As demand has grown for greater capability to drill onshore directional wells, managed pressure, high pressure/high temperature and wells likely to encounter lost circulation zones and narrow pore pressure/frac gradient wells and greater safety, today's land rigs are incorporating technology from the offshore industry. As these improvements became more commonplace, it became evident that while driven by special applications, they performed faster and safer in routine applications. Even with the higher day rates for these improved rigs, overall well costs can be reduced. Some of these advances include:

• Full instrumentation systems to provide more, better and faster digital information to replace the old pneumatic drilling recorders,

• Top drives to accommodate directional drilling and steerable tools provide greater flexibility and speed,

• Driller’s cabins have improved comfort, safety and efficiency,

• Autodriller systems that can control weight on bit, torque, rate of penetration and differential motor pressure on mud motors,

• Automated pipe handling to take the human out of the dangerous job of breaking and joining pipe sections,

• Managed-pressure drilling systems, and

• Reduced transport loads, with hydraulic and electric systems to quickly rig up and rig down.

which can strain relations with surface owners and local roads. After the drilling rig moves off, a frac crew and equipment are moved in to finish the job. Typically, that means eight or more units moving on the road and up to the site. Frac Source, Inc. (www.fracsource.com) has re-engineered the process and equipment required to dramatically reduce the number and weight of units required on site, the manpower to do the job, and the highway travel. Innovations include incorporating the treatment control center into the coiled tubing unit itself. This eliminates one unit and allows one technician to operate the equipment while the rest of the smaller crew monitors the process, focusing on safety and maintenance. Another innovation is the management of the nitrogen. It is stored in tanks on site the day before the job, rather than being transported from site to site, a process that significantly reduces losses. The equipment is moved from site to site, while the crew moves in a single vehicle, reducing equipment on the road. Not only is the equipment substantially smaller, but being more mobile, up to three fracs per day are possible.