One priority of any professional tradesman is to value and respect the tools, equipment and machinery they operate. This is by no means of any less importance to drillers; it is vital that they keep equipment in peak condition through regular maintenance and servicing. Drilling equipment is an investment—not only is it often costly to purchase, but it will continue to operate efficiently if kept in good working order.
When equipment breaks down, production stops and so does profit—that’s bad news in any industry, especially when your equipment is your “bread and butter” as is true in the drilling industry. Proper maintenance and service includes everything from hydraulic components and engines to pumps, compressors and drilling tools. Rather than taking an in-depth look at the specific details of these individual components, let’s overview some basic principles that can be applied across the board toward well maintained rigs and equipment.