RP 4.

0: INSPECTION AND
CERTIFICATION OF OVERHEAD
EQUIPMENT

A Recommended Practice (RP) for the

Canadian Well Servicing Industry

Edition: 5
Release Date: August 16, 2019
 Recommended Practice 4.0 — Inspection and Certification of Overhead Equipment (SR)

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................... ii
Range of Obligation ..................................................................................................... iii
Review Process ............................................................................................................ iii
RP Revision Schedule ................................................................................................. iii
1. Scope – Overhead Equipment ............................................................................ 1
2. Inspection Types ................................................................................................. 1
2.1 Level I Inspection ......................................................................................... 1
2.2 Level II Inspection ........................................................................................ 1
2.3 Level III Inspection ....................................................................................... 2
2.4 Level IV Inspection and Certification ........................................................... 3
3. Inspection Frequency ......................................................................................... 6
4. Load Derating ...................................................................................................... 6
5. Repairs, Maintenance and Documentation ....................................................... 6
6. Personnel Qualification, Training and Documentation .................................... 8

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Introduction
The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) Engineering &
Technical (E&T) Committee has developed a Recommended Practice (RP) for
overhead equipment. This document dated August 2019 supersedes all prior editions of
this Recommended Practice.

The information contained herein is a recommendation only of certification schedules for

overhead equipment currently utilized in the Canadian well servicing industry. An
attempt has been made to establish some practical recommended operating practices
for overhead equipment in the Canadian well servicing industry.

The recommendations contained in this document should be considered in conjunction

with the requirements of the original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Companies
should operate and maintain the equipment within the operating limitations, such as
load ratings, as designed by the OEM.

If the OEM stipulates increased levels of inspection or accelerated

inspection/certification cycles, the contractors must follow the OEM guidelines unless
granted approval to follow this CAODC Recommended Practice by a Professional
Engineer.

CAODC has produced this Recommended Practice based on industry experience.

However, this document should be considered in conjunction with all relevant legislation
and the requirements of provincial regulatory authorities. This document should not be
construed as a legal opinion, and users are advised to seek legal counsel to address
their specific facts and circumstances.

CAODC does not accept any liability to any person for any loss, damage, or costs,
arising directly or indirectly, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, from any action or
inaction taken as a result of any person relying on or otherwise using this document.
Any use of this document is at the user’s own risk on the basis that that any use of this
document by the user constitutes agreement to the terms of this disclaimer and the user
is obliged to inform any subsequent user of such terms.

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Range of Obligation
Throughout this RP the terms ‘must’, ‘shall’, ‘should’, ‘may’, and ‘can’ are used as
indicated below:

Term Usage
A specific or general regulatory and/or legal requirement that must be
Must
followed.
An accepted industry practice or provision that the reader is obliged to
Shall
satisfy to comply with this RP.
Should A recommendation or action that is advised.
May An option or action that is permissible within the limits of the RP.
Can Possibility or capability.

Review Process
CAODC Recommended Practices are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn at
least every three years. A one-time extension of up to two years may be added to this
review cycle. Email any comments or items of concern to [email protected].

RP Revision Schedule

Revision Date Revision Details

Edition 1 Sanctioned, 1994
Edition 2 Revised, November 2003
Edition 3 Revised, August 2012
Revised, October 2016
− Reference to sheave maintenance revised
Edition 4
− Provision to allow major repairs in field, revised
− Content standardized and reformatted for alignment
Revised, August 2019
Edition 5
− (Section 3.4) Operating day definition, revised

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 Recommended Practice 4.0 — Inspection and Certification of Overhead Equipment (SR)

1. Scope – Overhead Equipment

1.1 The overhead equipment for service rigs covered in this Recommended
Practice is as follows:

a) Travelling block;

b) Hook;

c) Elevators (tubing elevators, rod elevators, and rod transfers);

d) Bails or links;

e) Load clevis;

f) Rod hook;

g) Swivels;

h) Load path items on power swivel.

2. Inspection Types
To ensure that equipment is properly maintained and serviceable, four levels of
inspection are recommended:

2.1 Level I Inspection

2.1.1 A Level I inspection is a visual observation of the equipment prior

to, and/or during operation, and/or during routine maintenance.

2.1.2 Level I Inspection Personnel

Level I inspections are performed by Operating Personnel and
should also be included as part of the daily rig walk around carried
out by the Driller or Rig Manager.

2.1.3 Level I Inspection Documentation

Level I inspections shall be recorded in the tour sheet.

2.2 Level II Inspection

2.2.1 A Level II inspection is a Level I inspection that includes a more

thorough inspection of, but not limited to, load bearing components
that includes checking for:

a) Proper lubrication;

b) Obvious external cracks;

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c) Damage and/or premature wear or deterioration;

d) Missing parts or guards.

2.2.2 Level II Inspection Personnel

Level II inspections should be carried out by the Driller or Rig
Manager.

2.2.3 Level II Inspection Documentation

Level II inspections shall be recorded in the tour sheet.

2.3 Level III Inspection

2.3.1 A Level III inspection requires rig equipment to be thoroughly

checked in the field to determine serviceability and may, at the
owner’s/inspector’s discretion, include or require:

a) Non Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques on load bearing

components;

b) Some minor disassembly of guards.

2.3.2 Upon reaching the required number of operating days, as outlined

in Section 3 - Inspection Frequency, overhead equipment shall be
Level III inspected. At a minimum, the following procedure is
required to determine the condition of the equipment:

a) A thorough visual inspection of the following critical

components:

i. Load areas;

ii. Pickup points;

iii. Pins;

iv. Wear tolerances;

2.3.3 Inspection of applicable and corresponding equipment outlined in

the CAODC Level III Inspection Form.

2.3.4 Any repairs required will be done as described in Section 5 –

Repairs, Maintenance and Documentation.

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2.3.5 Level III Inspection Personnel

Personnel qualified to supervise and/or provide technical
assistance for Level III inspections include Inspection Personnel,
NDT Technicians, and Professional Engineer’s.

2.3.6 Level III Inspection Documentation

Level III inspections must be documented in the CAODC Mast and
Overhead Equipment Log Book, or suitable alternative.

2.4 Level IV Inspection and Certification

2.4.1 A Level IV inspection requires the equipment to be

disassembled as required to do a complete inspection, and may, at
the owner’s/inspector’s discretion, include NDT of all critical load
bearing components.

2.4.2 Any repairs required will be done as described in Section 5 –

Repairs, Maintenance and Documentation.

2.4.3 As part of each Level IV block certification, the sheave cluster must
be completely disassembled and the sheaves and shaft inspected.
At a minimum, the following procedure is required:

a) Sheaves must be:

i. Removed from the travelling block shaft;

ii. Gauged using a sheave gauge;

iii. Measured for tread thickness, depth of groove and

proper groove sizing;

iv. Measured for wall thickness (thinnest wall under the

150 degree arc that defines the tread);

v. Sandblasted or acid dipped to remove all paint;

b) Sheaves surface must be prepared as required for suitable

NDT inspection;

c) Bearing races may be removed at the certifying party’s

discretion;

d) With the exception of polymer crown sheaves, an NDT

inspection for cracks must be performed.

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2.4.4 Level IV Inspection and Certification Personnel

Personnel qualified to perform a Level IV inspection typically
include either a Professional Engineer or OEM Agent.

2.4.5 Level IV Inspection and Certification Documentation

A certification document will be provided by the certifying party and
should include the following:

a) Document author;

b) Date and period of certification;

c) Overhead equipment serial number (if available);

d) Name of manufacturer (if available);

e) Date of manufacture (if available);

f) Capacity rating (daN) and/or (lbs);

g) Results of the Level IV inspection;

h) Location of repairs (if applicable).

2.4.6 Level IV inspections must be documented in the CAODC Mast and

Overhead Equipment Log Book, or suitable equivalent, and signed
by the certifying party.

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Sample - Overhead Equipment Certification

for
ABC WELL SERVICING COMPANY
RIG 1
Travelling Hook/Block
Date: March 1, 2012
The Hook Block Ratings are as follows:

Manufacturer: XXX Manufacturing

Serial No: XX-XXX

Rating: XXX,XXX lbs / XXX,XXX daN

The following items were inspected prior to reassembly:
1 Hook Body 7 Shank
2 Spacer Block 8 Keeper
3 Side Plates (2x) 9 Nut
4 Main Latch 10 Pins
5 Cap 11 Sheaves (4x)
6 Springs 12 Main Shaft

During February 2012 the ABC WELL SERVICING`S Rig 1 hook block was refurbished in ABC's yard in
Nisku, Alberta. Repairs to defects as identified by XYZ Engineering's P.Eng and MPI Company (file no.
xxxx) were repaired by the ABC Mechanical Staff and DEF Machine Shop. The Sheaves were
disassembled by ABC replacing all of the bearings with new ones.

Based on these repairs and inspections, it is my opinion that the Hook Block is safe to operate within
its rated capacity when used in accordance with manufacturers specifications and/or industry
standards provided that the owner performs routine inspections as/per the CAODC RP4.0 Guidelines.
This certification is valid for 5 Calendar years or until such time that the Hook Block is damaged by
operations, handling, or transportation.

XYZ Engineering Ltd.

Engineer's Stamp
with Appropriate
Jurisdiction
John Smith, P.Eng
123 Avenue Street
Edmonton, Alberta, XXX-XXX Permit to Practice Stamp
Phone: (XXX) XXX-XXXX or Permit Number
Fax: (XXX) XXX-XXXX
File No: XXXX

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3. Inspection Frequency

3.1 At a minimum, the inspection frequency of overhead equipment shall be

conducted in accordance with the schedule below:

Equipment Daily Weekly Annual 6 Years

Block* I II III IV
Hook I II III IV
Swivel I II III IV
Power swivel I II III IV
Bails I II III IV
Elevators/rod and pipe I II III IV
Rod Hook I II III IV
Load clevis I II III IV

3.2 Should circumstances, OEM recommendations or individual experience

dictate otherwise, CAODC member companies may conduct these
inspections at greater frequencies.

3.3 *A complete Level IV inspection must be conducted on McKissick blocks

every five (5) years as recommended by the OEM.

3.4 One operating day = 24 accumulated operating hours consisting of time

over the well, mast standing, crew active and transportation time (the same
as a billable hour).

4. Load Derating

4.1 Load derating of used equipment, such as links (bails), will be either by an
acceptable OEM’s chart or by the opinion of a Professional Engineer.

4.2 Items that are derated must have identifiable markings showing the new
rating and reflect the words “LOAD DERATED”.

5. Repairs, Maintenance and Documentation

5.1 Occasionally repairs and/or maintenance following a Level III or IV

inspection may be required to retain the operating integrity of overhead
equipment.

5.2 Any damage that requires repair will be categorized as minor or major.

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5.3 If there is any question as to whether the damage is minor or major, either a
Professional Engineer or OEM Agent must be consulted.

5.4 Minor damage includes the repair of:

a) Guards;

b) Non-loaded attachments;

c) Cosmetic repairs to sheaves and API connections etc.

5.4.1 Minor Damage Repair Personnel

Minor repairs may be completed by Operating Personnel at the
discretion of the Rig Manager or higher authority, and do not
require re-inspection.

5.5 Major damage includes:

a) All weld repairs to any load bearing component;

b) Any modification to load bearing components such as:

i. Oversizing or undersizing pin fits, and

ii. Sheave regrooving;

c) Any replacement of load bearing components such as:

i. Hook shanks;

ii. Axles;

iii. Pins, etc.

5.5.1 All major damage must be repaired and requires a Level IV

inspection specific to the equipment that was repaired.

5.5.2 Repairs may be completed in a field environment provided they can

be performed adequately and are accessible for NDT inspection.

5.5.3 All major repairs shall be done following a Professional Engineer or

OEM Agent procedure. The certifying party would supply the repair
facility with an engineering procedure and so note on the repair
documentation.

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5.6 Repair and Maintenance Documentation

5.6.1 All repairs and maintenance performed shall be documented in the

CAODC Mast and Overhead Equipment Log Book, or suitable
alternative, and include the following information:

a) Date repairs and/or maintenance was conducted;

b) Description of repairs and/or maintenance that was

completed;

c) For minor repairs, Operating Personnel that performed the

repair and/or maintenance;

d) For major repairs, certifying party of the repair, including

signature.

5.6.2 All components, where practical, should have serial numbers or

unique identifiers stamped on them to verify the documentation.

5.6.3 Major Repair Documentation (Recertification)

5.6.3.1 The certifying party will provide a certification document

for the equipment requiring major repairs.

5.6.3.2 Any repair certification issued is for the repair of actual

damage and is intended to maintain Level IV certification.
It does not extend the Level IV certification requirements
unless a complete Level IV inspection is conducted in
accordance with Section 2.4 - Level IV Inspection and
Certification.

6. Personnel Qualification, Training and Documentation

6.1 Personnel Qualifications

6.1.1 Inspection Personnel

Typical Inspection Personnel are considered to be senior
operations personnel designated by the company that have:

a) Knowledge of working principles of the equipment

referenced in this RP;

b) Mechanical competency in the disassembly of the equipment

type and model;

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c) Experience and knowledge in service rig maintenance.

Examples of Inspection Personnel include: Professional Engineers,

Journeymen Heavy Duty Mechanics and/or Millwrights, OEM
Agents, Mechanical and/or Maintenance Managers and senior
operations personnel such as Rig Managers, Field
Superintendents, Technologists, Rig-up Superintendents, Shop
Foremen, and Operations Managers.

6.1.2 Operating Personnel

Typical Operating Personnel are considered to be members of the
rig crew that have:

a) Knowledge of working principles of the equipment

referenced in this RP;

b) Experience and knowledge in service rig maintenance.

6.1.3 NDT Technicians

At a minimum, NDT Technicians are required to have Level II,
Canadian Government Standards Board (CGSB) certification or
other approved certification/training at the discretion of the
certifying party.

6.1.4 Professional Engineers

Professional Engineer’s shall have:

a) Previous experience and training in structural and/or

mechanical analysis;

b) A practical working knowledge of equipment referenced in

this RP;

c) Previous experience and training in the repair of the

equipment referenced in this RP;

d) Experience with general quality control standards;

e) Professional status in Canada.

6.1.5 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)

The company who built the original piece of equipment under
inspection.

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6.1.6 Original Equipment Manufacturer Agent

A designate of the OEM that has a practical working knowledge of
the specific equipment under inspection.

6.1.7 Welders
Welders must hold a valid Journeyman Welder certificate and have
previous experience in service rig maintenance.

6.2 Personnel Training

6.2.1 To satisfy provincial regulations and ensure that equipment will

operate in the manner for which it was designed, Inspection and
Operating Personnel shall be adequately trained to conduct
inspections (including visual) in accordance with this
Recommended Practice.

6.2.2 At a minimum, training should outline the inspection criteria for all
critical components outlined in this Recommended Practice.

6.3 Personnel Documentation

Companies shall have a process in place that documents and retains all
training administered to company personnel referenced in this
Recommended Practice and should include the date training took place,
and who was in attendance.

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