NEW SOVIET TURBO-DRILLING RIGS OBSERVED IN SMV OILFIELDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003700850007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 3, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 14, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

.. , Approved For Release 2009/06/03: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003700850007-1
C U A.L I N T E E SC E . AGNY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
iew Soviet Turbo-Drilling Rigs Observed
in SPIV Oilfields
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U. S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVEL-
ATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PROHIBITED BY LAW THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
1. At Zwernsdorf in the SEB Matzen area of the Soviet Oil Administration (SMV),
four new Soviet turbo-drilling rigs have: been operating since December 1953
or January 1954.. First parts of this drilling rig arrived some time in
September 1953, and all its constituent parts have been kept under special
guard ands ity protection.
2. The rigs are supposed to be a Soviet invention and a Soviet crew has been
assigned to teach Austrian foremen. at SMV how to operate the turbo rig. The
Soviet crew is using housing especially constructed for them; also Austrian
workers have complained that the Soviet crew is receiving preferential treat-
ment because it is allowed to keep three sets of working tools at each rig,and.
because the Soviets demand exact replacement parts khhen there are breakdowns,
instead of making improvised repairs as is the custom of the Austrian workers.
3. The four turbo rigs have been erected at a location near Zwernsdorf where, two
years ago, a drill rig was blown up by a gas eruption. The SMV had not been
able to get this eruption under control::andtthe well had been throwing up each day
approximately 500,000 cubic meters of salt water mixed with gas. The rigs were
erected.around the opening of the eruptive well in the circular area which was
covered with mud.
4. The principle underlying the working mechanism of the turbo rig is very simple,
Instead of having the turning drill bit fixed to the drilling tubes, which are
rotated from above the ground by a turntable, the drill tubes in the turbo rig
are kept in a fixed position so that they can not turn. At the end of the dril-
ling tubes, a small powerful welter propelled turbine is attached. The totating
shaft of the turbine is allegedly attached directly (without clutch or transmission)
to the drilling bit.
5. To propel the turbine, water is pumped from four coupled pumps through the drilling
tube to the turbine with a pressure of aboutlj,Q00 atmospheres. The pumps operate
with a maximum capacity of 300 atmospheres each. Under normal working conditions,
if the ground is not too hard and rocky, the pressure of 1,000 atmospheres will
25 YEAR RE-REVIEW
TE
ARMY
DATE DISTR. 14 Anril .1954
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCL
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 2
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION
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25X1
-0 -1
 Approved For Release 2009/06/03: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003700850007-1
7. The strain on the pumps, however,, is--Meat that they require constant
repair. far, the drilling progress when hitting rocky strata has been
slower] -with a regular drilling rig.
rotate the turbine at 800 to 1,000 turns per minute. The water which thane
the turbine is then used to flush out excess earth. After being filtered,
the same water is used again.
. In theory the drilling tubes do not break and there is les
the drille_d. inclines fro% the verticAl.T
suppos rt{er. If reps.
turbinelljIMMIN[Ms assemt1edffast'
:y.w t xrt . A E. /~Lt
Approved For Release 2009/06/03: CIA-RDP80-00810A003700850007-1
~31ty that
time i s
ubes and s ~,
rs are not difficult.