Wells – Processes – Assembling well part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2003-08-26
Bagnell, David (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Assembling well part
C166S077510, C175S009000, C175S085000, C414S022540, C414S022620, C414S022630
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609573
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pipe handling equipment, and more particularly to a system for handling pipes and moving them between a horizontal position and a vertical position for such exploration and production operations as, for example, incorporating the tubulars in a drill string.
Conventionally, large lengths of pipe are incorporated into a drill string for oil or gas exploration operations. In the past, the drilling industry utilized single lengths of pipe that are joined together by threads or other similar techniques for lowering down hole as a drilling operation progresses. In time, the depths at which the zone of interest are reached have significantly increased and an entire new industry, offshore oil and gas development has emerged in addition to land oil and gas explorations.
The new offshore drill units, by necessity, utilize longer drill strings for reaching subterranean formations of a pay zone. The evolution of the drilling industry led to the development of the ability to rack back doubles, which are two 30′ joints of drill pipe connected together and stood back in the derrick vertically. Later, triples, that is three 30′ joints, have been developed and now the length is “fourbles” of range
2
(four 30′ joints) or triples of range
3
drill pipe (40′ joints ) that make up a 120′ stand of a drill pipe length.
In offshore oil and gas exploration, the drill string is lowered through the body of water to the bottom to a desired depth for reaching a pay zone. If the particular location does not pay off, the drilling unit is usually moved to another location. Conventional jack-up designs have dictated that the drill string be laid down in order to facilitate the rig move or other operational requirement. Naturally, the fewer joints that need to be made up and then broken, the more efficient the operation of the rig becomes.
Any time that a length of pipe can be handled in longer sections, for example in 90′ lengths, as opposed to the traditional 30′ or 40′ lengths, pipe handling efficiency is dramatically improved.
Conventional jack-up units and bottom supported mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) relied on pipe handling systems capable of accommodating 30′ or 40′ lengths pipe sections.
The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with the prior art and provision of a pipe handling system capable of handling 90′ and greater length joints of drill pipe, tubing, casing, and other tubulars.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a pipe handling system capable of accommodating 90′ and longer joints of tubulars both on land and offshore.
It is another object of the present invention, to provide horizontal pipe handling system that can be placed for operation on a mobile offshore drilling unit for handling triples of range
2
, doubles in range
3
or longer single joints of drill pipes, casings, and other tubulars.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pipe handling system that can significantly lower the overall well bore construction costs and result in capital equipment cost savings.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an offshore drilling unit having a cantilevered drill floor for conducting oil and gas exploration production operations equipped with a pipe handling system for moving tubulars from a horizontal pipe rack to a vertical set-back area.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method of handling tubulars in an offshore platform environment.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a pipe handling system that transports pipes stored in a horizontal location adjacent to a drill floor to a cantilevered drill floor, wherein the pipe stands are set in a vertical orientation in a set-back area. The pipe handling system includes lifting means, such as a crane, an optional feeding conveyor and a vertical lifting mechanism for picking up the pipe and carrying it to a vertical position in the set-back area. By utilizing the drill floor that is extended away from the platform surface proper, greater surface facilities can be utilized for useful offshore operations.
In the method of pipe handling at an offshore rig, which can be applicable also to onshore facilities, a pipe rack is provided adjacent to the derrick and the drill floor. A crane, for example an articulated crane, lifts horizontally stored pipes from the pipe rack and carries them toward the drill floor, wherein a pipe stand or casing is picked up by a vertical lifting mechanism. The pipe is grasped by two grasping members near the top and bottom of the pipe. The pipe is then moved, while still in the vertical orientation, toward a set-back area adjacent to the mousehole. The port and the starboard rig cranes can also present a tubular to the drill floor in a similar manner.
By allowing to vertically store the pipes, valuable work space on an offshore location can be dramatically saved. The horizontal pipe handling system allows to handle longer sections of pipes, 90′ and above, if necessary, thus reducing the costs and time of forming up a drill string or casing. As a result, significant cost savings to the operator of the rig can be achieved.
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Bagnell David
Friede & Goldman, Ltd.
Gay Jennifer H
Keaty Professional Law Corporation
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