U.S. patent application number 11/117958 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-03 for method to transport and operate a small footprint tower to reduce environmental impact.
Invention is credited to Beato, Christopher Louis, Roodenburg, Joop.
Application Number | 20050241857 11/117958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35185922 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050241857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beato, Christopher Louis ;
et al. |
November 3, 2005 |
Method to transport and operate a small footprint tower to reduce
environmental impact
Abstract
A method to construct and transport a modular drilling rig
comprising drilling equipment in the form of a transfigurable
container begins by transporting transfigurable shipping containers
comprising drilling equipment to a drilling location. The method
continues by unfolding the transfigurable shipping containers and
the drilling equipment at the drilling location, and connecting two
or more of the unfolded transfigurable shipping containers to form
operable drilling equipment. The operable drilling equipment is
erected into a drilling rig, wherein the operable drilling
equipment comprises a drill floor, a mast substructure; a mast; a
control cabin, a drawworks; a blow out preventer; a choke and kill
manifold; a blow out preventer (BOP) control unit (38), not shown.
The method ends by connecting piping and cabling for communication
and power cabling to the erected operable drilling equipment and,
then, operating the drilling rig.
Inventors: |
Beato, Christopher Louis;
(Missouri City, TX) ; Roodenburg, Joop; (Delft,
NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wendy K. Buskop
Buskop Law Group, P.C.
Suite 550
1776 Yorktown Street
Houston
TX
77056
US
|
Family ID: |
35185922 |
Appl. No.: |
11/117958 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60567660 |
May 3, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/57 ; 175/162;
175/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 15/00 20130101;
E21B 19/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/057 ;
175/162; 175/203 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method to construct and transport a modular drilling rig,
wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. transporting a
transfigurable container comprising drilling equipment to a
drilling location; b. unfolding the transfigurable container to the
drilling location, thereby forming unfolded transfigurable
container; c. connecting at least two unfolded transfigurable
containers and the drilling equipment to form the module drilling
rig; d. erecting the modular drilling rig at the drilling location;
e. connecting piping and cabling for communication and power
cabling to drilling equipment on the modular drilling rig; and f.
operating the modular drilling rig.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stacking
two or more transfigurable containers on skid beams to present a
small footprint for the modular drilling rig.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stacking
two or more transfigurable containers on top of one another to
present a small footprint for the modular drilling rig.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of erecting the modular
drilling rig is performed by using a crane.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the crane is remotely
controlled.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the crane folds inside a second
transfigurable container.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfigurable container is
compliant with ISO standards.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adapting a
containerized straddle carrier to fold inside the transfigurable
container.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching
the drilling equipment to either a load bearing support or a load
bearing bottom with a telescoping, rotatable connector.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching
the drilling equipment to either a load bearing support or a load
bearing bottom with a pivotable, rotatable connector.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling
the drilling equipment to a load bearing support or a load bearing
bottom with a moveable coupling, wherein the moveable coupling is
selected from the group consisting of: a. a rotatable coupling
between the drilling equipment; b. a rotatable coupling between two
or more load supports; c. a device for elevating the drilling
equipment above the load bearing support or the load bearing
bottom; and d. a container connector that removably connects at
least two transfigurable shipping containers together.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a
mast from the transfigurable shipping container.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a
derrick from the transfigurable container.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the drilling equipment
comprises: a winch, a crown block, a top drive, a rotary table, a
pump, solids control equipment, a power source, a hydraulic power
unit, a tank, electrical control equipment, a pipe rack, pipe
handling equipment, a crane, a traveling block, a blow out
preventer and combinations thereof.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfigurable container is
lifted on an offshore platform using a crane that is available on
the offshore platform.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the offshore platform is a
selected from the group consisting of a semi-submersible, a tension
leg platform, a jack up platform, a floating vessel and
combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the offshore platform is a
selected from the group consisting of a gravity based platform, a
compliant tower, and a platform connected to the seafloor.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the modular drilling rig is
adapted to be deployed on land or offshore.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfigurable shipping
container further comprises a blow out preventer contains and a
portion of a drill floor.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a
crane to lift the drilling equipment into an operational position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to the co-pending
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/567,660, entitled
"Transfigurable Shipping Container for Drilling Equipment" and
filed on May 3, 2004.
