MULTI-FUNCTION MULTI-HOLE DRILLING RIG

• US 20100147524A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Dean A., Reid, David Gilbert, Springett, Frank Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/313
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/003 adapted to be moved on their substructure, e.g. with skidding means; adapted to drill a plurality of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/14 Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence

Abstract

A multi-function multi-hole rig including multiple machines for accomplishing various rig functions, e.g., drilling machine(s), tripping machine(s), casing machine(s), cementing machine(s), workover machine(s), etc., for drilling, completing and/or working over multiple wellbores without moving the rig. Rig functions may be performed one after the other and/or simultaneously, while allowing other functions related to completion and production to continue simultaneously.

Claims

1. A multi-function rig for performing rig operations on a plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at a single wellbore location site, said multi-function rig configured to be movable between multiple wellbore location sites, the multi-function rig comprising:

a rig structure configured to be positioned over said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at said single wellbore location site;

at least one tubular movement apparatus disposed proximate said rig structure;

a plurality of machines operatively coupled to said rig structure and configured to perform at least one of said rig operations on at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein at least one of said plurality of machines is configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations without moving said multi-function rig from said single wellbore location site; and

at least one of said plurality of machines being configured as a drilling machine to perform a drilling operation, and configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations.

2. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a rig floor, a base, a framework and a support structure.

3. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig operations comprise at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation, or a workover operation.

4. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising a movement apparatus disposed proximate said rig structure, said movement apparatus being configured to move at least one of said plurality of machines relative to said rig structure.

5. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said multi-function rig is configured for onshore applications.

6. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said multi-function rig is configured for offshore applications.

7. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base.

8. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a non-rectangular base.

9. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one tubular holder configured to support tubulars during said rig operations.

10. The multi-function rig of claim 9, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be modular.

11. The multi-function rig of claim 9, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be moveable relative to said rig structure.

12. The multi-function rig of claim 9, wherein said rig structure comprises a rig floor working area, and said at least one tubular movement apparatus is configured to move tubulars between said tubular holder and said rig floor working area.

13. The multi-function rig of claim 9, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base, wherein each of said plurality of space-apart wellbore locations are located adjacent to and on a first side of said rig structure and said at least one tubular holder is disposed adjacent to and on a second side of said rig structure other than said first side of said rig structure.

14. The multi-function rig of claim 13, wherein said second side of said rig structure is opposite of said first side of said rig structure.

15. The multi-function rig of claim 13, wherein said second side of said rig structure is adjacent to said first side of said rig structure.

16. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said at least one tubular movement apparatus comprises a catwalk, trough and v-door.

17. The multi-function rig of claim 16, further comprising at least one tubular holder and at least one tubular dispensing mechanism, wherein said tubular dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense tubulars from said at least one tubular holder onto said trough.

18. The multi-function rig of claim 16, further comprising at least one tubular holder configured to stage tubulars during said rig operations and a frame disposed proximate said at least one tubular holder, wherein said catwalk is disposed above said frame.

19. The multi-purpose rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a hydraulic power unit and an electric power unit disposed proximate said rig structure.

20. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising a driller cabin.

21. The multi-function rig of claim 20, wherein said driller cabin is configured to be movable.

22. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of machines is configured to perform said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

23. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said plurality of machines comprises at least one of a tripping machine, a heater installation machine, a casing drilling machine, a casing machine, a cementing machine, a workover machine, a coil tubing unit, or an auxiliary drilling unit.

24. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a degasser or a centrifuge disposed proximate said rig structure.

25. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising pressure control equipment disposed proximate said rig structure.

26. The multi-function rig of claim 25, further comprising a frame structure disposed proximate said pressure control equipment.

27. The multi-function rig of claim 25, wherein said pressure control equipment comprises at least one of a blowout preventer apparatus, a flowline apparatus, or a diverter apparatus.

28. The multi-function rig of claim 25, wherein said pressure control equipment is configured to support drilling loads.

29. The multi-function rig of claim 26, wherein said frame structure proximate said pressure control equipment is configured to support drilling loads.

30. A method for performing rig operations on a plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations with a single multi-function rig at a single wellbore location site, said method comprising:

positioning said multi-function rig at said single wellbore location site, said multi-function rig configured to be movable between multiple wellbore location sites and comprising a rig structure adapted to be positioned over said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, said multi-function rig further comprising at least one tubular movement apparatus proximate said rig structure and a plurality of machines operatively coupled to said rig structure and configured to perform at least one of said rig operations on each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein at least one of said rig operations is a drilling operation, at least one of said plurality of machines is configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced apart wellbore locations without moving said multi-function rig from said wellbore locations site, and at least one of said plurality of machines is further configured as a drilling machine to perform said drilling operation;

moving said at least one of said plurality of machines configured as a drilling machine proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations; and

performing a drilling operation on said at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations using at least one of said plurality of machines being configured as a drilling machine.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein performing said rig operations comprises performing one at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation, or a workover operation.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said rig operations are performed onshore.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said rig operations are performed offshore.

34. The method of claim 30, said method further comprising performing a plurality of said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

35. The method of claim 30, said method further comprising supporting tubulars using at least one tubular holder, wherein said tubular holder is configured to support said tubulars during said rig operations.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be modular.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be moveable relative to said rig structure.

38. The method of claim 35, said method further comprising moving tubulars between said at least one tubular holder and a rig floor working area of said rig structure using at least one tubular movement apparatus configured to move said tubulars between said at least one tubular holder and said rig floor working area.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base and each of said plurality of space-apart wellbore locations are located adjacent to and on a first side of said rig structure.

40. The method of claim 39, said method further comprising disposing said at least one tubular holder adjacent to and on a second side of said rig structure other than said first side of said rig structure.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said second side of said rig structure is opposite of said first side of said rig structure.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said second side of said rig structure is adjacent to said first side of said rig structure.

43. The method of claim 30, further comprising dispensing tubulars onto a trough from at least one tubular holder using at least one tubulars dispensing mechanism configured to dispense tubulars from said at least one tubular holder onto said trough.

44. The method of claim 30, further comprising staging tubulars using at least one tubular holder configured to stage said tubulars during said rig operations, said at least one tubular hold comprising a frame disposed proximate thereto and a catwalk disposed above said frame.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein each of said plurality of machines is configured to perform said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

46. The method of claim 30, wherein said plurality of machines comprises at least one of a tripping machine, a heater installation machine, a casing drilling machine, a casing machine, a cementing machine, a workover machine, a coil tubing unit, or an auxiliary drilling unit.

47. The method of claim 30, wherein said multi-function rig further comprises at least one of a degasser or a centrifuge disposed proximate said rig structure.

48. The method of claim 30, wherein said multi-function rig further comprises at least one of a de-sander or de-silter disposed proximate said rig structure.

49. The method of claim 30, further comprising installing a heater apparatus in a drilled wellbore using a heater installation machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

50. The method of claim 30, further comprising automatically operating said plurality of machines using a control system.

51. The method of claim 30, further comprising performing a tripping operation on at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations.

52. The method of claim 30, further comprising utilizing said plurality of machines to drill a plurality of wellbores and perform tripping operations at each of said plurality of drilled wellbores.

53. The method of claim 30, further comprising producing a cased wellbore using a casing drilling machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

54. The method of claim 30, further comprising casing a previously drilled wellbore using a casing machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

55. The method of claim 30, further comprising cementing a previously cased wellbore using a cementing machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

56. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing at least one of a completions operation or a workover operation using said workover machine.

57. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation or a workover operation using said coil tubing unit.

58. The method of claim 46, further comprising drilling an upper portion of a wellbore using an auxiliary drilling unit disposed proximate said rig structure.