The Frac Red Zone and How RigLock® is Changing the Game
In this video, we define what the red zone is, explore zipper fracing operations, and learn about the innovative RigLock® system by Renegade Wireline Services. Let’s dive right in.
Zipper fracing operations are very common on the typical horizontal shale well here in the United States. In a nutshell, zipper fracing is when the wireline crew and hydraulic fracturing (or treating) crew are working on different wells, but at the same time and on the same pad. This is done so that both crews can constantly be performing their respective tasks without having to wait on each other. However, it is common that the wireline crew will finish their task before the treating crew finishes their’s. Ideally, wireline could then begin working on another well, but they often cannot because human intervention is typically needed to swap their equipment to another well. The intervention necessary would put them in the “red zone” which is the area around the pressurized iron connected to the pump trucks, missile, wellhead, etc.. Thus, wireline commonly ends up waiting until the frac finishes their treatment to swap their equipment to a different well.
However, Renegade’s innovative RigLock® system changes the game. It allows wireline crews to swap between wells without any human intervention, thus they can swap wells without waiting on the frac crew to finish pumping their stage. This has lots of great benefits. Namely, it eliminates the safety threats encountered while an individual previously had to physically intervene to swap the wireline equipment from one well to the other. It also allows for quicker well swaps.
The RigLock® system can not only hydraulically seal the lubricator and night caps onto the top of the frac tree, but can also remotely drop the frac ball(s) as well. Thus, this system completely removes the need for humans to enter the red zone at any time for wireline operations.
Be sure to check out the video above to make everything clearer and to get even more information on the above topics. If you’d like to learn more about hydraulic fracturing operations, then check out our courses at www.OilfieldBasics.com/learn. Also, if you’d like more information on the RigLock® system or Renegade Wireline Services, check out the material below.