Thompson Engineering is a reputable engineering company that provides a vast array of geotechnical drilling services. In 2011 Thompson Engineering expanded their offerings to the off-shore market and came to rely on the use of a CME 550X drill rig for its quality and performance while collecting Shelby tube and split spoon samples. When Thompson Engineering’s existing rig broke down, they turned to Rig Source for a replacement rig that would continue to fit their enduring off-shore drilling set up.
“Rig Source was a great outlet for finding a drill rig replacement. They had the exact CME 550X model we were looking for, and it was already refurbished and ready for operation which minimized downtime,” expressed Stan White, senior chief driller at Thompson Engineering.
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Prior to its sale, Rig Source had performed full maintenance and repair on the CME 550 which included a new clutch and hoses, full service of fluids and filters, right angle drive and rotary box rebuilds and more. “The wireline winch that was included was an essential feature for us due to its quick operation and thin cable line which fit into our HWT casing,” explains White. After all repairs were complete on the rig it was then tested to ensure everything was fully operational. “When we commit to refurbishing a rig, we inspect every aspect of the rig and repair or replace features as needed to bring the unit back to like new condition,” says Chris West, service manager at Rig Source.
In addition to its features, the refurbished CME 550X offered the same size footprint as Thompson Engineering’s former rig. Sticking to the same drill rig model was ideal because the rig would then fit the existing cantilever, harnesses and straps, and tooling that were customized to the footprint of a CME 550X. “For off-shore drilling we have to mobilize the rig on a barge and we do that by placing it on a cantilever. It’s extremely important that the rig we use fits the cantilever securely out over the water,” explains White.
Off-shore subsurface investigation is challenging and having a reliable drilling rig provides drillers the security to efficiently and safely tackle projects. “We felt very confident and comfortable buying from Rig Source. They were extremely knowledgeable and forthcoming about the work done on the CME 550X and it’s been a great addition to our fleet,” exclaims White.
