Wheel-rail moving equipment

Technical Specifications

Below are standard parameters for our wheel-rail moving equipment and track-mounted drilling rigs. Custom configurations are available for specific well spacing and load requirements.

Parameter	Wheel-Rail Hybrid Mobile Rig	Track-Mounted Walking Rig	Step-Over Cluster Well System
Load Capacity (hook load)	1,470 – 3,150 kN (330,000 – 700,000 lbs)	590 – 1,580 kN (130,000 – 355,000 lbs)	Up to 3,150 kN (700,000 lbs)
Drilling Depth	3,000 – 5,000 meters	2,000 – 4,000 meters	3,000 – 5,000 meters
Moving Mode	Rubber tires + steel rail wheels	Steel tracks / walking beams	Hydraulic walking beams
Max Travel Speed (wheel mode)	30 km/h (prepared road)	N/A	N/A
Step Distance (walking mode)	N/A	40–60 ft/hour (12–18 m/h)	5–15 meters per step sequence
Cold Temperature Rating	-45°C (winterized package)	-45°C (winterized package)	-40°C
Power System	Diesel or electric	Diesel or electric	Diesel or electric
Single Module Max Weight	10 tons (helicopter-liftable option)	4–10 tons	10 tons

Product Types

We offer three primary configurations. Choose based on your well spacing, terrain, and budget.

1. Wheel-Rail Hybrid Mobile Drilling Rig

Best for: Operators drilling multiple wells on a single pad or moving between closely spaced pads.

How it works: The rig is mounted on a heavy-duty chassis with both rubber tires (for road travel between pads) and retractable steel rail wheels (for precise movement on wellsite tracks). Hydraulic suspension switches between modes.

Key advantage: One rig, two moving methods. No secondary transport equipment.

2. Track-Mounted / Walking Rig (Low-Profile)

Best for: Soft ground, environmentally sensitive areas, or locations where heavy truck traffic is restricted.

How it works: The rig moves via hydraulic walking beams or continuous steel tracks. The entire substructure lifts, advances, sets down, and repeats – like the rig is "walking” across the pad.

Key advantage: Extremely low ground pressure – minimal environmental impact. No road needed.

3. Step-Over Walking Beam Cluster Well System

Best for: High-density cluster wells (5–10 wells per pad, 5–15 meters apart).

How it works: Attached to the rig substructure, hydraulic cylinders lift the rig, walking beams extend sideways, and the rig shifts laterally to the next wellhead. The power unit and mud tanks stay in place.

Key advantage: Drill a full cluster pad with only one rig setup. No dismantling between wells.

4. Low-Temperature Wheel-Rail Equipment (Arctic Package)

Best for: Siberian, Canadian, Alaskan, and other cold-climate operations.

Special features:

• Cold-weather hydraulic oil (rated to -55°C pour point)

• Electrically heated hydraulic reservoirs and lines

• Low-temperature alloy steel in load-bearing components

• Insulated and heated operator cab

• Battery blankets and engine block heaters

Applications – Where Our Wheel-Rail Equipment Works

Our wheel-rail moving systems are deployed across a wide range of drilling and workover scenarios:

• Cluster well drilling – Move between closely spaced wellheads without dismantling

• Multi-well pad development – Shale gas, tight oil, coalbed methane

• Arctic / sub-arctic drilling -45°C rated systems for Siberian fields

• Jungle / mountain operations – Helicopter-liftable modules (single module max 10 tons)

• Desert pad drilling – Sand-capable tracks and sealed hydraulic systems

• Offshore platform moves – Skidded configurations for platform-to-platform relocation

• Environmental buffer zones – Low ground pressure systems for wetlands and protected areas

Why Choose SJ Petro for Your Wheel-Rail Moving Equipment?

Because moving the rig shouldn’t be the hardest part of the job.

Typical Problem	SJ Petro Solution
"Moving between cluster wells takes 2–3 days.”	Our step-over walking system moves the rig in 2–4 hours.
"Our current mover can’t handle soft ground.”	Track-mounted/walking systems spread the load – no bogging down.
"We need one rig that can do both road and rail.”	Wheel-rail hybrid. Road travel on tires, precision moves on rails.
"Standard equipment fails in Siberian winter.”	-45°C rated. Field-proven in Russia. Heaters on everything that matters.
"Our pad layout is custom – not standard spacing.”	We design to your well coordinates. Walking beam stroke is adjustable.

More reasons to work with us:

• Sinopec Group backing – Over 80 years of manufacturing heritage (founded 1941)

• API, ISO 9001, and HSE certified – Audited quality systems

• One-stop solution – We supply the rig, the moving system, the mast, the drawworks, and the mud pumps. Single PO, single point of contact

• Field service anywhere – We can send technicians to your location for commissioning and training

• 200+ national patents – Including proprietary walking beam and wheel-rail transition technologies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What exactly is "wheel-rail moving equipment”?

A: It’s a drilling rig mounting system that allows the rig to move between wells either on rubber tires (for road travel) or on steel rail wheels (for precise movement on prepared wellsite tracks). Some of our systems also use hydraulic walking beams instead of wheels – we call those "track-mounted” or "walking rigs.”

Q2: How fast can I move the rig between wells on the same pad?

A: In rail/walking mode, the rig moves at approximately 40–60 feet per hour (12–18 meters per hour). For a 100-foot move between wells, you’re looking at about 2 hours. For context, a conventional rig move (breaking down, trucking, re-assembling) typically takes 1–3 days.

Q3: Can these systems work in extreme cold?

A: Yes – and this is one of our specialties. SJ Petro developed its low-temperature wheel-rail equipment specifically for the Russian market. Our Arctic package includes cold-weather hydraulic oil, heated reservoirs and lines, low-temperature steel alloys, insulated operator cabs, and engine block heaters. These rigs are rated down to -45°C and have completed multiple drilling seasons in Siberia.

Q4: Do I need a crane to move the rig?

A: No. That’s the whole point of wheel-rail moving equipment. The rig moves under its own power (self-propelled models) or is towed by a tractor (trailer models) without any crane involvement. The step-over walking beam system moves the rig laterally without turning – no crane required at any stage.

Q5: What’s the maximum hook load your wheel-rail rigs can handle?

A: Our largest models handle up to 3,150 kN (approximately 700,000 lbs) hook load with drilling depths up to 5,000 meters. For lighter applications, we have smaller track-mounted models starting at 590 kN (130,000 lbs) hook load.

Q6: Can I use this equipment for workover operations, not just drilling?

A: Absolutely. Many of our customers use wheel-rail and track-mounted rigs for workover and well servicing operations. The moving capability is especially valuable on multi-well pads where you need to service each well sequentially.

Q7: How long does it take to switch between wheel mode and rail mode?

A: Approximately 20–30 minutes. The hydraulic suspension system raises the chassis, retracts or extends the appropriate set of wheels, and lowers the rig onto the new running surface. No tools required – all controlled from the operator’s cab.

Q8: What kind of warranty do you offer?

A: 12 months after commissioning or 18 months after shipment (whichever comes first). We maintain a global spare parts inventory for all major hydraulic and structural components.

Q9: Do you provide training for our local crew?

A: Yes. We provide:

• On-site training at your location (1–2 weeks, including hands-on rig moving exercises)

• Training at our factory in Jingzhou, China (for your maintenance leads)

• Remote video support during initial moves

Q10: Can I get a wheel-rail system customized for my well pad layout?

A: Yes – and we encourage this. Send us your well coordinates, spacing, turning radius requirements, and any terrain constraints. Our engineering team will design a walking beam stroke length and track layout matched specifically to your pad.