OFFSHORE DRILLING VESSEL

• US 20110036287A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itrec BV (Ace Innovation Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: Itrec BV (Ace Innovation Holding BV)
• Inventors: Wijning, Diederick Bernardus, Roodenburg, Joop
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/74.R
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2003/147 Moon-pools, e.g. for offshore drilling vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/507 with mooring turrets
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/04 of derricks , i.e. employing ships' masts
• 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: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/004 supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/006 including heave compensators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/02 Rod or cable suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/09 specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/143 specially adapted for underwater drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A pipe handling system for handling the pipes from a cargo hull includes a gantry beam and a guide mast assembly having an essentially vertical guide mast. The guide mast assembly is moveably connected to the gantry beam, allowing movement of the guide mast assembly in a vertical direction between a lowered mast position and a lifted mast position relative to the gantry beam. A lifting part includes a device configured to engage a pipe. The lifting part is moveable by one or more hoists in a vertical direction between a lowered lifting part position for picking up the pipe and a lifted lifting part position. The lifted part engages on the guide mast assembly, such that the guide mast assembly causes vertical guidance of the lifting part when the guide mast assembly with the engaged lifting part is moved between the lowered mast position and the lifted mast position.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. a vessel comprising:

a cargo hull for storing pipes in a substantial horizontal position; and

a pipe handling system for handling the pipes from the cargo hull, the pipe handling system comprising;

a gantry beam that spans the cargo hull in a substantial horizontal direction;

a guide mast assembly comprising an essentially vertical guide mast, said guide mast assembly being moveably connected to the gantry beam, allowing movement of the guide mast assembly in a vertical direction between a lowered mast position and a lifted mast position relative to the gantry beam; and

a lifting part comprising a device configured to engage at least one pipe;

said lifting part being moveable by one or more hoists in a vertical direction between a lowered lifting part position for picking up the at least one pipe and a lifted lifting part position, wherein the lifted part in the lifted lifting part position engages on the guide mast assembly in the lowered mast position, such that the guide mast assembly causes vertical guidance of the lifting part when the guide mast assembly with the engaged lifting part is moved between the lowered mast position and the lifted mast position.

55. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the at least one hoist for lifting the lifting part is positioned on the gantry beam, wherein the guide mast assembly is moveable between the lowered mast position and a lifted mast position by said one or more hoists.

56. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the at least one hoist for the lifting part is positioned on the guide mast assembly, and wherein an additional hoisting device is provided for moving the guide mast assembly.

57. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the lifting part and the guide mast assembly are provided with complementary positioning devices configured to position the lifting part in the lifted lifting part position to engage with the guide mast assembly to prevent movement of the lifting part relative to the guide mast assembly.

58. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the guide mast assembly is provided with guides for guiding the lifting wires of the one or more hoists.

59. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the lifting part extends horizontally for engaging a pipe near outer ends thereof.

60. The vessel according to claim 59, wherein the lifting part is provided with guides at opposite ends thereof for cooperating with vertical guide tracks, said vertical guide tracks being mounted to the cargo hull of the vessel.

61. The vessel according to claim 60, wherein the vertical guide tracks are designed for engaging the ends of a pipe, to enable stacking of the pipes, and for guiding the pipes when moved in a vertical direction.

62. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the gantry beam is provided with guides at opposite ends thereof for interacting with horizontal guide tracks extending along opposite sides of the cargo hull such that the gantry beam is moveable along at least a part of the cargo hull of the vessel.

63. The vessel according to claim 62, wherein the gantry beam is resting on uprights at opposite ends thereof for supporting said gantry beam, said uprights being at the foot provided with the guides for interacting with the horizontal guide track.

64. The vessel according to claim 62, wherein the guide tracks extend beyond the cargo hull, such that the pipe handling system can cover parts of the vessel other than a storage hull.

65. The vessel according to claim 53, further comprising a dolly moveably connected to the gantry beam for movement along a longitudinal direction of the gantry beam, said dolly supporting the guide mast assembly and allowing movement of the guide mast assembly in the vertical direction between the lowered mast position and the lifted mast position relative to the dolly;

wherein the dolly and the guide mast assembly can be moved in combination along the longitudinal direction of the gantry beam.

66. The vessel according to claim 53, wherein the guide mast assembly is provided with a device that is configured to connect with other lifting parts, to enable the pipe handling system to lift objects other than pipes.

54. The vessel according to claim 54, wherein the guide mast assembly comprises support arms at the lower end of the vertical guide mast extending in a radial direction relative to the vertical guide mast, wherein each support arm is provided with a support device at a distal end thereof, the support device being configured to engage with parts of the hull of the vessel, at least when the guide mast assembly is in the lowered mast position, to support the guide mast assembly in said position.

67. A pipe handling system for handling pipes from a cargo hull, comprising:

a gantry beam adapted to span the cargo hull in a substantial horizontal direction;

a guide mast assembly comprising an essentially vertical guide mast, said guide mast assembly being moveably connected to the gantry beam, allowing movement of the guide mast assembly in a vertical direction between a lowered mast position and a lifted mast position relative to the gantry beam; and

a lifting part comprising a device configured to engage at least one pipe;

said lifting part being moveable by one or more hoists in a vertical direction between a lowered lifting part position for picking up the at least one pipe and a lifted lifting part position, wherein the lifted part in the lifted lifting part position engages on the guide mast assembly in the lowered mast position, such that the guide mast assembly causes vertical guidance of the lifting part when the guide mast assembly with the engaged lifting part is moved between the lowered mast position and the lifted mast position.

68. A monohull offshore drilling vessel, comprising:

a hull having a moonpool, a main deck and a hold, said hold having a floor and a side wall;

a firing line hoist system that is mounted on the hull at the moonpool, said firing line hoist system comprising a mast connected to the hull of the drilling vessel;

a pipe storage for storing drill pipes in a substantially horizontal position; and

a riser storage for storing risers in a substantially horizontal position, wherein the pipe storage and/or the riser storage extend to the floor of the hold.

69. The vessel according to claim 68, further comprising a silo room for accommodating silos, said silo room being arranged on the floor of the hold.

70. The vessel according to claim 68, further comprising a mud tank for storing drilling mud, said mud tank being arranged on the floor of the hold.

72. A monohull offshore drilling vessel, comprising:

a hull having a moonpool and a main deck;

a firing line hoist system mounted on the hull above the moonpool, said firing line hoist system comprising;

a mast connected to the hull of the drilling vessel; and

a hoisting device supported by the mast and having a load attachment device that is displaceable along a firing line and extends on an outside of and adjacent to the first side of the mast, wherein the firing line hoisting device is adapted to be used for drilling or drilling related operations; and

auxiliary facilities for performing auxiliary operations for the drilling or drilling related operations, said auxiliary facilities being arranged in or at the hull adjacent to the first side of the mast.

73. The vessel according to claim 73, wherein the auxiliary facilities comprise a riser storage.