Blow out preventer transfer platform

• US 20050092497A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Rashid, Omar A., Rawls, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/358
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/502 by means of tension legs
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/19 Other loading or unloading equipment involving an intermittent action, not provided in groups B63B27/04 - B63B27/18
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/00 Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor construction methods for floating platforms B63B75/00; anchoring floating platforms B63B21/00; floating platforms, e.g. anchored, B63B35/44; underwater reservoirs B65D88/78
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence

Abstract

An offshore well drilling assembly includes a drilling facility or support platform for location at sea. A drilling platform connects to the support platform so the drilling platform is cantilevered from the support platform. The drilling platform extends from the support platform, for positioning over a subsea well. The well drilling assembly includes a staging platform for use in loading and unloading of wellhead equipment. The staging platform is mounted to the drilling platform. The staging platform moves along a side of the drilling platform in directions toward and away from the support platform to a distance over the sea. A method of conveying wellhead equipment uses the staging platform for conveying wellhead equipment between the support platform and a distance over the sea by moving the staging platform along the drilling platform.

Claims

1. An offshore well drilling assembly, comprising:

a support platform for location at sea;

a drilling platform cantilevered to the support platform, the drilling platform extending from the support platform for positioning over a subsea well; and

a staging platform for use in loading and unloading of wellhead equipment that is mounted to the drilling platform, the staging platform being moveable along a side of the drilling platform in directions toward and away from the support platform to a distance over the sea.

2. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the support platform is a tension leg platform.

3. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the wellhead equipment includes a blow out preventer.

4. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the staging platform is moveable to a location over a portion of the support platform.

5. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rail connected to the drilling platform and the staging platform being mounted to the rail.

6. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 5, wherein the rail guides the staging platform as the staging platform moves.

7. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 5, wherein the rail comprises a plurality of teeth.

8. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a motor connected to the staging platform that drives the staging platform toward and away from the support platform.

9. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the drilling platform further comprises an opening for communication with the subsea well, the staging platform moving away from the support platform to distance at least equal to the opening.

10. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 9, wherein the staging platform moves along a line that does not intersect with the opening.

11. The offshore well drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the staging platform comprises a vertical support assembly that registers with a wall of the drilling platform and a horizontal support assembly extending away from vertical support assembly, the wellhead equipment being loaded and unloaded onto horizontal support assembly.

12. In an offshore facility at sea having a support platform, a drilling platform cantilevered to the support platform and extending over the sea, and an opening formed in the drilling platform for a derrick to register with a subsea well, the offshore facility comprising:

a staging platform for use in loading and unloading of wellhead equipment that is mounted to the drilling platform, the staging platform being moveable along a side of the drilling platform in directions toward and away from the support platform to a distance at least equal to the opening.

13. The offshore facility of claim 12, wherein the wellhead equipment includes a blow out preventer.

14. The offshore facility of claim 12, wherein the staging platform is moveable to a location over a portion of the support platform.

15. The offshore facility of claim 12, further comprising:

a first rail connected to the drilling platform and extending along a first path that is offset from the opening, the staging platform being mounted to the first rail; and

a second rail connected to the drilling platform and extending along a second path that intersects the opening and the first path.

16. The offshore facility of claim 15, wherein the first rail comprises a plurality of teeth.

17. The offshore facility of claim 15, wherein the wellhead equipment is suspended from the second rail when the second rail supports and moves the wellhead equipment within the drilling platform.

18. The offshore facility of claim 12, further comprising a motor connected to the staging platform that drives the staging platform toward and away from the support platform.

19. The offshore facility of claim 12, wherein the staging platform comprises a vertical support assembly that registers with a wall of the drilling platform and a horizontal support assembly extending away from vertical support assembly, the wellhead equipment being loaded and unloaded onto horizontal support assembly.

20. A method of conveying wellhead equipment for an offshore well drilling assembly, comprising:

providing a support platform for location at sea, a drilling platform connected to the support platform, and a staging platform mounted to the support platform;

extending the drilling platform from the support platform so that the drilling platform is cantilevered from the support platform; and

conveying wellhead equipment between the support platform and a distance over the sea by moving the staging platform along the drilling platform.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing an opening formed in the drilling platform for operating on a subsea well;

and

wherein the staging platform is moved along a line that is offset from the opening when the wellhead equipment is conveyed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wellhead equipment is conveyed with the staging platform between the support platform and a distance farther away from the support platform than the opening.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing a rail assembly mounted in the drilling platform; and

conveying the wellhead equipment between the staging platform and the opening with the rail assembly.