CORMORANT ALPHA DRILLING OPERATIONS GUIDE

REEVE UP OR CHANGE OUT A WINCH LINE

(TUGGER LINE)

1. SPECIAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

1) A snake of suitable size and strength.

2) Enough rope to reach from the floor to the crown and back.

3) A line drum support.

4) Two radios.

5) Line cutter.

6) Rig floor winch and lifting accessories.

2. ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS

CP-HSE-658 LIFTING OPERATION PLANS

3. SAFETY INFORMATION & LOLER CONSIDERATIONS

1) Ensure correct installation of the snake.

2) The new line is correctly anchored on the drum.

3) Avoid the areas vertically below the snakes passage.

4) Place a man on the crown to observe the passage of the snake

over the sheave and also at any other point between crown and
winch which might constitute a “hang up”. Communicate with the
men on the floor.

5) Ensure the rope required for reeving is in good condition and of

adequate strength.

6) Hold a toolbox talk with all concerned, ensure everyone

understands the risks involved and the controls in place to
mitigate them, also make sure that everyone is familiar with the
lifting plan.

7) Avoid slipping line through the hands use hand over hand grips.

8) Consider the effect wind can have when working at height.

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9) Although this could be classed as a routine operation, it is done

on a infrequent basis and there for requires careful planning,
consequently it is recommended that a separate lifting plan and
risk assessment be made up.

10) Should a problem occur or the plan changes then stop the work
and re-assess the situation, review the risk assessment and lifting
plan.

4. PROCEDURE

MEN REQUIRED; ASSISTANT DRILLER AND THREE FLOORMEN.

CHANGE OUT OF THE WINCH LINE.

4.1 PREPARATION

1) Hold a toolbox talk and complete a TRIC card. It is also

recommended that a separate lifting plan be made out with the
associated risk assessment.

2) A competent person should carry out a pre-use inspection of the

winch and all associated lifting accessories, ensure the colour
code is current and the SWL is adequate for the task.

2) Place the new drum or line on the supports. (The position of the
supports are dictated by rig design. However steps should be
taken to ensure unhindered movement of the line during change
out.)

3) Ensure the certification of the line is current and it is of the

correct size and length.

4) Ensure that the line feeding of the new drum is the non eyed one.

5) Cut the eye off the old winch line.

(Ensure that the line cannot run back up the derrick.)

6) Install the snake between the free ends of the lines. (Secure the
extremities of the snake with string after the lines have been
pushed into its full extent.)

7) Place one man at a place of vantage under the crown to observe

the passage of the snake through the sheave and at subsequent
sheaves.
(If possible establish and maintain radio contact between him and
the men on the floor.)

8) Place one man to operate the winch and one man to control the
unspooling.

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4.2 PERFORMANCE

1) Engage the winch and start 'picking up' line.

(Maintain a controlled rate.

2) Control the line being unspooled by applying pressure to the drum

rim.
3) Continue 'picking up' until the snake is approximately five feet
above the winch (extra vigilance to be exercised when the
snake is passing through the sheave).

4) Stop the winch.

5) Reach up and pull down the snake and the new winch line.

6) Disconnect the snake from both lines.

7) Secure the new line's end to one side.

8) Neatly coil remaining new line from drum to one side.

9) Unspool the old winch line onto drum.

10) Disconnect the anchor arrangement.

11) Free the new line and anchor it to the winch drum and secure.

12) Spool on the new line ensuring the raps bed together with
adequate tension.

5. ON COMPLETION

1) Dispose of the old line.

2) Store the drum support.

3) Dispose of the old drum.

4) Bring the man down from the derrick.

5) Return radios and other equipment.

REEVING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME ASSUMING THE

SHEAVES ARE IN PLACE

This operation differs from the line change only in as much that a rope
must be installed to take the place of the old winch line.
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ROPE INSTALLATION

PREPARATION

1) Hold a toolbox talk with all concerned and complete a TRIC

card, it is recommended that a separate lifting plan and risk
assessment is made out due to the additional hazards associated
with the man riding aspect of the operation.

2) A competent person should carry out a pre-use inspection of the

Rig Floor winches and lifting accessories, ensure that the colour
code is current and that the SWL is adequate for the task.

3) Coil the required length of rope on the rig floor.

4) Place a man in a riding belt on the man riding winch.

(Additional weight may have to be added to counter the line
weight when near the crown.) Remember this will require special
controls and should be carried out under the permit to work
system and in compliance with “Safety Concerning use of Man
Riding Winch”.

5) Secure the rope to the winch line leaving approximately twenty

feet loose.

6) Raise the man until signalled to stop. The man should be able to
feed the rope through from here. (Often it is necessary to place a
banksman to gain a better view of the man.)

7) Feed the loose end of the rope through the sheave and back to the
man.

8) Tie the loose end back onto the winch shackle.

9) Untie the original securing bonds and transfer the rope weight to
the shackle.

10) Signal to be lowered.

11) Lower the man to the floor, his weight will pull the rope through
the sheave.
(Ensure the rope uncoils freely.)

12) Unhook the rope from the shackle.

13) Use this end to pull by hand, the new winch line joined by the
snake to rope through the sheave.

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If required the empty winch drum can be utilised as a capstan to

pull the winch line through. However, whenever possible use the
drawworks cathead as there is less likelihood of the rope snarling
up on itself.

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