Spinning Chain
A relatively short length of chain attached to the tong pull chain on the manual tongs used to
make up drill pipe. The spinning chain is attached to the pull chain so that a crew member can
wrap the spinning chain several times around the tool joint box of a joint of drill pipe
suspended in the rotary table. After crew members stab the pin of another tool joint into the
box end, one of them then grasps the end of the spinning chain and with a rapid upward
motion of the wrist "throws the spinning chain"—that is, causes it to unwrap from the box and
coil upward onto the body of the joint stabbed into the box. The driller then actuates the
makeup cathead to pull the chain off of the pipe body, which causes the pipe to spin and thus
Tongs
The large wrenches used for turning when making up or breaking out drill pipe, casing,
tubing, or other pipe; variously called casing tongs, rotary tongs, and so forth according to the
specific use. Power tongs are pneumatically or hydraulically operated tools that spin the pipe
up and, in some instances, apply the final makeup torque
Weight Indicator
A device for measuring the weight of the drill string. Monthly calibration to calculated drill
string weight is required by API.
SAFETY CLAMP
A clamp placed tightly around a drill collar that is suspended in the rotary table by drill collar
slips.
SAFETY SLIDE
A device normally mounted near the monkey board to afford the derrickhand a means of quick
exit to the surface in case of emergency. It is usually affixed to a wireline, one end of which is
attached to the derrick or mast and the other end to the surface. To exit by the safety slide, the
derrick hand grasps a handle on it and rides it down to the ground. Also called a Geronimo.
Mouse hole : shallow bores under the rig floor, usually lined with pipe, in which joints of drill
pipe are temporarily suspended for later connection to the drill string.
PIPE SPINNER (SPINNING WRENCH)
n: air-powered or hydraulically powered wrench used to spin drill pipe in making or
breaking connections.