Synchronous Drilling Rig

Technical Specifications

Product Types

Applications

• Offshore Platform Development – When daily rates for a jack-up exceed $200,000, doubling your activity throughput cuts per-well cost dramatically. Our SDO series has been considered for platforms where drilling on one wellhead runs simultaneously with completion work on an adjacent slot.

• Subsea Template Drilling & Completion – In multi-well subsea situations, the auxiliary rig can drill top hole and install surface casings on the next well while the main rig operates in BOP/riser drilling mode on the current well. With proper planning, BOP can move to the next well without returning to surface.

• Shale Gas / Tight Oil Pads – Modern shale pads often have 8-16 wells per location. A synchronous rig paired with a walking system moves across the pad while maintaining dual-activity operations, eliminating sequential downtime between wells.

• Deepwater Exploration Drillships – For seventh-generation drillships, dual activity capability enables open-water tripping and casing running to be moved entirely offline, keeping the main drilling center continuously productive.

• Platform Pairs / "Twin Rig” Fleet Operations – For platforms with similar configuration located near each other (e.g., within 1-2 nautical miles), crews and equipment can be shared between two rigs. A "dual platform, dual rig” model has been shown to achieve "post sharing, resource pooling, capability complementation” at reduced total operating cost.

Why Choose SJ Petro?

• Sinopec’s Backbone Manufacturing Arm – As a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOFE—Sinopec’s only oil & gas equipment R&D and manufacturing center—we bring decades of field-tested experience to every synchronous drilling rig.

• Proven Sync Rig Track Record – Our engineering team has supplied synchronous-type configurations to major oilfields in China and overseas. We understand how to optimize the balance between the two well centers for different pad geometries and well spacing.

• One-Stop Integration – We design, manufacture, and test the complete system: dual masts, dual drawworks, integrated control software, power distribution, and offline task automation. No third-party compatibility risks.

• Bespoke Engineering, Not a Catalog – Your well pad is unique. We visit your site (or analyze your well layout remotely) and design the dual well center spacing, mast heights, and control logic to match your exact target depths and formation characteristics.

• Global Service & Spare Parts – 24/7 remote support. Regional hubs in Dubai, Houston, and Singapore. On-site commissioning and crew training included.

• API & International Certifications – API Q1, 4F, 7K, 8C. Full compliance with ISO 9001 and HSE management systems.

• Cost Advantage without Compromise – Our pricing is typically 20-30% lower than comparable European or American dual-activity rigs. The savings come from our integrated supply chain and manufacturing scale—never from cutting corners.

FAQ

Q1: How much can a synchronous drilling rig really save?

A: Industry studies show time savings can reach up to 43% on subsea template drilling and completion campaigns under optimal conditions. For a typical 12-well onshore pad, operators often see 30-40% reduction in total project duration compared to moving a single conventional rig between wellheads.

Q2: Do I need a larger crew to run two well centers?

A: No. Our integrated control system allows the same crew (typically 8-12 persons) to operate both well centers. The driller manages both stations from a unified console with real-time status displays and collision-avoidance logic.

Q3: What happens if both well centers need maximum power at the same time?

A: Our intelligent power management uses a "critical-path priority” algorithm. Drilling ahead or pulling stuck pipe gets priority over non-critical tasks. The system can also allocate stored energy or temporarily re-route power from less active systems. In field practice, simultaneous peak loads are rare because operational timing is staggered—while one center is in heavy drilling mode, the other is typically doing lower-power tasks like pipe racking.

Q4: Can the two well centers operate completely independently?

A: Yes, with one exception—shared mud systems. For full independence, we can equip separate mud pumps and tanks for each well center at additional cost. Most customers find shared mud circulation sufficient, as only one well center typically requires active circulation at any given time.

Q5: How long does it take to move a synchronous rig between pads?

A: Onshore SDD series rigs are designed into 10-14 transport modules. Typical rig move time (disassembly → road transport → reassembly) is 10-14 days for a 50-100 km move. For offshore SDO series, the rig is skid-mounted for slot-to-slot movement on the same platform—movement between slots takes hours, not days.

Q6: Do you offer financing or leasing options?

A: Yes. Through Sinopec’s financial partners, we offer operating leases, finance leases, and shared-savings models (you pay based on days saved). Minimum lease term is 12 months.

Q7: What training do you provide for synchronous operation?

A: We provide 4-5 weeks of on-site training: 1 week classroom (safety + synchronous control logic), 2 weeks hands-on with our instructors running both well centers simultaneously, and 1-2 weeks shadow operation by your crew. We also supply simulator software for ongoing training.

Q8: Can I inspect the rig before shipment?

A: Absolutely. You or your appointed third-party inspector (SGS, BV, DNV, etc.) are welcome to witness final assembly, load testing, and synchronous function testing at our 50,000 m² assembly yard in Jingzhou, Hubei. We also provide complete documentation packages for local certification.