A new Australian manufactured mobile oil and gas well-servicing rig using a new Mercedes-Benz Actros cab and chassis is starting work in Queensland. Brisbane-based Exploration Drill Rigs (XDR) chose the current generation Actros for its XDR 75 platform.
Adelaide-based Nitschke Energy Services is making final preparations before deploying one of its two XDR 75 Actros models to Queensland.
The XDR 75 is suitable for a range of well-servicing tasks with safety features built in for workers, but its productivity is also a key selling point.
The design of the XDR 75 means it can be set-up and packed up faster than conventional rigs while it can also deliver time savings once the job has started.
The 8×4 Mercedes-Benz Actros 4148 was judged to be the best truck for building the rig because of one major reason.
It is available with a high power continuously rated direct PTO (Power Take Off), which means the XDR 75 rig can take all its power from the truck’s 12-litre V6 engine that generates 480hp and 2300Nm of torque.
The PTO can deliver 2000Nm of torque to operate the rig.
Often, truck mounted drill rigs require a secondary engine to power the rig and these can be big and cumbersome power units with up to 12 cylinders.
The additional engine also takes up a lot of room on the back of the truck, which can increase the size and weight of the truck and rig combination.
“At the moment a lot of other rigs are Canadian and American, and they are much larger units,” says Nitschke Energy Services managing director, Jonathan Nitschke.
“A lot of them are overweight, over-width and over-height while this unit is highly mobile, so it is about having the right tool for the right job,” says Nitschke.
The XDR 75 Mercedes-Benz does not require any over dimensional permits to travel on Australian roads, nor does it require escort vehicles.
Nitschke, who ordered the first two XDR 75 rigs in late 2013, has worked closely with XDR to fine-tune the rig to suit the Australian oil and gas market.
He is confident the technology will be well accepted by the industry and deliver savings to him and his customers.
“Productivity wise, on set-up, pack up and moving the XDR 75 between sites we think we will be 20-30% faster than the traditional rigs that are currently in the market,” he says.
“At the moment clients are wanting reduced cost, increased productivity and innovation, they are the three drivers behind the XDR 75, and this ticks all of those boxes.”
Nitschke will also use two Actros 2655 B-doubles that carry everything that is needed to operate the XDR 75 unit. This equipment includes large fluid tanks, and well control equipment, drill annulus, and rams that prevent blowouts, as well as a 20ft workshop container, site office and forklift.
Exploration Drill Rigs is the only Australian gas and oil rig servicing manufacturer that develops, makes and sells this kind of rig.
It says the XDR 75 breaks new ground when it comes to efficiency and safety.
The rig takes just 30 minutes to set-up and the same amount of time to pack up, but also requires fewer workers thanks to its programmable Logic Control Computer and sensors.
“This computer enables safer and faster rig operations with less personnel while providing comprehensive well servicing data for the benefit of the client,” says Exploration Drill Rigs.
