How Do Grasshopper Oil Drilling Rigs Work?
Oil Drilling Rigs When an oil well is dug, there is normally enough pressure to bring the oil to the surface. In time, however, the release of gas and oil in the trap lowers the underground pressure. When this happens, a drilling rig is required to bring the oil to the surface. The drilling rig is a machine that has a walking beam on top, and a drill rod sticking into the ground. The main purpose of a drilling rig is to lift the drill rod on each upstroke, which will pull the oil out of the ground. There are three main types of drilling rigs: horseheads, air balances, and grasshoppers. Horseheads The horsehead pump is the standard design. On a horsehead pump, the pivot is in the center of the walking beam. On one side of the beam is the drill rod, and on the other side are huge steel beams called “counterweights.” A crank rotates the counterweights, which pulls down the walking beam at regular intervals. The beam then pulls up on the drill rod at regular intervals, which pulls the oil
