Work-over rig assembly and methods thereof

• US 20080247827A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remedial Cayman Limited (Remedial (Cyprus) PCL)
• Original Assignee: Remedial Cyprus Public Company Limited
• Inventors: Nimmo, Peter W., Altman, Richard A., Brown, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US12/079,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/197
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/10 of cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/44 Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/52 Floating cranes floating dredgers E02F
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/006 with lattice style supporting legs
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0082 Spudcans, skirts or extended feet
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices

Abstract

A vessel is provided that is an improvement over previously disclosed jack-up rigs and lift boats. The vessel has at least three thrusters and is self-propelled. The vessel additionally has a raised and hollow crane support on which a crane may be mounted. The crane support is affixed to tracks, which permit the crane to slide along the deck of the vessel. The raised and hollowed feature of the crane support permits the storage of equipment and things beneath the crane support without hindering the movement of the crane along the tracks. Optionally, the vessel further comprises a sub-base structure removably affixed to the transom of the vessel; a base structure removably affixed to the sub-base structure; and a work-over rig removably affixed to the base structure. Also provided herein are methods of using the crane and affixing the sub-base structure, base structure, and work-over rig to the vessel'"'"'s transom.

Claims

1. ) A work-over rig assembly comprising:

a. at least two braces, wherein each of the braces are adaptably mounted to a transom of an Elevating Support Vessel;

b. a sub-base support structure adaptably mounted to each of the braces, wherein the sub-base support structure defines an aperture;

c. a base structure adaptably mounted to the sub-base support structure; and

d. a work-over rig adaptably mounted to the base structure, wherein the base structure and work-over rig are disposed over the aperture defined by the sub-base support structure.

2. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two braces are pinned to the transom of the Elevating Support Vessel, the sub-base support structure is pinned to each of the braces, the base structure is pinned to the sub-base support structure, and the work-over rig is pinned to the base structure.

3. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 1, wherein the transom of the Elevating Support Vessel comprises two tracks that are disposed through the depth of the Elevating Support Vessel and each of the braces are pinned in vertical aligned with each of the tracks.

4. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 1, wherein the base structure is skiddable along at least a portion of an vertical axis of the sub-base support structure.

5. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 4, wherein the base structure is skiddable along about 6 meters in the vertical axis.

6. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 1, wherein the base structure is skiddable along at least a portion of a horizontal axis of the sub-base support structure.

7. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 6, wherein the base structure is skiddable along about 3 meters in the horizontal axis.

8. ) The work-over rig assembly of claim 1, wherein the work-over rig comprises the ability to rack drill-pipe doubles having a total capacity of 200 metric tons.

9. ) A method of assembling a work-over rig assembly on a transom of an Elevating Support Vessel comprising:

a. using a crane disposed on a crane support apparatus to lift a sub-base structure, wherein the crane support apparatus comprises;

i. at least two vertical members with each vertical member having a first and second end, the first end of the first vertical member is affixed to a first track, the first end of the second vertical member is affixed to a second track, the first and second tracks are affixed to a deck of the Elevating Support Vessel, the second end of the first vertical member is affixed to a first side of a platform, the second end of the second vertical member is affixed to a second side of the platform; and

ii. a column having a proximate and distal end, the proximate end is affixed to the platform, and the crane is rotatably affixed to the distal end of the column, the platform has a lower side disposed at least about 2 meters above the deck, the crane support apparatus is movable along the track;

b. using the crane to assemble the sub-base structure to a distal end of the transom of the Elevating Support Vessel;

c. using the crane to lift a base structure;

d. using the crane to assemble the base structure to the sub-base structure;

e. using the crane to lift a work-over rig; and

f. using the crane to assemble the work-over rig to the base structure.

10. ) The method of claim 9, wherein the sub-base structure comprises at least one brace and a sub-base support structure, and the at least one brace is adaptably pinned to the transom of the Elevating Support Vessel and the sub-base support structure is adapatably mounted to the brace.

11. ) The method of claim 9, wherein the brace has a top portion which is flush with the deck of the Elevating Support Vessel.

12. ) The method of claim 9, wherein the sub-base support structure defines an aperture over which the base structure and work-over rig are mounted.

13. ) The method of claim 9, wherein the crane assembles the work-over rig in less than 15 lifts.

14. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the crane assembles the work-over rig in less than 10 lifts.

15. ) A method assembling a work-over rig assembly on a satellite structure comprising:

a. placing an Elevating Support Vessel within about 23 meters of a satellite structure, wherein the satellite structure comprises at least two T-tracks;

b. jacking-up the Elevating Support Vessel at least 3 meters out of the water;

c. using a crane disposed on a crane support apparatus to lift a sub-base structure, wherein the sub-base structure comprises at least two shoes adaptable to be skiddably disposed about the least two T-tracks, the crane support apparatus comprises;

i. at least two vertical members with each vertical member having a first and second end, the first end of the first vertical member is affixed to a first track, the first end of the second vertical member is affixed to a second track, the first and second tracks are affixed to a deck of the Elevating Support Vessel, the second end of the first vertical member is affixed to a first side of a platform, the second end of the second vertical member is affixed to a second side of the platform; and

ii. a column having a proximate and distal end, the proximate end is affixed to the platform, and the crane is rotatably affixed to the distal end of the column, the platform has a lower side disposed at least about 2 meters above the deck, the crane support apparatus is movable along the track.;

d. using the crane to skiddably mount the at least two shoes of the sub-base support structure to the at least two T-tracks of the satellite structure;

e. using the crane to lift a base structure;

f. using the crane to assemble the base structure to the sub-base structure;

g. using the crane to lift a work-over rig; and

h. using the crane to assemble the work-over rig to the base structure.

16. ) The Elevating Support Vessel of claim 15, wherein the Elevating Support Vessel is jacked-up at least 10 meters above the still water line.

17. ) The method of claim 15, further comprising:

a. using the crane to lift a bridge;

b. using the crane to assemble the bridge between the Elevating Support Vessel and the satellite structure.

18. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the Elevating Support Vessel provides electrical power to the work-over rig.

19. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the crane assembles the work-over rig in less than 15 lifts.

20. ) The method of claim 19, wherein the crane assembles the work-over rig in less than 10 lifts.