Rig Inspection Workshop
Land Rigs, Jack-up Rigs
& Platform Rigs
1.2 Rotary Table
What is it?
Rotation table that is driven by AC or DC
motors or by the drawworks.
What does it do?
It rotates and supports the drill string,
when connections are to be made for the
drill string or the casing.
How much power?
Load capacity for 1-2 million lbs. Torque
capacity 40-70,000 ft.lb.
Special features?
Some rotary tables cannot be used to rotate
the string, in which case the top drive is
used. Some rotary tables are hydralically-
driven to rotate with a low torque and low
speed only. Above: Rotary table installed new.
Right: When a Rotary Table goes terribly wrong.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 1
INTRODUCTION The large gap in the centre of the rotary bush- For this reason this way of drilling is mostly
The rotary table used to be the way to drill in ings is referred to as the “bowl” due to its abandoned and replaced by top drives which
the old days. There are still many rigs in the appearance. The bowl is where the slips are are covered in a later module.
industry that use this technique, especially set to hold up the drill string during connec-
on smaller land rigs where they don’t have tions and pipe trips as well as the point the drill On more modern rigs the rotary tables are
enough space in the mast to house the travel- string passes through the floor into the well used for support use only. This means that in
ing block, hook, swivel and top drive. The bore. The rotary bushings connect to the Kelly the process of installing the drill bit or making/
rotary tables installed on the modern rigs are bushings with either four pins or a square box breaking up pipe the rotary table can be used.
now called rotary support tables and are connection to actually induce the spin required These so called rotary support tables do not
different in design and power/speed output. for drilling. The biggest downside of this meth- have the same capacity as the standard rotary
od of drilling is that one can drill only one joint table; these usually have a maximum speed of
Most rotary tables are chain driven. These at the time plus back rimming is not possible. 25 rpm instead of 150 rpm.
chains resemble very large bicycle chains.
The chains require constant oiling while in Below: Gearbox rotary table with severely damaged teeth. The design of the rotary table knows four dif-
operation to prevent excessive wear. Virtually ferent ways of powering the table. Electric (AC
all rotary tables are equipped with rotary locks, or DC), hydraulic power or mechanically pow-
one for each direction. Engaging the lock can ered by either the drawworks or on compound
either prevent the rotary from turning in one rigs driven by the main engine’s power train.
particular direction or from turning at all. This
is commonly used by crews which don’t want Below: Rotary table installed new with anti-slip mats.
to use a second pair of tongs to make up or
break out pipe.
The rotary bushings are located at the centre
of the rotary table. These bushings usually
consist of the master bushing and the insert
bowls. These can generally be removed in two
separate pieces to facilitate large items, i.e.
Right: Pinion from gearbox
drill bits, to pass through the rotary table. severely damaged.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 2
Rotary Table Checklist • Ensure that safety matting fits around Drawings from the Rotary Table Checklist
• Check the condition of the air brake the rotary table.
housing. • Measure and record any wear on the
• Check the condition of the chain and master bushings and inserts; record the
sprockets (maximum chain stretch 3% position of the slips inside the drill pipe
as per API RP 7F (2003) section A.3.5). inserts of the master bushings.
• Ensure that the electrical cables and • Function-test the manual locking system
junction boxes have an EX raating of the rotary table in both directions.
required for zone 1. • Review the backlash measurement
• Inspect the condition and operation of records.
the gearbox; check the oil for possible
contamination with water.
• Review any oil analysis reports and
record the frequency of the oil sampling. Cross-sectional model of rotary table air brake
• Function test the rotary table at 120 rpm
for 30 minutes in a clockwise rotation;
check for heat development.
• Function test in an anticlockwise rotation
at slow speed (20 RPM) for a short period.
• when function testing, allow time for the
unit to warm through. Then check the
noise and vibration levels. Do not run in
reverser for prolonged periods.
• Check the condition of the main bearing.
Above: Rotary table and master bushing.
• Ensure that the DC and/or AC motors
draw cooling air form outside the hazard-
ous areas and that spark arrestors are
fitted on the discharge side of the DC
motors or discharge outside the haszard-
ous area. Example of wear limit on tapered bowls
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 3
Above: Cracks found on the outer side
of the master bushings.
Below: Crack found in rotary inserts
.
Above: Preparation of the Rotary
Table foundation for NDT testing.
Right: Cracks found in the rotary
master bushing drill pipe inserts.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 4
Above: Cracks in the lugs of the split-type
master bushings.
Above: Rotary table with clearly worn
master bushings and master bushing
drill pipe inserts.
Left: The pin and the slots of the rotary
master bushings need to be measured to
ensure that they are within the OEM
maximum wear limits.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 5
Left: Measure the neck of the master bushing
inserts to ensure they are still within the OEM
maximum wear limits.
Below: New master busning,
drill pipe inserts, slips and safety
clamp in proper condition.
Below: Clear indications of excessive wear
on the tapered inserts and master bushings.
The slips are lowered too deep into the master
bushing inserts, indicating excessive wear of
the master bushing inserts.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 6
Above: Disassembled bearing of the rotary table. Top Right: The bearings and bearing race
Note, the lack of lubricaton and the condition of the for this rotary table are completely destroyed.
balls and the bearing race.
Bottom Right: Damaged pinion gear
and shaft for the rotary table.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 7
Below: Brake housings are often
found badly corroded.
Above: Damaged race and balls Above Right: Air-operated brake of the rotary table with
in the rotary table bearing. a new housing installed. Due to the brake’s location,
corrosion on the brake housings is often severe,
and they need regular replacement.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 8
Above: Older totary tables are often driven by
DC motors that need spark arrestors fitted to the
cooling-air outlets.
Below: It is becoming more common to
find hydraulic drives for rotary tables,
expecially when a top drive is installed.
Above: Damaged race and balls Above: Rotary table DC motor equipped with
in the rotary table bearing. new spark arrestors. Note, the purge alarm sensor
in between the spark arrestors.
The Oil Rig Online International Drilling Systems Academy
Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 9
Above Left: New hydraulically-driven rotary table
installed and the tracks of the Iron Roughnect on top.
Above: Bowl locks must be in good working
order, expecially on rigs which do not use a top drive.
The lociks are vedry important, despecially when
high-torque levels are encountered due to
deviated drilling operationsl
Above: Many rigs use auto slips. Their operation
must be checked as well as their mechanical condition
and the NDT reports.
Left: Bushing pullers can also crack andneed to be
included in the Lifting-Gear register. they reuire NDT
inspections according to API RP 8B standards.
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Training Specialists 1.2 Rotary Table – Page 10
