other construction purposes, into the earth's subsurface. Drilling rigs can be massive structures housing equipment used to drill wa ...

Offshore drilling Offshore drilling is a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled below the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently extract petroleum that lies in rock formations beneath the seabed. Most commonly, the te ...

rigs have similar elements, but are configured with a number of different drilling systems to suit drilling in the marine environment. The equipment associated with a rig is to some extent dependent on the type of rig but typically includes at least some of the items listed below. {{clear

List of items

Mud tank A mud tank is an open-top container, typically made of square steel tube and steel plate, to store drilling fluid on a drilling rig. They are also called ''mud pits'', as they were once simple pits in the earth. Mud tank structure Mud tanks are d ...

Shale shakers Shale shakers are components of drilling equipment used in many industries, such as coal cleaning, mining, oil and gas drilling.They are the first phase of a solids control system on a drilling rig, and are used to remove large solids ( cuttings ...

# Suction line (mud pump) #

Mud pump A mud pump (sometimes referred to as a mud drilling pump or drilling mud pump), is a reciprocating piston/plunger pump designed to circulate drilling fluid under high pressure (up to ) down the drill string and back up the annulus. A mud pump is an ...

Motor An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power g ...

or power source # hose # Drawworks # Standpipe #

Kelly hose A Kelly hose (also known as a ''mud hose'' or ''rotary hose'') is a flexible, steel reinforced, high pressure hose that connects the standpipe to the kelly (or more specifically to the goose-neck on the swivel above the kelly) and allows free ver ...

# Goose-neck # Traveling block # Drill line # Crown block #

Derrick A derrick is a lifting device composed at minimum of one guyed mast, as in a gin pole, which may be articulated over a load by adjusting its guys. Most derricks have at least two components, either a guyed mast or self-supporting tower, and ...

# Racking Board (Sometimes referred to as the Monkey Board) #

Stand Stand or The Stand may refer to: * To assume the upright position of standing * Forest stand, a group of trees * Area of seating in a stadium, such as bleachers * Stand (cricket), a relationship between two players * Stand (drill pipe), 2 or 3 ...

(of drill pipe) # Setback (floor) #

Swivel A swivel is a connection that allows the connected object, such as a gun, chair, swivel caster, or an anchor An anchor is a device, normally made of metal , used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft ...

(On newer rigs this may be replaced by a

top drive A top drive is a mechanical device on a drilling rig that provides clockwise torque to the drill string to drill a borehole. It is an alternative to the rotary table and kelly drive. It is located at the swivel's place below the traveling block and ...

) #

Kelly drive A kelly drive is a type of well drilling device on an oil or gas drilling rig that employs a section of pipe with a polygonal (three-, four-, six-, or eight-sided) or splined outer surface, which passes through the matching polygonal or spline ...

Rotary table A rotary table is a precision work positioning device used in metalworking. It enables the operator to drill or cut work at exact intervals around a fixed (usually horizontal or vertical) axis. Some rotary tables allow the use of index plates ...

# Drill floor # Bell nipple #

Blowout preventer A blowout preventer (BOP) (pronounced B-O-P, not "bop") is a specialized valve or similar mechanical device, used to seal, control and monitor oil well, oil and gas wells to prevent Blowout (well drilling), blowouts, the uncontrolled release of ...

(BOP) Annular type #

(BOP) Pipe ram & blind ram # Drill string #

Drill bit Drill bits are cutting tools used in a drill to remove material to create holes, almost always of circular cross-section. Drill bits come in many sizes and shapes and can create different kinds of holes in many different materials. In order ...

Casing head In oil drilling, a casing head is a simple metal flange welded or screwed onto the top of the conductor pipe (also known as ''drive-pipe'') or the casing and forms part of the wellhead system for the well. This is the primary interface for the ...

Wellhead A wellhead is the component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment. The primary purpose of a wellhead is to provide the suspension point and ...

Flow line {{for, the molding defect, Flow marks A flow line, used on a drilling rig, is a large diameter pipe (typically a section of casing) that is connected to the bell nipple (under the drill floor) and extends to the possum belly (on the mud tanks ...

Explanation

* Bell nipple (#22) is a section of large diameter pipe fitted to the top of the

blowout preventer A blowout preventer (BOP) (pronounced B-O-P, not "bop") is a specialized valve or similar mechanical device, used to seal, control and monitor oil well, oil and gas wells to prevent Blowout (well drilling), blowouts, the uncontrolled release of ...

s that the

flow line {{for, the molding defect, Flow marks A flow line, used on a drilling rig, is a large diameter pipe (typically a section of casing) that is connected to the bell nipple (under the drill floor) and extends to the possum belly (on the mud tanks ...

attaches to via a side outlet, to allow the drilling mud to flow back to the

mud tank A mud tank is an open-top container, typically made of square steel tube and steel plate, to store drilling fluid on a drilling rig. They are also called ''mud pits'', as they were once simple pits in the earth. Mud tank structure Mud tanks are d ...

s. *

s (BOPs) (#23 and #24) are devices installed at the wellhead to prevent fluids and gases from unintentionally escaping from the

wellbore A borehole is a narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water ( drilled water well and tube well), other liquids (such as petrole ...

. #23 is the

annular Annulus (or anulus) or annular indicates a ring- or donut-shaped area or structure. It may refer to: Human anatomy * '' Anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis'', spinal structure * Annulus of Zinn, a.k.a. annular tendon or ''anulus tendineus co ...

(often referred to as ''Hydril'' named after a manufacturer), and #24 is the pipe rams and blind rams. *

(#27) is a large metal

flange A flange is a protruded ridge, lip or rim, either external or internal, that serves to increase strength (as the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam); for easy attachment/transfer of contact force with another object (as the f ...

welded or screwed onto the top of the

conductor pipe A conductor Pipe is a large diameter pipe that is set into the ground to provide the initial stable structural foundation for a borehole or oil well. The Conductor pipe is the first string of casing and is the largest diameter casing to be installed ...

(also known as ''drive-pipe'') or the casing and is used to bolt the surface equipment such as the

s (for well drilling) or the

Christmas tree (oil well) In petroleum and natural gas extraction, a Christmas tree, or "tree", is an assembly of valves, casing spools, and fittings used to regulate the flow of pipes in an oil well, gas well, water injection well, water disposal well, gas injection we ...

(for well production). *

Centrifuge A centrifuge is a device that uses centrifugal force to separate various components of a fluid. This is achieved by spinning the fluid at high speed within a container, thereby separating fluids of different densities (e.g. cream from milk) or ...

(not pictured) is an industrial version of the device that separates fine silt and sand from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top or just off of the mud tanks. * Crown block (#13) is the stationary end of the ''block and tackle''. *

Degasser A degasser is a device used in the upstream oil industry to remove dissolved and entrained gases from a liquid. In drilling it is used to remove gasses from drilling fluid which could otherwise form bubbles. In a produced water treatment plant it i ...

(not pictured) is a device that separates air and/or gas from the drilling fluid. It is typically mounted on top of the mud tanks. *

(#14) is the support structure for the equipment used to lower and raise the drill string into and out of the

. This consists of the sub-structure (structure below the drill floor level) and the mast. * Desander / desilter (not pictured) contains a set of

hydrocyclone Hydrocyclones are a type of cyclonic separators that separate product phases mainly on basis of differences in gravity with aqueous solutions as the primary feed fluid. As opposed to dry or dust cyclones, which separate solids from gasses, hydrocy ...

s that separate sand and silt from the drilling fluid. Typically mounted on top of the mud tanks. * Drawworks (#7) is the mechanical section that contains the spool, whose main function is to reel in/out the drill line to raise/lower the traveling block. *

(#26) is a device attached to the end of the drill string that breaks apart the rock being drilled. It contains jets through which the drilling fluid exits. * Drill floor (#21) is the area on the rig where the tools are located to make the connections of the drill pipe, bottom hole assembly, tools and bit. It is considered the main area where work is performed. * Drill line (#12) is thick, stranded metal cable threaded through the two blocks (traveling and crown) to raise and lower the drill string. *

Drill pipe Drill pipe, is hollow, thin-walled, steel or aluminium alloy piping that is used on drilling rigs. It is hollow to allow drilling fluid to be pumped down the hole through the bit and back up the annulus. It comes in a variety of sizes, strengths ...

(#16) is a joint of hollow tubing used to connect the surface equipment to the

bottom hole assembly A bottom hole assembly (BHA) is a component of a drilling rig. It is the lowest part of the drill string, extending from the bit to the drill pipe. The assembly can consist of drill collars, subs such as stabilisers, reamers, shocks, hole-openers, ...

(BHA) and acts as a conduit for the drilling fluid. In the diagram, these are '' stands'' of drill pipe which are 2 or 3 joints of drill pipe connected and ''stood'' in the derrick vertically, usually to save time while tripping pipe. * Drill string (#25) is an assembled collection of drill pipe, heavy weight drill pipe, drill collars and any of a whole assortment of tools, connected and run into the

to facilitate the drilling of a well. The collection is referred to singularly as the drill string. *

Elevators An elevator or lift is a cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or decks of a building, vessel, or other structure. They are ...

(not pictured) are hinged devices that is used to latch to the drill pipe or casing to facilitate the lowering or lifting (of pipe or casing) into or out of the

. *

(#28) is large diameter pipe that is attached to the bell nipple and extends to the

shale shakers Shale shakers are components of drilling equipment used in many industries, such as coal cleaning, mining, oil and gas drilling.They are the first phase of a solids control system on a drilling rig, and are used to remove large solids ( cuttings ...

to facilitate the flow of drilling fluid back to the mud tanks. * Goose-neck (#10) is a thick metal elbow connected to the

swivel A swivel is a connection that allows the connected object, such as a gun, chair, swivel caster, or an anchor An anchor is a device, normally made of metal , used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft ...

and standpipe that supports the weight of and provides a downward angle for the kelly hose to hang from. *

(#19) is a square, hexagonal or octagonal shaped tubing that is inserted through and is an integral part of the

rotary table A rotary table is a precision work positioning device used in metalworking. It enables the operator to drill or cut work at exact intervals around a fixed (usually horizontal or vertical) axis. Some rotary tables allow the use of index plates ...

that moves freely vertically while the rotary table turns it. *

(#9) is a flexible, high pressure hose that connects the standpipe to the kelly (or more specifically to the gooseneck on the swivel above the kelly) and allows free vertical movement of the kelly, while facilitating the flow of the

drilling fluid In geotechnical engineering, drilling fluid, also called drilling mud, is used to aid the drilling of boreholes into the earth. Often used while drilling oil and natural gas wells and on exploration drilling rigs, drilling fluids are als ...

through the system and down the drill string. * Racking board (#15) is the catwalk along the side of the derrick (usually about 35 or 40 feet above the "floor"). The monkey board is where the derrick man works while "tripping" pipe. *

Mud motor A mud motor (or drilling motor) is a progressive cavity positive displacement pump (PCPD) placed in the drill string to provide additional power to the bit while drilling. The PCPD pump uses drilling fluid (commonly referred to as drilling mud ...

(not pictured) is a hydraulically powered device positioned just above the

drill bit Drill bits are cutting tools used in a drill to remove material to create holes, almost always of circular cross-section. Drill bits come in many sizes and shapes and can create different kinds of holes in many different materials. In order ...

used to spin the bit independently from the rest of the drill string. *

(#4) is a reciprocal type of pump used to circulate drilling fluid through the system. *

(#1) is often called mud pits and stores drilling fluid until it is required down the wellbore. * Setback (#17) is a part of the drill floor (#21) where the stands of drill pipe are stood upright. It is typically made of a metal frame structure with large wooden beams situated within it. The wood helps to protect the end of the drill pipe. *

(#20) rotates, along with its constituent parts, the kelly and kelly bushing, the drill string and the attached tools and bit. *

Shale shaker Shale shakers are components of drilling equipment used in many industries, such as coal cleaning, mining, oil and gas drilling.They are the first phase of a solids control system on a drilling rig, and are used to remove large solids ( cutting ...

(#2) separates

drill cuttings Drill cuttings are broken bits of solid material removed from a borehole drilled by rotary, percussion, or auger methods and brought to the surface in the drilling mud. Boreholes drilled in this way include oil or gas wells, water wells, a ...

from the drilling fluid before it is pumped back down the

. *

(#16) is a section of 2 or 3 joints of

drill pipe Drill pipe, is hollow, thin-walled, steel or aluminium alloy piping that is used on drilling rigs. It is hollow to allow drilling fluid to be pumped down the hole through the bit and back up the annulus. It comes in a variety of sizes, strengths ...

connected and ''stood'' upright in the

derrick A derrick is a lifting device composed at minimum of one guyed mast, as in a gin pole, which may be articulated over a load by adjusting its guys. Most derricks have at least two components, either a guyed mast or self-supporting tower, and ...

. When they are pulled out of the hole, instead of laying down each joint of drill pipe, 2 or 3 joints are left connected and stood in the derrick to save time. * Standpipe (#8) is a thick metal tubing, situated vertically along the derrick, that facilitates the flow of drilling fluid and has attached to it and supports one end of the kelly hose. *Suction line (#3) is an intake line for the mud pump to draw drilling fluid from the mud tanks. *

(#18) is the top end of the kelly that allows the rotation of the drill string without twisting the block. * Traveling block (#11) is the moving end of the ''block and tackle''. Together, they give a significant mechanical advantage for lifting. * Vibrating hose (#6) is a flexible, high pressure hose (similar to the ''kelly hose'') that connects the mud pump to the ''stand pipe''. It is called the ''vibrating hose'' because it tends to vibrate and shake (sometimes violently) due to its close proximity to the mud pumps. Oilfield terminology Drilling technology Oil exploration