FIELD
[0002] The present embodiments relate generally to methods for a
transfigurable standardized shipping container for drilling
rigs.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A need exists for a system to provide a standardized
transfigurable container system because shipping non-standard
containers is expensive and difficult.
[0004] A need exists for a modular drilling rig system and method
that provides a drilling rig that can be easily assembled or
"unfolded" on-site in order to reduce labor need, time, and
expense.
[0005] A need exists for a drilling rig that has less impact on the
ground cover or foliage when being transported. A need also exists
for less impact on the ground when the drilling rig is set up and
in use.
[0006] A need also exists for a drilling rig that can be used as a
land drilling rig and by assembling the components in a different
manner can also be used as an offshore drilling rig.
[0007] The present embodiments meet these needs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description will be better understood in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of an embodiment of a method to
construct and transport a modular drilling.
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a
transfigurable container.
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an unfolded
transfigurable container.
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a
transfigurable container acting as a support to drilling
equipment.
[0013] FIG. 5 examples a partial side view of an erected drilling
rig made from a transfigurable container.
[0014] FIG. 6 examples a partial top view of an erected rig made
from a transfigurable container.
[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a partial side view of an erected drilling
rig shown in FIG. 5, but in the limited footprint configuration for
land of offshore use.
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts a partial top view of an erected drilling rig
shown in FIG. 5 but in the limited footprint configuration for land
of offshore use.
[0017] FIG. 9 depicts a side view of a straddle carrier usable with
the embodied systems.
[0018] FIG. 10 depicts a top view of a straddle carrier and the
manner of folding according to the embodied methods.
[0019] FIG. 11 depicts a top view of a containerized straddle
carrier and the manner of folding according to the embodied
methods.
[0020] FIGS. 12a through 12e provide an example of a rig up
sequence showing the erection of the drilling derrick or mast.
[0021] FIGS. 13a through 13c provide an example of a rig up
sequence involving a BOP container.
[0022] The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to
the listed Figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Before explaining the present embodiments in detail, it is
to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the
particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out
in various ways.
[0024] The present embodiments save the environment by reducing the
number of vessels that are required to ship a drilling rig to
different locations around the world. The embodied methods reduce
the amount of environmental impact on the earth caused by truck,
train, or other types of land transportation. The reduction is
accomplished by reducing the space required to transport the
standard sized devices.
[0025] The embodied methods save the environment by reducing the
number of vessels that are required to ship a drilling rig to
different locations around the world. This method also reduces the
amount of environmental impact on the earth when being transported
by truck, train or other land transportation device. The reduction
is accomplished by reducing the space required to transport the
standard sized devices. Once the rig has reached a drilling site
the surface area that is needed to setup and operate the drill rig
is less than a comparable drilling rig not using the method. The
reduction in area that must be cleared of trees is approximately
1200 m2 versus approximately 2000 m2 on a comparable conventional
drilling rig.
[0026] The amount of area that must be cleared on the path to the
drilling site is considerably less with a comparable drilling rig.
Since the individual weight of the transfigurable containers is
less compared with a normal drilling rig the load on the road is
less severe. This enables easier transportation across less
developed roads and makes the drilling rig easier to be used in
less developed countries.
[0027] Since the embodied methods reduce the number of vessels
needed to transport a drilling rig, the methods provide a reduction
of fuel usage; a benefit to both cost and the environment. For
example, a common sized drilling rig can be transported with
seventeen containers. Other drilling rigs of a comparable size
often cannot be broken down into container sized packages of less
than seventeen. Usually the drilling rigs of a comparable size
require containers and shipping parts doubling and tripling the
number used with the embodied methods.
