Method and System for Building Modular Structures from Which Oil and Gas Wells are Drilled

• US 20100143044A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Occidental Petroleum Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Occidental Petroleum Corporation)
• Inventors: Millheim, Keith K., Kadaster, Ali G.
• Application Number:
  US12/705,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143044A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/201
• 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: E02B 2017/0091 Offshore structures for wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09

Abstract

A method and system for building modular platform structures from which oil and gas wells are drilled and maintained is disclosed, wherein a plurality of easily transportable, multifunctional platform modules are interconnected on-site to form a unitary platform structure. The interconnected platform modules are elevated above a ground surface on one or more legs coupled to at least one of the platform modules. The elevated, interconnected platform modules support both drilling and production operations in land-based, arctic, inaccessible, near-offshore and environmentally sensitive locations.

Claims

1. A method of drilling wells, wherein said wells are drilled at drilling sites have a water depth of less than about seven feet, said method comprising:

constructing a plurality of modular drilling platforms at a plurality of drilling sites;

installing a set of drilling equipment on a first of said modular drilling platforms;

drilling a well from said first modular drilling platform;

transporting said set of drilling equipment from said first modular drilling platform to a second of said modular drilling platforms;

installing said set of drilling equipment on said second modular drilling platform; and

drilling a well from said second modular drilling platform.

2. The method of drilling wells of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

transporting said set of drilling equipment from said second modular drilling platform to a third of said modular drilling platforms;

installing said set of drilling equipment on said third modular drilling platform; and

drilling a well from said third modular drilling platform.

3. The method of drilling wells of claim 1, wherein said constructing a plurality of modular drilling platforms further comprises:

transporting at least one platform module to at least one of said plurality of drilling sites; and

elevating said at least one platform module over said at least one of said plurality of drilling sites.

4. The method of drilling wells of claim 3, wherein said transporting at least one platform module further comprises transporting a plurality of mutually interconnectible platform modules.

5. The method of drilling wells of claim 3, wherein said transporting at least one platform module further comprises transporting a plurality of multifunctional platform modules.

6. The method of drilling wells of claim 5, wherein said transporting a plurality of multifunctional platform modules further comprises transporting at least one waste retention platform module.

7. The method of drilling wells of claim 3, wherein said elevating said at least one platform module further comprises:

transporting at least one leg to said at least one of said drilling sites; and

raising said at least one platform module on said at least one leg.

8. The method of drilling wells of claim 7, wherein said elevating said at least one platform module further comprises inserting said at least one leg into a surface region disposed beneath said drilling site.

9. The method of drilling wells of claim 8, wherein said inserting said at least one leg into said surface region further comprises driving said at least one leg into said surface region.

10. The method of drilling wells of claim 8, said method further comprising injecting a fluid into said at least one leg.

11. The method of drilling wells of claim 10, wherein said fluid further comprises cement.

12. A system for drilling wells, wherein said wells are drilled at drilling sites have a water depth of less than about seven feet, said system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected platform modules;

at least one leg coupled to at least one of said plurality of interconnected platform modules to support said plurality of interconnected platform modules above a surface region; and

drilling equipment supported by said plurality of interconnected platform modules.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of said platform modules is transportable by aircraft.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of said platform modules is transportable by boat.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein each of said platform modules is transportable by at least one of a truck, a railcar, a hovercraft, and a helicopter.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of interconnected platform modules further comprises:

a body portion; and

a leg attachment member coupled to said body portion.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said leg attachment member is structurally integral with said body portion.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said leg attachment member is separable from said body portion.