Ohio: Magnum Hunter adds dedicated robotic Utica rig

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., Houston, has taken delivery of a robotic drilling rig, the fifth rig in its fleet, that it expects to spud a Utica shale well in southeastern Ohio on June 1.

Magnum Hunter’s Alpha Hunter Drilling LLC subsidiary has taken possession of the Schramm T500XD robotic rig that it will use to drill exclusively company owned wells for the next 3 years.

Unlike traditional rigs that are on rails and only allow movement from left to right or front to back, the T500XD has a walking subbase that lifts the entire rig 6 in. off the ground, allowing the rig to turn and rotate. The rig can walk at 30 ft/hr and rotate 360°.

Capable of drilling to 19,000 ft, it has an automated pipe handling system that racks drill pipe horizontally, dramatically improving operator safety. Other features include best in class 35,000 ft-lb. of tophead torque, third-party directional steering interface, and 80,000 lb. of hydraulic pulldown capacity.

Magnum Hunter said it has recently constructed one pad site in Ohio that can handle as many as 16 new drilling locations, eight in the Marcellus and eight in the Utica.