Breaking Out Pipe
Potential Hazards
- Being struck by:
- swinging tongs if the tong dies fail, or the tong counterweight lines were to break
- the slip handles if the rotary table is used to spin the drill string
- reverse backlash of tongs (backbiting) during spinning out operations
- the tongs if a snub line breaks or the tongs come unlatched
- pipe
- Release of excess drilling mud resulting in skin contact, loss of footing, etc.
It's easy to get struck!.
Possible Solutions
- Inspect tong dies, counterweight cables, and snub lines hourly and prior to each trip.
- Implement an effective spinning out pipe procedure:
- Personnel other than tong operators stand outside the tong swing radius when breaking pipe.
- No one should stand in the red zone
- Use proper tong latching techniques and use proper hand and finger placement on tong handles.
- Stand clear of the rotary table when it is rotating.
- Use special operational procedures when using a high torque connection.
- Maintain good communication between floor crew and driller.
- Use a mud bucket to direct mud down into the rotary table.
- Close the mud saver valve on the kelly (if present).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-3. What kind of accident might result if a snub line breaks or the tongs come unlatched?
You forgot to answer the question!