Desert mobile drilling rigs

What makes a rig desert mobile

The term covers a set of design decisions that together cut a move from a week to a matter of days:

• Self-erecting telescopic mast, raised hydraulically without a crane on the critical path.
• Hydraulic slingshot substructure, which removes most of the pin-and-lift work from rig-up.
• Trailerised modules sized to axle limits for sand, so loads do not need special permits on every move.
• Fully trailerised camp, so accommodation moves with the rig rather than being rebuilt.
• Load count discipline — a rig that moves on 30 loads costs far less to move than one needing 60.

Planning the move properly

Most move delays are not caused by the rig. They come from route surveys done too late, permits for over-width loads arriving after the convoy is ready, soft ground that needed matting, or a crane arriving without the right radius for the heaviest lift.

The rig move planner in the engineering suite produces a full load list with dimensions and weights, the transport fleet required, a lifting plan to API RP 2D, a pad layout drawn to scale, rig-down and rig-up sequences with hours and crew, and the manning headcount.

Matching units

Common questions

How long does a desert mobile rig take to move?

A well-planned interfield move of under 25 km typically takes two to three days excluding camp, depending on load count, route condition and permit requirements.

How many loads does a rig move require?

It varies by unit. A compact slant unit may move on around 32 loads, or 58 including camp. A 1,500 HP desert mobile package with full camp is considerably more. The load list is issued with each unit.

Talk to the desk

Tell us the well, the location and the timing, and we will come back with the units that fit, the delivered price or day rate, and the technical data pack.