Basic Methods and Key Points of Daily Maintenance for Drilling Equipment

Basic Methods and Key Points of Daily Maintenance for Drilling Equipment

Keeping drilling equipment in good working order is crucial for ensuring continuous, safe, and cost-effective operations. Effective daily maintenance centers on standardizing basic tasks such as inspection, cleaning, lubrication, and tightening into routine operating habits. This approach emphasizes prevention, aiming to identify and address minor issues before they escalate into major malfunctions or downtime.

Basic daily maintenance begins with regular checks before and after each operation. Before starting the equipment, operators should conduct a comprehensive "start-up check." This includes: checking the engine or motor's oil, coolant, and fuel levels; checking for leaks in hydraulic system pipes and joints; tapping key connecting bolts with a hammer to confirm tightness; and visually inspecting wire ropes for broken strands or wear, and drive belts for cracks or looseness. After starting, allow the equipment to run under no-load for a few minutes, carefully listening to the smooth sounds of the engine, gearbox, and turntable, and observing the readings of various gauges (such as pressure gauges and temperature gauges) to ensure they are normal. After shutdown, a crucial step is to promptly clean the drill pipe, drill platform, and mud pump of the thick mud, paying particular attention to thoroughly rinsing the vibrating screen and filter of the mud circulation system to prevent the mud from hardening and clogging the pipelines.

Lubrication and regular maintenance of critical components are key aspects of deeper maintenance. Strictly adhere to the timed, location-specific, quality-specific, and quantity-specific lubrication requirements outlined in the equipment manual. For all moving friction parts, such as bearings, chains, and open gears, add or replace the specified type of lubricating oil or grease on time. Special attention should be paid to vulnerable parts such as the piston rod and packing of the mud pump. Simultaneously, a regular inspection checklist should be established, including: checking the sensitivity and wear of the braking system weekly; checking and adjusting the clutch clearance after each well completion or a certain period of operation; and regularly checking the wear and cleanliness of the drill pipe threads to prevent drill string slippage due to thread damage. For wear parts such as drill bits, slips, and seals, preventative replacement should be performed based on their wear patterns, rather than waiting for complete failure.

Record keeping and seasonal special maintenance are extensions of ensuring long-term reliability. Establish a maintenance log for each major piece of equipment, clearly recording the date of each inspection, operating hours, problems found, lubrication and maintenance procedures, and replaced parts. This log is a valuable "health record" for the equipment, helping to analyze failure patterns and predict component lifespan. Before long-term storage of equipment (such as inter-quarter shutdown), "sealing maintenance" must be performed: completely change the engine oil and filter; drain the fluid from the engine cooling system and all water pipes (for antifreeze); thoroughly clean and dry the entire machine; apply anti-rust grease to all exposed metal surfaces and moving parts. Park the equipment in a dry, well-ventilated area and cover it. Through this complete maintenance system, from daily to periodic maintenance, from operation to record-keeping, equipment performance can be maintained to the maximum extent and its service life extended.