Abstract: A riser clamp for supporting fluid pipes in parallel with and spaced from an external surface of a tubular riser. The riser clamp includes at least one body portion which is arrangeable to form a clamp body which is substantially circular or partially circular, and a pipe saddle part. The clamp body encircles a clamp axis. The at least one body portion has an external surface which faces radially outwards and an internal surface which faces radially inwards. The pipe saddle part is provided to be separate and substantially planar, and is arranged to extend radially outwardly from the clamp body.

Abstract: A drilling system includes machines, process sensors, and a drilling ECU. Each machine has machine sensor which senses an operating state and an operating range with a lower and upper limit. Each process sensor has a process sensor value and a process range with a lower and upper limit. The drilling ECU includes a data processing apparatus and a memory. The memory includes a process model with expected values of the process sensors as a function of a drilling depth, and a reservoir model with geological data. The drilling ECU receives the process sensor value and the operating state, calculates first differences between the process sensor values and the upper limit and/or the lower limit of the process range, calculates second differences between the operating state and the upper limit and/or lower limit of the operating range, and displays the first and second differences on a drilling screen.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a drill string. The cleaning apparatus includes a base, an arm, a fluid flow conduit, and a motor. The base supports the arm on a drill floor of a drilling rig. The arm has a first end which is mounted on the base, a second end at which a spray nozzle is arranged, and at least one articulated joint via which the arm, or a portion of the arm, can pivot relative to the base. The fluid flow conduit is connected to the spray nozzle so that a pressurized fluid entering the fluid flow conduit can spray out of the spray nozzle. The motor pivots the arm about the at least one articulated joint so as to alter an orientation of the spray nozzle relative to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a buoyancy aid on an elongate line. The buoyancy aid includes a separable first and second portion which enable the buoyancy aid to be mounted on the elongate line. The apparatus includes a movable frame, a support cradle and an opening arrangement mounted on the frame, and a drive system. The first and second portions are placeable on the support cradle. The opening arrangement includes a gripper which grips whichever of the first or second portion placed on the support cradle is uppermost. The drive system moves the frame between a loading position where the buoyancy aid is placeable on the support cradle and an installation position, and to move the opening arrangement and/or the support cradle relative to the frame so that, when the gripper grips the uppermost first portion or second portion on the support cradle, the first portion separates from the second portion.

Abstract: A drilling rig includes a drill floor with a well center opening, a derrick having a drilling machine which is suspended above the well center opening, a pipe supply area which is arranged adjacent to the well center opening on the drill floor, and a pipe handling machine. The pipe supply area has at least one pipe rack which horizontally stores pipe sections. The pipe handling machine moves at least one of the pipe sections between a horizontal storage position in the at least one pipe rack and a vertical position or a substantially vertical position above the well center opening.

Abstract: A riser clamp for supporting fluid pipes in parallel with and spaced from an external surface of a tubular riser. The riser clamp includes at least one body portion which is arrangeable to form a clamp body which is substantially circular or partially circular, and a pipe saddle part. The clamp body encircles a clamp axis. The at least one body portion has an external surface which faces radially outwards and an internal surface which faces radially inwards. The pipe saddle part is provided to be separate and substantially planar, and is arranged to extend radially outwardly from the clamp body.

Abstract: A method for installing a sea floor anchor includes building a drill string from a vessel having a cementing hose, drilling a hole in the sea floor, lowering an anchor member from the vessel into the hole, and cementing the anchor member in place in the hole with the cementing hose.

Abstract: A riser assembly includes a riser with a first and second riser joint, an auxiliary line, and a first and second flange. The auxiliary line has an auxiliary line joint which connects a first and second auxiliary line section. The auxiliary line joint has a first joint assembly connected to the first auxiliary line section, and a second joint assembly connected to the second auxiliary line section. The first and second joint assembly each have a bearing surface. A bearing surface of the first flange engages the bearing surface of the first joint assembly. A bearing surface of the second flange engages the bearing surface of the second joint assembly. The bearing surface of the first flange or of the first joint assembly also has a rocker formation which contacts the bearing surfaces of the first flange and of the first joint assembly while permitting a relative angular movement therebetween.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a drill string. The cleaning apparatus includes a base, an arm, a fluid flow conduit, and a motor. The base supports the arm on a drill floor of a drilling rig. The arm has a first end which is mounted on the base, a second end at which a spray nozzle is arranged, and at least one articulated joint via which the arm, or a portion of the arm, can pivot relative to the base. The fluid flow conduit is connected to the spray nozzle so that a pressurized fluid entering the fluid flow conduit can spray out of the spray nozzle. The motor pivots the arm about the at least one articulated joint so as to alter an orientation of the spray nozzle relative to the base.

Abstract: A drilling rig system includes a drilling rig having a floor which is generally planar, and a utility vehicle having a base, a drive apparatus, and a ground engaging motive apparatus upon which the base is supported on the floor. The drive apparatus drives the ground engaging motive apparatus to move the utility vehicle across the floor. The ground engaging motive apparatus is drivable so as to change a direction of travel of the utility vehicle at any point on the floor.

Abstract: A machine for a drilling plant includes a base, an arm, and a tool which is carried by the arm. The tool has a receiver for a protective cap. The machine is operable to engage the protective cap and to remove or to install the protective cap from or on an end of a drilling tubular.

Abstract: A riser assembly includes a riser with a first and second riser joint, an auxiliary line, and a first and second flange. The auxiliary line has an auxiliary line joint which connects a first and second auxiliary line section. The auxiliary line joint has a first joint assembly connected to the first auxiliary line section, and a second joint assembly connected to the second auxiliary line section. The first and second joint assembly each have a bearing surface. A bearing surface of the first flange engages the bearing surface of the first joint assembly. A bearing surface of the second flange engages the bearing surface of the second joint assembly. The bearing surface of the first flange or of the first joint assembly also has a rocker formation which contacts the bearing surfaces of the first flange and of the first joint assembly while permitting a relative angular movement therebetween.

Abstract: An integrated well construction system for constructing a well includes equipment controllers which control drilling equipment, and a process controller operatively connected to the equipment controllers. The process controller includes a drilling control module which defines an operational drilling scheme and a task manager module. The operational drilling scheme has a first part to control the drilling equipment, a second part with manual tasks and/or automated tasks to be performed, and a relation between an execution of control of the drilling equipment via the first plan and of manual tasks and/or the automated tasks via the second plan. The task manager module has a user interface, a task refinement component which updates the second part, and a user interaction device which provides a manual addition of new manual tasks and/or new automated tasks, and a removal or amendment of at least one of the manual tasks and/or the automated tasks.

Abstract: A drilling rig includes a drill floor with a well center opening, a derrick having a drilling machine which is suspended above the well center opening, a pipe supply area which is arranged adjacent to the well center opening on the drill floor, and a pipe handling machine. The pipe supply area has at least one pipe rack which horizontally stores pipe sections. The pipe handling machine moves at least one of the pipe sections between a horizontal storage position in the at least one pipe rack and a vertical position or a substantially vertical position above the well center opening.

Abstract: A yoke for a pipe handling crane. The yoke includes a magazine having storage slots for tubular pipes, and a pipe lifting unit having a lifting tool. The lifting tool supplies a tubular pipe to and retrieves a tubular pipe from the magazine.

Abstract: A method for controlling drilling operations includes defining operation zones in a drilling operation area, each operation zone having equipment operating therein, and repeatedly performing the steps of: determining a position of at least one person in the drilling operation area, determining whether the respective determined position is within any of the operation zones and associating each person to the operation zone in which the person is located, determining whether the respective determined position is within a safety zone in proximity to the equipment, determining at least one action to be performed with regard to each operation zone in which the person has been determined to be present, and transmitting at least one control signal for controlling the drilling operations based on the at least one action determined. The at least one action is determined dependent on whether or not the position of the person is in the safety zone.

Abstract: A machine for a drilling plant includes a base, an arm, and a tool which is carried by the arm. The tool has a receiver for a protective cap. The machine is operable to engage the protective cap and to remove or to install the protective cap from or on an end of a drilling tubular.

Abstract: A drilling plant management system includes a database having information of equipment items on a drilling rig and in a well, a controller having a processor, and a tracker module. The information includes an identification and a location of each of the equipment items on the drilling rig or in the well. The controller receives update messages with the identification of an equipment item and information related to the equipment item, and updates the database with the information in the update message. Via the processor, the controller tracks a location of each of the equipment items and, once handled by a handling equipment, transmits an update message to the database with the identification of the equipment item and the location of the equipment item.

Abstract: A winch system for driving an output includes a gear connected to the output, an electric motor connected to the gear, and a hydraulic motor connected to the gear. The electric motor and the hydraulic motor are distribute energy via the gear to the output.

Abstract: A drilling rig system includes a drilling rig having a floor which is generally planar, and a utility vehicle having a base, a drive apparatus, and a ground engaging motive apparatus upon which the base is supported on the floor. The drive apparatus drives the ground engaging motive apparatus to move the utility vehicle across the floor. The ground engaging motive apparatus is drivable so as to change a direction of travel of the utility vehicle at any point on the floor.