Modular rig design

Technical Specifications

Here are representative specifications for our modular rig series. All parameters can be customized based on your depth requirements, environmental conditions, and transport logistics.

Parameter	ZJ Modular Series (Land)	XJ Series (Workover/Modular)	Big Easy Series
Drilling Depth (4‑1/2″ DP)	1,500–9,000 m	1,500–2,000 m (drilling)	2,500–5,000 m
Max Hook Load	1,350–5,850 kN (150–585 tons)	585–2,250 kN	1,350–2,700 kN
Installed Power	550–3,000+ HP	235–1,300 HP	600–1,200 HP
Module Count	8–15 (depending on config)	4–8	3–5 (trailer‑integrated)
Max Module Weight	≤20 tons (road) / ≤10 tons (heli)	≤15 tons	≤25 tons (trailer)
Module Dimensions	2.5 x 2.5 x 12 m max	2.5 x 2.5 x 9 m max	Trailer‑mounted
Transport Mode	Truck / flatbed / helicopter	Truck / flatbed	Self‑propelled trailer
Rig‑up Time	3–7 days	2–4 days	2–3 days
Rig‑down Time	2–5 days	1–3 days	1–2 days
Power Source	Diesel / AC electric / Dual‑fuel	Diesel / AC electric	AC VFD (diesel generator)
Drive Type	Mechanical / AC‑VFD	Mechanical / Hydraulic / Electric	AC VFD
Top Drive Compatible	Yes (optional on smaller rigs, standard on ZJ70+)	Optional	Optional
Environmental Range	–45°C to +55°C	–30°C to +55°C	–20°C to +50°C
Certifications	API, ISO 9001, HSE	API, ISO 9001, HSE	API, ISO 9001, HSE

Notable project reference: We have built a customized modularized drilling rig with 8000m drilling depth and 585 tons maximum hook load, featuring low‑position drawworks and swing‑type substructure. We've also delivered a 7000m modularized drilling rig to Saudi Arabia — proven in high‑temperature, sandy environments.

Product Types

Our modular rig offerings break down into three main families, each suited to different applications and mobility requirements.

Product Series	Type	Mobility Approach	Typical Applications
ZJ Modular Land Rigs	Skid‑mounted	Modules transported separately, bolted together on‑site	Standard land drilling, multi‑well pads, remote locations
Big Easy Series (BE550/BE770)	Trailer‑mounted AC VFD	Self‑propelled trailer, crane‑free assembly	Fast‑cycle drilling, workover, remote access
XJ Modular Workover Rigs	Truck / trailer‑mounted	Light modules, self‑propelled chassis	Workover, light drilling, well intervention
Offshore Modular Rigs	Platform / jack‑up modules	Marine‑certified modules, deck skidding	Platform drilling, jack‑up operations
Arctic Modular Rigs	Skid‑mounted (cold‑weather spec)	Modules with heated enclosures, arctic materials	Arctic / sub‑arctic drilling (–45°C)

Our product lines cover 12 families and more than 200 types of products across four major categories: drilling & workover equipment, production equipment, offshore drilling & production equipment, and high‑pressure manifolds.

Application Fields

Modular rigs are not a one‑size‑fits‑all solution — they excel in specific scenarios where mobility and rapid deployment are the difference between profit and loss.

1. Remote & Roadless Locations (Jungle, Mountain, Arctic)

If you can't drive a conventional rig to the wellsite because there’s no road, modular is your answer. Helicopter‑liftable modules (≤10 tons each) can be flown in piece‑by‑piece.

How SJ Petro helps: All our modules can be designed to weight limits for specific helicopter types (Mi‑26, Chinook, etc.). We've done this for jungle operations in Southeast Asia and arctic tundra in Russia.

2. Offshore Platform Drilling

Offshore platforms have limited deck space and crane capacity. Modular rigs allow you to bring in drilling capability without taking over the entire platform.

How SJ Petro helps: Our offshore modules are marine‑certified (ABS, DNV, CCS upon request) and designed to be moved across the platform deck using hydraulic skidding systems. The rig can be demobilized completely when the drilling program ends — you’re not leaving a permanent structure on a platform that may only need drilling for six months.

3. Fast‑Cycle & Exploration Drilling

When you're drilling exploration wells across a wide area — 5 or 10 or 20 locations in two years — you can’t afford a 4‑week rig‑move between each well. Modular rigs cut that to days.

How SJ Petro helps: Our Big Easy series can be rigged‑up in 2–3 days and rigged‑down in 1–2 days, with no crane required for assembly. You're drilling more hours and moving fewer hours.

4. Multi‑Well Pad Development (Shale, Tight Gas, CBM)

Once you’re on the pad, modular rigs with skidding or walking systems move between well slots in hours — not days. But the modular design also helps you get the rig onto the pad in the first place, especially if the pad is small or access roads are narrow.

How SJ Petro helps: Our modular substructure designs have footprints as small as 20 m x 20 m for smaller rigs. We've delivered multi‑well pad solutions across Chinese shale gas fields and international unconventional projects.

5. Workover & Well Intervention

Many workover jobs are short — a week or two per well. Transporting and rigging‑up a full‑size workover rig for a short job kills your economics. A modular or trailer‑mounted rig changes that equation.

How SJ Petro helps: Our XJ series workover rigs are self‑propelled (truck chassis) with modular components that assemble quickly. They function as mobile drilling rigs up to 1,500m depth when fitted with rotary table and drilling tools.

6. Mature Field Development

In mature fields like the North Sea, most development drilling is already complete — but you still need occasional drilling, workovers, and interventions. Maintaining a full‑size platform rig for occasional use is expensive. Modular rigs can be mobilized when needed and demobilized when not.

How SJ Petro helps: Our modular offshore rigs are designed for exactly this use case — mobilize for the job, demobilize afterward, avoid ongoing maintenance costs for idle equipment.

Why Choose SJ PETROLEUM MACHINERY for Modular Rigs?

Here’s the short version. But the longer version matters, so let me spell it out.

1. We've been building drilling equipment since 1941. That’s over 80 years of continuous manufacturing. We started in Lanzhou, moved to Jingzhou during the Jianghan Oilfield campaign, and have been part of every major phase of China's oilfield development. We’re not new to this.

2. We’re a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Sinopec. That means our rigs are tested and validated in Sinopec's own oilfields — Shengli, Jiangsu, Tarim — before they ever reach export markets. We don't ask you to be our beta tester.

3. We have both modular and conventional capability. Some manufacturers only do modular — they’ve never built a conventional rig. Others only do conventional — they're retrofitting modular features as an afterthought. We do both, and our modular designs benefit from decades of conventional rig engineering.

4. We’ve exported modular rigs to demanding markets. We've built a 7000m modularized drilling rig for Saudi Arabia (high‑temperature, sandy environment) and arctic‑spec modular rigs for Russian operators. Our rigs have been awarded the title of"China’s Famous Products” and exported to nearly ten countries and regions including the USA, Russia, and the Middle East.

5. We own our technology. Our modular designs are fully自主研发 (independent R&D) with complete intellectual property rights. We were recognized as a National Enterprise Technology Center, a National Manufacturing Single Champion Demonstration Enterprise, and have received the National Science and Technology Second Prize. No third‑party licensing. No technology transfer restrictions.

6. Our modular rigs reduce transport volume and cost. Compared with conventional derrick equipment sets, modular design can deliver cost savings of up to 40% in transport and mobilization alone. The modular design’s"Lego” concept means you mobilize only the modules you need for each well.

7. We offer full life‑cycle support. We’ve established a high‑quality supply chain to ensure full‑life service of drilling rigs. That means spare parts availability, remote diagnostics, field service, and training — not just a factory handshake and a goodbye.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What exactly is a modular rig?

A modular rig is a drilling rig designed as multiple detachable and reconfigurable modules. Each module is kept within specific weight and size limits — typically road‑legal or helicopter‑liftable — so the entire rig can be transported piece‑by‑piece to locations that conventional rigs can't reach. Once on‑site, the modules are bolted together to form a complete, fully functional drilling rig.

Q2: How much cost can a modular rig save compared to a conventional rig?

Industry data suggests modular rigs can deliver cost savings of up to 40% compared with a traditional derrick equipment set, primarily from reduced transport costs, faster rig‑up/rig‑down times, and lower ongoing maintenance expenses. For remote locations or fast‑cycle drilling programs, the savings can be even higher.

Q3: Can I transport your modular rig by helicopter?

Yes. We can design modules to meet specific helicopter weight limits (typically ≤10 tons for Mi‑26 or Chinook). We've supplied helicopter‑transportable modular rigs for jungle operations in Southeast Asia and arctic tundra in Russia. Contact our engineering team with your helicopter model and distance requirements for a custom weight analysis.

Q4: How long does it take to assemble a modular rig on‑site?

• Standard modular rig (ZJ series): 3–7 days rig‑up time from delivery of first module to spudding

• Big Easy series: 2–3 days, no crane required

• XJ workover rigs: 2–4 days

In contrast, a conventional rig of similar capacity typically requires 2–4 weeks for rig‑up.

Q5: Can I use the same modular rig for both drilling and workover?

Yes. Our XJ series, in particular, is designed as dual‑purpose equipment. For example, the XJ450 Drilling & Workover Rig has a workover depth up to 4,500m and, when equipped with rotary table, swivel and drilling tools, can function as a mobile drilling rig up to 1,500m depth.

Q6: Do you offer arctic‑spec modular rigs?

Absolutely. We've built modular rigs for Russian arctic operation at –45°C. Our low‑temperature design technologies include arctic‑rated steel, heated enclosures for electronics, insulated piping, and specialized lubricants. Storage capability down to –60°C.

Q7: What certifications do your modular rigs carry?

Standard certifications: API, ISO 9001, HSE. For offshore applications, we can supply ABS, DNV, or CCS marine certification upon request. We’ve delivered modular rigs to Saudi Arabia (high‑temperature, sandy environment) and the USA, both with full compliance to local regulatory standards.

Q8: What's your typical lead time for a modular rig?

• Standard ZJ modular land rig: 5–7 months from order confirmation

• Big Easy series: 4–6 months

• XJ workover rig: 4–6 months

• Offshore modular rig (ABS/DNV certified): 8–12 months

• Highly customized modular rig (special environment): 6–9 months

Expedited options are available for certain standard configurations.

Q9: Can I visit your factory to inspect my rig before shipment?

Yes, and we encourage it. Our facility in Jingzhou, Hubei Province covers 663,000 square meters with 296,000 square meters of industrial construction. We conduct factory acceptance tests (FAT) with customer representatives present. If you can't travel, we offer live video inspections and third‑party inspection coordination (BV, SGS, DNV, etc.).

Q10: What spare parts support do you provide?

We maintain a global spare parts inventory and have established a high‑quality supply chain to ensure full‑life service of drilling rigs. Standard spare parts can be shipped within 48–72 hours from our regional warehouses. Extended warranty and spare parts kits are available as optional add‑ons.