U.S. patent application number 10/169929 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for modular light weight drilling rig.
Invention is credited to Jortveit, Jan.
Application Number | 20030102166 10/169929 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19910561 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030102166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jortveit, Jan |
June 5, 2003 |
Modular light weight drilling rig
Abstract
A modular lightweight rig (1) comprising a plurality of modules
(2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) designed to be placed on a platform deck
(15) and to support a drilling deck (10) on which a derrick (11) is
designed to be placed. A first set of modules (2, 4, 6, 8) is
arranged in a first column (30) and a second set of modules (3, 5,
7, 9) is arranged in a second column (31). A space (32) is defined
between the columns, over which space the drilling deck (10) is
designed to be positioned.
Inventors: |
Jortveit, Jan;
(Kristiansand, NO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
19910561 |
Appl. No.: |
10/169929 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
January 3, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NO01/00002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/162 ;
175/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 15/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/162 ;
175/203 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 3, 2000 |
SE |
20000018 |
Claims
1. A modular lightweight rig (1) comprising a plurality of modules
(2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) designed to be placed on a platform deck
(15) and to support a drilling deck (10), on which a derrick (11)
is designed to be placed, characterised in that a first set of
modules (2, 4, 6, 8) is arranged in a first column (30) and a
second set of modules (3, 5, 7, 9) is arranged in a second column
(31), between which columns (30, 31) is defined a space (32), and
that the drilling deck (10) is designed to be positioned over this
space (32).
2. A modular lightweight rig according to claim 1, characterised in
that the space (32) has a width that corresponds approximately to
the width of the drilling deck(10).
3. A modular lightweight rig according to claim 1 or 2,
characterised in that a BOP deck (14) is provided in the space
(32), immediately above the deck (15) of the platform, and that the
BOP deck (14) defines the width of the space and is connected to
each of the columns (30. 31).
4. A modular lightweight rig according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3,
characterised in that a first sliding rail (16) is provided by the
upper edge of the first column (30), which edge faces the second
column (31), that a second sliding rail (17) is provided by the
upper edge of the second column (31), which edge faces the first
column (30), and that the drilling deck is arranged for sliding
motion on top of the sliding rails (16, 17).
5. A modular lightweight rig according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 or
4, characterised in that the first column (30) comprises a frame
module (2) in which a lower module assembly (4) is designed to be
placed, and that the second column (31) comprises a frame module
(3) in which a lower module assembly (5) is designed to be
placed.
6. A modular lightweight rig according to claim 5, characterised in
that a first upper module assembly (6) is designed to be placed on
top of the first frame module (2) and be carried by this, and that
a second upper module assembly (7) is designed to be placed on top
of the second frame module (3) and be carried by this.
7. A modular lightweight rig according to claim 6, characterised in
that a first piping deck (8) is designed to be placed on top of the
first upper module assembly (6), that a first sliding rail (16) is
provided by that edge of the first piping deck (8) which faces the
second column (31), that a second piping deck (9) is designed to be
placed on top of the second module assembly (7), that a second
sliding rail (17) is provided by that edge of the second piping
deck (9) which faces the first column (30), and that the drilling
deck (10) is designed to be run back and forth on the sliding rails
(16, 17).
8. A modular lightweight rig according to any of the claims 4-7,
characterised in that each of the columns (30, 31) is arranged on
third and fourth sliding rails (12, 13), which are placed on the
deck (15) of the platform, that the third and fourth sliding rails
(12, 13) generally extend across the first and second sliding rails
(16, 17), and that the columns are designed to be run back and
forth on the sliding rails (12, 13) together.
Description
[0001] The present invention regards a modular lightweight drilling
rig in accordance with the preamble of the appended claim 1.
[0002] Traditionally, a drilling rig is put up by a structure being
assembled from basics directly on a platform, i.e. on the platform
deck. This structure comprises a substructure containing service
functions such as pumps, compressors and other equipment, and
defines a drilling deck on top of the substructure. The actual
derrick is arranged on this drilling deck. Such construction is
time consuming, and must be closely co-ordinated in order to avoid
delays, e.g. due to components not being ready when they are due to
be assembled.
