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concept and has been in use for decades, thus incremental
improvements are not as great. Nevertheless, according to Jerry
Hutchison, drilling superintendent for Santa Fe, the telescoping
rigs are still exceptionally efficient. "Even on our 1,000 hp, mast-
down rigs used in the Wafrah, they average 18 hr a move, from
release to spud. They're packaged well and we've got good people
moving them," he said.
However, a mast-up, integral-wheel system can also achieve
similar rig move efficiencies. "With a 1,500-hp rig, we typically
average a mast-up move over a distance of 0-15 km within 18 hr
on average. On a good release, it might be 14 hr," said Gary Bauer,
general manager for Santa Fe.
One advantage that a telescoping rig has over integral-wheel
and skid-beam systems is travel speed. A telescoping rig can be
towed at speeds greater than 25 km/hr, depending on road
conditions. Factors that limit towing speed are the size and weight
of the loads, road conditions, and heat buildup in the tires.
In relation, an integral-wheel complex can be towed at 15
km/hr mast-up; while a skid-beam rig can only obtain 4-8 km/hr.
Skid-beam mast-up rig moves are limited to infield moves because
it becomes faster to lay the derrick down, thereby achieving faster
road speeds when moving cross country.

Self – sufficiency

Drilling operations in Kuwait are almost totally self-
sufficient. In the Al-Ahmadi oil field complex near Kuwait Oil
Co.'s (KOC) headquarters, Santa Fe has a yard filled with drill
pipe, stabilizers, swivels, and other ancillary equipment.
In addition, Santa Fe's machine shop and mechanics combine
to make a world-class, autonomous facility. "We are totally
independent when it comes to rebuilding our engines, pumps, and
other equipment," Hutchison said. "This is a unique aspect of our
operations here," Bauer said,

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