1. Matting uses besides drilling

* Access roads

* Creek crossings

* Campsites

* Completions

* Walkways

* Tank Farms

* Sensitive Soils

* Land Sale Commitments

* Preference by land owners

* Staging areas

* Helicopter pads

* Protection of subsurface structures ie. irrigation lines and pipeline crossings

2. Well Site Lease Construction Options

*Dirt/gravel

*Dirt/geotextiles

*Swamp matting

-Swamp mats otherwise referred to as access mats, 3ply mats, and interlocking mats.

-8′ X 14′ – Size of each mat.

-3000 lbs – Approximate weight of each mat

-Interlocking finger system used to join matting.

-Consists of 3 layers of 2” X 8 “ boards usually bolted together.

*Rig matting

-Constructed using steel framed, wide flange structural beam welded frame with grade 2 or better spf wood members.

-Interlocking availability with some manufacturers

-Rig matting is typically used under rig substructure camp platforms, walkways, pipeline crossings

-8 X 40 rig mats 7800 lbs

3. Advantages of Matting

*Reduce lease size if there are no stripping piles required.

*Safer operations by creating level and stable work surfaces.

*Better work morale with cleaner operation and improved work ethic.

*Decreased towing required, preventing vehicle and machinery damage.

4. Inclement Weather

*Eliminates effects of unpredictable weather, ie.  rain, snow, chinooks

*Extending the drilling season allowing working through spring break resulting in faster production

5.  Environmental Management

*Solid waste handling – Dealing with invert cuttings, the use of matting reduces the total volume being treated or land-filled.

*Reduction in fluids used help rigs stay cleaner and reduces rig wash generated.

*Long term liability reduction by eliminating admixing of soils.

*Decreases ground disturbance.

*Reduces the reclamation certification timeline.

6. Improving Emergency Access

*Decreases response time for spill response, pipeline breaks, or incidents.

7. Additional Planning Requirements when using Matting

*Snow removal may be required but caution required as to not damage matting,

*Contamination from spills may limit future use.

*Cleaning considerations due to frozen mud and solids.

*Extra matting may be required for overlapping, corners, turnarounds, pullouts, and breakage.

*Having internal company co-ordination required from drilling to completions helps reduce cost.

*Trucking option consideration, winch trucks, super b’s, tridems.

*How level is the installation surface

-Undulations can make it difficult to install mats

-Matting can be used to level a lease but not recommended

-Matting with increase surface strength by spreading out the weight

8. Installation surfaces Characteristics

*Extreme muskeg.  Greater than 10 feet in depth.

*Moderate Muskeg. Less than 10 feet in depth

*Low soil stability.  Silty soils, sand, etc…

*Frozen surface frost retention.

*Water – not recommended safety and environmental may become an issue

9. Installation and Handling Techniques

*Preplan layout

*Equipment options, wheel loaders with forks and grapple.

*Trac Hoe with Mat grapple

*Skid steer for composite matting

*Proper treatment of mats will reduce maintenance costs,.

*Frozen ground may damage boards when removing them.

*Damaged mats should be set aside to be repaired.  If the structure integrity of the mat is compromised, the mat is not worth fixing.

10. Maintaining Mats

*Having a good maintenance program will increase the mat lifespan.

*Regardless of renting or owning you will have to pay for maintenance.

*Having one company look after your mats reduces maintenance costs and helps control inventory.

*Using tracked equipment on mats may increase maintenance costs.

11. Questions to ask when renting or purchasing mats

*What type of mat is best for your application; Swamp Mats, Steel mats, Laminated mats

*Sizes and weights of matting

*Expected service life

*What is the base cost

*Volume discounts available

*Deliverability time frame

*FOB point

*Matting project history, references and pictures

12. Cost Estimates

*Trucking cost to location, Tridem or super B’s

*Installation cost

*Accumulated Rental cost

*On-going costs, mat movement/maintenance

*Removal cost, pickup and trucking

*Cleaning costs

*Repairs and replacement

 

1 km of Access Road estimated cost 100 km trip for inventory and equipment

Access Mats
Trucking in mats Including equipment 470 Mats –  16 loads$14,600.00
Construction Cost Installation $10,500.00
Rental cost (will be affected by duration and project type Average – $3-$6 dollars per day65 Days at $4 per day$122,200.00
Construction Removal $10,500.00
Trucking out (water saturation/mud adhesion increases weight and trucking costs $14,500.00
Cleaning and Environmental charges Varies on product
Repair and replacement of damaged matting

$100.00 per board

 
 *1km access road = 52,480 sq/ ft
 **Access matting weight = 3000 lbs
 ***Trucking based on 30 mats per load

13. Number of Access Mats required for Specific Lease Dimensions

Lease Location Required Access Mats
1000m2 96
1200 m2 116
1500 m2 144
2000 m2 192
3000 m2 288
5000 m2 480
10000 m2 960

 

 

 

 

 

 

14. Number of Access Mats required for Specific Road Distances

Access Road 2 mats wide Wood Matting Required
100m 46
200m 94
300m 140
400m 188
500m 234
600m 282
700m 328
800m 374
900m 422
 1Km 468 
*1 m2 = 10.763 ft2
**1 m = 3.281 ft