Modern Day Oil Well Drilling Rigs:

Overview 

With crude oil and natural gas becoming ever more expensive to find, the modern day oil drilling rig has had to become a more efficient tool than ever.  The rotary drilling rig replaced the cable tool rig in the 1940’s and mechanically has remained virtually unchanged for roughly 80 years. Recently new technologies have emerged including top drive rigs and mud motors.

Mud motors are typically used in directional drilling. Driven by drilling fluid at high pressure, only the bit at the end of the drill stem turns, in contrast to a rotary rig or top drive rig in which the entire drill stem turns.  

Top drive rigs are designed to eliminate physically turning the drill stem from a mechanical device mounted in the floor of a rotary rig.  The top drive contains the mechanical components necessary to rotate from the top of the drill stem. This method also utilizes the weight of the top drive to assist in drilling. The results are improved efficiency and a reduction in manpower necessary to operate the rig.