Client: Pool Arctic Alaska, Inc.
Owner: Pool Arctic Alaska, Inc.
Cost of Work: $2 million

This was the largest rubber tire vehicle in the world when constructed. At a weight of more than 3 million pounds, it utilizes welded steel components, including a backbone of twin 6 foot-by-10 foot box girders to form a completely self-contained unit, designed by PND. A unique design feature is the complete cantilever of the derrick and drill floor 18 feet above the well, leaving clear working space around the well-head. The twin welded steel box girders are used to form this cantilever. Due to the lack of available rolled steel shapes with the required ductility, charpy notch-toughness, and the abundance of steel plate meeting these requirements, built-up welded sections were extensively utilized. The rig was constructed in components weighing less than 60,000 pounds each and transported to the North Slope by barge and truck, meeting a nine-month schedule.