U.S. patent application number 10/232393 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-29 for mast and trolley arrangement for mobile multi-function rig.
This patent application is currently assigned to Technicoil Corporation. Invention is credited to Andreychuk, Mark T..
Application Number | 20030098150 10/232393 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4170715 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030098150 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andreychuk, Mark T. |
May 29, 2003 |
Mast and trolley arrangement for mobile multi-function rig
Abstract
An improved mast arrangement for a mobile multi-function rig has
a winch line extending from an upper end of the mast and a
traveling block supported thereon. A trolley mountable on the mast
is adapted for coupling to the traveling block. The trolley works
primarily as a guide for a given load, and therefore is of a
lightweight design since loads mounted to the trolley are
transferred directly to the traveling block and the supporting
winch line. The trolley provides the capability to readily switch
between various rig operations, including manipulating coiled
tubing with an injector, setting surface casing using a top drive,
operating the winch and traveling block for joined pipe operations,
and interchanging between top drive and joined pipe operations
without removing the top drive from the mast or rig. The rig can
run deeper joined pipe applications than previous mobile rigs by
providing means for employing the top drive, namely the trolley is
adapted to counteract the torsion exerted by the top drive during
operation. The trolley is able to work the entire length of the
mast after quickly parking the injector near the bottom of the
mast. The winch and traveling block have unobstructed travel along
the entire length of the mast without disengaging the trolley from
the mast and with the injector parked near the bottom end.
Inventors: |
Andreychuk, Mark T.;
(Cochrane, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS E. MALYSZKO
SUITE 1500
250 - 6 AVENUE, S.W.
CALGARY
T2P 3H7
CA
|
Assignee: |
Technicoil Corporation
|
Family ID: |
4170715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/232393 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/77.2 ;
166/75.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/02 20130101; E21B
19/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/77.2 ;
166/75.11 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2001 |
CA |
2,364,147 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An improved mast and trolley for use in a rig comprising: a mast
mounted to the rig; a winch line extending from an upper end of the
mast; a traveling block located at a terminal end of the winch
line; a trolley mountable to said block for travel along said mast,
and adapted to carry drilling and servicing equipment for oil and
gas wells.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to drilling and servicing
equipment for oil and gas wells generally, and in particular
relates to an improved mast and trolley design for use in rigs
which transport and/or operate equipment for continuous coiled
tubing drilling, for conventional joined pipe handling and
drilling, and/or for wireline applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/688,979
and corresponding Canadian patent application 2,322,917 for a
"Trolley and Traveling Block System" disclose a novel trolley
hoisting system for use in rigs, particularly multi-task rigs,
which transport and/or operate equipment for oil and gas
operations, including continuous coiled tubing drilling and
conventional joined pipe handling and drilling operations. The
novel system allows a single winch arrangement to perform various
tasks without having to detach from or connect to the injector, as
in some conventional rig arrangements, when switching between
tasks. In particular, the winch system is capable of moving the
injector along the rig's mast, or derrick, and, upon fixing the
injector at a desired location along the mast, the winch is
immediately available for performing other desired tasks, such as a
joined pipe operation.
[0003] However, the above system can not readily accommodate a top
drive mechanism to rotate joined pipe or to set surface casing. It
is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mobile
rig with such capability. In particular, the mast of the present
invention should allow for a winch arrangement to perform various
tasks in combination with a trolley which is movable along the
mast, and to perform other tasks when detached from the trolley in
a solo configuration. The trolley should be adapted to accept
various other equipment, including an injector and lubricator for
continuous or coiled tubing. The trolley and mast should allow an
injector to be parked near the bottom of the mast out of the plane
of the mast to allow the trolley to travel along the entire length
of the mast. Further, the winch should be capable of working the
entire length of the mast without undue interference from the
trolley. Any load carried by the trolley should be transferred
directly to the winch arrangement so that the trolley acts
primarily as a guide for the load along the mast, thus streamlining
the trolley's structure and weight.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided in one
aspect an improved mast arrangement for mobile multi-function rig
