SINGLE JOINT DRILLING SYSTEM
A pipe handling system comprising a pipe erector operable to move a pipe from a horizontal storage position to a substantially vertical position wherein an upper end of the pipe is disposed above an elevated drill floor of a drilling rig and the pipe is offset from well center The pipe handling system also comprises an upper vertical support configured to support the pipe in the vertical position independently of said pipe erector
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/700,624, filed on Jul. 19, 2005 and titled “Single Joint Drilling System,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein,
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for drilling wells More specifically, the present invention relates to systems for drilling wells utilizing single joints of pipe
Many smaller drilling rigs store tubular members, such as drill pipe, drill collars, and casing, in horizontal storage areas outside of the rig. As the different tubular members are needed, they are brought to the drill floor one at a time and added to the string. Handling these tubular members has historically been a highly manual job using winches or other lifting appliances within the rig. Automated systems for use in these “single joint” rigs must be able to safely handle a variety of tubular members while not slowing down drilling or tripping processes.
Thus, there remains a need to develop methods and apparatus for pipe handling and drilling systems, which overcome some of the foregoing difficulties while providing more advantageous overall results.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSEmbodiments of the present invention include a pipe handling system comprising a pipe erector operable to move a pipe from a horizontal storage position to a substantially vertical position wherein an upper end of the pipe is disposed above an elevated drill floor of a drilling rig and the pipe is offset from well center The pipe handling system also comprises an upper vertical support configured to support the pipe in the vertical position independently of said pipe erectors
Thus, the embodiments of present invention comprise a combination of features and advantages that enable substantial enhancement of moving pipe and other tubular members to and from a drilling rig. These and various other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a more detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 23A-F illustrate the loading of pipe from a pipe handling system constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 24A-F illustrate the loading of pipe onto the pipe handling system of FIGS. 23A-F.
FIGS. 25A-H illustrate the loading of pipe from a pipe handling system constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 26A-H illustrate the loading of pipe onto the pipe handling system of FIGS. 25A-H;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to
To add pipe 54 to drill string 56, the drill string is first secured to drill floor 24 by slips 50 Once secured, top drive 34 can be detached from drill string 26 and raised, as shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
Pipe handling system 16 comprises pipe erector 40 that moves a single joint of pipe at a time from a substantially horizontal storage position to a substantially vertical position where an upper end of the pipe is above an elevated drill floor and the pipe is offset from well center. It is understood that when in either the storage position or the substantially vertical position, the pipe is not required to be exactly horizontal or vertical and that some deviation from these orientations may be possible.
Referring now to
Erector 40 is in a horizontal position with capture arms open, as shown in
Referring back to
Referring back to
As pipe joint 92 is lowered, stabbing guide 90 aligns the pipe joint with drill string 94, which is supported by slips 50. As pipe joint 92 engages drill string 94, swinging frame 88 moves torque wrench 84 and spinner 86 toward the well center, as shown in
As described above, drilling system 10 and pipe erecting system 16 operates by taking pipe from a horizontal orientation and placing the pipe back in the horizontal orientation after use. Once horizontal, the pipe can be handled by a number of different pipe handling systems and methods. In certain embodiments, automated systems can be used to handle horizontal pipe without direct involvement of personnel. One such pipe handling system is illustrated in FIGS. 23A-F and 24A-F.
Referring now to
Referring now to
FIGS. 24A-F illustrate pipe handling system 100 being used to store pipes being removed from a drill string. When moving pipes 112 from erector 40, tilting mechanism 106 lowers the end of rack 102 so as to angle the rack away from erector 40. Lifting block 114 and elevated stop 108 are retracted into rack 102 so as to provide a smooth surface along which pipe 112 can roll. Once pipe 112 is lowered and released by erector 40, arm 116 rotates upward so as to lift the pipe from the erector. Arm 116 continues to rotate until pipe 112 falls onto rack 102 where it will roll toward the far end of the rack.
Another pipe handling system is shown in FIGS. 25A-H and 26A-H. Pipe handling system 200 comprises frame 202 that is pivotally mounted on base 204. The incline of frame 202 is controlled by piston 206. The loading and unloading of pipe into handling system 200 is done by pipe moving assembly 210. Pipe moving assembly 210 comprises extendable finger 214, rotatable arm 216, and drive motor 218. Assembly 210 is slidably mounted to a vertical member of frame 202 so that drive motor 218 engages gear rack 220.
The unloading of pipe from handling system 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 25A-H. Piston 206 inclines frame 202 so that pipe joints 212 tend to move toward pipe moving assembly 210. Finger 214 extends to separate a single joint of pipe from the row of pipes stored in frame 202. Assembly 210 the moves upward until pipe 212 clears frame 202, as shown in
The loading of pipe from erector 40 back into handling system 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 26A-H. Piston 206 inclines frame 202 so that pipe joints 212 tend to move away from moving assembly 210A Mover assembly 210 is disposed adjacent to erector 40, once erector 40 lowers pipe 212 to a horizontal position. Once erector 40 disengages pipe 212, arm 216 rotates to lift pipe 212 from erector 40. Mover assembly 210 then moves up frame 202 until pipe 212 clears the top of the frame. Once inside frame 202, pipe 212 is restrained by extended finger 214 and bumper 215. Mover assembly 210 moves back down frame 202 until pipe 212 is at the row of pipe being loaded Finger 214 then retracts and pipe 212 will roll into position within frame 202. Mover assembly 210 is then moved back to the proper elevation to receive pipe from erector 40 and arm 216 is rotated back to its lowered position.
