Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining electrical and hydraulic connections between a junction box (or junction boxes) located on or near an offshore platform's floor and a movable drilling rig structure are disclosed. The disclosed invention is a unique vertically folding service arm capable of moving in both the horizontal and vertical directions in order to provide enhanced range of movement. The increased range of movement provided by the vertically folding service arm of the present invention allows electrical and hydraulic supply lines to remain connected between a junction box (or boxes) located on or near the platform floor and the rig structure even as the rig structure moves back-and-forth on the platform between multiple well centers. The vertically folding service arm of the present invention can also be easily disconnected and “folded” for transport without requiring the electrical and hydraulic supply lines to be disconnected from the drilling rig structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in the off-line make-up of drill pipe stands on drilling rigs used in the exploration and production of oil and gas reserves are disclosed. The disclosed invention is a pipe handling system in which a section of the V-door ramp attached to a drilling rig structure pivots to allow one or more joints of drill pipe to be placed in a vertical position. Through use of an off-line roughneck in conjunction with an off-line drill pipe elevator, the joints of drill pipe held in the vertical position via the pivoting pipe handler of the present invention can be connected together, connected to additional joints of drill pipe, and placed in a racking board to be stored until they are subsequently connected to the drill string. The use of the pivoting pipe handler of the present invention allows stands of drill pipe to be “made-up” without the need to interrupt drilling operations and, thus, significantly reduces the amount of time required to drill a borehole.