comprising a winch line extending from an upper end of the mast
having, a traveling block supported by the winch line, and a
trolley mountable on the mast having side members for operatively
engaging the mast, rail portions extending perpendicularly from the
side members, a cross-beam extending transversely between the rail
portions and adapted to roll therealong, and a collar slidably
mounted on the cross-beam for movement therealong and adapted for
coupling to the traveling block, wherein a load mounted to the
collar is transferred through the collar directly to the traveling
block and the supporting winch line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0005] The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1a is a side view of a mobile multi-function rig which
employs a mast and trolley according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention showing the trolley at a selected location
along the mast and an injector coupled to the trolley;
[0007] FIG. 1b is an end view of the rig from the right side of
FIG. 1a;
[0008] FIG. 2a is a view similar to FIG. 1a but showing only the
trailer portion of the rig omitting several features such as the
cab and cartridge assembly, and showing the trolley located at the
lower end of the mast and the injector fixed, or "parked", out of
the plane of the mast on the bed of the trailer with the traveling
block still attached;
[0009] FIG. 2b is an end view of the rig from the right side of
FIG. 2a;
[0010] FIG. 3a is a close-up side view of the back of the trailer
and the lower end of the mast of FIG. 2a, with the traveling block
and a user platform and railing omitted for a better view of the
injector and trolley;
[0011] FIG. 3b is an end view from the right side of FIG. 3a with
the traveling block;
[0012] FIG. 4a is a view similar to FIG. 1a but showing the
injector parked on the back of the rig's trailer and the trolley at
a selected location along the mast with a top drive operatively
engaged to the trolley;
[0013] FIG. 4b is an end view from the right side of FIG. 4a with
the injector omitted;
[0014] FIG. 5a is a close-up side view of the mast, trolley and top
drive of FIG. 4a;
[0015] FIG. 5b is an end view from the right side of FIG. 5a;
[0016] FIG. 6a shows the mast and trolley of FIG. 5a with the top
drive omitted;
[0017] FIG. 6b an end view of the rig from the right side of FIG.
6a;
[0018] FIG. 7a is a view similar to FIG. 4a but showing only a
portion of the rig's, the trolley at a lower end of the mast with
the top drive moved out of the plane of the mast toward the parked
injector, and the traveling block disengaged from the trolley;
and,
[0019] FIG. 7b is an end view from the right side of FIG. 7a.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS
[0020] 10 mobile rig
[0021] 12 trailer portion of 10
[0022] 14 tractor portion of 10
[0023] 16 rear end of 12
[0024] 18 hydraulic stabilizers
[0025] 20 cartridge assembly
[0026] 22 coiled tubing
[0027] 24 BOP
[0028] 26 wellhead
[0029] 30 mast/derrick
[0030] 32 column members of 30
[0031] 34 crown pulleys
[0032] 36 crown of 30
[0033] 38 cables
[0034] 39a,b first and second pulleys
[0035] 40 winch assembly
[0036] 42 hydraulic leg(s)
[0037] 44 platform
[0038] 46 bottom end of 30
[0039] 48 traveling block
[0040] 49 nut/bolt arrangement
[0041] 50 injector
[0042] 52 hydraulic cylinders
[0043] 54 locking pin
[0044] 56 aperture
[0045] 60 trolley
[0046] 62 side members of 60
[0047] 64a,b upper and lower guides
[0048] 65 pin(s)
[0049] 66 rail portions of 62
[0050] 68 cross-beam
[0051] 70 rollers
[0052] 72 collar
[0053] 74 sleeve portion of 72
[0054] 76 head of 72
[0055] 78 tail of 72
[0056] 80 top drive
[0057] 82 support arms of 80
[0058] 84 hydraulic jacks
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0059] FIG. 1a shows a mobile rig (generally indicated by reference
numeral 10) for transporting drilling and servicing equipment to an
oil or gas well site. The equipment, such as a cartridge assembly
20 capable of holding various sizes of continuous or coiled tubing
("CT") 22, is located aboard a trailer portion 12 of the rig which
is adapted to be towed by a self-propelled tractor portion 14. A
triple axle rear end 16 of the trailer 12 includes a number of
hydraulically operated stabilizers 18 for enhancing the trailer's
lateral stability once its rear end is located over a wellhead 26
and during well operations. The term "well" is understood herein to
mean either an oil or gas well to be drilled, or an existing well
or wellhead which is to be tested or serviced. The rig's design is
generally symmetrical about its longitudinal axis.
[0060] The rig 10 incorporates a number of drilling and servicing
features aboard the trailer 12, including a mast 30 (also referred
to as a "derrick") pivotally mounted to the rear end 16 of the
trailer, which can also carry a blow-out-preventor ("BOP"). The
mast is capable of supporting an injector 50 for moving the CT 22
into and out of the well. The mast 30 has two longitudinally spaced
column members 32 (as best seen in FIG. 1b), each formed by a
hollow structural section having a longitudinal central passage
along its length. The columns 32 are joined at their top ends by a
generally hollow structural tie member, or crown 36, housing a
number of conventional pulley wheels 34 (also referred to as
"sheaves") about which pass the cables 38 of a winch assembly 40.