[0003] Another much used method is to build the entire structure up
separately from the platform and then place it on the platform, for
instance by lowering the platform so that the structure may be
guided into place e.g. by a barge. This method requires the use of
expensive high capacity equipment in order to guide the structure
into place. It also entails great risks.
[0004] Attempts have been made to construct such a structure by use
of modules, however none of the attempts so far have been
particularly successful. Examples in this respect are shown in:
[0005] DE 1009575, which shows a land based drilling rig assembled
by modules. However, this rig is designed to be used on land, and
will not be suitable offshore.
[0006] SU 1709059, which shows a rig consisting of a large number
of rectangular modules. The modules are placed two and two in each
level. The modules of adjoining storeys are placed in right angle
to each other, in the same way as a match tower. This means that
the access to the interior of the tower is very limited.
[0007] SU 1836534, which shows a modular rig similar to SU 1709059,
and with the same disadvantages.
[0008] Thus there is a great need for an improved modular rig
structure in which each module has a weight that is less than the
lifting capacity of a moderately sized crane. It is desirable for
each module to weigh less than 25 tonnes. Furthermore there is a
need for a modular rig structure that may readily be assembled and
has an overall weight that is small in comparison with conventional
rig structures.
[0009] The present invention aims to provide a lightweight modular
rig structure that may be assembled in a simple manner and has a
high degree of applicability. It is also an object of the present
invention to provide a structure consisting of a limited number of
modules, in which each module has a limited weight. It is also an
object of the invention that each module be easy to transport. It
is a further object of the invention to provide a structure that
may be assembled in a very simple and effective manner, and for
which the requirement for assembly detail and supports is
minimised.
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in
greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a rig structure in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective drawing of a rig structure in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a first side view of a rig structure in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a second side view of a rig structure in
accordance with the present invention.
[0015] The exploded view in FIG. 1 shows a modular lightweight rig
structure 1 according to the present invention. The structure
generally consists of the following modules: A first frame module 2
and a second frame module 3, a first lower module assembly 4 and a
second lower module assembly 5, a first upper module assembly 6 and
a second upper module assembly 7, a first piping deck 8 and a
second piping deck 9, a drilling deck 10 and a derrick 11.
[0016] The frame modules 2 and 3 are designed to be placed on
longitudinal sliding rails 12 and 13 that are fixed to the platform
deck 15. A BOP deck 14 (BOP=Blow Out Preventer) is disposed between
frame modules 2 and 3. The BOP 14 deck also acts as a spacer for
frame modules 2 and 3, and is connected to these in a manner so as
to fix the frame modules relative to each other. The frame modules
each consist of a base frame 2a, 3a respectively and two side
frames 2b, 2c and 3b, 3c respectively.
[0017] The first and second lower module assembly 4 and 5 consist
of a plurality of single modules 4a-4d and 5a-5d respectively, with
the case as shown comprising four single modules in each module
assembly.
[0018] The single modules 4a-4d and 5a-5d respectively are placed
side by side, against each other. The module assembly 4 is designed
to be placed inside frame module 2, while the module assembly 5 is
designed to be placed inside frame module 3, on top of the base
frames 2a and 3a respectively and between the side frames 2b, 2c
and 3b, 3c respectively.
[0019] The first and second module assembly 6 and 7 also consist of
a plurality of single modules 6a-6d and 7a-7d respectively, with
the case as shown also here comprising four single modules in each
module assembly. The module assemblies 6 and 7 are designed to be
placed on top of the side frames 2b, 2c and 3b, 3c respectively of
the frame modules 2 and 3 respectively. Thus the frame modules 2
and 3 respectively carry the entire weight of the module assemblies
6 and 7 respectively, while the module assemblies 4 and 5 carry no
weight.
[0020] The first piping deck 8 is located on top of the first
module assembly 6. The second piping deck 9 is located on top of
the second module assembly 7. Each piping deck 8 and 9 consists of
a base frame 8a and 9a and a plurality of pins 8b and 9b designed
to retain a respective pipe rack.
