U.S. patent application number 14/266644 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for centering control type drill system for offshore structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to EunKwang Industrial Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is EunKwang Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Il BAE, Dong Hwan HWANG, Jae Wook JUNG, Jong Yeol LEE.
Application Number | 20150315851 14/266644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54354892 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150315851 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Jong Yeol ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
CENTERING CONTROL TYPE DRILL SYSTEM FOR OFFSHORE STRUCTURE
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a centering control type drill system for
offshore structures. The centering control type drill system is
installed to be elevated in a derrick for offshore drilling and
rotates a drill string. The centering control type drill system
includes a motor providing rotational force for offshore drilling,
a gear box unit placed below the motor and increasing the
rotational force of the motor, a main rotary shaft placed below the
gear box unit and rotating the drill string; an intermediate
bracket provided to the gear box unit, a dolly bracket disposed to
be elevated in the derrick, a first dolly arm retractably coupled
between the dolly bracket and the intermediate bracket by a hinge,
a second dolly arm retractably coupled between the dolly bracket
and the intermediate bracket by a hinge, and a cylinder rotating
the second dolly arm about the hinge.
Inventors: |
LEE; Jong Yeol; (Gimhae-si,
KR) ; HWANG; Dong Hwan; (Busan, KR) ; BAE; Jae
Il; (Busan, KR) ; JUNG; Jae Wook; (Busan,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EunKwang Industrial Co., Ltd. |
Busan |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
EunKwang Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
Busan
KR
|
Family ID: |
54354892 |
Appl. No.: |
14/266644 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/24 20130101;
E21B 7/12 20130101; E21B 3/02 20130101; E21B 17/1078 20130101; E21B
17/03 20130101; E21B 19/002 20130101; E21B 17/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/00 20060101
E21B019/00; E21B 7/12 20060101 E21B007/12; E21B 17/10 20060101
E21B017/10; E21B 17/16 20060101 E21B017/16; E21B 19/24 20060101
E21B019/24; E21B 3/02 20060101 E21B003/02; E21B 17/03 20060101
E21B017/03 |
Claims
1. A centering control type drill system for offshore structures,
which is installed to be elevated in a derrick for offshore
drilling and rotates a drill string, the centering control type
drill system comprising: a motor providing a rotational force for
offshore drilling; a gearbox unit placed below the motor and
increasing rotational force of the motor; a main rotary shaft
placed below the gearbox unit and rotating the drill string; an
intermediate bracket provided to the gearbox unit; a dolly bracket
disposed to be elevated in the derrick; a first dolly arm
retractably coupled between the dolly bracket and the intermediate
bracket by a hinge; a second dolly arm retractably coupled between
the dolly bracket and the intermediate bracket by a hinge; and a
cylinder rotating the second dolly arm about the hinge.
2. The centering control type drill system according to claim 1,
wherein the first dolly arm comprises an upper dolly arm placed at
an upper portion of the dolly bracket, and the second dolly arm
comprises a lower dolly arm placed at a lower portion of the dolly
bracket.
3. The centering control type drill system according to claim 1,
wherein the first dolly arm comprises an arm housing having a
hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge, and
formed with a plurality of locking holes on an outer circumference
thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof; and an arm rod coupled
to the intermediate bracket by the hinge, disposed to be slidably
inserted into the arm housing, and provided with a locking
projection formed on an outer circumference thereof in a
longitudinal direction thereof and resiliently inserted into the
locking hole, and wherein the second dolly arm comprises an arm
housing having a hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket by
the hinge, and formed with a plurality of locking holes on an outer
circumference in a longitudinal direction; and an arm rod coupled
to the intermediate bracket by the hinge, disposed to be slidably
inserted into the arm housing, and provided with a locking
projection formed on an outer circumference thereof in a
longitudinal direction thereof and resiliently inserted into the
locking hole.
4. The centering control type drill system according to claim 3,
wherein the locking projection is resiliently disposed on a
spring.
