Being on friendly terms with technology is the key factor to a successful operation. Nowadays, state-of-the-art mechanics are really the foundation any business should lean on in order to jettison into the future and scale up their operations. We’re not only talking about the oil and gas industry, but all enterprises with the ambition to grow. Modern catwalks can improve your oil and gas drilling immensely. Not only will they help advance and boost your safety standards, but they’ll increase your output and overall profit.
What’s a Power Catwalk?
A hydraulics mechanical catwalk is a revolutionary piece of hardware that comes in different sizes and shapes. It is primarily used in oil and gas rigs in order to pick up parts — tubulars, drill pipes, HWDP, drill collars, and other large equipment — and hoist them from the ground floor and onto the right floor.
The main difference between a catwalk of this type and a traditional bare-bones catwalk is the fact that a hydraulic one cuts down on two key factors of the oil rig’s operation and basically streamlines the whole process. Through the use of robotics and mechanical engineering, hydraulic power catwalks can seamlessly integrate into your structure and improve your whole operation.
It is a robotic catwalk that minimizes the direct handling of heavy equipment and maximizes an operation’s overall time. They reduce the cost of transporting equipment, the problems inherent in human error, the liabilities of potential injury, and the expense of downtime and switching out crews.
Power catwalks of this type are rapidly becoming an integral part of every gas and oil rig operation. It’s dawned on investors how much a robotic catwalk can help out by not only optimizing the overall operation, but cutting back their operational costs.
The Benefits of a State-of-the-art Power Catwalk
Power catwalks are at the forefront of the oil and gas industry right now. They are modernizing the field and improving it rapidly. A power catwalk can sharpen your whole operation and enhance its output in hundreds of ways; it is the sort of investment that ultimately has a huge return by the operation’s end.
Rod Handling
Rigs with a hydraulic power catwalk, one with rod handling capability, pay less in manpower. They save in staffing and labor costs. Not just in handling the tubular and large equipment, not just in the crew available at the site, but in every margin related to staffing in the supply line. Insurance and premiums go down. HR costs for candidates are reduced. Worksite incidentals related to mat and bone crew members go down exponentially.
Productivity
Back when power catwalks were first introduced, productivity really felt the blow. They were incredibly slow and a trained oil rig team could outpace them in a heartbeat. The technology has improved over the years and now many hydraulic catwalks operate at peak conditions and optimal speed. Most not only manage but can actually outpace an oil rigs team. They also don’t require any downtime or rest, and most operate on human error-free standards that allow them to work fully automated.
Cycle Time
Depending on the power catwalk you purchase, cycle times can be reduced by half of what your current human team is producing. Some fully functional power catwalks can actually diminish this time frame to a max of 60 seconds.
Rapid Rig-Up
Power catwalks don’t really need any special rigging or setups. Most are tailor-made to a specific operation and ecosystem — whether you need a mobile land rig or a heavier hoist. These types of catwalks don’t really need any sort of extra arrangements or set-up. They can provide a more reliable and efficient uptime compared to other older models.
Wireless Control System
Foremen can control a rig of this type from the safety of their office. What’s more important still, is the fact that it allows multiple operators to stay on top of the metrics in case of surprise challenges. There are many other advantages of a modern power catwalk.
Why Invest in a Power Catwalk?
A power catwalk positively affects oil and gas production by subtracting one of the most chaotic aspects of working in any field: the human factor. Although a power catwalk of this nature won’t be able to move the tubular without some human intervention, it will nonetheless eliminate part of the direct handling and the need for other equipment, such as forklifts.
A power catwalk can speed up tubular movement and it allows the whole operation to be handled from a remote distance through the use of a control.
A hydraulic catwalk is a game-changer when it comes to an oil rig’s supply chain and operational parameters. They are fast, durable, efficient, and incredibly safe.
