Abstract: An offshore drilling rig that embodies a means for vertical stacking of riser pipe sections and blowout preventors below a derrick floor and includes riser pipe manipulating mechanisms for transporting units in a vertical condition between a storage area and the operational area. In the operational area, the cellar floor is provided with a sliding door mechanism which is selectively capable of supporting either the blowout preventor and riser weight, or the blowout preventor. The transportation system includes means for lifting and supporting a riser pipe section vertically and movable in transverse and longitudinal, horizontal directions for transporting pipe sections in a vertical condition.

Abstract: The system herein involves interconnection of an underwater well head assembly with a central gathering platform in an ocean or sea environment. A drilling vessel for drilling a well peripherally disposed with respect to the central gathering platform has capacity for forming and/or containing continuous lengths of production pipelines on spools or reels located adjacent to its drilling derrick. The charging of the spools or reels with continuous production pipelines can be accomplished simultaneously with the drilling of the well by the drilling vessel. Alternatively, production pipeline can be loaded on a reel and transported separately to the drilling vessel. At any desired time before or when drilling is completed and prior to the installation of the underwater well head, cable means are extended from a spool or reel on the gathering platform and coupled to an exposed end of a spooled production pipeline.