Hey everyone, Other Drilling Equipment
If you’re running a drilling operation, you know the drill—pun totally intended. When most folks think about drilling equipment, they immediately jump to big rigs, drill bits, and mud pumps. But let’s be real: the “other drilling equipment” is the unsung hero that keeps your whole operation from grinding to a halt. I’m a supplier of that gear, and I get so many questions from customers about lubrication. They’ll say, “I change the oil in my rig, but what about my pipe handlers, top drive spares, or catwalks?” Fair question—because if you get lubrication wrong on those smaller, easy-to-overlook parts, you’ll end up with unexpected downtime that costs way more than the price of a good lube.
First, let’s break down what “other drilling equipment” actually includes, because that term covers a lot. It’s not just random stuff—think: pipe handling tools, catwalks, top drive auxiliary components, mud mixing agitators, drill pipe elevators, and even the small hydraulic power units that run all those parts. Each of these has totally different moving parts, operating conditions, and wear points, so their lubrication requirements aren’t one-size-fits-all. I’ve seen customers grab a generic industrial grease off the shelf and dump it on everything, and 9 times out of 10, that leads to early part failure. Let’s go through the big ones one by one, so you know exactly what to look for.
Pipe handlers are probably the most common piece of “other” gear I supply, and they’re brutal on lubes. These things are moving 20-30 foot drill pipes, so they’re under constant high load, they swing through dust, mud, and saltwater (especially if you’re drilling offshore), and they cycle fast—sometimes every 2 minutes when you’re tripping pipe. What works here? Let’s start with the basics: most pipe handler pivot joints and hydraulic linkages need a heavy-duty, extreme pressure (EP) grease. Not just any EP, either—look for one with a lithium complex thickener. Why lithium complex? It handles higher temperatures (pipe handlers can get up to 180°F from friction alone, and offshore you might be dealing with 100°F ambient, so combined, that’s a lot) and doesn’t break down as fast as regular lithium grease. I used to recommend a general-purpose EP grease here, but after a customer in the Gulf of Mexico tried that, he had a pivot seize up mid-trip, costing him 8 hours of downtime. Now we swear by lithium complex EP grease with a four-ball EP rating of at least 60 kg—anything lower and it’ll slip under high load, leading to metal-on-metal wear. Also, don’t over-lubricate the pipe handler’s cam mechanisms. Too much grease traps mud and grit, which acts like sandpaper in the joints. I tell my customers to lube them every 50 trips, not every 10, and to wipe off excess after each lube session. That’s a common mistake—more isn’t always better.
Next up: catwalks and conveyor systems. These are the parts that move drill pipes from the storage area to the pipe handler, so they’re exposed to even more debris—drill cuttings, mud, rain, snow, you name it. Catwalks have roller bearings, chain drives, and sometimes rail guides. For the chains, you need a chain lubricant that’s water-resistant, not just grease. Grease gets washed off when it rains, so a dry film or semi-synthetic chain lube works better here. Wait, but not the dry lube you use on a bike—those are too thin. Look for a chain lube with a binder that sticks even when wet. For the roller bearings on the catwalk rollers, a medium-viscosity EP gear oil, applied every 20 trips, is better than grease here. Why? Grease can attract more mud on the horizontal rollers, while gear oil seeps into the small gaps better and flushes out debris a little, instead of trapping it. Another thing: if you’re working in cold climates (like drilling in Canada or Alaska), regular gear oil will get too thick. You need a cold-flow EP gear oil with a pour point below -40°F. I had a customer up in Alberta who didn’t switch his lube in winter—his catwalk chains seized up when temperatures dropped, and he couldn’t move pipes for 3 hours until he heated them and refilled with the right lube. Lesson learned: check the ambient temp rating before buying.
Top drives, another big one. Wait, is a top drive “other” drilling equipment? Yeah, because most people focus on the main top drive motor, not the auxiliary parts. The top drive has load-bearing bearings, gearboxes, and trolley systems that move it up and down the derrick. The gearboxes here are way different from the pipe handler parts—they run at slower speeds but higher continuous load. For the top drive’s main gearbox, you need a heavy-duty industrial gear oil, not grease. Look for one with an AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers Association) grade of 460 or 680, depending on the model. If you use grease here, it won’t circulate enough to cool the gear teeth, and the heat will break the grease down in a matter of months. Also, offshore operations: saltwater is a killer, so the gear oil needs to be rust and oxidation (R&O) inhibited. I’ve had customers report 2 years of trouble-free gearbox operation when they use the right R&O gear oil, vs. 6 months with generic oil. The trolley wheels on the top drive? Those are roller bearings that move along the derrick’s track. They see a lot of vibration, so a molybdenum disulfide (moly) grease works here—moly adds a solid lubricant that sticks to metal even when vibration would make regular grease fling off. Just don’t use too much moly grease, because it can clog the bearing seals if you over-apply it.
Then there’s the mud mixing agitator. These are the big paddles that keep drilling mud from settling in the mud tanks. The agitator’s shaft bearings are submerged in mud, so lubrication has to be something that can handle constant exposure to water and mud. Wait, a lot of people think, “If it’s under water, it doesn’t need lube”—nope. The bearing itself needs a grease that’s water-resistant and has rust inhibitors. A calcium sulfonate complex grease is perfect here—better than lithium grease for underwater applications, because it doesn’t dissolve as easily. Also, the agitator runs continuously, so you don’t need to lube it every trip—usually every 30 days, depending on how hard the mud is. I had a customer who used regular lithium grease on his agitator bearings offshore, and the grease dissolved after a month, leading to bearing failure that required pulling the whole shaft out. That’s a 24-hour job that could’ve been avoided with the right lube.
