Method and apparatus for movement of drilling equipment between adjacent drilling locations
First Claim
1. A drilling apparatus capable of drilling in at least two drilling locations on a drilling surface, said drilling apparatus comprising:
- a. a rig structure including a surface-engaging tool, said rig structure having a rig base;
b. a drilling pad having a substantially planar rig support surface with at least one drilling location aperture passing therethrough, wherein said pad can be placed on the drilling surface over the desired adjacent drilling locations such that each of said drilling locations coincides with a drilling location aperture, and wherein the rig base rests on said rig support surface;
wherein said rig structure can be positioned on said pad in a first position in alignment with a drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through said drilling location aperture and access a first drilling location coinciding therewith;
and wherein said rig structure can be moved from said first position to a second position in alignment with a drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through said drilling location aperture and access said second drilling location coinciding therewith by moving said rig structure horizontally across said rig support surface from said first position to said second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for the movement of drilling equipment between topographically adjacent drilling locations comprises positioning a transportable planar surface over the adjacent drilling locations between which it is desired to move the equipment. Ports or other access areas extending through the planar surface to the drilling locations below are provided. The equipment to be moved is placed on top of the planar surface and is provided on its bottom with a low-drag surface which can slide across the planar surface. The equipment can be moved from one desired drilling location to another by sliding it between locations on top of the planar surface. When all of the drilling is completed, the equipment can be struck for transport and the planar surface disassembled and moved to a new drilling area. Various methods to move the equipment could be used.
30 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A drilling apparatus capable of drilling in at least two drilling locations on a drilling surface, said drilling apparatus comprising:
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a. a rig structure including a surface-engaging tool, said rig structure having a rig base;
b. a drilling pad having a substantially planar rig support surface with at least one drilling location aperture passing therethrough, wherein said pad can be placed on the drilling surface over the desired adjacent drilling locations such that each of said drilling locations coincides with a drilling location aperture, and wherein the rig base rests on said rig support surface;
wherein said rig structure can be positioned on said pad in a first position in alignment with a drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through said drilling location aperture and access a first drilling location coinciding therewith;
and wherein said rig structure can be moved from said first position to a second position in alignment with a drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through said drilling location aperture and access said second drilling location coinciding therewith by moving said rig structure horizontally across said rig support surface from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A drilling pad adapter apparatus allowing a rig structure to be movable between at least two adjacent drilling locations on a drilling surface, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a drilling pad comprising a substantially planar rig support surface with at least one drilling location aperture passing therethrough;
b. a rig base adapted for attachment to a bottom of the rig structure;
wherein said pad can be placed on said drilling surface over the desired adjacent drilling locations such that each of said drilling locations coincides with a drilling location aperture, and wherein the rig structure comprises a surface-engaging tool and the rig structure can be attached to the rig base resting on said pad and positioned in a first position in alignment with a first drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through said at least one drilling location aperture and access a first drilling location coinciding therewith;
and wherein said rig structure attached to the rig base can be moved from said first position to a second position in alignment with a second drilling location aperture such that said surface-engaging tool can pass through a drilling location aperture and access a second drilling location coinciding therewith, by moving said rig structure attached to the rig base horizontally across said rig support surface from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of moving a rig structure on a drilling surface between adjacent drilling locations, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a drilling pad having a substantially planar rig support surface with at least one drilling location aperture passing therethrough, wherein said drilling pad is placed on said drilling surface over desired adjacent drilling locations such that each desired drilling location coincides with a drilling location aperture;
b. placing a rig structure on said rig support surface, said rig structure including a surface-engaging tool;
c. moving said rig structure horizontally across said rig support surface until said rig structure is aligned with a selected drilling location aperture coinciding with a desired drilling location such that the surface-engaging tool can access the desired drilling location through said selected drilling location aperture. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification