It might get very cold in the United States, but in Surgut, one of the remotest parts of Siberia, temperatures can drop to minus 40F (minus 4.4C) in the winter although summer highs are more moderate, about 86-degrees F (30 C). Situated 1,550 mi. (2,500 km) from Moscow, Surgut is home to one of the richest oil and gas fields in the world producing more than 46 million tons (40 million t) of oil per year. There are no direct road connections to ports. The only access is by rail or air.

More than 10,000 wells are spread over a 93-mi. (150 km) radius of Surgut. The permanent wellheads, which follow the initial drilling rigs, need to be transported and assembled on site in 43-ton (40 t) unit modules. A crane that can handle the loads and travel to nearly inaccessible places is needed. It must be able to handle sand dunes and swamp in the summer, as well as the harsh permafrost in the winter.

Ten Grove GMK5100 110-ton (100 t) all-terrain cranes — GMK5120B 120 tons in the United States — were ordered by the Engineering Authority of Surgutneftygas. The cranes were manufactured at Grove’s Wilhelmshaven, Germany plant.

A three-week rail journey of 1,240 mi. (2,000 km) required removal of the wheels and superstructure cabs to enable the cranes to navigate the narrow tunnel and bridge systems on the Russian railway network. Within three hours of arrival in Surgut, the first unit was ready to go to work and all 10 of the units are now at work in the oil field.

For more information, call 717/597-8121 or visit www.groveworldwide.com.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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