Oil drilling rig power plants

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Lesterrose

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The current price of oil has seen a near boom in the construction of land based oil drilling rigs. These rigs are powered by "light plants", as they are referred to in the business. These are portable and may consist of, skid mounted generators, transformers, switchgear, pin & sleeve connectors, DLO cable, SO cable, etc.

Is there a specific section of the NEC that would apply to these "light plants"?

Most of these are OEM by many different companies.

Would there an AHJ since they move about all the time?

Just curious as to the liability of an electrician or company that was contracted to install the wiring. You almost never find any two wired alike.

Thanks,
Lester
 
Hi Lester,

Welcome to the forum. I would say it is no different in terms of liability than any other installation you do.

If you install it accoding to the NEC following any manufacturers instructions and check with the local AHJ for local rules and/or questions you may have.

Now having said above stuff: SO is not approved for wet location, which I assume this would be.

Now if the OEM chooses not to use correct materials for the application, unless the equipment has been listed or labeled, I would pay really close attention to the whole piece of equipment.
 
This might be a local terminology thing, but I've never actually seen SO cord. It is all SOW SOOW SJOOW SEOOW, etc. The supply houses call the stuff SO cord, but it is actually the wet rated stuff.

Just checked the McMaster catalog, and I do see a few items that don't have the W on 'em.

-Jon
 
winnie said:
This might be a local terminology thing, but I've never actually seen SO cord. It is all SOW SOOW SJOOW SEOOW, etc. The supply houses call the stuff SO cord, but it is actually the wet rated stuff.

Just checked the McMaster catalog, and I do see a few items that don't have the W on 'em.

-Jon
Click to expand...

I haven't seen actual SO cord in a long time either. When I order it, it always comes SOW. Just like all the THHN I get now is labeled THWN, and all the MTW is 105 deg C.

I think it reduces the number of different items the supply houses have to stock and manufacturers have to make.
 
Lesterrose,

Welcome to the forum.

"Just curious as to the liability of an electrician or company that was contracted to install the wiring. You almost never find any two wired alike."
Lester

Sounds like you have worked on a rig before. I'm quite envious. :D


Justin J. Walecka
 
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