WorldWide Drilling Resource

three union lugs. It adapts to all disfig- ured hammer unions. The handle design’s quick-latch feature extends from 14 to 22 inches. While hammers can stress lugs, and cause seal damage due to uneven pressures, even distribution of torque with the SSWS properly seats the union without compressing or compromising the seal. Wilson said there hasn’t been a single leak following the use of this wrench. Efficient torque of lugs also reduced rig up time by as much as two hours in some instances. Wilson acknowledged implement- ing this tool means a culture change on rigs throughout the world. “If you come to an oil rig, you want to sling a sledge- hammer,” saidWilson. In fact, Concentric’s own r ig hands ini t ial ly had trouble adapting to the change. Wilson said 21 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2014 Could this Tool Replace the Sledgehammer? Adapted from Information Provided by Concentric Pipe and Tool Rentals “For 50 or 60 years, we’ve been slinging sledgehammers all over the earth,” said David Wilson, president of Concentric Pipe and Tool Rentals, dur- ing a press conference at the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference. But what if the use of sledgeham- mers could be elimi- nated in the makeup and b r eakou t o f high-pressure, tem- porary flowline con- nections? What if a wrench could be used instead? “It would be safer, ” said Wilson. The Superior Safety Wrench System (SSWS) is a next-generation product designed to eliminate the risks associ- ated with sledgehammer use, includ- WWDR photo of David Wilson. The SSWS works on both new and old wing unions. ing potential injuries from swinging them with poor form; holding a target while it is being hammered; releasing sledge- hammers midswing; and fragmenting due to worn-out sledgehammers or tar- gets. The SSWS, designed for onshore and offshore operations, consists of two main parts: a heavy-duty aluminum, wrench-style head, and a quick-latch, adjustable torque-assist device. Extensive external field tests were conducted on two- through four-inch unions, and the SSWS passed every test. The wrench head can be adjusted from one to four inches to create an even distribution of impact load on all /*% 3*-- :45&.4 /$ !& "3& %&%*$"5&% 50 5)& 8"5&3 8&-- */%6453: "354 -0$"5&% "/% 41"3&4 1307*%&% '03 &9*45*/( &26*1.&/5 > 305"3: 5"#-&4 /08 130%6$&% 8*5) -"3(& 3*/( (&"3 "/% 1*/*0/ &&% &1"*34 05"3: 5"#-&4 < 6% 16.14 < "+03 $0.10/&/54 0/?5 '03(&5 3%&3 :063 $01: 0' = 3"/4'&3 0' &$)/0-0(:> 83*55&/ #: 0)/ ? 410*3 "3,&5 /*% )0/& < "9 888 &/*%%3*-- $0. ; 9$*5*/( $)"/(&4; Could this Tool cont’d on page 34.