Water Well Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1330849
"I learned a lot about preventative maintenance and things you start looking for," Baker says. "If you know about some of these small things before they become big things, then you don't have downtime on the jobsites." Months into implementing the maintenance checklist, Baker is seeing his drill crews take ownership by noticing minor issues on their four drill rigs and making note of them. The crews then look at the list and fix the issues during half a day in the shop while they're in between jobs, or at a jobsite when time allows for it. "We're collecting data and we'll see where this goes," Baker says. "If we need to make modifications, we will. I'm sure we'll be making some." Factoring into the maintenance of his equipment is the fact that Baker is using a higher-grade oil and additives package rather than what the manufacturer recommends. Also, every 200 to 300 hours of use, he has equipment oil samples (engine, hydraulic, and compressor oils) sent and analyzed by a lab in Salt Lake City, Utah. The lab runs an International Orga- nization for Standardization (ISO) cleanliness analysis and designates a code to how clean the oil is and the results dictate when Baker needs to change the oil in his equipment. The lab analysis, Baker says, provides a clear indication as to whether filtration is working properly, and if therefore, the oil is clean. Conversely, it indicates when a change might be necessary. Baker provides his reasoning for opting for the higher-grade oil and additives package: "Hydraulics, pumps, and motors have an ISO cleanli- ness code on the oil," Baker explains. "If you run that hy- draulic system within that cleanliness code at 70 degrees in a controlled environment, you're going to get 10,000 hours out of your pumps. "When putting the pumps on mobile equipment, it cuts it in half, so you get 5000 hours on pumps because they're working in the extreme heat, cold, and dirt. As long as you maintain that cleanliness code in your oil, you can expect 5000 hours, but as soon as you go one code dirtier in your oil, you cut that in half. If you can operate one code clean- lier you can double it, and so we're trying to operate in a manner that is not necessarily normal in an effort to try and get our equipment to last longer. Ultimately, it reduces our cost of maintenance." Baker shared how an engine oil analysis helped him avoid an engine overhaul on one of his rigs. The analysis detected higher levels of copper than normal and signaled to him that the rod bearings and main bearings were beginning to wear. The bearings are made from brass and electroplated in copper and then electroplated in zinc. "When you put new bearings in and you're running it, you're going to see zinc in your oil, just a little bit all along and then you'll see copper," he says. "When you see copper, you know you've worn through the zinc. Then you watch it, and when it wears through the copper and starts showing up with brass in the oil, you know you're ready for an engine overhaul." Instead of pulling the engine for an overhaul, the analysis pointed Baker to change the bearings. "The biggest thing—yes, it pushes out the engine overhaul timewise," Baker says, "but it's that it gives you a heads-up that it needs an overhaul before you're on a well and you've got tooling 300, 400 feet down in the ground and all sudden you have an engine breakdown. If I know my engine needs re- built and is still running, after this job, we're going to bring it in and do an engine overhaul. It's on scheduled downtime and the other rigs are filling in the gaps." Benefits of an Oil Sampling System Beinhower Bros. Drilling Co. in Johnstown, Ohio, began using an oil sampling system when it purchased its 2018 GEFCO 40K. The company initially conducted oil sampling for warranty purposes, but it has continued to sample and monitor its equipment fluids. "Typically before, the service interval would be based 22 n February 2021 WWJ waterwelljournal.com NEXT GEN PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE from page 21 (Left) Weekly lubrication of key components such as lift chains and drive lines is vital to the long wear/long replacement intervals to save money and stop/ reduce downtime. (Right) The daily oil check allows for close monitoring of the most vital equipment. Small changes in the condition of the oil can lead to early problem detection. Photos courtesy Baker, Apex Drilling.