Davorin Matanović

DRILLING LINE (ROPE) AND

BLOCKS
 DRILLING LINE (ROPE) AND BLOCKS

• The term – drilling line pertain to the wire rope made from
steel wires.
• It is spooled onto the drum of the draw works hoist, strung
on the crown and traveling block, anchored at the one end
and fastened on the other.
• It supports the entire drilling assembly by means of pulley-
style devices and grasping elements.
– They are called the overhead tools and include:
• crown block – an arrangement of sheaves that is fixed to beams at the
top of the derrick or mast;
• the traveling block, another sheaved device that moves up and down on
the line;
• the hook, which is fastened to the traveling block; and
• the elevators, which grip the pipes when coming in or out of hole.
 DRILLING LINE (ROPE) AND BLOCKS

• The purpose of the

system is to give the
drilling line the
effect of many lines
in hoisting the
heavy loads
required in drilling.
 Blocks/
Sheaves

• A block is an assembly of large pulleys known as

sheaves mounted on a common framework
through which the drilling line is reeved.
• The function of the sheaves is to guide and
support the drilling line as it passes through the
blocks.
• The number of sheaves in block is determined by
the weight to be supported.
 A gauge to
measure
sheave groves
• Two features of sheaves
are of primary concern:
(1) the size or radius of
groves in which the wire
line runs on the sheaves,
and
(2) the tread diameter, the
diameter of the sheave
measured from groove to
groove bottom; to be
sure that wire rope and
sheave will work
together well (bending
radii).
Cross section of
a typical sheave
 Grove radii for new and reconditioned
sheave grooves
* **
WIRE ROPE DIA., duž TOLERANCE GROOVE ROOT RADIUS, Ru mm (")
mm (") mm (") minimum maximum
9,53 (3/8) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 5,207 (0,205) 5,461 (0,215)
11,11 (7/16) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 5,969 (0,235) 6,223 (0,245)
12,70 (1/2) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 6,731 (0,265) 6,985 (0,275)
14,29 (9/16) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 7,62 (0,300) 7,874 (0,310)
15,88 (5/8) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 8,382 (0,330) 8,636 (0,340)
19,05 (3/4) +0,794;-0 (+1/32;-0) 9,906 (0,390) 10,16 (0,400)
22,23 (7/8) +1,19;-0 (+3/64;-0) 10,312 (0,460) 12,065 (0,475)
25,40 (1) +1,19;-0 (+3/64;-0) 13,335 (0,525) 13,716 (0,540)
28,58 (1 1/8) +1,19;-0 (+3/64;-0) 14,859 (0,585) 15,240 (0,600)
31,75 (1 1/4) +1,59;-0 (+1/16;-0) 16,637 (0,655) 17,018 (0,670)
34,93 (1 3/8) +1,59;-0 (+1/16;-0) 18,288 (0,720) 18,669 (0,735)
38,1 (1 1/2) +1,59;-0 (+1/16;-0) 19,812 (0,780) 20,193 (0,795)
41,28 (1 5/8) +2,38;-0 (+3/32;-0) 21,844 (0,860) 22,225 (0,875)
44,45 (1 3/4) +2,38;-0 (+3/32;-0) 23,495 (0,925) 23,876 (0,940)
 • The crown block is an
Crown block assembly of sheaves
mounted on beams at
the top of the derrick.
• Some crown blocks are
equipped with extra
sheaves to
accommodate a sand
line, and a cat line.
– The former is used for
retrieving special tools from
the hole and
– the letter used for hoisting
heavy equipment on the rig
Traveling block
• It moves between
an up and down
position on the line.
– It carries the hook
that supports the
drill string when
drilling and the
elevator bails that
hold the elevators
when tripping in or
out of the hole.
• Cutaway view of a
traveling block.
 Hook

• The hook is a large joining device suspended from the traveling block
to grasp the various pieces of equipment needed in drilling and in
making trips.
• It rotates on bearings in its supporting housing and can be locked into
as many as twelve different positions.
• A strong spring within it cushions the weight of the drill pipe so that
tool joint threads are not damaged in making up or breaking out the
pipe
• The hook has a safety latch for the swivel and locking arms or link
ears at both sides for the elevator-bail attachments.
• Major parts of
a hook
• A hook-block
combination takes less
space than the two
used separately.
 Elevators
• Elevators are clamps
that grip a stand, or
column of drill pipe,
casing, tubing or
sucker rods so that the
stand can be raised
from or lowered into
the hole.
• They are attached to
the hook by elevator
links or bails.
• Most of the drill pipe
that elevators have
to fit has a taper of
18° on the tool-joint
shoulder where it
meets the pipe.
• Another type of pipe
is that with square
shoulder (90°) on
the tool joint box.
 Drilling line – wire rope

• In the making of
wire rope, steel
wires are made into
strands and the
strands into rope in
an action similar to
braiding.
• Outer strands are
laid spirally around a
central core.
• The spiral of strands in
a wire rope either to the
right or to the left when
viewed from above is
known as the lay of the
rope.
– Regular lay means that
the wires in each strand
of the rope are twisted in
a direction different from
the strands themselves.
– Lang lay ropes have both
the strand and the wires
in each strand spiraling in
the same direction.
– Right regular lay is
generally referred in
drilling process.
• A common arrangement of
the wire rope refers to the
core and six strands that
consist of various wire
numbers and layers.
• The core is the inner support
of the strands.
– It can be produced of fiber,
plastics or it can be an
independent wire rope.
Sand and coring line
• Strand consists of
one central a six
more wires around.
• It is also possible
that strand consists
of 12, 14, 19, 30
etc. wires.
• Instead of three
there can also be
ropes with more
strands; 4, 5, 7, 8,
16 and more.
Seale • The number of inner
design wires in each strand
is the same as the
number of outer
wires.
• The diameter of the
inner wires is
smaller than that of
the outer.
• API Spec. 9A defines the conditions for
wires and ropes according to
construction type.
• Approved constructions are: 6x7, 6x19,
6x21, 6x25, 6x26, 6x31, 6x36, 6x41,
6x46, 6x57, 6x61, 6x91, 6x103; and for
special purposes: 8x19, 8x25, 18x7,
19x7; and with triangle strand
construction: 6x25 type B, 6x27 type H,
6x30 type G and 6x31 type V.
Warrington/Seale
construction
(6x26)