5. The centering control type drill system according to claim 1,
wherein the first dolly arm comprises an arm housing having a
hollow structure and coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge; an
arm rod coupled to the intermediate bracket by the hinge and
disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm housing; and a
servomotor internally secured to the arm housing and having a
rotary shaft screw-coupled to a rear side of the arm rod, and
wherein the second dolly arm comprises an arm housing having a
hollow structure and coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge; and
an arm rod coupled to the intermediate bracket by the hinge and
disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm housing; and a
servomotor internally secured to the arm housing and having a
rotary shaft screw-coupled to a rear side of the arm rod.
6. The centering control type drill system according to claim 1,
wherein the dolly bracket comprises a roller.
7. A centering control type drill system for offshore structures,
which is installed to be elevated in a derrick for offshore
drilling and rotates a drill string, the centering control type
drill system comprising: a motor providing rotational force for
offshore drilling; a gearbox unit placed below the motor and
increasing the rotational force of the motor; a main rotary shaft
placed below the gearbox unit and rotating the drill string; an
intermediate bracket provided to the gearbox unit; a dolly bracket
disposed to be elevated in the derrick; a plurality of dolly arms
retractably coupled between the dolly bracket and the intermediate
bracket by a hinge; and a cylinder rotating one of the dolly arms
about the hinge.
8. The centering control type drill system according to claim 7,
wherein each of the dolly arms comprises: an arm housing having a
hollow structure and coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge; and
an arm rod coupled to the intermediate bracket by the hinge and
disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm housing.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a centering control type
drill system of an offshore structure, and more particularly, to a
centering control type drill system of an offshore structure, in
which a dolly arm has a retractable structure so as to precisely
center a drill pipe, i.e., a drill string.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With rapid industrialization and industrial development,
usage of resources such as petroleum has been gradually increased
and thus stable production and supply of oil have raised important
issues at a national level.
[0005] For this reason, there has recently been developed a drill
ship with drilling equipment economically proper to develop a minor
limited oil field or a deep sea oil field that has been untapped
due to economic infeasibility, as well as land drilling.
[0006] In conventional offshore drilling, there has been generally
used a rig ship designed for offshore drilling or a stationary
platform that must be transported by tugboats, and perform drilling
in a state of being anchored at a predetermined location on the sea
by a mooring device. In recent years, however, a so-called drill
ship manufactured like a general ship is developed to have
state-of-the-art drilling equipment and navigate under its own
power, and is used in offshore drilling.
[0007] In the center portion of the rig ship or drill ship provided
with a variety of drilling equipment for drilling for oil, gas,
etc. under the sea bed, a moon pool is formed such that a drill
string, that is, a riser or a drill pipe for drilling for oil, gas,
etc. under the sea bed can be moved up and down.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view showing drilling operation of a
typical drill ship.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, a riser 3 and a drill pipe 4 are moved
forward and downward through a moon pool 2 formed at the center of
the drill ship, and then drill for seabed resources in an oil well
12 placed in a reservoir 11 under the seabed 5.
[0010] The riser 3 is a member that moves forward to the sea bed 5
before moving the drill pipe 4 to the oil well 12 and provides a
passage through which mud returns.
[0011] With the riser 3 placed outside the drill pipe 4, the drill
pipe 4 is moved down to the oil well 12 through a sub-bottom
stratum 10 along the riser 3.
[0012] On the seabed 5, a blowout preventer (BOP) 6 is placed to
prevent transfer of abnormal high pressure along the drill pipe
4.
[0013] In the sub-bottom stratum 10, a casing 7 is secured and a
drill pipe 4 provided with a drill bit 9 is inserted into the
casing 7 and drills for the seabed resources.
[0014] To prevent the drill bit 9 from overheating by heat
generated when the drill bit 9 drills the ground and to facilitate
drilling through lubrication, mud 8 is inserted into the drill pipe
4. The mud escapes through the drill bit 9 and returns through the
casing 7 and the riser 3.
[0015] When the drilling operation is completed, the drill pipe 4
is moved to a drill floor through the moon pool 2, separated, and
then carried to a loading place.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view of a typical derrick and drill system.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, a typical drill ship includes an upper
deck 13 and a drill floor 14 placed on the upper deck 13. The
derrick 1 is placed on the drill floor 14. The drill string, for
example, the drill pipe 4, transversely loaded in a pipe loading
area is erected and gripped by a top drive 15 and a rotary table
16.