Hydraulic power units (HPUs) are another piece of “other” gear that gets overlooked. These run the catwalk, pipe handler, top drive trolley, and just about everything else on your rig. The hydraulic fluid here isn’t the same as the lube you use on bearings. You need anti-wear (AW) hydraulic fluid, with a viscosity grade that matches the ambient temp. For onshore operations in moderate climates, ISO 46 works, but if you’re in extreme heat (like the Middle East), go with ISO 68, and extreme cold, ISO 32. A common mistake is mixing AW fluid with other types of oil—don’t do that. It can break down the additives in the hydraulic fluid, leading to pump wear. Also, change the hydraulic fluid filter every 1000 hours, not just when you change the fluid—contaminants in the fluid are the #1 cause of HPU failure. I tell my customers: if you skip the filter change, even good fluid won’t save your pump.
Wait, let’s talk about general best practices too, because it’s not just what lube you use, but how you apply it. A lot of these parts have grease zerks, and people just pump until they see it come out the seal—but that’s wrong. You only want enough lube to fill the bearing cavity, not so much that it pushes out the seal. Over-greasing causes the bearing to run hotter, because the excess grease creates friction, and it traps debris. I use a cheap trick with my customers: mark the grease zerk with a line, and pump until you reach the line, then stop. It’s easy to remember, and cuts down on over-greasing by 80%. Also, clean the grease zerk before you apply new lube—if there’s mud on the zerk, you’re pushing that mud into the bearing when you pump, which is the fastest way to wear out a part. I see this all the time: a customer will pump grease with a dirty zerk, and a week later the bearing is filled with mud and seized. Wipe the zerk with a rag before you lube—takes 2 seconds, saves you a lot of money.
Now, let’s talk about specific environments, because that changes everything. Offshore drilling: saltwater is corrosive, so you need lubes with rust and corrosion inhibitors, and seals that are compatible with the lube. Onshore, if you’re drilling in the Rockies, dust and temperature swings are the main issues—so use greases that seal well against dust, and adjust your lube viscosity for cold mornings. If you’re drilling in the Gulf Coast, humidity and salt air mean no generic lube—stick to the EP and R&O inhibited stuff. I have customers who run the same lube on land and sea, and the offshore ones have 3x more lube-related failures. That’s why it’s so important to match the lube to your operating environment, not just the part.
Wait, what about new vs. used equipment? A lot of customers buy used pipe handlers or catwalks, and they skip lube because “it’s brand new to them, so it should be fine.” No—used equipment has worn seals, so you need a slightly thicker grease to compensate. For example, a used pipe handler pivot might have a seal that’s a little loose, so a lithium complex EP grease with a NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) grade of 2 is better than grade 1, because it’s thicker and stays in the bearing longer. Also, for used gearboxes, change the fluid before you put it into service, even if the seller says it’s good. You don’t know what was in there before, so flushing it out with the right gear oil is a cheap way to avoid problems.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a customer call me panicking because a piece of “other” drilling equipment broke down, and when I ask about their lube, they say, “I just grabbed whatever was at the auto parts store.” That’s the #1 mistake. Drilling equipment is industrial, not consumer—you can’t use car grease or bike chain lube and expect it to hold up. I’ve tested this, too: a customer used car EP grease on his pipe handler, and it failed 2 weeks later; the same part with the right industrial grease ran for 6 months straight without a hitch.
If you’re still not sure what lube you need, here’s a quick checklist for each common “other” drilling gear:
- Pipe handlers: Lithium complex EP grease, 60+ kg four-ball EP rating, lube every 50 trips, wipe excess.
- Catwalks/conveyors: Water-resistant chain lube, cold-flow EP gear oil for cold climates, lube chains every 20 trips.
- Top drive auxiliaries: AGMA 460/680 R&O gear oil for gearboxes, moly grease for trolleys, lube gearboxes every 1000 hours.
- Mud agitators: Calcium sulfonate complex grease, underwater-rated, lube every 30 days.
- Hydraulic HPUs: AW hydraulic fluid, ISO grade matching ambient temp, change filters every 1000 hours.
- Used equipment: Thicker NLGI grade 2 grease, flush gearboxes before use.
At the end of the day, lubrication for “other” drilling equipment isn’t rocket science, but it’s something you can’t cut corners on. Every minute of downtime on a drilling rig costs thousands of dollars, and most of that downtime is preventable with the right lube and the right application. I’ve been supplying drilling equipment for years, and I’ve seen firsthand that customers who invest in good lubes and follow these simple rules have way fewer breakdowns, lower maintenance costs, and longer part lifespans.
If you’re dealing with any issues with your “other” drilling equipment’s lubrication, or you need help picking the right lube for your specific gear and operating environment, don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with me. I’m here to help you figure out what works for your operation, not just sell you a product. We can chat about your rig, your conditions, and what parts you’re running, and I’ll point you in the right direction. Don’t wait for a breakdown—get your lubrication sorted now, so you can keep your rig running smoothly.
Oilfield Pump References:
- American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA). Standard for Industrial Gear Lubrication, 2021.
- National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI). Grease Technology for Heavy-Duty Industrial Applications, 2020.
- International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). Drilling Equipment Maintenance and Lubrication Guidelines, 2022.
- Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). Lubrication Challenges in Marine Drilling Operations, 2021.
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