Slingshot side saddle substructure

• US 10,094,137 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Reddy, Padira, Gupta, Ashish
• Primary Examiner(s): Demuren, Babajide A
• Application Number:
  US15/893,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/345 Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof E04H12/347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/003 adapted to be moved on their substructure, e.g. with skidding means; adapted to drill a plurality of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/063 by separating components

Abstract

The drilling rig includes a first substructure and a second substructure. The second substructure is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first substructure and generally the same height as the first substructure. The drilling rig further includes a drill floor coupled to the first and second substructures, where the drill floor positioned substantially at the top of the first and second substructures.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transporting a land-based drilling rig to a well field and positioning the land-based drilling rig, wherein the land-based drilling rig comprises;

a first substructure;

a second substructure, the second substructure being positioned generally parallel to the first substructure;

a drill rig floor coupled to the first and second substructures, the drill rig floor including a V-door, the side of the drill rig floor having the V-door defining a V-door side of the drill rig floor, the first and second substructures pivotably supporting the drill rig floor; and

a mast, the mast mechanically coupled to one or more of the first substructure, the second substructure, and the drill rig floor, the mast being pivotably coupled to one or more of the first substructure, the second substructure, and the drill rig floor by a pivot point, the mast comprising a V-door side, the V-door side of the mast parallel to the first or second sub structure;

positioning the mast in a horizontal position; and

raising the mast from a horizontal to a vertical position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transporting the land-based drilling rig is performed with the mast in the horizontal position or in a disassembled state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of raising the mast from the horizontal to the raised position comprises:

mechanically coupling the plurality of mast hydraulic cylinders to the mast at one or more mast lift points; and

extending the hydraulic cylinders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second substructures each comprise:

a lower box, the lower box of the first substructure and the lower box of the second substructure positioned generally parallel and spaced apart from each other; and

at least one strut, the at least one strut pivotably coupling the drill rig floor to the lower box, the at least one strut hingedly coupled to the drill rig floor and the lower box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the land-based drilling rig further comprises a raising hydraulic cylinder, the raising hydraulic cylinder mounted on the lower box and the drill rig floor.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising after the step of raising the mast from a horizontal to a vertical position:

raising the drill rig floor from a lowered positioned to an upright position while maintaining the drill rig floor parallel to the lower boxes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of raising the drill rig floor from a lowered position to a vertical position is performed with the drill rig floor maintained in a horizontal position.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising after the step of raising the drill rig floor:

coupling one or more diagonals between the drill rig floor and the lower boxes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the V-door side of the drill rig floor is parallel to the first substructure.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the land-based drilling rig further comprises one or more hydraulic walkers, the hydraulic walkers positioned at a lower end of one or both of the first and second substructures.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the land-based drilling rig within the wellfield using the hydraulic walkers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the land-based drilling rig further comprises equipment positioned on the land-based drilling rig, wherein the equipment comprises tanks, mud process equipment, choke manifold, accumulator mud gas separator, process tank, trip tank, drill line spooler, VFD, drillers cabin, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the choke manifold is positioned on the drill rig floor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the accumulator is positioned on the drill rig floor.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the land-based drilling rig further comprises one or more hydraulic walkers, the hydraulic walkers positioned at a lower end of one or both of the first and second substructures.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the land-based drilling rig within the wellfield using the hydraulic walkers.