Use and maintenance of pipe tongs 1.

For safety, lead and backup tongs should be provided with snub lines of sufficient size and length.

2. Tongs should be provided with sharp dies at all times and properly pinned in slots. Die drivers should be used to remove tong dies. Proper personal protective equipment should be worn when changing tong dies.

3. Tong die slots should be properly maintained.

4. All pins used to secure the chain or jaws should be kept in place with safety pins or cotter pins.

5. Makeshift weights such as tools, pipe protectors, bits, etc. should not be added to the counterbalance weights.

6. The rotary table should not be used for final making up or initial breaking out of a pipe connection. The correct method is: Two tongs should be used during makeup and breakout.

7. Lead and backup tong-men should not stand between the two pipe tongs while the driller is making up or breaking out pipe or collars.

8. When the pull force is needed more to break a tight joint, all floor men should move away from the rotary table and out of the path of the tongs before torque is applied.

9. Hydraulic tong should be operated by designated personnel.

10. Tong counterbalance and parts thereof should be restrained, guarded, or located so as to prevent them from falling on or striking crew members.

11. The rig tongs must be kept clean at all times and kept well lubricated.

12. The rig tong counter-balance line must be inspected at a regular interval.

13. Rig tong counter-balance should be kept at a weight where one man can move rig tong up and down with minimal.

14. The rig tong arms should be kept in level at all times.

15. The rig tongs hinge pin, latch lock and springs must be inspected at regular intervals and changed out if excessive wear is encountered.

16. When changing out tong dies, the tongs must be tied back well away from the rotary table and secured.

17. While removing tong die retaining equipment, (bolts or pins), for safety reasons, except for the person striking the die driver, all personnel should keep a safe distance in case of the tong die splinters.

18. While removing the tong die with a tong die driver. It is better to hold the die driver with a pair of pliers for striking with the hammer.

Make-up and break-out procedures using Rig tongs AOperational requirement 1. The driller must ensure that the floor men stand outside the area of the tongs before pulling tight on the tongs, if an abnormal amount of torque must be applied during make up or break out.

2. Snub lines for the rig tongs must be inspected at regular intervals and be in good working condition.

3. Hanging lines for the rig tongs must be inspected at regular intervals and be in good working condition.

4. The floormen must be instructed on proper placement of hands while operating the rig tongs.

5. Two sets of rig tongs of the proper size must be used to break out or make up connections.

6. The floor men must lubricate rig tongs before and after each trip.

7. Rig tongs must be kept clean to ensure proper operation.

8. Rig tong dies must be kept clean and inspected regularly and must be replaced if worn or damaged. The tong dies must be secured with safety pins. 9. Rig tong line pulley and counterbalances must be inspected at regular intervals.

10. Rig tong safety pins and hinges must be inspected regularly for wear and replaced as quickly as possible if any wear is observed.

11. Rig tong pins, shackle pins and bolts must be secured with the proper size of split pins.

BBreaking out connections with the rig tongs. 1. The floormen remove the safe latch spring and the tong pins and change the tong jaws to match the size of the pipe or tubular to be broken out.

2. The driller ensures that the safety latch springs are replaced on the tong pins.

3. The floor men set slips, or where applicable, the driller sets the automatic slips.

4. The floormen engage the rig tongs on the drill pipe or tubular tool joint. The break-out tong is placed on the top tool joint and the make-up tong is placed on the bottom tool joint.

5. Special attention must be paid to ensure the rig tongs are not placed on the hard banding of the tool joint.

6. The floormen make the rig tongs bite the pipe by pulling on the tong jaw and pushing on the tong arm. The floormen must properly place their hands on the rig tongs to prevent injury.

7. The driller engages the break out cathead and pulls on the break-out tong. This will cause the breakout to bite on the upper tool joint. At the same time, the make-up tong bites on the bottom tool joint. The connection is then broken.

8. The driller should ensure that the cathead line is at right angle (90 degrees) to the tong arm. The driller must note the breakout torque and mark the joints for further inspection if the breakout torque is not equal to or less than 10% of the make-up torque. 90 9. The floormen spin out the connection using the air spinner, or if applicable, the driller utilizes the top drive to spin out the connection.

10. The floormen apply proper pipe dope into the thread box of the pipe joint.

11. The floormen remove the rig tongs and tie them back safety out of the way.

CMaking up connections with the rig tongs. 1. The floormen remove the safety latch spring and the tong pins and change the tong jaws to match the size of the pipe or tubular to be made up.

2. The driller ensures that the safety latch springs are replaced on the tong pins.

3. The floormen set the slips and driller picks up a joint or a stand of drill pipe.

4. The pipe dope should be applied to the box and pin end of the connection thoroughly.

5. The floormen stab the pin end of the joint into the box of the joint in the rotary table.

6. The floormen rotate the pipe into the box utilizing the air spinner or when applicable, the driller utilizes the top-drive or the Kelly spinner.

