Drilling rig structure installation and methods

• US 20090218138A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liui, Xi Lin, Chen, He Hui, Yu, Yan, Sheng, Hui Chun, Ren, Chunqiao, McCurdy, Stuart Arthur Lyall, Donnally, Robert Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/023 the mast being foldable or telescopically retractable

Abstract

A method for installing rig structure (e.g. cabin, house, a doghouse) on a drilling rig, the method including: connecting support apparatus to a substructure of a drilling rig, supporting a drilling floor; moving a movement apparatus supporting a rig structure to position it adjacent the support apparatus, by moving movement apparatus on ground adjacent the substructure, moving the support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to the structure; connecting raising apparatus to the structure, the raising apparatus connected to the support apparatus; raising the structure up to the drill floor with the raising apparatus; and securing the structure to the support apparatus. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising

positioning a rig structure on a movement apparatus adjacent a support apparatus, the support apparatus connected to a substructure of a drilling rig, the support apparatus movably connected to the substructure, the substructure supporting a drilling floor, said positioning effected by moving the movement apparatus on ground adjacent the substructure,

moving the support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to the rig structure, the support apparatus having raising apparatus connected thereto,

connecting the raising apparatus to the rig structure, and

raising the rig structure with the raising apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rig structure is one of house, doghouse, cabin, driller cabin, and electrical control house.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

raising the rig structure up to the drill floor and

securing the rig structure to the support apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1

wherein the support apparatus includes dual opposed support arms, each arm pivotably connected to a corresponding base connected to the drilling floor, the method further comprising

positioning each of the dual opposed support arms at an angle to its respective base to facilitate positioning of the rig structure adjacent the drilling floor.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising

moving the dual opposed support arms toward the rig structure for connection thereto, and

connecting the dual opposed support arms to the rig structure.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

aligning the rig structure with respect to the support apparatus, and

with the raising apparatus, raising the rig structure above the movement apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising

removing the movement apparatus away from the drilling rig.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising

raising, with the substructure, the drilling floor with the rig structure thereon.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein

the raising apparatus includes linkage apparatus connectable between the dual opposed support arms and the rig structure, and

hydraulic cylinder apparatus interconnected between the dual support arms and the linkage apparatus for raising the linkage apparatus to raise the rig structure.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein

the linkage apparatus includes two spaced-apart linkages each with multiple links, each with a lowermost link connectable to the rig structure, the two spaced-apart linkages including a first linkage and a second linkage,

a common link interconnecting the two linkages, and

the hydraulic cylinder apparatus having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to one of the dual opposed support arms and the second end connected to the first linkages, the method further comprising

extending the hydraulic cylinder apparatus to raise the first linkage and, via the common link, to thereby raise the second linkage.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein

the raising apparatus includes hydraulic cylinder apparatus releasably interconnecting the dual opposed support arms and the rig structure, the method further comprising

raising the rig structure by contacting the hydraulic cylinder apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein

the raising apparatus includes hydraulic cylinder,

the hydraulic cylinder apparatus interconnected between the support apparatus and the rig structure, the method further comprising

contracting the hydraulic cylinder apparatus to move the rig structure toward the drilling floor.

13. A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising

positioning a rig structure on a movement apparatus adjacent a support apparatus, the support apparatus connected to a substructure of a drilling rig, the support apparatus movably connected to the substructure, the substructure supporting a drilling floor, said positioning effected by moving the movement apparatus on ground adjacent the substructure,

moving the support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to the rig structure, the support apparatus having raising apparatus connected thereto,

connecting the raising apparatus to the rig structure,

raising the rig structure with the raising apparatus up to the drill floor,

wherein the rig structure is one of house, doghouse, cabin, driller cabin, and electrical control house,

wherein the support apparatus includes dual opposed support arms, each arm pivotably connected to a corresponding base connected to the drilling floor, the method further comprising

positioning each of the dual opposed support arms at an angle to its respective base to facilitate positioning of the rig structure adjacent the drilling floor,

removing the movement apparatus away from the drilling rig, and

raising, with the substructure, the drilling floor with the rig structure thereon.

14. A handling system for securing a rig structure to a drilling rig, the handling system comprising

movement apparatus for initially supporting a rig structure and for moving on ground adjacent a drilling rig to position the rig structure with respect to the drilling rig, the drilling rig having a substructure with a drill floor,

support apparatus movably connected to the drill floor for selectively supporting the rig structure, the support apparatus movable out of the way to facilitate positioning of the rig structure with respect to the drill floor and the support apparatus movable adjacent the rig structure for connection thereto, and

raising apparatus connected to the support apparatus, the raising apparatus for selectively raising the rig structure with respect to the drill floor.

15. The handling system of claim 14 wherein the rig structure is one of house, doghouse, cabin, driller cabin, and electrical control house.

16. The handling system of claim 14

wherein the support apparatus includes dual opposed support arms, each arm pivotably connected to a corresponding base connected to the drilling floor, and

each of the dual opposed support arms positionable at an angle to its respective base to facilitate positioning of the rig structure adjacent the drilling floor.

17. The handling system of claim 14 wherein

the raising apparatus includes linkage apparatus connectable between the dual opposed support arms and the rig structure, and

hydraulic cylinder apparatus interconnected between the dual support arms and the linkage apparatus for raising the linkage apparatus to raise the rig structure.

18. The handling system of claim 14 wherein

the linkage apparatus includes two spaced-apart linkages each with multiple links, each with a lowermost link connectable to the rig structure, the two spaced-apart linkages including a first linkage and a second linkage,

a common link interconnecting the two linkages, and

the hydraulic cylinder apparatus having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to one of the dual opposed support arms and the second end connected to the first linkage so that extending the hydraulic cylinder apparatus raises the first linkage and, via the common link, thereby raises the second linkage.

19. The handling system of claim 14 wherein

the raising apparatus includes hydraulic cylinder apparatus releasably interconnecting the dual opposed support arms and the rig structure so that by contracting the hydraulic cylinder apparatus raises the rig structure.

20. The handling system of claim 14 wherein

the raising apparatus includes hydraulic cylinder apparatus,

the hydraulic cylinder apparatus is interconnected between the support apparatus and the rig structure so that contracting the hydraulic cylinder apparatus moves the rig structure toward the drilling floor.