[0018] At least two drill pipes 4 are coupled to each other by
rotational force supplied from the top drive 15, and drill the
seabed.
[0019] In addition, in the typical drill system used in drilling
operation, a dolly arm is rotatably coupled to a dolly frame by a
hinge. However, the dolly arm has a monolithic structure that
cannot be retractable, thereby making it difficult to achieve
center alignment of the drill pipe.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0020] The present invention has been conceived to solve such
problems in the related art, and an aspect of the present invention
is to provide a centering control type drill system for offshore
structures, in which a dolly arm has a retractable structure such
that center alignment of a drill pipe can be precisely and
automatically adjusted upon drilling of multiple holes, thereby
improving efficiency of drilling operation.
[0021] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
centering control type drill system for offshore structures, which
is installed to be elevated in a derrick for offshore drilling and
rotates a drill string, includes a motor providing rotational force
for offshore drilling; a gear box unit placed below the motor and
increasing the rotational force of the motor; a main rotary shaft
placed below the gear box unit and rotating the drill string; an
intermediate bracket provided to the gear box unit; a dolly bracket
disposed to be elevated in the derrick; a first dolly arm
retractably coupled between the dolly bracket and the intermediate
bracket by a hinge; a second dolly arm retractably coupled between
the dolly bracket and the intermediate bracket by a hinge; and a
cylinder rotating the second dolly arm about the hinge.
[0022] The first dolly arm may include an upper dolly arm placed at
an upper portion of the dolly bracket, and the second dolly arm may
include a lower dolly arm placed at a lower portion of the dolly
bracket.
[0023] The first dolly arm may include an arm housing having a
hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge, and
formed with a plurality of locking holes on an outer circumference
thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof; and an arm rod coupled
to the intermediate bracket by the hinge, disposed to be slidably
inserted into the arm housing, and provided with a locking
projection formed on an outer circumference thereof in a
longitudinal direction thereof and resiliently inserted into the
locking hole.
[0024] The second dolly arm may include an arm housing having a
hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket by the hinge, and
formed with a plurality of locking holes on an outer circumference
thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof; and an arm rod coupled
to the intermediate bracket by the hinge, disposed to be slidably
inserted into the arm housing, and provided with a locking
projection formed on an outer circumference thereof in a
longitudinal direction thereof and resiliently inserted into the
locking hole. The locking projection may be resiliently disposed on
a spring.
[0025] As described above, the dolly arm according to the present
invention has a retractable double structure such that center
alignment of the drill pipe can be precisely and automatically
adjusted upon drilling of multiple holes, thereby improving
efficiency of drilling operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description of embodiments given in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view showing drilling operation of a
typical drill ship;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a view of a typical derrick and drill system;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a centering control type
drill system of an offshore structure according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the centering control type drill
system of FIG. 3;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the centering control type drill
system of FIG. 3;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a retraction mode in the
centering control type drill system according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view showing a drilling mode in the
centering control type drill system according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a view of a coupling structure of an arm housing
and an arm rod of a dolly arm according to one exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of the dolly
arm;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative example
of a structure where a locking projection of the arm rod is coupled
to a locking hole of the arm housing; and
[0037] FIG. 11 is a view of a coupling structure of an arm housing
and an arm rod of a dolly arm according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a centering control type
drill system of an offshore structure according to one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the
centering control type drill system of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a bottom
view of the centering control type drill system of FIG. 3; FIG. 6
is a side view showing a retraction mode in the centering control
type drill system according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention; FIG. 7 is a side view showing a drilling mode in
the centering control type drill system according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a view of a coupling
structure of an arm housing and an arm rod of a dolly arm according
to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a
view illustrating a structure of the dolly arm; and FIG. 10 is a
cross-sectional view of an alternative example of a structure where
a locking projection of the arm rod is coupled to a locking hole of
the arm housing.
[0040] Referring to the drawings, a centering control type drill
system for offshore structures according to one exemplary
embodiment of the invention may be applied to any offshore
structures and ships for drilling, and thus, the drill ship
disclosed herein includes any kind of ship mounted with a drill
system and capable of performing drilling operation.