Referring now to
Referring to
Erector arm 406 is pivotally coupled to base 404 at pivot 414. Pin connection 418 couples handling arm 410 to support arm 408, which is pivotally coupled to base 404 at pin connection 416. When in the transport configuration of
Once elevated to the vertical position, erector arm 406 can be disconnected from support arm 408 and returned to its horizontal position as shown in
Lifting frame 422 and cable 424, which travels over pulley 426 and is coupled to actuator 428, supports blowout preventer 402. Blowout preventer 402 is lowered by extending actuator 428 until the blowout preventer is supported by wellhead 412, as is shown in
While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.
Claims
1. A pipe handling system comprising:
- a pipe erector operable to move a pipe from a horizontal storage position to a substantially vertical position wherein an upper end of the pipe is disposed above an elevated drill floor of a drilling rig and the pipe is offset from well center; and
- an upper vertical support configured to support the pipe in the vertical position independently of said pipe erector.
2. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a lower vertical support coupled to said pipe erector and configured to control the elevation of the pipe in the vertical position.
3. The pipe handling system of claim 1, wherein said upper vertical support comprises a pair of swing arms that are rotatable between an open position wherein the pipe call pass between said swing arms and a closed position where the pipe is engaged by both swing arms.
4. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of capture arms coupled to said pipe erector, wherein said capture arms are rotatable between an open position that allows the pipe to be moved onto or off of said erector and a closed position wherein said capture arms secure the pipe to said erector.
5. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a ledge coupled to said pipe erector, wherein said ledge limits the axial movement of the pipe being supported by said pipe erector.
6. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a base pivotally coupled to said pipe erector; and
- an actuator coupled to said base and said pipe erector, wherein said actuator is configured to move said pipe erector from a horizontal position to a vertical position.
7. The pipe handling system of claim 6 wherein said upper vertical support is coupled to said base.
8. The pipe handling system of claim 6 further comprising a blowout preventer handling arm coupled to said base.
9. A drilling system comprising:
- a drilling rig having an elevated drill floor;
- a pipe erector operable to move a pipe from a horizontal storage position to a substantially vertical position wherein an upper end of the pipe is disposed above the elevated drill floor and the pipe is offset from well center; and
- an upper vertical support configured to support the pipe in the vertical position independently of said pipe erector.
10. The drilling system of claim 9, further comprising a lower vertical support coupled to said pipe erector and configured to control the elevation of the pipe in the vertical position.
11. The drilling system of claim 9, wherein said upper vertical support comprises a pair of swing arms that are rotatable between an open position wherein the pipe can pass between said swing aims and a closed position where the pipe is engaged by both swing arms.
12. The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of capture arms coupled to said pipe erector, wherein said capture arms are rotatable between an open position that allows the pipe to be moved onto or off of said erector and a closed position wherein said capture arms secure the pipe to said erector.
13. The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising a ledge coupled to said pipe erector, wherein said ledge limits the axial movement of the pipe being supported by said pipe erector.
14. The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a base pivotally coupled to said pipe erector; and
- an actuator coupled to said base and said pipe erector, wherein said actuator is configured to move said pipe erector from a horizontal position to a vertical position.
15. The drilling system of claim 14 wherein said upper vertical support is coupled to said base
16. The drilling system of claim 14 further comprising a blowout preventer handling arm coupled to said base.
17. A method for operating a drilling rig comprising:
- loading a pipe onto a pipe erector disposed in a horizontal position;
- moving the pipe erector to an elevated position wherein the pipe is in a substantially vertical position where an upper end of the pipe is disposed above an elevated drill floor of a drilling rig and the pipe is offset from well center;
- engaging the pipe with an upper vertical support that maintains the substantially vertical position of the pipe;
- disengaging the pipe from the pipe erector; and
- moving the pipe erector to the horizontal position.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the pipe is disengaged from the pipe erector by operating a lower vertical support to lift the pipe from a ledge disposed on the pipe erector and moving a pair of capture arms to an open position so that the pipe can be disengaged from the pipe erector.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
- engaging the upper end of the pipe with an elevator supported by the drilling rig;
- releasing the pipe from the upper vertical support;
- lifting the pipe above the elevated drill floor; and
- moving the pipe to well center.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
- connecting the pipe to a drillstring supported at the drill floor;
- loading a second pipe onto the pipe erector disposed in the horizontal position;
- moving the pipe erector to the elevated position;
- engaging the second pipe with the upper vertical support;
- disengaging the second pipe from the pipe erector; and
- moving the pipe erector to the horizontal position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 25, 2007
Applicant: NATIONAL-OILWELL, L.P. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: Jaroslav Belik (Pearland, TX)
Application Number: 11/458,534
International Classification: E21B 19/14 (20060101);