Dallas-headquartered Axis Energy Services has deployed what it calls the oil and gas industry’s first fully electric well service rig on wells operated by Occidental Petroleum Co.

Axis said its EPIC RIG provides improvements in safety and efficiency, as well as the ability to run on grid power for reduced emissions and increased fuel flexibility. Currently, the EPIC RIG is operating at production wells for Occidental under a long-term contract in the Permian Basin.

“The EPIC RIG is easily the biggest leap forward for well-service technology in decades,” Axis CEO Ryan Phillips said in a statement. “Its deployment by Occidental signals the arrival of a new generation of well service rigs built for tomorrow’s oilfield.”

The EPIC RIG, or Electric-Powered Intervention & Completion Rig, offers a broad array of advantages over traditional service rigs, Axis said.

“Expanding electrification is integral to Oxy’s strategy because it contributes to emissions reductions, improves efficiency, creates cost-savings and leverages technology to accelerate our net zero goals,” Bob Barnes, SVP of operations at Oxy, said in a statement. “Of all the advantages of the EPIC RIG, we’re particularly excited about the different ways it can help us achieve our decarbonization goals.”

Axis Energy Services’ EPIC RIG is said to be the the oil and gas industry’s first fully electric well service rig. [Photo: Axis]

Going electric enabled Axis to ‘reimagine the way a service rig operates’

Axis said that as the first service rig engineered around electric-powered drawworks, the EPIC RIG is a major change from traditional rigs with diesel-powered draw works, the primary hoisting machinery component of a rotary drilling rig.

Its variable frequency drive electric motor not only delivers instant torque and smooth, consistent performance—and it’s also more durable and requires less maintenance than a diesel engine, reducing downtime, Axis said.

Axis said that the switch to electric power has enabled it to reimagine the way a service rig operates.

The company said that the rig’s dynamic braking system replaces the traditional mechanical brake, the most common area for equipment-related nonproductive time on a service rig.

Axis Energy Services’ EPIC RIG is said to be the the oil and gas industry’s first fully electric well service rig. [Photo: Axis]

The EPIC RIG features a built-in programmable logic controller system that works in conjunction with the Axis CORE data acquisition and analysis platform to give the rig operator precision control and enable automated safeguards that reduce manual actions and the potential for human error.

The rig’s simplified design minimizes mechanical processes and eliminates common failure points for increased reliability, Axis said.

Additionally, the EPIC RIG VFD house can connect to the public power grid through a transformer, enabling operators to leverage renewable energy sources, eliminate emissions at the well site and save significantly on fuel costs.

Axis Energy Services’ EPIC RIG is said to be the the oil and gas industry’s first fully electric well service rig. [Photo: Axis]

The EPIC RIG can also use a range of diesel alternatives, including field gas and natural gas, making it adaptable to remote locations and various conditions in the field.

In addition to the rig currently under contract with Occidental, Axis is developing two more EPIC RIGS for launch later this year. One will be a completion rig for frac plug drill outs, the company said.

“We’re very excited to have teamed with Occidental to launch the first rig in our EPIC RIG buildout program,” Phillips said. “This is a milestone in our mission to move the well service industry forward by driving technological innovation.”

Axis Energy Services’ EPIC RIG is said to be the the oil and gas industry’s first fully electric well service rig. [Photo: Axis]

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