Page 24 - Air and gas Drilling Field Guide 3rd Edition

2.1 Rotary Drilling 15

type of drilling rig (already fitted with a mud pump) would require an auxiliary
hookup to an external air compressor(s) to carry out an air drilling operation. The
compressor system and its associated equipment for air drilling operations
are usually provided by a subcontractor specializing in these operations.
Figure 2-5 shows a new type of triple drilling rig for land operations. This rig is
fitted with a power swivel instead of a rotary table. These new Flex Rigs must be
assembled at the drilling location.
In addition to having the most modern drilling equipment (automatic pipe
loader, single console operation, etc.), the design uniqueness of the Flex Rig

FIGURE 2-5. Helmerick and Payne Flex Rig 3 (courtesy of Helmerick and Payne Incorporated).