[0021] A first transverse sliding rail 16 is provided by the edge
8c of the first piping deck 8, which edge faces the second piping
deck 9. A second transverse sliding rail 17 is provided by the edge
9c of the first piping deck 9, which edge faces the first piping
deck 8. The drilling deck 10 is positioned on sliding rails 16 and
17. The derrick 11 is placed on top of the drilling deck. On the
drilling deck is also provided a control room 18 and a module 19
containing among other things a winch and a high-pressure manifold
for controlling the downhole well pressure.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the modular lightweight
rig in the assembled state. Here, the longitudinal sliding rails 12
and 13 provided on the platform deck 15 can be seen. The entire rig
may be run slidingly along the sliding rails 12 and 13 by virtue of
the frame modules 2 and 3 being designed to slide on sliding rails
12 and 13 via siding blocks 20 on the base frames 2a and 3a. As
explained above, the BOP frame 14 forms a combined spacer and
connector for the frame modules 2 and 3, in order for these not to
be able to move relative to each other.
[0023] It is also possible to see the lower module assemblies 4 and
5 placed inside the frame modules 2 and 3, and the remaining module
assemblies 6 and 7 located on top of the side frames 2b, 2c and 3b,
3c of the frame modules 2 and 3. The module assemblies 6 and 7 are
designed so as to have sufficient load-bearing capacity to be able
to carry the piping decks 8 and 9, including their respective pipe
racks, the drilling deck 10, the control room 18 and the module 19,
and the derrick 11. It is however also possible to envisage a
further frame module being provided on top of each of frame modules
2 and 3 to house module assemblies 6 and 7.
[0024] The drilling rig 10 is designed to be run back and forth
along the transverse sliding rails 16 and 17. For this purpose, the
drilling deck is equipped with sliding blocks 21. By running the
entire rig along the rails 12 and 13 and the drilling deck 10
including the derrick 11 along the sliding rails 16 and 17, the
derrick may be positioned over any point within a defined relevant
area.
[0025] The frame modules 2 and 3 and the piping decks 8 and 9 may
if required consist of several submodules in order to reduce the
size and weight of the individual elements to be transported.
[0026] As shown in the figures, the modules 2, 4, 6 and 8 are
arranged in a first column 30, and the modules 3, 5, 7 and 9 are
arranged in a second column 31. A space 32 is defined between the
columns 30 and 31.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rig according to the
invention, along the direction of the sliding rails 12 and 13.
Here, the first frame module 2 can be seen, which module contains
the first lower module assembly 4. Furthermore, it is possible to
see the first upper module assembly 6, which is positioned on top
of the frame module 2. The module assembly 6 is shown as a trussed
construction in order to indicate the fact that it is load-bearing.
The drilling deck 10 with the derrick 11, the control room 18 and
the module 19 can also be seen. A hoisting winch 22 and a top-drive
23 is also shown in detail, in two positions.
[0028] The drilling deck 10 is shown in a first outer position at
the extreme right-hand side of the drawing, in a solid line. A part
of the drilling deck 10 is shown in a second outer position at the
extreme left-hand side of the drawing, in a broken line.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the rig according to the present invention,
seen in the direction across sliding rails 12 and 13. Here, the BOP
frame 14, the frame modules 2 and 3 containing the lower module
assemblies 4 and 5, the upper module assemblies 6 and 7, the piping
decks 8 and 9, the drilling deck 10 arranged on sliding rails 16
and 17, the control room 18, and the derrick 11 may be seen.
[0030] Here, one of several skidding cylinders 24 is shown in
detail, which cylinder is equipped with a gripper 25 and is
designed to pull and push the rig along the sliding rails 12 and
13.
[0031] As can be seen from FIG. 4, a large open space is provided
between the first modules 2, 4 and 6 and the second modules 3, 5
and 7. This large open space leaves plenty of space for handling
equipment such as the BOP 26 shown.
[0032] FIG. 4 also shows that the derrick 11 may be modular,
consisting of e.g. two modules 11a and 11b, where module 11b is to
be placed on top of module 11a.
[0033] The first column 30 may for instance be designed to contain
equipment that is primarily associated with process activities,
while the other column may be designed to contain auxiliary and
service functions. Furthermore, the first piping deck 8 may contain
a rack for drill pipes, while the second piping deck 9 may contain
a rack for casings.
[0034] The modules will be connected in an appropriate manner by
use of assembly details. The connecting-up of modules is a
technique that is well known to a person skilled in the art, and as
such does not require a detailed explanation.
* * * * *