What Does
Breakout Wrench Mean?
A breakout wrench is a machine that clamps onto drilling pipe and breaks it loose at the joint of two pipes so that they can be separated. It can require tremendous force to perform this action. A breakout wrench is used during trenchless drilling operations to decouple pipes in the drill string.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Breakout Wrench
Even without bolts and fasteners, coupled pipe can be difficult to separate. Anyone who has tried to separate two small joined pipes by hand knows that sometimes the bonding between the surfaces can become quite strong. In that case, a pipe wrench may be needed to grip the pipe and apply the force required to twist and remove it.
Breakout wrenches are used on drill rigs and horizontal directional drilling projects to perform a similar function. These machines may be automated or powered hydraulically. The specifications of a breakout wrench include size, torque, weight, and hydraulic capacity.