Rig · Drilling
Drawworks
The hoisting machine on the rig floor: a large drum with brakes and a motor that spools the drilling line in and out.
What it does
Winding the line over the crown and traveling blocks raises or lowers everything hanging from the hook. Gravity lowers the load; the motor raises it and the brakes control it.
Basics
| Parts | Drum, brakes, power source, auxiliaries |
| Power | Electric motor or diesel engine |
| Lowering | By gravity, controlled by the brakes |
Common failures
- Brake wear or overheating while running heavy strings
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Block drifts when the brake is set
- Likely cause
- Worn brake
- What to check
- Stop operations and repair before moving the load