Drilling rig floor drainage system
A drainage system is provided for a drilling rig which includes a module that can be removably mounted on the rig. The module has a top panel having drainage slots disposed about its perimeter. The module further includes a substructure containing a trough located beneath the drainage slots. The trough slopes downwardly towards an outlet aperture that extends through a sidewall of the substructure. Fluids spilled onto the module when sections of drilling pipe are tripped out from the drill string drain through the drainage slots into the trough. The trough guides the fluids through the outlet aperture where the fluids can be directed to a collection pit or vessel where they can be recycled or properly disposed of.
The present invention relates to the field of drainage systems for drilling rigs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for collecting fluids, such as drilling fluid, spilled onto the drilling rig floor when sections of drilling pipe are removed from the drill string.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGenerally, drilling rigs have a pit, or area of ground beneath the rig, surrounding the drill pipe, which terminates in a wellhead. When sections of drilling pipe are removed or “tripped out” from the drill string during drilling operations, the column of drilling fluid contained in the pipe section spills onto the drilling rig floor. These fluids spill over the edges of the drilling rig floor and fall into the pit. The spilled fluids are not only a safety hazard for the workers on the rig site, they can be an environmental hazard depending on the composition of the fluids themselves. For this reason, drainage systems are needed on drilling rigs to collect drilling fluid spilled onto the rig floor to improve the safety of the rig floor for the workers and to collect the fluids before they reach the ground so that they can be recycled or properly disposed of.
It is, therefore, desirable to have a drainage system that can safely and efficiently collect drilling fluid that is spilled during the drilling and servicing of a well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a drainage system that is provided for use on a drilling rig and is capable of collecting drilling fluid spilled during drilling and servicing processes. When the drainage system is assembled and in position around the drill pipe, drilling fluid waste may drain through a grid floor into a collection trough underneath, and may then be then guided away from the rig for recycling or proper disposal. This system may help to ensure the safety of those walking on the grid floor by preventing slipping on the spilled drilling fluid, and may prevent contamination of the soil surrounding the drill rig resulting from spilled drilling fluid.
One embodiment of the present invention involves a drilling floor surface that forms at least a portion of the drilling rig floor. The drilling floor surface can be of any suitable shape but is, in one embodiment, rectangular. A plurality of openings are disposed about the drilling floor surface that allow fluids to drain through. Located underneath the drilling floor surface is a trough to collect fluids that drain through the openings. The trough guides the fluids to an outlet aperture. The openings may be located anywhere on the drilling floor surface but can, for example, be disposed at least partially about the perimeter of the drilling floor surface. Accordingly, the trough is located underneath the openings. The trough slopes downwardly towards the outlet aperture so that fluids will naturally flow towards the outlet aperture due to gravity.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the drilling floor surface, the trough and the outlet aperture are components of a structure or module that may be removably mounted on a drilling rig. The module consists of a top panel comprising the drilling floor surface and a substructure comprising a bottom surface and four sidewalls extending between the top panel and the bottom surface to form a six-sided structure. In this embodiment, the outlet aperture extends through a sidewall of the module to connect to an external drainage pipe, hose or trough to guide the fluids away from the drilling rig floor.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a safe and efficient drainage system for drilling rigs in the oil industry.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide effective removal of drilling fluid from a drilling rig, thereby preventing contamination of the soil beneath the drilling rig.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a safer environment for oil rig workers working on the drilling rig floor.
Broadly stated, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a drainage system for draining fluids from a drilling rig floor of a drilling rig, comprising a substantially horizontal drilling floor surface defining at least a portion of said drilling rig floor; a trough disposed underneath said drilling floor surface; a plurality of drainage openings disposed on said drilling floor surface, said openings located above said trough whereby fluids on said drilling floor surface are able to drain through said openings into said trough; and an outlet aperture operatively attached to said trough, the combination of said trough and said aperture adapted to guide said fluids away from said drilling rig floor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of a module in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. Referring to
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Although embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A drainage system for draining fluids from a drilling rig floor of a drilling rig, comprising:
- a) a substantially horizontal drilling floor surface configured to define at least a portion of a drilling rig floor;
- b) a trough disposed underneath said drilling floor surface;
- c) a plurality of drainage openings disposed on said drilling floor surface, said openings located above said trough whereby fluids on said drilling floor surface are able to drain through said openings into said trough; and
- d) an outlet aperture operatively attached to said trough, the combination of said trough and said aperture adapted to guide said fluids away from a drilling rig floor.
2. The drainage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trough and said openings are disposed at least partially about a perimeter of said drilling floor surface.
3. The drainage system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said trough slopes downwardly towards said outlet aperture.
4. The drainage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drilling floor surface is the top surface of a drilling rig module, said module adapted to be removably mounted on a drilling rig.
5. The drainage system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said trough is disposed within said module and said outlet aperture is adapted to guide said fluids through an opening in a sidewall of said module.
6. The drainage system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said trough and said openings are disposed at least partially about a perimeter of said drilling floor surface.
7. The drainage system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said trough slopes downwardly towards said outlet aperture.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 24, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Inventor: Gerald Lesko (Alberta)
Application Number: 11/338,291
International Classification: E21B 19/00 (20060101);