Oil & Gas Equipment Transport: Oilfield Hauling Services Guide

The oil and gas industry demands specialized transportation services capable of handling extreme weights, operating around the clock, and reaching remote locations. From drilling rigs to completion equipment, oilfield hauling requires unique expertise.

Oil & Gas Equipment Categories

Drilling Equipment

Land Drilling Rigs Components requiring transport:

• Mast/derrick sections
• Drawworks
• Mud pumps
• Substructure
• Crown block
• Engines/generators
• BOP (blowout preventer)
• Pipe racks

Component	Typical Weight	Dimensions
Mast (folded)	80,000-200,000 lbs	60-100’ long
Drawworks	40,000-120,000 lbs	20-30’ long
Mud pumps (each)	30,000-60,000 lbs	15-20’ long
Substructure	100,000-300,000 lbs	Multiple loads
Generators	20,000-80,000 lbs	20-40’ long

Completion Equipment

Hydraulic Fracturing (Frac) Equipment:

• Frac pumps (15,000+ psi rated)
• Blenders
• Sand chiefs/silos
• Hydration units
• Chemical trailers
• Data vans

Frac Spread Components:

Equipment	Weight Range	Notes
Frac pumps	80,000-100,000 lbs	Multiple units per spread
Blenders	70,000-90,000 lbs	1-2 per spread
Sand chiefs	50,000-80,000 lbs	2-4 per spread
Hydration unit	60,000-80,000 lbs	1-2 per spread

Production Equipment

Processing and Compression:

• Compressor packages
• Dehydration units
• Separators
• Treaters
• Tank batteries

Well Service Equipment:

• Workover rigs
• Coiled tubing units
• Wireline trucks
• Cement units

Pipeline Materials

Pipe Transport:

• Line pipe (various diameters)
• Casing strings
• Tubing
• Production equipment

Pipe Size	Transport Method
Small diameter (< 12”)	Standard flatbed, multiple joints
Medium (12-24”)	Flatbed, pipe bolsters
Large (24-48”+)	Specialized pipe trailer

Oilfield Transport Challenges

Remote Locations

Oil and gas sites often present access challenges:

• Unpaved lease roads
• Limited turning radius
• Cattle guards and gates
• Soft ground conditions
• No cell service

Solutions:

• Pre-route site surveys
• Communication via satellite
• Ground preparation coordination
• Smaller equipment for final mile

24/7 Operations

The oilfield operates around the clock:

• Drilling operations don’t stop
• Completion schedules are tight
• Equipment failures require rapid response
• Weather delays impact entire operations

Everdauer 24/7 Capabilities:

• Dispatchers available around the clock
• Night transport specialists
• Emergency response teams
• Real-time tracking and communication

Weight Concentration

Oilfield equipment often features:

• Extreme point loading
• High ground pressure
• Concentrated weights
• Non-standard configurations

Transport Solutions:

• Multi-axle trailer configurations
• Specialized bolsters
• Weight distribution planning
• Road mat/timber requirements

Rig Move Operations

Complete Rig Moves

Moving a drilling rig involves extensive logistics:

Pre-Move Planning:

1. Rig-down scheduling
2. Load-out sequence planning
3. Route analysis and permits
4. Site preparation at destination
5. Equipment inventory

Typical Load Count: A 1,500 HP drilling rig may require:

• 40-60+ truckloads
• 3-5 day rig-down
• 3-5 day rig-up
• Continuous transport operations

Skid Rig Moves

Smaller rigs designed for mobility:

• Self-contained units
• Fewer transport loads (10-20)
• Faster rig-up/rig-down
• Still require heavy haul capability

Walking/Self-Erecting Rigs

Modern rigs with mobility features:

• Can “walk” short distances
• Self-erecting masts
• Reduced move time
• Still need transport for long moves

Permit Requirements

Multi-State Operations

Oil and gas operations often cross state lines:

Permit Challenges:

• Different regulations per state
• Variable weight limits
• Route restrictions
• Timing requirements

Common Corridors:

• Permian Basin (TX/NM)
• Bakken (ND/MT)
• Marcellus/Utica (PA/OH/WV)
• DJ Basin (CO/WY)
• Eagle Ford (TX)

Overweight Permits

Oilfield equipment regularly exceeds legal weights:

Load Type	Typical Weight	Axle Configuration
Frac pump	95,000 lbs	5-axle combination
Mud pump	75,000 lbs	4-5 axle
Mast (folded)	180,000 lbs	9-13 axle
Substructure	250,000+ lbs	13-19 axle

Emergency Permits

When drilling operations need immediate support:

• 24-hour permit processing
• Weekend and holiday permits
• Emergency routing
• Expedited fees apply

Frac Spread Logistics

Managing Multiple Units

A typical frac spread includes 30+ loads:

• 10-20 frac pumps
• 2-4 blenders
• 4-8 sand storage units
• Support equipment
• Crew facilities

Mobilization Sequence

Coordinating frac spread arrival:

Phase 1: Site Preparation

• Command center/data van
• Support equipment
• Sand delivery staging

Phase 2: Main Equipment

• Blenders (must arrive before pumps)
• Frac pumps
• Hydration units

Phase 3: Materials

• Sand/proppant
• Chemical supplies
• Water trucks (ongoing)

Demobilization

Moving equipment after completion:

• Reverse staging
• Equipment inspection
• Maintenance scheduling
• Next location coordination

Pipeline Transport

Pipe Hauling

Transporting pipeline materials requires:

Pipe Specifications:

• Diameter (4” to 48”+)
• Wall thickness
• Coating type
• Joint length (40-80 feet typical)

Transport Considerations:

• Pipe protection (coating integrity)
• Weight distribution
• Load securing (pipe stakes)
• Offloading equipment

Heavy Wall Pipe

Large diameter, thick wall pipe challenges:

• Individual joints may weigh 20,000+ lbs
• Limited joints per load
• Specialized pipe trailers
• Crane offloading required

Bend Sections and Fittings

Special attention for fabricated items:

• Protect weld surfaces
• Maintain coating integrity
• Secure against movement
• Weather protection

Safety in Oilfield Transport

HSE Requirements

Oil and gas companies require:

• ISNetworld qualification
• Veriforce compliance
• PEC SafeLand certification
• Company-specific orientations

Everdauer Certifications:

• ISNetworld member
• Drug testing programs (DISA)
• HSE management system
• Incident-free tracking

Hazardous Considerations

Oilfield equipment may contain:

• Residual hydrocarbons
• H2S exposure history
• Radioactive scale (NORM)
• Chemical residue

Safety Protocols:

• Equipment purging verification
• NORM surveys when required
• Gas testing procedures
• PPE requirements

Site Safety

Oilfield locations require:

• Site orientation
• PPE (FR clothing, hard hat, steel toes)
• H2S monitoring
• Hot work permits for welding/cutting

Cost Factors

Pricing Variables

Factor	Impact on Cost
Distance	Primary driver
Load weight	Affects equipment needed
Urgency	Rush fees for emergency
Location accessibility	Remote sites cost more
Permits	Multi-state adds cost
Standby time	Waiting charges apply

Typical Cost Ranges

Single Frac Pump, 200 miles:

• Standard: $3,500-$5,000
• Rush: $5,000-$7,500

Drilling Rig (Complete Move), 150 miles:

• 50 loads at $3,000-$5,000 average
• Total: $150,000-$250,000
• Plus permits, escorts, site work

Compressor Package, 500 miles:

• Depending on size: $8,000-$20,000

Costs vary by market conditions, route, and specific requirements.

Everdauer Oil & Gas Services

Our Capabilities

Equipment We Transport:

• Complete drilling rig moves
• Frac spreads and completion equipment
• Compressors and processing equipment
• Pipeline materials
• Well service equipment
• Production facilities

Service Features:

• 24/7 dispatch and support
• ISNetworld qualified
• Multi-state permit expertise
• Remote location experience
• Rapid response capability

Service Areas

Active Basins:

• Permian Basin (TX/NM)
• Eagle Ford (TX)
• Bakken (ND/MT)
• Niobrara/DJ Basin (CO/WY)
• Haynesville (LA/TX)
• Appalachian Basin (PA/OH/WV)

Fleet Capabilities

• 100+ specialized heavy haul units
• Multi-axle configurations
• Pipe trailers
• Step deck and flatbed fleet
• Partnership network for surge capacity

Partner with Everdauer

Contact us for oil and gas transportation:

• 24/7 emergency dispatch
• Rig move coordination
• Frac spread logistics
• Pipeline project support

Call: (414) 600-3636 Online: Request a Quote

Our oilfield-experienced team delivers equipment safely to keep your operations running.