Not every drilling operation requires a 750-ton rotary slip. Selecting the right slip means considering the expected load, pipe sizes, bowl configuration, handling weight, and operating costs associated with the application.
The Ramey Martin Energy Tools XD-500 Rotary Slip was developed to provide another option within the Xtreme Duty line for drilling programs that do not require the capacity or pipe range of the XD-750.
Rated for 500 tons and covering pipe sizes from 2 3/8″ through 5 7/8″, the XD-500 combines a wide operating range with a triple load-shelf insert system, 16 inches of gripping length, and compatibility with a #3 API tapered bowl.
The result is a rotary slip designed to match the capacity and pipe range of the application without adding unnecessary weight and cost.
A 500-Ton Option in the XD Line
The XD-500 fills an important position within the Xtreme Duty rotary slip family.
With a 500-ton load rating, it gives drilling programs operating below the capacity of the XD-750 an option more closely matched to their expected loads. Its 2 3/8″ to 5 7/8″ pipe range also extends the XD line into smaller tubing sizes below the XD-750’s 3 1/2″ starting point.
The XD-500 is load-rated and machined for use in a #3 API tapered bowl with a 4-inch-per-foot taper and is designed in accordance with API 7K.
For operations within this capacity and pipe range, the XD-500 provides a purpose-built option rather than requiring a larger-capacity slip where that additional capacity may not be necessary.
Triple Load-Shelf Insert Design
The inserts serve as the replaceable gripping components of the slip and can be changed as they wear, supporting planned maintenance and continued service life.
This triple load-shelf technology is also used in the XD-750, bringing the same general approach to load distribution into the 500-ton platform.
16 Inches of Gripping Length
Load distribution is not limited to the slip body.
The XD-500 provides 16 inches of gripping length, giving the inserts 16 inches of die contact with the tubular.
The additional contact area helps spread gripping forces across more of the pipe surface rather than concentrating those forces within a smaller area. This provides a stable grip while helping reduce concentrated loading on the tubular.
Combined with the triple load-shelf insert system, the gripping length is an important part of how the XD-500 manages its rated load.
Capacity Is Important. So Is Weight.
Rotary slips are designed to support substantial loads, but crews still have to move, position, and remove them on the rig floor.
Undressed, the XD-500 weighs approximately 218 pounds, compared with approximately 210 pounds for the XD-750. Once the slips are dressed for the same pipe size, however, the difference becomes much more significant.
When both are dressed to catch 5 7/8″ pipe, the XD-500 weighs approximately 250 pounds, while the XD-750 weighs approximately 312 pounds.
That makes the XD-500 approximately 62 pounds lighter when dressed for the same 5 7/8″ pipe size.
DRESSED WEIGHT COMPARISON
 5 1/2″ SDU
P/N: 03-112-SDU-LR-F
|
 XD-500
P/N: 03-500-XD -F
|
 XD-750
P/N: 03-750-XD -F
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 1/2″ | 280 lbs | 316 lbs | 370 lbs |
| 4″ | 272 lbs | 305 lbs | 361 lbs |
| 4 1/2″ | 262 lbs | 292 lbs | 350 lbs |
| 5″ | 249 lbs | 279 lbs | 338 lbs |
| 5 1/2″ | 238 lbs | 260 lbs | 324 lbs |
| 5 7/8″ | N/A | 250 lbs | 312 lbs |
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For crews handling the slip on the rig floor, that means:
- Less weight to manage during handling
- More control when moving and positioning the slip
- Less physical effort required when lifting and shifting the slip
- A lighter overall assembly when the additional capacity of the XD-750 is not required
The objective is not simply to make a lighter rotary slip. It is to provide the capacity required for the application without adding unnecessary weight for crews to manage.
Lower Dressing Requirements
The difference between the XD-500 and XD-750 also extends to the inserts required to dress the slip.
Because the XD-500 is designed around its specific capacity and pipe range, less insert size and material are required to dress the slip compared with the XD-750. This helps reduce the cost associated with dressing the slip while still providing the gripping components required for the intended application.
For operations that do not require a 750-ton rating, this gives customers another opportunity to match the equipment—and its operating costs—more closely to the job.
XD-500 Specifications
Load Rating: 500 Tons
Pipe Range: 2 3/8″ – 5 7/8″
Bowl: #3 API
Taper: 4″/ft
Gripping Length: 16″
Insert Design: Triple Load-Shelf
Undressed Weight: Approximately 218 lb
Dressed Weight at 5 7/8″: Approximately 250 lb
Design Standard: Designed in accordance with API 7K
How Does the XD-500 Compare?
The XD-500 fills the space between the 400-ton SDU and the higher-capacity XD-750. Comparing the three options helps show how load capacity and load-shoulder design differ across the lineup.
ROTARY SLIP COMPARISON
|
5 1/2″ SDU
P/N: 03-112-SDU-LR-F
|
XD-500
P/N: 03-500-XD -F
|
XD-750
P/N: 03-750-XD -F
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Load Rating | 400 Tons | 500 Tons | 750 Tons |
| Pipe Range | 2 1/16″ – 5 1/2″ | 2 3/8″ – 5 7/8″ | 3 1/2″ – 7 5/8″ |
| Load Shoulders | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Gripping Length | 16″ | 16″ | 16″ |
| Undressed Weight | 210 lbs | 218 lbs | 210 lbs |
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The comparison shows why selecting a rotary slip involves more than simply choosing the highest available load rating.
For operations moving beyond the capacity of the 5 1/2″ SDU, the XD-500 provides a 500-ton option with three load shoulders designed to distribute loading through the body of the slip. For applications requiring additional capacity and a larger operating range, the XD-750 extends the Xtreme Duty design to a 750-ton rating with three load shoulders.
This gives customers the ability to select the capacity, pipe range, handling weight, and configuration that more closely matches the requirements of the application.
Choosing the Right Slip for the Application
The XD-500 was not developed to replace the XD-750. Each slip serves a different range of applications within the Ramey Martin rotary slip lineup.
For drilling programs requiring the additional capacity and operating range of the XD-750, that capacity is there when it is needed. For operations working within a 500-ton rating and a 2 3/8″ to 5 7/8″ pipe range, the XD-500 provides an option more closely aligned with those requirements.
That means customers can consider more than maximum capacity when selecting a slip. Pipe range, handling weight, insert requirements, bowl compatibility, and expected load can all be matched more closely to the application.
The XD-500 expands the Ramey Martin Xtreme Duty family with another option built around that principle: use the right tool for the job.
For more information about the XD-500 Rotary Slip, current availability, replacement inserts, or other Ramey Martin Energy Tools products, contact our sales team.
📩 sales@rameymartin.com | 📞 (337) 367-7497 | 🌐 www.rameymartin.com