053-6 Wyo. Code R. § 6-6

Current through April 27, 2019

Section 6-6 - Hoisting Lines, Wire Rope, Fiber Rope and Chains

(a) Every hoisting line (wire rope) used in drilling operations shall have a minimum safety factor of three (3), determined as follows:

Safety Factor = B (Nominal breaking point of the wire rope in pounds) / W (Calculated total static load in pounds)

(i) A minimum safety factor of two (2) shall be permitted only in the following operations:
- (A) On rotary drilling line when setting casing, or
- (B) When pulling on stuck pipe and similar infrequent operations.

(b) All hoisting lines (wire ropes) shall be visually inspected daily by a drilling rig competent person, and shall be thoroughly inspected at least each thirty (30) days and documented. The drilling line shall have a documented ton-mile program. The ton mile program is not applicable to CBMNG drilling rigs. However, the daily visual inspection and thirty (30) day documented inspections are required for all rigs. A record shall be made of each inspection with any defects noted. Such written reports shall be kept on file at the drilling rig. Any deterioration noted as a result of the inspection shall be recorded and determination made as to whether the wire rope should be slipped or replaced. When the wire rope is slipped or replaced, it shall be recorded on the inspection report, as to date and length of wire rope removed. A hoisting line shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exist:

(i) When three (3) broken wires are found in one lay of six (6) by six (6) wire line;

(ii) When six (6) broken wires are found in one lay of six (6) by nineteen (19) wire line;

(iii) When nine (9) broken wires are found in one lay of six (6) by thirty-seven (37) wire line;

(iv) When eight (8) broken wires are found in one lay of eight (8) by nineteen (19) wireline;

(v) When wire lines not described herein are found to have four (4) percent of the total number of wires composing such wire broken in one lay;

(vi) When marked corrosion appears;

(vii) When corroded or broken wires at end connections are noted;

(viii) When end connections are corroded, cracked, bent, worn or improperly applied; or,

(ix) When evidence of kinking, crushing, cutting or unstranding are noted.

(c) The wire rope (wire line) manufacturer's recommendations and/or a ton-mile cutoff program shall be utilized.

(d) The dead end of the hoisting line (wire rope) shall be fastened securely to the drum.

(e) The hoisting line (wire rope) shall not be removed from the drum until:

(i) The traveling blocks are laid on the derrick floor, or

(ii) The traveling blocks are held suspended by a separate wire rope or chain of equivalent strength.

(f) The hoisting line (wire rope) shall not be in direct contact with any derrick member, any stationary equipment or material in the derrick, except the crown block and any traveling block sheaves, a line spooler, a line stabilizer or weight indicator.

(g) Every overhead sheave or pulley on which a line spooler counterweight rope runs shall be fastened securely to its support.

(h) All wire rope shall be periodically inspected. A copy of the inspection reports of each running cable shall be maintained on the rig and readily accessible to the department.

(i) "Periodically" means at least monthly.

(ii) Wire rope shall be removed from service when defects as shown at Section 6.(b)(v) through (ix) are detected.

(i) Chains.

(i) The practice of placing bolts or nails between two links to shorten chains is prohibited.

(ii) Splicing or repairing broken chains shall be accomplished by use of repair devices approved by the chain manufacturer. The use of welding, brazing, bolts, wire, nails and other such methods or devices is prohibited.

(j) Winches and cables.

(i) Cable shall be in good repair. When respooling, care shall be used to avoid kinking. Cable clamps and thimbles, properly installed, shall be used in preference to knotting the cable.

(ii) Personnel shall not stand near, step over or go under a cable while it is under tension.

(k) Laying out and picking up cable.

(i) Winch operators feeding the cable in or out of the truck shall have the emergency horn in close reach. The cable shall not be guided or held while it is being fed into the line guide.

(ii) When cable handlers are required to stand on the platform of a moving vehicle, they shall face in the direction of travel and shall hold on to the vehicle with at least one hand.

(l) Tugger lines shall not be used to hoist personnel unless the manufacturer specifically allows the hoisting of personnel and specifies the use of a bosun's chair (boat-swan) and full body harness, or equivalent, that is attached to the tugger line.

(i) if there is no manufacturer's guidance on hoisting personnel, the tugger line with proper rating capacity may be used to reach an otherwise inaccessible location, if a bosun's chair (boat-swan) with full body harness is used, and the tugger line meets the following requirements:
- (A) Self centering, that when released returns to the center position and has locking/braking capability.
- (B) Control lever shall be attended at all times while lifting, stabilizing, or lowering of personnel.
- (C) Lifting cable will be a minimum of 3/8-inch diameter, and all hoisting equipment shall have a minimum workload of 4,000 pounds.
- (D) All connections shall meet ANSI standards.

(m) Chain used in connection with drilling or production operations shall be suitable for the type of service. Chain used in a spinning line, in a tong line or on a cathead shall be of an approved type. Certified-type chain, with individual lengths marked at intervals of five (5) feet or less by embossing or another approved method, may be used when purchased in bulk, provided the vender or the manufacturer has furnished the user with a proof-test record which includes all lengths in the entire length of chain pulled to approximately one-half (2) the breaking strength of the chain. All chain lines to tongs shall be three-eighths (3/8) inch or heavier, with an approximate breaking strength of 20,000 pounds or more.

(n) Each cathead using chain shall be equipped with a manually operated cathead clutch, or with another device adequate to keep the rotation of the cathead under control when it is in use. The clutch or device shall be the "non-grab" type and shall release automatically when not manually held in the engaged position.

(o) Every chain used in a spinning line shall have a fiber tail rope between eight (8) inches and twelve (12) inches in length fastened to the pipe end of the chain.

(p) Any chain shall be discarded or repaired if it has been stretched to the point where links bind, kink, lock, or it has been broken.

(q) No repair is permitted in a spinning chain.

(r) Connections. Connections between lengths of cathead chain, tong chains and spinning chain shall be of the connecting link or swivel type and of a strength equal to the lighter chain. Connecting links and swivels shall be of a size and type suitable for the chain in use.

(s) Fiber ropes cut, frayed (through one (1) or more lays) or that have been in contact with caustic acid or any other chemical that might weaken them, shall be replaced immediately.

053-6 Wyo. Code R. § 6-6