7. The floormen engage the rig tongs onto the drill pipe or other tubular tool joint. The make-up tong is placed on the top tool joint and the break-out tong is placed on the bottom tool joint. The floormen

make the rig tongs bite on the joints by pulling on the tong jaws and pushing on the tong arm. The floormen must properly place their hands on the rig tongs to prevent injury.

8. The driller engages the make-up cathead, pulls on the make-up tong causing the make up tong to bite on the top tool joint. At the same time, the break-out tong bites on the bottom tool joint. The driller continues to pull on the make-up tong until proper torque is applied to the connection.

9. After the connection has been tightened to proper torque, the floormen remove the rig tongs and tie them back safely out of the way.

Operating rig tongs with EZY-torque AOperational requirement 1. Some models of EZY-torque are designed for up to 3000psi working pressures in the high pressure port. Note: do not connect the high pressure hose to the low pressure port. 3000psi 2. Safe load capacity, strengths and application limits of accessories and components of the EZY-torque must be carefully verified.

3. Ensure the floormen only place hands on protective hand grip areas. The floormen are not allowed to place their hands, fingers and especially thumbs between the tongs.

4. When breaking out drill pipe, ensure that the tong dies grip the tool joint. Do not grip on the hard banding or on the shoulder areas.

5. Ensure that tongs, which are not in use, are hung (tied back) at the side of the floor.

6. Suspension lines, pull lines, backup lines and snub lines must be inspected weekly and before every job for specifications (job load ratings), wear limits, damage, or improper installation.

7. Ensure that the work force have been fully instructed on installation, function, operation, maintenance and safety procedures/ precautions.

8. Do not stand behind rig tongs while they are in use.

9. Any safety deficiencies or violations must be corrected immediately before proceeding with operations.

10. Fit the rig tongs with the correct jaws for the drill pipe tool joint or the drill collar. Reinstall the safety lock springs.

11. Ensure that the counter-weights are in balance with the tongs.

12. The tong counter-weights must not rest on derrick sub-floor, derrick substructure sills. The counter-weights should be shielded to prevent crew member from accidental contact with the hanging lines or weights.

13. Check all wire ropes on the back-up and make-up lines from the EZY-torque for frayed ends. Ensure the wire rope clips or sockets have been correctly applied as per specifications /regulations.

14. Check operation of the power unit for the EZY-torque and for compliance with engine/motor safety regulations and codes. Check for function controls, hydraulic leaks and all safety shut down controls.

15. When tightening joints, ensure that the backup tongs (on the lower tool joint) are placed perpendicular (at 90 degree angle) to the snub line and to the load cell/ torque meter.

16. Install the make-up line(s) and snub line to the rig tongs. The snub line should be at least twice the size of the tong line.

17. Remove the locking pin from the rotary table so that it rotates freely.

18. Clean the dies in the jaws or change them if they are worn or rounded.

19. The breakout tong should be snubbed, preferably to an anchor post.

() 20. Sometimes the tongs are snubbed to the derrick leg. This method should not be used.

21. The backup tong should be snubbed to the derrick substructure or to an anchor post attached to the substructure.

()

BMaking up (tightening) joints 1. Screw the properly cleaned and doped threads of the drill pipe to a snug condition using pipe spinner and/or chain tongs.

2. Latch the backup tong, with the snub line load cell/torque meter, on to the bottom tool joint. Since a bending force is exerted on the pipe during make up, the tool joint connection must be set in the slips as low as possible.

3. Fit the make up tong which is connected to the EZY-torque on the top tool joint. The floormen pull the tongs around the pipe until the lines are firm.

4. The driller now operates the EZY-torque. The hydraulic cylinder slides out (up) causing the jack line to be pulled by the rig tong. The torque meter will indicate the torque line pull force.

5. If the correct torque has not yet been obtained, the hydraulic cylinder must be pushed in (down) and step repeated.

6. When finished, the floormen remove the pull lines from the tongs and hang the tongs (tie back) at the side of the rig floor.

CBreaking joints 1. Since a bending force is exerted on the pipe during break out, the tool joint connection must be set in the slips as low as possible.

2. The driller operates the EZY-torque and pulls until the two cables on the tong are firm.

3. The floormen now move back and away from the rig tongs until the connection has been broken.

4. Warning: The floormen should always be aware of the tremendous force that can be applied and that the tongs could fly off suddenly, causing serious injury or fatality.

5. When the connection is broken, unlatch tongs and unscrew the pipe using chain tongs or pipe spinner.

6. Hold or tie-back the tongs so that they do not swing toward the pipe during unscrewing.