Geronimo Line
Mar 24, 2024 15:02:26 #
I have recently noticed the mention of a Geronimo Line on a drilling rig. I am assuming that there are many who do not know what this refers to in the assortment of items common to a drilling rig.
The Geronimo Line is a system to allow the derrick man who is working about thirty or forty feet above the rig floor a chance to escape if the rig derrick is pulled in, or crashes. He has a slight chance to hook himself to this device and slide down to the ground. It isn’t perfect but does offer a ‘chance’!
The line is staked out some distance from the derrick and the other end connected to the derrick in easy reach for the derrick man who is working on the ‘monkey board’!
When a ‘trip’ is required, the derrick man will rack the tops of the drill pipe on the top side, as they bring the drill pipe out of the hole, while the men on the floor do the same at the bottom of each joint.
Then when the new drill bit is fitted on the drill collar, they will reverse the procedure. When a joint is made up and lowered into the well bore, when it has only two or three feet remaining, the driller will halt the descent, and the hands on the drilling rig floor will put in the slips to lock the pipe in position.
Then the driller will raise the elevators up to near the derrick man, who is waiting and holding another joint of drill pipe ready to lock the elevators around this new joint.
If the connection is secured, the joint is picked up, then lowered to be made up with the last joint. This union is made up tight and the process is again repeated and the string of drill pipe is finally lowered all the way to the bottom of the well, ready to continue drilling.
If the well bore is somewhat crooked and the drill string gets hung, the driller might use too much force to raise the drill string and cause the derrick to buckle and fall, in this case, the Gerinomo line is the only escape the derrick man has. Hopefully, he will have enough time.
this case the Geronimo line is a life saver for the derrick man. However, there are times when the derrick crashes before the derrick man can escape.
I had a cousin who was in the U.S. Infantry and fought all the way from the D-day landing to the Battle of the Bulge, to be killed working in the derrick of a rig, not two months after he had returned home! You pay your money and take your chances! Just Sayin…RJS
The Geronimo Line is a system to allow the derrick man who is working about thirty or forty feet above the rig floor a chance to escape if the rig derrick is pulled in, or crashes. He has a slight chance to hook himself to this device and slide down to the ground. It isn’t perfect but does offer a ‘chance’!
The line is staked out some distance from the derrick and the other end connected to the derrick in easy reach for the derrick man who is working on the ‘monkey board’!
When a ‘trip’ is required, the derrick man will rack the tops of the drill pipe on the top side, as they bring the drill pipe out of the hole, while the men on the floor do the same at the bottom of each joint.
Then when the new drill bit is fitted on the drill collar, they will reverse the procedure. When a joint is made up and lowered into the well bore, when it has only two or three feet remaining, the driller will halt the descent, and the hands on the drilling rig floor will put in the slips to lock the pipe in position.
Then the driller will raise the elevators up to near the derrick man, who is waiting and holding another joint of drill pipe ready to lock the elevators around this new joint.
If the connection is secured, the joint is picked up, then lowered to be made up with the last joint. This union is made up tight and the process is again repeated and the string of drill pipe is finally lowered all the way to the bottom of the well, ready to continue drilling.
If the well bore is somewhat crooked and the drill string gets hung, the driller might use too much force to raise the drill string and cause the derrick to buckle and fall, in this case, the Gerinomo line is the only escape the derrick man has. Hopefully, he will have enough time.
this case the Geronimo line is a life saver for the derrick man. However, there are times when the derrick crashes before the derrick man can escape.
I had a cousin who was in the U.S. Infantry and fought all the way from the D-day landing to the Battle of the Bulge, to be killed working in the derrick of a rig, not two months after he had returned home! You pay your money and take your chances! Just Sayin…RJS
Mar 25, 2024 09:42:41 #
hueey
Loc: Lake Fork Tx
Good description and sorry to hear about your cousin.
When I worked drilling rigs the rig’s sub structure was usually 18’ to 30’ in height and the Derrick board was another 58 to 60’ above that. It
You had a great view from the Derrick board.
When I worked drilling rigs the rig’s sub structure was usually 18’ to 30’ in height and the Derrick board was another 58 to 60’ above that. It
You had a great view from the Derrick board.
Mar 25, 2024 22:12:54 #
My first day ever on the rig, when they thought that I knew hardly anything about it, the other hands told me that it was my job to check the 'water table' up on the crown. "It's about five gallons low, so you'd better fill a bucket and take it up with you".
That's a long ladder to climb when you're carrying a 5 gallon bucket of water, but I already knew the game. My Dad had been a roughneck for years. I took the bucket up about 20 feet and dumped it. They were able to avoid most of the water, but it was fun watching them scramble!
In todays workplace, horseplay can get you fired fast - but back then on the rig, it was the order fo the day! I have a few stories...
That's a long ladder to climb when you're carrying a 5 gallon bucket of water, but I already knew the game. My Dad had been a roughneck for years. I took the bucket up about 20 feet and dumped it. They were able to avoid most of the water, but it was fun watching them scramble!
In todays workplace, horseplay can get you fired fast - but back then on the rig, it was the order fo the day! I have a few stories...
Mar 25, 2024 22:18:27 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.