Lubrication and Hydraulic systems in drilling rigs are essential in the overall safety and efficiency of operations. Pentair was approached by a drilling rig company, requiring a new, customized solution. This company had been experiencing diminished uptime due to the top drive hydraulic power unit (HPU) and ground level HPU failing. As a 24-hour operation, minimal downtime can create more than a $200,000 per day impact on their revenue.
Moisture in the hydraulic fluids can create failures in the equipment that leads to downtime and safety and envrionmental concerns.
A small Ultidri unit from Pentair was provided for the test. This unit removes particulate with a 3 micron Beta 1000 barrier filter and water through a proprietary membrane mass transfer system. The standard unit was modified with a fully enclosed cabinet, automatic shutoff, and alarm circuit for the drill rig application.
Additionally, Stealth ABS (Active Breather System) was provided for the 3 system reservoirs where continuous filtration proved to be more challenging. These systems provide a dry air purge through the headspace to eliminate atmospheric humidity and dust contamination.