• Combination of
wires with different
diameter in central
layer enables to
position wires
closely.
• The lay of all layers
is the same.
• Filler Wire rope
differs from other in
that the space
between wires is
filled with wires of
small diameter.
– Such wires do not
contribute in
calculating the metal
area of the rope.
 (6x25 style B)

• Triangle
shaped
strands enable
the maximum
metal area of (6x25 style H)
the rope
according the
diameter.
 Dimensions and
characteristics, according to
the rope diameter
BREAKING FORCE
NOMINAL MASS OF THE EXTRA
DIAMETER UNIT LENGTH ENHANCED
STEEL ENHANCED
STEEL
STEEL
mm (in.) kg/m kN kN kN
13 (1/2) 0,63 83,2 95,2 105
14,5 (9/16) 0,79 106 120 132
16 (5/8) 0,98 129 149 163
19 (3/4) 1,41 184 212 233
22 (7/8) 1,92 249 286 315
26 (1) 2,50 324 372 409
29 (1 1/8) 3,17 407 468 514
32 (1 1/4) 3,91 500 575 632
35 (1 3/8) 4,73 - 691 760
38 (1 1/2) 5,63 - 818 898
42 (1 5/8) 6,61 - 952 1050
45 (1 3/4) 7,66 - 1100 1220
48 (1 7/8) 8,80 - 1250 1390
52 (2) 10,00 - 1420 1560
 Measuring

• The often
mistake is
in wrong
way of wire
rope
measuring.

Possible rope position in

the sheave groove
 Typical sizes and constructions of wire rope for
oil field services (API RP 9B)
WIRE ROPE DIAMETER
WELL TYPE WIRE ROPE DESCRIPTION
(in) mm
6x19 Seal or 6x25 FW
SAND LINES AND SHALOW, (7/8 to 1) 22,23 to 25,4 PS or IPS, PF or NPF, RL, IWCR
INTERMEDIA AND DEEP orFC
WELLSWELLS (1 to 1 1/8) 25.4 to 28.58 6x19 Seal or 6x25 FW, EIPS, PF,
RL or IWRC

DRILLING LINES, LARGE

6x19 Seal or 6x21 FW PS or IPS,
ROTARY RIGS, SHALLOW (1 to 1 1/8) 25.4 to 28.58
PF or NPF, RL, IWRC or FC
AND INTERMEDIA WELLS (1 1/8 to 1 1/4) 25.58 to 31,75
6x19 Seal or 6x21 FW, EIPS, PF,
DEEP WELLS
RL, IWRC
(1 1/4 to 2) 31,75 to 50,80
(1 3/8 and less) 34,93 and less 6x25 FW, IPS or FPS, PF, IWRC
MAST RAISING LINES
(1 1/2" and greater) 38,1and greater 6x37 IPS or EIPS, PF, IWRC

FW – filler wire construction, NPF – non-performed,

PS – plow steel (rope wire having a breaking strength from 1570—106 Pa RL – right lay,
to 1760—106 Pa), LL – left lay,
IPS – improved plow steel (rope wire having a breaking strength from FC – fiber core,
1770—106 Pa to 1960—106 Pa), IWCR – independent wire rope
core,
EIPS – extra improved plow steel (rope wire having a breaking strength
from 1970—106 Pa to 2150—106 Pa),
• The wire
rope is with
one end
attached in
the clamp
inside the
breaking
crest.
• Also enough
dead wraps
should be
wind to
protect the
clamp.
• Deadline
anchoring
system.
• After making a
proper number of
wraps, the line is
threaded through
the deadline
anchor and
fastened in
clamp.
• The most common
reeving pattern is left-
hand reeving with the
deadline anchor
located to the left of
the derrick vee.
• The flat angle is
important in preventing
rope wear.
– It should be held to a
minimum – less than
1,5 degrees for grooved
drums.
• Total stress in the • Stress due the axial
wire rope is: force is:

σu = σv +σs Pmaks.
σv =
Where:
Auž
σu – total stress in the rope, Pa
σv – axial stress, Pa Where:

σs – stress due bending, Pa Pmaks. – maximum force in the rope, N

Auž – rope cross section area, m2
 • Coefficient of security:
• Stress due bending:
σd
δ žsr
m=
σ s = C Bach ⋅ E ⋅ σu
Dkol
Where:
Where:
m – rope coefficient of
CBach – Bach’s coefficient (due the security (for drilling ropes 3
differences in wire area); 0,375 to 5)
E – Young’s modulus of elasticity, Pa σd – material yield point, Pa
δžsr – mean wire diameter, m
Dkol – sheave diameter, m
• Carrying or metal rope area (Auž) is the
sum of all the wire areas in the rope:

d ⋅π 2
d ⋅π 2
Auž = n1 ⋅ + n2 ⋅
ž1
+ ... ž2

4 4
Where:
n1,2- number of wires of same diameter
dž1,2 – wire diameter, m