Field Operations

Rig Move Planning: Permits, Route Surveys and Crane Lifts

Moving a rig is a small project on its own. The rig comes down, the trucks roll, the cranes go up, and every step has its own rules. Permits, route surveys, escort requirements, crane lifts and driver hours all have to line up before the first truck leaves the yard. This is the pre-move to rig-up checklist.

Why rig moves are high risk

A rig move is one of the riskiest parts of field work. The crew works under time pressure, heavy loads travel on public roads, and cranes lift equipment over people and structures. One missed permit or one tired driver can stop the whole move.

Most of the risk is predictable. The loads are known, the route can be walked, and the lift plan can be written before anyone leaves the yard. The moves that go wrong are usually the ones planned on the morning of the move.

The move plan

Start with the plan, not the truck. The move plan sets the order of work, the people responsible, and the checks that happen before each step. API RP 54, the recommended practice for occupational safety in oil and gas drilling and servicing operations, is built on the same idea: clear duties, clear communication, and a known response when something goes wrong.

• Pre-move survey. Walk the route before move day. Note bridge heights, weight limits, road widths, overhead lines and soft ground at the location.
• Route. Pick the route that fits the widest load, then check it again. Mark the turns and the places where an escort or flaggers will be needed.
• Permits. List every permit the move needs, who applies for it, and how long approval takes. Start early, because some permits are not same day.
• Escort. Decide whether the load needs an escort or flaggers, and confirm the people are booked before move day.

Wide-load and overweight permits

Wide-load and overweight permits are issued by the states, and the rules vary from state to state. A load that is legal in one state can need a permit, an escort or a different route in the next. Confirm the rules for every state the move crosses, not just the one where the rig sits.

Permit conditions can include travel times, specific routes, escort requirements and daylight-only moves. The driver needs a copy of each permit in the cab, and the office needs to know which permits expire and when.

State oil and gas agencies also have a say. In Texas, the Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations, including the authorizations and field rules that can affect where and how a location can be worked.

Crane lifts and rig-up

Rig-up and rig-down are crane work, and crane work on construction sites falls under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, which covers cranes and derricks in construction. The rule starts at 1926.1400 and covers operator qualification, ground conditions, inspections and how lifts are planned.

Before any lift: check the load chart, confirm the crane is level and the ground is firm, and know the weight of what you are lifting. Keep people out from under suspended loads. If anyone works at height during rig-up, fall protection rules apply too. See our guide to fall protection on drilling and service rigs for the height side of rig work.

Driver hours and fatigue on move day

Move day runs on drivers, and driver hours are capped by federal hours of service rules under 49 CFR 395. Those rules limit how long a driver can be on duty and behind the wheel, and they apply on move day like any other day.

Fatigue is a real risk on a move. Long hours, night running and pressure to get the rig spotted by a deadline all push drivers past their limits. Plan the trucking so each driver can finish the run inside the rules, and have relief drivers ready for long hauls. For the full picture on hours of service in oilfield trucking, see how DOT hours of service work in oilfield trucking.

The checklist

Run the same checklist every move. Short lists, checked by a named person, beat memory every time.

Pre-move

• Route surveyed and rechecked. Bridge, weight and height limits confirmed.
• Permits applied for, approved and in hand.
• Escorts and flaggers booked.
• Crane inspected, load charts current, operators qualified.
• Drivers assigned with hours that fit the route.

Move day

• Permits in each cab before the wheels roll.
• Loads secured, tie-downs checked, flags and signs in place.
• Escort in position, radio checks done.
• Travel times match the permit conditions.

Rig-up

• Ground checked and leveled for the crane and the rig.
• Lift plan reviewed with the crew before the first pick.
• Fall protection in place for anyone working at height.
• Utility clearances confirmed before the mast goes up.

Rig-down

• Same checks in reverse: lifts planned, loads secured, permits still valid for the return.
• Location left clean, equipment inspected for damage before it rolls.

For the running side of the same equipment, our workover rig operations planning guide covers day to day operations after the rig is up.

How move paperwork becomes tickets

Every move produces paperwork: permits, tickets for each truck and crane, hours worked, and approvals. That paperwork is also the billing record. The load tickets become the invoice, the crane hours become the rental line, and the permit copies prove the move was legal.

If the paperwork lives in a filing cabinet, it gets lost and billing gets slow. You can track the move tickets and permits in one flow with OpsFlo, software that tracks field tickets, dispatch, approvals, timesheets and documents for oilfield service companies.

Sources and further reading

• eCFR 49 CFR 395: Hours of service of drivers
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1400: Cranes and derricks in construction
• API RP 54: Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations
• Texas Railroad Commission: Oil and gas