High trip rate drilling rig
First Claim
1. A drilling rig [1] comprising:
- a top drive assembly [200] vertically translatable along a mast [10] of the drilling rig [1];
a tubular delivery arm [500] vertically translatable along the mast [10];
the tubular delivery arm [500] having a tubular clasp [550] that is movable between a well center position [30] over a well center and a second position [50] forward of the well center position;
a dolly translatably connected to the mast;
a travelling block assembly;
a top drive suspended from the travelling block assembly;
a yoke pivotally connecting the travelling block to the dolly;
an extendable actuator connected between the dolly and the yoke;
a torque tube rigidly connected to the travelling block;
the torque tube connected to the top drive in vertically slidable relation;
wherein extension of the actuator pivots the first yoke to extend the travelling block and top drive away from the dolly to a position over a well center; and
wherein retraction of the actuator pivots the first yoke to retract the travelling block towards the dolly to a position away from the well center.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drilling rig system for obtaining high trip rates separates the transport of tubular stands in and out of their setback position into a first function, delivery and retrieval of tubular stands in well center position as a second function; and the functions intersect at a stand hand-off position where tubular stands are set down for exchange between tubular handling equipment. A drilling rig has a tubular delivery arm that vertically translates the mast in a non-conflicting path with a top drive. The tubular delivery arm is operable to deliver tubular stands between a catwalk, stand hand-off, mousehole, and/or well center positions. An upper racking arm moves tubular stands between a racked position in the racking module and a stand hand-off position between the mast and racking module. An upper support constraint stabilizes tubular stands at the stand hand-off position.
90 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A drilling rig [1] comprising:
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a top drive assembly [200] vertically translatable along a mast [10] of the drilling rig [1]; a tubular delivery arm [500] vertically translatable along the mast [10]; the tubular delivery arm [500] having a tubular clasp [550] that is movable between a well center position [30] over a well center and a second position [50] forward of the well center position; a dolly translatably connected to the mast; a travelling block assembly; a top drive suspended from the travelling block assembly; a yoke pivotally connecting the travelling block to the dolly; an extendable actuator connected between the dolly and the yoke; a torque tube rigidly connected to the travelling block; the torque tube connected to the top drive in vertically slidable relation; wherein extension of the actuator pivots the first yoke to extend the travelling block and top drive away from the dolly to a position over a well center; and wherein retraction of the actuator pivots the first yoke to retract the travelling block towards the dolly to a position away from the well center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of moving tubular stands [80] from a racked position on a setback platform [900] and in a racking module [300] to a drill string [90] at the drill floor [6] of a drilling rig [1], comprising the steps of:
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clasping a lower portion of a tubular stand [80] resting on the setback platform [900] with a lower racking mechanism [950]; hoisting the tubular stand [80] with an upper racking mechanism [350] on a racking module connected to a mast [10] of the drilling rig [1]; moving the tubular stand [80] towards a stand hand-off position [50] with the upper racking mechanism [350]; moving the clasped lower end of the tubular stand [80] with the lower racking mechanism along a path coincident to movement of the tubular stand [80] by the upper racking mechanism [350]; positioning the tubular stand [80] above a stand hand-off position [50] located on the setback platform[900]; lowering the tubular stand [80] to rest at the stand hand-off position [50]; engaging an upper portion of the tubular stand [80] with an upper stand constraint [420]; disengaging the upper racking mechanism [350] and the lower racking mechanism [950] from the tubular stand [80]; engaging the upper portion of the tubular stand [80] with a vertically translatable tubular delivery arm [500]; disengaging the tubular stand [80] from the upper stand constraint [420] and a lower stand constraint [440]; engaging a lower portion of the tubular stand [80] with a lower stabilizing arm [800]; hoisting the stand [80] with the tubular delivery arm [500]; and
,stabbing the tubular stand [80] into a drill string end extending above a rotary table [810] on the drill floor [6]. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of moving tubular stands [80] from a racked position to a drill string [90] at the drill floor [6] of a drilling rig [1], comprising the steps of:
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transporting a tubular stand [80] from a racked position in a fingerboard [310] to a stand hand-off position [50] with an upper racking mechanism [350] on a racking module [300] connected to a mast [10] of the drilling rig [1]; setting the tubular stand [80] down at the stand hand-off position [50]; transporting a tubular stand [80] from the stand hand-off position [50] to a well center position [30] with a tubular delivery arm [500] translatably connected to the drilling mast [10]; stabbing the tubular stand [80] into a stump of a drill string [90] at the well center [30]; connecting the tubular stand [80] to the drill string [90]; and
,lowering the drill string [90] with a top drive assembly [200] translatably connected to the drilling mast [10].
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20. A drilling rig [1], comprising:
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a substructure [2] comprising a pair of base boxes; a drill floor [6] above the substructure [2]; a setback platform [900] below and forward of the drill floor [6]; a mast [10] extending vertically above the drill floor [6]; a top drive assembly [200] vertically translatable along the mast [10]; a tubular delivery arm [500] vertically translatable along the mast [10]; the tubular delivery arm [500] having a tubular clasp [550] movable between a well center position [30] over a well center and a stand hand-off position [50] forward of the well center position [30]; the top drive assembly [200] being vertically translatable along a first path over the well center and along a second path rearward of the first path; a racking module [300] extending outward of the mast [10] above the set-back platform [900]; a stand hand-off position [50] located on the setback platform [900], and extending vertically upwards substantially between the mast [10] and the racking module [300]; and
,an upper stand constraint [420] connected beneath the racking module [300] and extendable rearward towards the mast [10]. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification