U.S. patent number 3,749,183 [Application Number 05/197,431] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-31 for deep well drilling apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pyramid Derrick & Equipment Corp.. Invention is credited to Paul E. Borg, Donald R. Branham, Douglas C. Goerner.
United States Patent |
3,749,183 |
Branham , et al. |
July 31, 1973 |
DEEP WELL DRILLING APPARATUS
Abstract
A base structure having front and rear ends is provided with an
elevatable drawworks support, a gin pole structure, a mast mounted
in front of the gin pole structure, and a pipe setback structure
mounted in front of the mast on the base structure. Movable means
are secured between the base structure and drawworks support;
sheave means are provided on the gin pole structure, and a flexible
line is secured at one end to the mast and extends over the sheave
means with its other end connected to the traveling block of the
mast when the mast is in reclining position. The drawworks has a
line connected over the sheave means on the gin pole structure and
is connected to the crown block and traveling block of the mast so
that the drawworks may elevate the mast to an upright position when
the drawworks is on the base. Thereafter, the pipe setback tower
structure may be moved to an upright position on the base, and the
drawworks elevated to an upright position above the base
structure.
Inventors: |
Branham; Donald R. (Houston,
TX), Borg; Paul E. (Houston, TX), Goerner; Douglas C.
(Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
Pyramid Derrick & Equipment
Corp. (Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
22729405 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/197,431 |
Filed: |
November 10, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
173/151; 52/110;
175/52; 52/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
15/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
15/00 (20060101); E21b 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/110,116-120
;175/52,85 ;173/151 ;211/6S |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Deep well drilling apparatus comprising:
a a support base structure;
b an elevatable drawworks support;
c movable means secured to said support base structure and said
drawworks support for raising said drawworks support from said
support base structure to a desired elevated position above said
support base structure;
d a gin pole structure having a lower end mounted on said support
base structure and an upper end elevated in relation to said
support base structure;
e a mast support mounted on said support base structure in front of
said gin pole structure;
f a reclining mast having a foot end pivotally connected to said
mast support, said mast extending forward from said mast
support;
g drawworks mounted on said drawworks support;
h means including a flexible line connecting said drawworks, gin
pole structure, and mast for exerting a force to move the inclined
mast to an upright position on said support base structure while
said drawworks, drawworks support, and movable means remain in
nonelevated position on said support base structure; and
i a pipe support pivotally supported on said support base structure
and positioned adjacent but independent of said mast when said mast
and pipe support are in upright position on said support base
structure.
2. The invention of claim 1 including means for securing said mast
to said gin pole structure to aid in supporting said mast in
upright position.
3. The invention of claim 1 including rotary table support means
extending between said drawworks support when in elevated position
and said independent pipe support structure.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said rotary table support means
extends through said mast.
5. The invention of claim 3 including a rotary table on said
support means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a high floor pivoted mast drilling
apparatus employed for drilling oil, gas, and similar wells.
As wells are drilled deeper, it can be appreciated that additional
lengths of pipe are necessary to accomplish the drilling operation.
The weight of the drilling pipe when it is stacked reaches
proportions such that it is desirable to support the pipe load
directly on a base structure and independently of transmitting any
pipe load to the base structure through the mast. Also, it is
desirable to support the rotary table employed in the drilling
operations for imparting rotations to the drill pipe to drill the
well bore independently of the mast so as to impart as little
vibration as possible to the mast structure.
Since well bores are being drilled deeper, the mast structures may
in some instances approach 140 feet or more, yet it is desirable to
support the mast, a pipe setback structure, and the drawworks on a
single base structure for ease of transportation and positioning at
the drill site.
In addition, it is desirable to employ the drawworks to assist in
elevating the mast from a reclined position on the base structure
to an upright position and to then position the drawworks at an
elevated position above the base structure so that rotation may be
imparted to the rotary table and other drilling operations
accomplished therewith, the movement of such drawworks to an
elevated position being accomplished without employing cranes to
elevate the drawworks from its position on the base to such
elevated position.
It is also desirable to provide a suitable support for maintaining
the mast in an upright position, such support is also carried by
the base structure along with the drawworks and connects with the
mast after it has been elevated from a reclined position to support
the mast independently of the movable drawworks structure and the
pipe setback structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Applicant is familiar with United States Letters Patent No.
3,228,151, but such construction is undesirable for several
reasons. The mast is elevated into position, as is the drawworks,
but the mast incorporates a floor therein which interfits with the
drawworks structure.
In addition, the pipe support or setback arrangement is
incorporated in the mast so that the weight of the pipe load when
stacked in the mast is transmitted through the mast. Also, where
the rotary table is incorporated in the arrangement so that it is
supported by the mast, the pipe in the well bore that is supported
through the rotary table is carried by the mast. Thus, such prior
art arrangement discloses an integrated structure wherein the mast,
drawworks, rotary table, and pipe setback are all interrelated.
Thus, the vibration of the drawworks and rotary table is
transmitted not only to the drawworks and rotary table support
which is integral, but may also be transmitted to the mast and to
the pipe setback structure. Also, undesirable loading of the mast
is effected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a deep well
drilling apparatus wherein a base structure is provided for
supporting a drawworks support, a drawworks thereon, a gin pole
structure supported on the base in front of the drawworks support,
a mast supported on the base in front of the gin pole structure,
and a separate pipe support on the base structure in front of the
mast.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a deep well
drilling apparatus wherein a base structure is provided for
supporting a drawworks support, a drawworks thereon, a gin pole
structure supported on the base in front of the drawworks support,
a mast supported on the base in front of the gin pole structure,
and a separate pipe support on the base structure in front of the
mast with movable means interconnecting the drawworks support and
base structure to enable the drawworks to be raised to an elevated
position after the mast has been moved from a reclined position on
the structure to an upright position on the structure and means
interconnecting the mast and the gin pole for supporting the mast
in an upright position.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a base
structure for a deep well drilling apparatus which comprises a
drawworks support, a drawworks thereon, a mast having one end
pivotally secured to the base structure, a gin pole arrangement
between the mast and the drawworks. sheave means carried by the gin
pole structure, and flexible line means connecting the drawworks
and mast whereby the mast may be raised to an upright position
while the drawworks is in a nonelevated position on the base
structure, and a separate pipe setback structure which may be moved
to an upright position on the base structure.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a
base structure for a deep well drilling apparatus which comprises a
drawworks support, a drawworks thereon, a mast having one end
pivotally secured to the base structure, a gin pole arrangement
between the mast and the drawworks, sheave means carried by the gin
pole structure, and flexible line means connecting the drawworks
and mast over said sheave means whereby the mast maybe raised to an
elevated position when the drawworks is in a nonelevated position
on the base structure, movable means connecting the drawworks
support and base structure whereby the drawworks may be raised to
an elevated position above the base structure, and a separate pipe
support structure on the side of the mast opposite from the
drawworks support.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a base
structure for a deep well drilling apparatus which comprises a
drawworks support, a drawworks thereon, a mast having one end
pivotally secured to the base structure, a gin pole arrangement
between the mast and the drawworks, sheave means carried by the gin
pole structure, and flexible line menas connecting the drawworks
and mast whereby the mast may be raised to an elevated position
when the drawworks is in a nonelevated position on the base
structure, movable means connecting the drawworks support and base
structure whereby the drawworks may be raised to an elevated
position above the base structure, a separate pipe support
structure on the side of the mast opposite from the drawworks
support, and means for supporting a rotary table, such means
including support braces extending between the drawworks support
and the pipe support independently of the mast.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from a consideration of the following description and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged view showing the drawworks support structure,
gin pole structure, mast, and separate pipe supporting structure
supported on the base structure;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 illustrating schematically the
independent relationship of the mast to the drawworks support
structure, rotary table support, and pipe setback support;
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating the base structure with
the drawworks support thereon, the gin pole structure secured to
the base structure in front of the drawworks, and a mast in
reclined position with flexible means extending from the drawworks
and over sheave means on the gin pole structure for moving the mast
from a reclined position to an upright position on the base
structure adjacent the gin pole structure;
FIG. 4 illustrates the pipe support structure pivotally secured to
the base structure and in dotted line in an inclined position on
the base structure and in full line on its upright position on the
base structure independently of the mast; and
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the base structure showing the gin
pole with the mast secured thereto in upright position, the pipe
setback in upright position, and the drawworks support with the
drawworks thereon and movable means between the drawworks and the
base structure with flexible line means extending from the
drawworks over the mast and back to the drawworks support for
raising the drawworks to an elevated position adjacent the gin pole
structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a
base structure is referred to generally by the numeral 10. The base
support structure 10 may be of any suitable length such as 40 to 60
feet by way of example, and may be formed of suitable longitudinal
and lateral beam members in a manner known to those skilled in the
art to provide necessary structural strength. In addition, an outer
covering as represented at 11 may be provided on all or a part of
the supporting or support base structure 10 to provide chambers
inside of the support structure 10 for receiving liquids.
For purposes of identification, the end 13 of the structure 10 may
be refered to as the rear end of the support structure 10, and the
end 14 may be referred to as the front end of the base support 10.
Mounted on the base support structure is a drawworks support
structure referred to at 15, a gin pole structure referred to at
18, a mast 19, a separate pipe setback support structure 25, and a
rotary table support 26 secured to and extending between the
drawworks support structure 15 and pipe setback support structure
25.
The drawworks support structure 15 includes suitable bracing and
decking for forming a drawworks support referred to at 15a.
extending between the drawworks support 15a and the base 10 are
movable means 15b shown in the form of four legs, two on each side
of support base 10. One end 15c of each leg 15b is pivotally
secured to the base 10, and the other end 15d is pivotally secured
to the drawworks support 15a. When the drawworks 16 and the
drawworks supporting structure have been moved from the dotted line
position referred to generally at 17, in which position the
drawworks and drawworks support structure rests on the base
structure 10, to the full line position which represents the
elevated position of the drawworks support structure and drawworks
16, suitable bracing as illustrated at 15e may be provided for
securing the drawworks support structure 15 and drawworks 16 in
such predetermined elevated position relative to the base structure
10. As noted, any suitable arrangement of bracing may be employed
to accomplish such purpose.
The gin pole structure 18 comprises legs 18a and 18b which have
their lower ends 18c and 18d, respectively, secured in the spaced
footings 18e and 18f on the base structure 10. The legs 18a and 18b
extend upwardly at an angle to be connected at their upper ends as
shown, and a similar arrangement is provided on the other side of
base support 10. A shaft 18g extends between the spaced gin pose
structure on the base 10 at their upper ends for receiving
rotatable sheave means represented at 28 thereon for a purpose to
be described in greater detail hereinafter. It will be noted that
the gin pole structure 18 is mounted on the base structure 10
between the drawworks support structure and the mast 19 with one
end 19a of the mast pivotally supported adjacent and in front of
the gin pole structure 18 on the base structure in suitable means
such as the footing 18f or a separate footing may be provided for
the mast if desired.
The pipe setback support tower 25 is formed by rigid box framing
including at least four legs 25a, two adjacent each side of the
base support 10. The legs 25a extend in an upright position from
the base structure 10 when the tower is moved to the position shown
in FIGS. 1 and 4 adjacent the front of the mast. The pipe setback
support structure 25 may have its forward legs pivotally secured in
the footings 25b to enable the setback tower to be moved from the
horizontal position to the vertical upright position as
schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
The rotary table support 25 includes suitable structural members
extending between the drawworks supporting structure 15 and the
pipe supporting structure 25 through the mast, but without
contacting any portion of the mast so that the rotary table
represented at 30 in FIG. 1 may be supported thereon and
independently of the mast.
In FIG. 2 of the drawings, the legs 18a of the gin pole structure
18 are schematically represented, one on each side, each leg 18b
being incorporated in the schematic representation designated 35
which also represents the legs of the upright mast 19. The
schematic representative 35 represents clearance between the mast
legs and legs 18b of the gin pole structure and the drawworks
support 15, pipe setback tower 25, rotary table support 26, as well
as the floor or decking on the drawworks support and rotary table
support 26, so that vibration of the rotary table and drawworks is
not transmitted to the mast extending upwardly through the work
floor area. The clearance between the mast 19 and pipe setback
tower 25 is indicated at 40, so that when pipe as represented at 41
in FIG. 1 is stacked thereon, the load of such pipe is transmitted
directly through the tower 25 to the base support 10 and
independently of the mast 19.
From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present
invention provides an arrangement so that the drawworks, the
drawworks support structure, the pipe support structure, rotary
support, and rotary table are all carried on the base 10
independently of the mast 19 so that no load nor vibration from the
pipe supported on the pipe rack 25 or from the rotary table 30 or
drawworks 16 may be imparted to any part of the mast. Rather, such
loads and vibrations are transmitted through the respective
supporting structures directly to the base structure 10 on which
the mast 19 and gin pole structure 18 are provided.
It will be noted that when the mast 19 is elevated to an upright
position, suitable means as shown at 36 in FIG. 1 connect the mast
19 and gin pole structure 18 together to support and retain the
mast in an upright position.
FIGS. 3 through 5 schematically represent the manner in which the
present invention is employed. In FIG. 3, the drawworks 16 is shown
as being mounted on the drawworks support 15a which in turn is
connected by the structure 15 to the base 10. The gin pole
structure 18 is mounted on the base 10, and the leg 19a of the mast
is pivotally secured in the footing 18f on the base structure 10.
Flexible line means 50 are connected from the drum of the drawworks
16 over a portion of the sheave means 28 on the gin pole structure
18 and extend over the crown block (not shown) of the mast 19 down
to the traveling block represented at 51. A sling 52 connects the
hook 53 of the traveling block 51 with the mast 19 by suitable
means such as the connection 54, the sling extending over a portion
of the sheave means on the shaft 18g on gin pole structure 18. The
weight of the drawworks relative to the mast is such that when a
force is exerted on the line 50 longitudinally of the mast, the
traveling block 51 will be caused to move towards the crown block
in the mast whereupon the sling 52 causes the mast 19 to move to an
upright position as shown in FIG. 2. Should the weight of the
drawworks 16 be insufficient to accomplish such function, the
drawworks may be fastened to the base structure 10 to retain it on
the base while such function is accomplished.
FIG. 4 shows the manner in which the drawworks 16, while still in a
nonelevated position on the base structure 10, may be employed to
position the pipe support structure 25. The pipe supporting
structure is shown in dotted line at 25c in nonelevated position on
one side of the mast 19, and the flexible line from the drum on the
drawworks extends over the crown block (not shown) and then down to
the traveling block 51. The hook 53 is connected to the tower 25 by
sling 60 which extends from its connection at 61 on the tower 25
when in a nonelevated position to the hook 53 in the mast. When the
line 50 is reeved onto the drawworks drum, the traveling block 51
moves up in the mast 19 and pulls line 60 so that the tower is
moved to the full line position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
Thereafter, it may be secured to the base 10 by any suitable
means.
In FIG. 5, the drawworks 16 on support 15a and drawworks support
structure 15 is illustrated as having been moved from the reclined
position on the base 10 to a raised, elevated position a
predetermined distance above base structure 10. In this instance,
the sling line 65 is connected to the end 15i of the drawworks
support 15a and extends over a sheave means 66 mounted in the mast
or in the pipe setback tower and then upwardly to the hook 53 shown
diagrammatically extending from the traveling block 51. Flexible
lines 58 extend between the traveling block and the crown block
(not shown), and when the flexible line means 50 is reeved onto the
drum of the drawworks 16, the drawworks will self-elevate to the
full line position shown in FIG. 5 by reason of the movable means
comprising the legs 15b which are pivotally connected on the base
structure and to the drawworks support 15a.
Thereafter, the drawworks support structure may be secured in
upright position by suitable braces as previously mentioned.
In addition, the rotary support 26 may be secured between the
drawworks support structure 15 and pipe support structure 16, such
rotary support extending through the mast 19 as previously
noted.
The pipe setback tower 25 can be built so that it is not as wide as
the mast base. Thus, as shown at dotted lines 70 in FIG. 2, it
would be less in width than the width between the mast legs as
represented at 35. In such event, the pipe setback could be
retained in elevated position and the mast 19 lowered therearound
for transit purposes.
Thus, the present invention provides a deep well drilling apparatus
which is mounted on a single base structure and wherein the
drawworks is retained in a nonelevated position on the base
structure while the mast, and if desired, the pipe tower 25, are
first moved to an upright position. Thereafter, the drawworks may
be elevated to a predetermined position in relation to the base
structure for conducting drilling operations. The drawworks support
structure, the pipe support, and the rotary table support may be
integrally connected while retaining them independent of the mast
to avoid undue strains thereon.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *