The modifications, which involve the use of hydraulic tongs for pipe handling, are designed to reduce reliance on the use of manual tongs.

The hydraulic tongs can be deployed on rigs used to drill for coal seam gas, as well as rigs used across the gas industry in both conventional and unconventional operations.

The modifications allow for hands-off safe zone operation of hydraulic power tongs to move and place drilling pipe.

This technology was deployed through a joint agreement between Consol Energy and Noah Horn Well Drilling based in Vasant, Virginia.

GEFCO, based in Enid, Oklahoma, made the modifications to the rig and spent a week in Virginia last month training Consol Energy’s gas operations employees and NHWD workers on the operational provisions of the rig equipment.

The decision to pursue the modifications came after a meeting between Consol and NHWD to discuss safety issues surrounding the use of manual tongs in the drilling procedure.

This discussion led to a visit to the GEFCO factory to discuss options for modifications.

GEFCO engineers then became involved with making the changes to the rig, which resulted in the system unveiled last month.

NHWD vice president of operations Leon Boyd said it was important the company’s workers had the equipment to do the job as safely as possible.

“We incurred a serious accident in October 2011 that compelled us to try to figure out how we could jointly prevent these accidents from reoccurring and to learn what we could do to cut down on the use of manual tongs,” Boyd said.

“Replacing the manual tongs with hydraulic tongs is a huge step forward in the safety and protection of employees working on drilling rigs everywhere.”

Consol Energy gas division chief operating officer Randy Albert said safety was a top priority.

“Continuous improvement drove our decision to look for a better way to handle drilling pipe as there had been a number of fatalities in the industry and accidents industry-wide involving the use of manual tongs,” Albert said.

“This modification to use power tongs reduces exposure to our employees and our contractors’ employees working on the rig and consequently, it creates a safer work environment.”