[0041] According to the embodiment of the invention, the centering
control type drill system 100 for offshore structures is installed
to be elevated in a derrick 1 for offshore drilling, and rotates
drill strings 4 (for example, drill pipes with a riser). The
centering control type drill system 100 includes a motor 110
providing rotational force for offshore drilling; a gear box unit
120 placed below the motor 110 and increasing the rotational force
of the motor 110; a main rotary shaft 130 placed below the gear box
unit 120 and rotating the drill string 4; an intermediate bracket
140 provided to the gear box unit 120; a dolly bracket 150 disposed
to be elevated in the derrick 1; a first dolly arm 160 retractably
coupled between the dolly bracket 150 and the intermediate bracket
140 by a hinge H; a second dolly arm 170 retractably coupled
between the dolly bracket 150 and the intermediate bracket 140 by
the hinge H; and a cylinder 180 rotating the second dolly arm 170
about the hinge H. Herein, drill pipes will be described as one
example of the drill strings 4.
[0042] To move the drill strings 4, that is, drill pipes, to an oil
well and drill the seabed, many drill pipes are connected to each
other and moved downward. Therefore, the motor 110 must provide
power for connecting the drill pipes and power for drilling.
[0043] According to the present invention, the motor 110 is mounted
on the system to provide strong rotational force to the drill
strings, that is, the drill pipes 4, thereby making it possible to
develop a deep-sea oil field.
[0044] The dolly bracket 150 is provided with a roller 152 such
that the drill system can be moved up and down with respect to the
derrick 1.
[0045] In the drill system according to this embodiment, the first
dolly arm 160 and the second dolly arm 170 are disposed to achieve
precise center alignment of the drill pipes.
[0046] In the present embodiment, a plurality of dolly arms may be
provided. In the following description, the first dolly arm 160 and
the second dolly arm 170 will be described as one example of the
plurality of dolly arms.
[0047] The first dolly arm 160 refers to an upper dolly arm placed
at an upper portion of the dolly bracket 150, and the second dolly
arm 170 refers to a lower dolly arm placed at a lower portion of
the dolly bracket 150.
[0048] The first dolly arm 160 includes an arm housing 161 having a
hollow structure and coupled to the dolly bracket 150 by the hinge
H; and an arm rod 162 coupled to the intermediate bracket 140 by
the hinge H and disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm
housing 161.
[0049] Further, the second dolly arm 170 includes an arm housing
171 having a hollow structure and coupled to the dolly bracket 150
by the hinge H; and an arm rod 172 coupled to the intermediate
bracket 140 by the hinge H and disposed to be slidably inserted
into the arm housing 171.
[0050] Specifically, the first dolly arm 160 includes the arm
housing 161 having a hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket
150 by the hinge H, and formed with a plurality of locking holes
161a on an outer circumference thereof in a longitudinal direction
thereof; and the arm rod 162 coupled to the intermediate bracket
140 by the hinge H, disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm
housing 161, and provided with a locking projection 162a formed on
an outer circumference thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof
and resiliently inserted into the locking hole 161a.
[0051] The arm rod 162 is inserted into the arm housing 161 and the
locking projection 162a is inserted into a locking hole 161a to
adjust the length of the first dolly arm 160. Then, the arm rod 162
and the arm housing 161 are fastened with a bolt B to set the
overall length of the first dolly arm 160.
[0052] Likewise, the second dolly arm 170 includes the arm housing
171 having a hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket 150 by
the hinge H, and formed with a plurality of locking holes 171a on
an outer circumference thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof;
and the arm rod 172 coupled to the intermediate bracket 140 by the
hinge H, disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm housing 171,
and provided with a locking projection 172a formed on an outer
circumference thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof and
resiliently inserted into the locking hole 171a.
[0053] The arm rod 172 is inserted into the arm housing 171 and the
locking projection 172a is inserted into a certain locking hole
171a to adjust the length of the second dolly arm 170. Then, the
arm rod 172 and the arm housing 171 are fastened with a bolt B to
set the overall length of the second dolly arm 170.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 10, the locking projection 162a or 172a is
resiliently disposed on a spring 162b or 172b, such that the
locking projection 162a or 172a can be smoothly coupled into the
locking hole 161a or 171a by the spring 162b or 172b.
[0055] The drill system is provided with an elevator 193, a pipe
handling unit 191, and the like below the gear box unit 120. The
elevator 193 is a typical drilling apparatus configured to grip and
fasten the drill pipes 4.
[0056] Tripping load is transferred to a travelling block 190 to
support the weight of the derrick 1 to which the travelling block
190 is connected.
[0057] Next, operation of the centering control type drill system
for offshore structures according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention will be described.
[0058] The drill system is moved down by a wire (not shown)
connected to the travelling block 190. Here, the roller 152 of the
dolly bracket 150 serves as a guide for the derrick 1.
[0059] When drill strings 4, that is, drill pipes, are gripped and
fastened by the elevator 193, the pipe handling unit 191 and a
traction unit 192, the drill pipes are coupled to each other or
drill the sea bed by rotational force from the motor 110.
[0060] In the drill system according to the present embodiment, the
first dolly arm 160 and the second dolly arm 170 are provided to
precisely adjust center alignment of the drill strings, in which
the lengths of the first and second dolly arms 160, 170 are
adjustable.
[0061] That is, the arm rod 162 is inserted into the arm housing
161 such that the locking projection 162a can be inserted into a
certain locking hole 161a to adjust the length of the first dolly
arm 160. Then, the arm rod 162 and the arm housing 161 are fastened
by the bolt B, thereby properly adjusting and setting the overall
length of the first dolly arm 160.
[0062] Further, the arm rod 172 is inserted into the arm housing
171 such that the locking projection 172a can be inserted into a
certain locking hole 171a to adjust the length of the first dolly
arm 170. Then, the arm rod 172 and the arm housing 171 are fastened
by the bolt B, thereby properly adjusting and setting the overall
length of the second dolly arm 170.
[0063] FIG. 11 is a view of a coupling structure of an arm housing
and an arm rod of a dolly arm according to another exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 11, the dolly arm according to this
embodiment includes a first dolly arm 260 and a second dolly arm
270, and allows automatic length adjustment by a servomotor
263.
[0065] The first dolly arm 260 includes an arm housing 261 having a
hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket 150 by a hinge H; an
arm rod 262 coupled to an intermediate bracket 140 by the hinge H
and disposed to be slidably inserted into an arm housing 261; and a
servomotor 263 internally secured to the arm housing 261 and having
a rotary shaft 263a screw-coupled to a rear side of the arm rod
262.
[0066] The second dolly arm 270 includes an arm housing 271 having
a hollow structure, coupled to the dolly bracket 150 by a hinge H;
an arm rod 272 coupled to the intermediate bracket 140 by the hinge
H and disposed to be slidably inserted into the arm housing 271;
and a servomotor 273 internally secured to the arm housing 271 and
having a rotary shaft 273a screw-coupled to a rear side of the arm
rod 272.
[0067] Next, operation the centering control type drill system for
offshore structures according to this embodiment of the present
invention will be described.
[0068] In the drill system according to this embodiment, the first
dolly arm 260 and the second dolly arm 270 are provided to achieve
precise adjustment of center alignment of drill pipes, that is,
drill strings, in which the lengths of the first and second dolly
arms 260, 270 can be automatically adjusted by the servomotors.
[0069] That is, in operation of the servomotor 263, a rotary shaft
263a is rotated and screw-coupled to the rear side of the arm rod
262, whereby the arm rod 262 can slide into the arm housing 261,
thereby properly adjusting and setting the overall length of the
first dolly arm 260.
[0070] Further, in operation of the servomotor 273, a rotary shaft
273a is rotated and screw-coupled to the rear side of the arm rod
272, whereby the arm rod 272 can slide into the arm housing 271,
thereby properly adjusting and setting the overall length of the
second dolly arm 270.
[0071] As described above, the dolly arm according to the present
invention has a retractable double structure such that center
alignment of the drill pipes can be precisely and automatically
adjusted upon drilling of multiple holes, thereby improving
efficiency of drilling operation.
[0072] Although the present invention has been illustrated with
reference to some exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the
drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and changes can be made to the present
invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *