1. n. [Drilling]

A long square or hexagonal steel bar with a hole drilled through the middle for a fluid path. The kelly is used to transmit rotary motion from the rotary table or kelly bushing to the drillstring, while allowing the drillstring to be lowered or raised during rotation. The kelly goes through the kelly bushing, which is driven by the rotary table. The kelly bushing has an inside profile matching the kelly's outside profile (either square or hexagonal), but with slightly larger dimensions so that the kelly can freely move up and down inside.

See: circulation system,  hook,  junk basket,  kelly bushing,  kelly hose,  kelly spinner,  make a connection,  mousehole,  rathole,  rotary bushing,  rotary table,  saver sub,  slips,  top drive