[0028] An embodiment of the transfigurable container of drilling
equipment allows for two or more two pieces of drilling equipment
with associated load bearing devices to be attached together using
connectors, preferably pivotable connectors. When pivotably
connected together, the drilling equipment modules are
transformable between an initial shipping container size and shape
and a second size and shape. For example, the shipping container
can be formed into a rectangular shape when transported and
transformed into a non-rectangular shape when in operation. The
ability to transform readily between these two sizes and shapes
provides an operational drilling structure that can easily be
transported and then erected on different locations and in
different shapes depending on the operational demands.
[0029] With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart
of the steps in the creation of the transfigurable container. The
method to construct and transport a modular drilling rig includes
transporting drilling equipment in the form of a transfigurable
container to a drilling site. One or more transfigurable shipping
containers, usually of a standardized container size, are placed at
a drilling location (Step 200). The method can also include a step
of forming the standardized transfigurable shipping containers into
a larger rectangular shape.
[0030] The transfigurable shipping containers are unfolded at the
drilling location (Step 202). Two or more of the transfigurable
shipping containers, now unfolded at the drilling site, are
connected to one another to operable drilling equipment (Step 204).
The method can also include a step of forming a mast or derrick
from the standardized transfigurable container.
[0031] After connecting the containers, the operable drilling
equipment is erected into a drilling rig (Step 206). Erecting the
drilling rig can include setting up the drill floor; a mast
substructure; a mast; a control cabin, a drawworks; a blow out
preventer; a choke and kill manifold; and a blow out preventer
(BOP) control unit. The method can include the step of coupling the
drilling equipment to the load bearing supports or load bearing
bottom with a moveable coupling selected from the group of, a
rotatable coupling between the drilling equipment, a rotatable
coupling between load supports, a rotatable coupling between one
load bearing support and a load bearing bottom, a device for
elevating the drilling equipment above one load bearing support or
a load bearing bottom, and a container connector that removably
connects the standardized transfigurable shipping containers
together.
[0032] Piping and cabling for communication and power cabling are
then installed on the drilling rig (Step 208). The drilling rig is
then in condition to begin operations (Step 210).
[0033] FIG. 2 examples attaching the drilling equipment to either a
load bearing support or a load bearing bottom with telescoping,
rotatable connectors or with pivotable, rotatable connectors. A
transfigurable container (10) can be attached to the first load
bearing support (14), the second load bearing support (16), or the
load bearing bottom (18). The drilling equipment can be attached to
either load bearing support (14 and 16) or load bearing bottom (18)
using telescoping, rotatable connectors or pivotable, rotatable
connectors, sliding connectors, or non-rotating telescoping
connectors.
[0034] The transfigurable container (10) can be a component of a
modular drilling rig. The transfigurable container (10) can include
a first and second load support (14 and 16) and a load bearing
bottom (18). The first and second load bearing supports (14 and 16)
can be positioned to form a mast or a derrick. The load bearing
bottom (18) is located between the first and second load bearing
supports (14 and 16), thereby forming a space (20). The load
bearing bottom (18) can have a lattice construction or be a
load-bearing plate.
[0035] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an unfolded transfigurable
container. FIG. 3 shows examples of drilling equipment attached to
the loading bearing structure. A rotatable coupling (68) can be
used between the drilling equipment. A rotatable coupling (70) can
be between the load supports. A rotatable coupling (not shown) can
be used between one of the load-bearing supports and the load
bearing bottom.
[0036] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a device for elevating the
drilling equipment (74) above one of the load bearing supports or
load bearing bottom. In particular, FIG. 4 examples the second load
support (16) and the load bearing bottom (18) supporting various
pieces of solids control equipment (50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, and
50f). In an alternative embodiment, a device for elevating the
drilling equipment (74) can be used rather than a cranage
device.
[0037] The drilling equipment is preferably located within the
space between the first and second load bearing supports. The
drilling equipment can be attached together and movable from the
space to create an operational position outside of the
transfigurable container.
[0038] FIG. 5 examples the drilling equipment erected from the
transfigurable container in the offshore embodiment. The drilling
equipment can include a mast (24), a control cabin (30), a
drawworks module (32), a choke and kill manifold (36), active mud
tank (102), and a BOP control unit, not shown. Other types of
drilling equipment include a winch (40), a crown block (42), a top
drive (44), a rotary table (not shown), piece of solids control
equipment (50a), a second load support (16), a power source (52), a
hydraulic power unit (54), a tank (56), electrical control
equipment, a pipe rack, a crane (91), a traveling block (66), a
container connector (76) and combinations thereof. The drilling
equipment can further include a deck or supporting structure (5) of
an offshore platform.
[0039] FIG. 6 examples the drilling equipment erected from the
transfigurable container in a land embodiment. The drilling
equipment can include a casing (9), such as drill pipe, a drill
collar, and bottom hole assembly (BHA). The drilling equipment can
include a mast (24), a drill floor (26), a mast substructure (28),
a drawworks (32), a blow out preventer (BOP) (34), a choke and kill
manifold (36), a well head (106), and a BOP control unit (not
shown). Other examples of drilling equipment include a winch (40),
a second load support (16), a crown block (42), a top drive (44), a
rotary table, electrical control equipment, a pipe rack, pipe
handling equipment (62), a crane (91), a traveling block (66) and
combinations thereof.
[0040] FIG. 7 examples drilling equipment that can be included
inside of a transfigurable container (11). For example, FIG. 7
shows a control cabin (30), a mud pump (48a), a mud tank (56),
electrical control equipment, a pipe rack, pipe handling equipment
and combinations thereof. The shipping containers can be assembled
to create a mast or derrick.
[0041] Transfigurable containers for the drilling equipment are
transformed to form a portion of an operable drilling rig or
standardized shipping containers. The transfigurable containers can
be compliant with ISO standards.
[0042] Typical sizes for standardized shipping containers include
overall lengths ranging from about 8 feet to about 64 feet, overall
widths ranging from about 2 feet to about 15 feet, and overall
heights ranging from about 2 feet to about 15 feet. An example
dimension for a transfigurable container is an overall width of 8
feet, an overall height of 9.5 feet, and an overall length of 45
feet, 40 feet, or 20 feet.
[0043] FIG. 8 examples how a containerized straddle carrier can
fold inside a transfigurable shipping container. The transfigurable
shipping containers can include containerized straddle carriers
(119) that are adapted to fold inside a standard shipping
container. The containerized straddle carrier (119) with a
transfigurable container (11) can be transported by a truck (150).
FIG. 8 depicts the truck (150), but only two wheels (170 and 171)
and two frames (163 and 164) associated with containerized straddle
carrier (119) are shown.
[0044] Another embodiment is a modular transfigurable drilling rig.
The drilling rig can be configured as an offshore oil or natural
gas drilling rig or as a land-based oil or natural gas drilling
rig. The drilling rigs can be configured for use on a
semisubmersible, a tension leg platform, a jack up platform, or
another floating vessel. The drilling rigs can be configured for
use on a fixed offshore platform, such as a gravity based platform,
compliant tower or any other offshore platform that is standing on
the seafloor. The modular transfigurable drilling rig can be made
from numerous transfigurable containers for drilling equipment.
[0045] The standardized transfigurable containers can be stacked on
skid beams to present a small footprint. Alternatively, the
transfigurable containers can be stacked on top of each other to
present a very small footprint. The small footprint is useful for
offshore platforms and jungle pads.
[0046] FIG. 9 depicts a top view of an embodiment of a modular
drilling rig. FIG. 9 depicts an example of the transfigurable
container (11) with other types of equipment on the drilling rig.