In the embodiment shown the mast is about 72 feet (about 22 m) in
length from ground to crown so as to accommodate multiple sections
of conventional joined pipe. A telescoping hydraulic cylinder or
leg 42 is attached to each column 32, and is operated from a
control panel at the rear of the trailer, to tilt the mast 30
between a generally horizontal transportation mode and a generally
vertical operating mode. A operator's platform 44 with safety
railing is provided at the bottom end 46 of the mast.
[0061] The winch assembly 40, in conjunction with the novel
features of the trolley 60, is designed to perform multiple tasks,
such as:
[0062] raising and lowering the injector 50 and lubricator, as well
as running joined pipe segments;
[0063] handling various lengths of down hole tools;
[0064] hoisting other equipment as may be needed, including
wireline equipment; and,
[0065] importantly, allowing a top drive 80 (as shown in FIGS.
4a-5b) to be supported and operated in the mast.
[0066] The winch assembly 40 incorporates at least two sets of
steel cables 38, where at least some of which extend about a first
pulley 39a and then up a respective column through its hollow
interior over a second pulley 39b and to the crown pulleys 34. The
cables 38 then extend downwardly away from the crown to engage and
support a "traveling" block 48 in a known manner. The block 48 has
a nut and bolt arrangement 49 at the far, or lower, end of the
block to provide a means of manually coupling and decoupling the
block and the trolley 60. The winch assembly therefore controls the
movement of the traveling block and trolley along the elevated mast
for performing desired functions.
[0067] Referring now more particularly to the trolley 60 as shown
in detail in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the trolley is adapted to ride on the
columns 32 to any number of desired locations longitudinally along
the mast, with two selected vertical locations being illustrated in
FIGS. 1b & 2b. The trolley has a pair of opposed elongate side
members 62 extending generally parallel to the columns 32. Upper
and lower c-shaped guides 64a and 64b, respectively, at the ends of
each side member 62 engage the columns 32 to space the side members
inwardly from the masts and to guide the trolley therealong. Each
guide 64a, 64b is pinned to its side member by pins 65 to allow for
some differential twist between the guides themselves and the side
members. Each side member 62 has a truss-like lateral rail portion
66 which extends generally perpendicularly out of the plane of the
mast, namely horizontally when the mast is elevated vertically. An
elongate cross-beam 68 spans perpendicularly between the trolley's
side members 62, and has two pairs of rollers 70 at each end for
guiding the cross-beam 68 laterally out of the mast along the rail
portions 66 to a desired location therealong. The cross-beam 68
carries a collar 72 which has an intermediate sleeve portion 74
adapted to slide side-to-side along the cross-beam with the use of
TEFLON pads or the like. The head 76 of the collar has apertures
for coupling to the traveling block 48 via the nut and bolt
arrangement 49, and the tail 78 of the collar is adapted for
coupling to equipment, such as to the injector 50 (FIG. 1b) or the
top drive 80 (FIG. 5b).
[0068] The trolley is relatively lightweight since the design
provides for a direct transfer of load of any machinery coupled to
the tail 78 to the traveling block 48 and cables 38 via the collar
72. The load remains generally linearly aligned with the load
bearing cables 38 as the machinery is slid side-to-side along the
cross-beam 68, and as the machinery and cross-beam are rolled
front-to-back along the rails 66. The traveling block 48 and cables
merely follow the collar as the cross-beam is rolled toward the
back of the rails 66 and out of the plane of the mast. Hence, the
trolley acts primarily as a guide for the machinery along the mast
and carries little, if any, of the machine's weight.
[0069] FIGS. 1a to 3b illustrate use of the injector 50 by the rig
of the present invention. A top end of the injector is pinned to
the tail 78 of the trolley's collar 72, and the traveling block 48
is coupled to the collar's head 76 so that the injector's weight is
carried directly by the cables 38 up to the crown. Since the winch
assembly 40 controls movement of the cables, it is therefore used
to move the trolley and injector along the mast, as for example to
an operating position shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Opposed sides of
the injector are further engaged with the lower end of the
trolley's side members 62 by a pair of hydraulically operated
cylinders 52 to manipulate the orientation of the injector in a
plurality of aspects, such as rotating and tilting the bottom of
the injector relative to the wellhead 26. Hence, the trolley's side
members 62 and the guides 64a, 64b serve to transfer twisting and
bending moments from the injector to the mast's columns. When the
injector is not needed for operation, the injector is rolled to the
back end of the rails 66 out of the plane of the mast by the
cylinders 52, and the trolley is then brought to the bottom end 46
of the mast to rest the injector on the trailer's deck, as shown in
FIGS. 2a to 3b. Prior to disconnecting the injector the trolley
should be securely fixed by actuating a hydraulically operated
locking pin 54 from the mast's column to an opposed aperture 56 in
the trolley's side member 62. The injector is then removed from the
trolley by decoupling the injector's top end from the collar's tail
78 and the cylinders 52 from the side members 62. Upon decoupling
the locking pin, the unloaded trolley (as seen in FIGS. 6a and 6b)
is then free to operate without obstruction along the entire length
of the mast.
