Casing Running Tool Inspection

The casing running tool is the final mechanical interface between the rig floor and the casing string. It lifts the casing, centers it in the rotary or spider, releases the elevators and allows the crew to run the string without damaging the threads, the coupling or the tool itself. A tool that is worn, cracked or mismatched to the casing size can drop the string, crush the box, or fail to release when the float prevents upward movement. The inspection should happen before the tool leaves the pipe deck, not after the first three joints are already in the hole. Visual inspection starts with the slips and the dies. Slips should show even wear, no cracks and proper orientation. Dies should match the slip inserts and seat fully against the bowl. A slip with a missing or rounded die is a slip that will mark the coupling or allow the pipe to jump when the load changes. The tool should be assembled with the correct spacing and the correct centering devices for the casing size. The inspector should verify that the tool is the correct size for the casing and that the lift sub matches the elevator links. Function testing should happen with the tool installed on the rig floor before the first casing joint is picked up. The slips should open and close smoothly, lock in place, and support the load without creeping. The tool should release under the normal release procedure without hammering, prying or excessive force. A tool that sticks in the closed position can strand the casing in the mast. A tool that opens under its own weight is a tool that will not hold the casing during the run. The inspector should record the test results and sign the tool out for the job. Casing running records should include tool serial number, casing size and weight, running speed, fluid properties, and any abnormal conditions. When those records are filed with the daily drilling report and the well history, the next operator or service company knows what to expect. A casing job that finished without incident but left a worn slip set in the tool is a future problem that somebody will solve by inspecting the records. That inspection is much cheaper than a stuck string or a dropped joint. Running-tool discipline fits the same pattern as preventive maintenance records in rig equipment inspection checklist. ← Back to rigs.work