FIG. 9 examples locations of the drawworks (32), a rotary table
(46), a piece of solids control equipment (50b), a power source
(52), a tank (56), pipe handling equipment (62), with casing (9),
piping (80), a mud tank (102) and a second load support (16). The
equipment is supported by a drilling rig (floating or fixed) (5).
The transfigurable containers can be lifted on board the drilling
rig using a crane available on the drilling rigs.
[0047] The transfigurable containers (11), after being unfolded,
are connected to form an operational modular drilling rig. In
another embodiment, the drilling rig can be partially formed from
the transfigurable containers and other drilling equipment.
[0048] The container connectors can be a load bearing device or a
non-load bearing device. Examples of the container connectors used
as a load bearing device include pins, hydraulic clamps, mechanical
clamps, threaded connectors, male receptacles, female receptacles,
and combinations thereof. Examples of the container connectors used
as a non-load bearing device include threaded connectors, plugs,
hydraulic clamps, mechanical clamps, pins, male and female
receptacles, and combinations thereof.
[0049] Piping can be used to connect the drilling equipment
together. Cabling can be used with the drilling rig provides
communication and/or electrical power between the drilling
equipment. A power source is typically connected to the drilling
equipment to provide power to the drilling equipment.
[0050] FIG. 10 depicts a top view of a constructed modular rig
using the transfigurable containers and the embodied methods. The
methods entail transporting numerous standardized transfigurable
shipping containers with drilling equipment to a drilling location.
The standardized transfigurable shipping containers with the
drilling equipment are unfolded at the drilling location. Two or
more of the unfolded transfigurable containers are connected
together to form operable drilling equipment and an operable
drilling rig. Typically, as shown in FIG. 9, the drilling equipment
includes a control cabin (30), a drawworks (32), a BOP control unit
(38), a rotary table (46), various pumps (48a and 48b), solids
control equipment (50a, 50b, and 50c), power sources (52a and 52b),
hydraulic power units (54a, and 54b), a tank (56), electrical
control equipment (58), a pipe rack (60), a mud pit (100), an
active mud tank (102), and other such equipment. The connected
equipment is erected with piping (78, 80, and 82) and cabling (84,
86, and 88) for communication and power cabling for complete
operation.
[0051] FIG. 11 depicts a top view of a containerized straddle
carrier (119) and the manner of folding according to the embodied
methods. The straddle carrier (119) comprises four wheels (two are
identified, 170 and 171) that are movably attached to a frame (161,
162, 163, and 164). The lifting section of the frame is fixably
connected to a support section of the frame. The support section of
the frame is of the size of a standard size shipping container,
preferably an ISO standardized container. The spreader section of
the frame is temporarily to the support section. The spreader
section connects to the load to be lifted. The lifting section can
move the support section in a vertical direction to pick up loads
from and to container carriers. The wheels (two are identified, 170
and 171) can be folded upwards when the straddle carrier
"transforms" to a transportable size. The folding direction of the
wheels (two are identified, 170 and 171) is depicted in FIG. 11 by
the arrows (A, B, C, and D).
[0052] FIGS. 12a though 12e example an embodiment of a rig up
procedure for the embodied drilling rig. The procedure begins by
moving two transfigurable containers together (210 and 212). FIGS.
12a though 12e example a base container (210) and a mast or derrick
container (212). After the containers are connected, hoisting means
(214), which are part of base container (210), are rotated out
towards the mast or derrick container (212) and then connected to
the mast or derrick container (212). The mast container (212) is
rotated into vertical position and finally locked in place.
[0053] FIGS. 13a through 13c provide an example of a rig up
sequence involving a BOP container (216). The BOP container (216)
is moved towards base container (210) and connected to base
container (210). After connection is complete, the BOP container
(216) is rotated into vertical position. The rotation can be done
using various hoisting means (not shown). The BOP container (216)
with the drill floor is locked firmly in place with the other
containers.
[0054] The embodiments have been described in detail with
particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but
it will be understood that variations and modifications can be
effected within the scope of the embodiments, especially to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *