Commonly Used Drilling Rigs

Water Well Drilling Machine

A full range of drilling rigs are available, and model selection depends entirely on on-site construction demands. Drilling rigs are core equipment for upstream oil & gas operations, generally split into two major categories: onshore land rigs and offshore marine rigs, equipped with complete supporting hardware for oil and gas well exploration & extraction.

The biggest advantage of land-based rigs is outstanding mobility. Their derrick structures can be disassembled and relocated rapidly for new borehole projects, and modular component design enables quick field assembly. Offshore drilling rigs also inherit the mobility advantage of land rigs with extra marine-adapted features.

Fixed Platform Rigs

Fixed platform rigs are the most widely used offshore drilling equipment. As the name suggests, they are installed on permanent marine foundation structures. Though not permanently fixed in most cases, they may be retained on platforms to meet future drilling demands. A complete set includes power generation units, living quarters, drilling equipment and safety survival gear; some simplified types take power supply from platform generators instead of carrying independent power plants.

Barge rigs

Barge rigs are floating offshore drilling barges fitted with full drilling assemblies, mainly applied for shallow bay and inland low-depth water drilling. After positioning, the lower hull submerges and rests on seabed mud. The large flat bottom area prevents sinking into soft sediment and provides stable working conditions during drilling.

Jack-up rigs

Jack-up rigs feature buoyant floating hulls supported by multiple liftable legs. The floating barge can be towed to target locations, then legs are lowered to rest on the seabed to lift the whole platform above water level. Equipped with 3–8 support legs, self-elevating jack-up rigs are designed for shallow water operations within 120 meters depth.

Submersible rig

Submersible rigs serve medium-deep marine drilling tasks and can be towed to work sites. Large buoyancy pontoons support the whole platform for transit; during operation, the upper working deck is lifted above the water surface to avoid wave interference.

Drillship

Drillships are purpose-built marine vessels for offshore oil & gas exploration, with upgraded technologies supporting deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling projects. Apart from borehole drilling, they also conduct post-drilling operations including casing running, subsea tree installation and well plugging. Custom hull designs are available to match oil operator standards. As self-floating vessels, drillships can be towed globally and use anchor mooring or dynamic positioning systems; their stability is lower compared with semi-submersible platforms.

Jacknife

Jacknife rigs are land drilling units fitted with foldable masts adjustable for different drilling depths. The mast assembly can be fully pinned and assembled on flat ground, then hoisted into vertical position via auxiliary lifting equipment.

Portable Mast

Portable mast land rigs are suitable for moderate-depth boreholes, transported to construction sites via wheeled trucks. The whole mast can be hoisted vertically to the required working height quickly.

If you need further detailed introduction to all types of drilling rigs, please contact us to get professional technical materials and customized quotations.