Emerson has introduced a new solution for the oil and gas industry to illuminate land-based drilling rigs. The Appleton Rigmaster LED linear luminaire streamlines the task of installing and maintaining bright, energy-efficient lighting in hazardous areas.
Minimal weight is a top priority for rig hands who must climb a derrick hundreds of feet high to install or change a fixture. The Appleton Rigmaster LED weighs 4.5kg, making it significantly lighter than similar fixtures that can weigh as much as 13.5kg. It delivers 8000 lumens of uniform lighting.
Even when used under a canopy or inside an analyser house, the diffused lens option makes the it a useful solution for comfortable, no-glare illumination. Its wide distribution of light translates into fewer fixtures being needed in the rig’s mud pit, shaker, cellar and derrick. High-efficiency LED drivers consume less than half the energy of standard T8 fluorescent fixtures, further lowering direct cost of operations and minimising strain on the diesel generators that typically power drilling rigs.
The Appleton Rigmaster LED provides installation flexibility in hazardous locations by offering a variety of mounting options that are suited for retrofits as well as new rig builds. There’s a wide operating temperature range of -40° to 65° C, with an LED life of 60,000+ hours.
Given safety concerns due to round-the-clock, high vibration boring, secondary retention of a light fixture on drilling rigs is critical to prevent it from plunging from a high-rise mast. To help create a safer workplace environment, the Appleton Rigmaster LED features a looping safety cable through the fixture and around the mounting structure which helps secure the fixture. In addition, while some manufacturers screw on eyebolts, the Appleton Rigmaster LED provides five casted-in openings for safety cable retention points. The yoke bracket is also designed to ensure the bracket will stay in position regardless of heavy vibration and maintain its structural integrity. To take it a step further, captive hardware eliminates the possibility of a screw coming loose and falling out.
It features a gasketed, copper-free aluminium housing, plus a thermal shock and impact-resistant polycarbonate lens. It is certified for Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Type 3R, 4 and 4X wet and marine type areas. The fixture also meets IP66 rating requirements of being ‘dust tight’ and protected against powerful jets of water.
