NOV ST-80 iron roughneck

An iron roughneck spins a tool joint and then torques it, which is the job manual tongs used to do. The ST-80 is the pedestal machine that set this size. The crew swings it from a floor socket to well center, spins the connection, and makes it up or breaks it out.

It fits a land rig floor that has a socket in the right place and drill pipe in the ordinary tool-joint range. Current ST-80C and ST-80C² ratings, which are the comparison class for an older ST-80, are 60,000 ft-lb makeup and 80,000 ft-lb breakout, for tool joints from 4¼ to 8½ inches. Spin torque is much smaller than makeup torque. The C² flyer lists 1,750 ft-lb of spin against 60,000 ft-lb of makeup.

The ST-80C² is the current generation, at 7,800 pounds, with published hydraulics and a 60-inch reach. An older ST-80 can be in the same 80,000 ft-lb breakout class and still have different controls, weight, and hydraulics. An ST-100 is the next torque step: 100,000 ft-lb makeup and 120,000 ft-lb breakout. The “80” tracks breakout on this family. It does not mean 80,000 ft-lb of makeup.

Ask which generation is on the nameplate before you assume C² hydraulics. Confirm the floor has a socket, or that the socket is included. Jaw dies and the spinner are wear items. A roughneck that will spin but will not hold makeup torque is not a working machine.