CONSOL Energy Unveils Drill Rig Modifications Meant to Increase Safety

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX) announced that they have made modifications to a drill rig that result in better safety for operator and for employees.

As quoted in the press release:

The modifications, which involve the use of hydraulic tongs for pipe handling, are designed to reduce reliance on the use of manual tongs and can be deployed on rigs used to drill for coalbed methane gas, as well as to rigs used across the gas industry in both conventional and unconventional operations.  The modifications allow for hands-off, safe zone operation of hydraulic power tongs to move and place drilling pipe. This technology was deployed through a joint agreement between CONSOL Energy and Noah Horn Well Drilling (NHWD), based in Vansant, Va.

CONSOL’s COO of their Energy’s gas division, Randy Albert, said:

Continuous improvement drove our decision to look for a better way to handle drilling pipe as there have been a number of fatalities in the industry and accidents industry-wide involving the use of manual tongs. This modification to use power tongs reduces exposure to our employees and our contractors’ employees working on the rig and consequently, it creates a safer work environment.

To view the whole press release, click here.