[0070] Alternately, if the trolley is not needed for a desired rig
operation, then the trolley may also be parked at the bottom end of
the mast and fixed thereto by the locking pin. The cross-beam 68 is
rolled to the back end of the rails 66 out of the plane of the
mast, and the traveling block 48 is then decoulped from the trolley
at the collar 72. The winch and traveling block arrangement is then
used along the entire length of the mast to perform certain rig
operations independently of the trolley, such as handling joined
pipe.
[0071] A particular advantage of the present invention is the
capability to readily switch from an injector operation to a top
drive operation. With the injector 50 at rest on the trailer 12 and
the trolley at the mast's bottom end, the top drive 80 may be
secured to the trolley by coupling the drive's top end to the
collar's tail 78, and pinning two lateral support arms 82 to the
trolley's side members 62, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The support
arms 82 provide important torsional resistance to the top drive
during operation, without which the top drive could not function.
Once attached, the top drive and trolley arrangement may then be
maneuvered along the mast by the winch assembly and elevated to an
operating position (as in FIGS. 4a and 4b) for performing desired
operations, such as setting surface casing. The reverse procedure
is followed to remove the top drive from the trolley. The top drive
also incorporates a pinion gear arrangement, or alternately
hydraulic jacks 84, to pivot the top drive about the tail 78 from
the vertical position illustrated to a generally horizontal
orientation facing away from the trailer's rear end to facilitate
the loading and unloading of casing to and from the mast.
[0072] Another advantage of the present invention is the capability
to readily switch between top drive and joined pipe operations
without removing the top drive off the mast or rig. This feature is
best illustrated by first referring again to FIGS. 4a & 4b
showing the traveling block 48 connected to the trolley 60 with the
top drive 70 mounted therein for setting surface casing. From this
configuration the rig may be switched to a joined pipe operation by
lowering the trolley toward the mast's bottom end and rolling the
trolley's cross-beam 68 toward the back end of the rails 66 to take
the top drive out of the plane of the mast 30 (i.e. "off-centre")
and bring it to a position beside and above the parked injector 50,
as shown in FIGS. 7a & 7b. The trolley may be fixed in position
to the mast as described earlier using the locking pin 54 or the
like. The traveling block 48 is then disengaged from the trolley
and may operate unobstructed along the length of the mast for
handling joined pipe and other rig operations. This aspect of the
invention allows the top drive to be quickly re-engaged along the
mast if an obstruction or other problem is encountered during the
joined pipe operation which requires use of the top drive.
[0073] In sum, the many advantages of the rig of the present
invention include:
[0074] the ability to readily switch between various rig operations
which heretofore have not been possible on mobile rigs, such
operations including manipulating CT with the injector 50, setting
surface casing using the top drive 80, operating the winch and
traveling block for joined pipe operations, and interchanging
between top drive and joined pipe operations without removing the
top drive from the mast or rig;
[0075] the ability to run deeper joined pipe applications than are
available on current mobile rigs by providing means for employing
the top drive 80, namely the trolley is adapted to counteract the
torsion exerted by the top drive during operation (for instance,
the top drive could not function by mere pinning to the traveling
block);
[0076] the ability for the trolley to work the entire length of the
mast after quickly parking the injector near the bottom of the
mast;
[0077] providing the winch and traveling block with unobstructed
travel along the entire length of the mast without disengaging the
trolley from the mast and with the injector parked near the bottom
end;
[0078] providing a trolley of relatively simple and lightweight
design by having the trolley work primarily as a guide for a given
load since its configuration allows for a direct transfer of load
to the traveling block and winch cables; and,
[0079] providing a mast design which is not top heavy by parking
equipment at the bottom end and having the aforementioned
lightweight trolley design.
[0080] The above description is intended in an illustrative rather
than a restrictive sense, and variations to the specific
configurations described may be apparent to skilled persons in
adapting the present invention to other specific applications. Such
variations are intended to form part of the present invention
insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the claims
below.
* * * * *