PORTABLE DRILLING RIG APPARATUS AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

• US 20110072737A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integrated Drilling Equipment Company Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: International Drilling Equipment Company LLC
• Inventors: Wasterval, Philip
• Application Number:
  US12/568,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072737A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/115
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/021 With a rotary table, i.e. a fixed rotary drive for a relatively advancing tool
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/023 the mast being foldable or telescopically retractable
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections

Abstract

A portable drilling rig apparatus includes a rig floor having a pedestal structure thereon, the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point and a lower attachment point and wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be rotated to a vertical position about the lower pivot point. The drilling rig further includes a mast structure having a mast pivot point at a lower end of the mast structure wherein the mast pivot point is configured to be pinned to an upper pivot point of the pedestal structure.

Claims

1. A portable drilling rig apparatus comprising:

a rig floor having a pedestal structure thereon;

the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point and a lower attachment point;

wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be rotated to a vertical position about the lower pivot point;

a mast structure having a mast pivot point at a lower end of the mast structure;

wherein the mast pivot point is configured to be pinned to an upper pivot point of the pedestal structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to pivot the mast structure about the mast pivot point to erect the mast structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one end of the at least one hydraulic cylinder is configured to be removably attachable at multiple locations on the rig floor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rig floor is hydraulically actuated to be elevated to a specified height.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the mast structure further comprising at least one mast leg configured to secure the mast structure in a vertical position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mast structure further comprises telescoping mast sections.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a latch configured to restrict movement between an inner mast section and an outer mast section of the mast structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the telescoping mast sections are hydraulically extended.

9. A method to assemble a portable drilling rig, the method comprising:

providing a pedestal structure on a rig floor;

the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point, a lower attachment point, and an upper pivot point;

aligning a mast structure and the pedestal structure;

pinning a mast pivot point located at a lower end of the mast structure to the upper pivot point of the pedestal structure;

pivoting the pedestal structure from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position;

moving the mast structure in a horizontal direction toward a center of the rig floor;

securing the lower attachment point of the pedestal structure to a corresponding attachment point on the rig floor;

erecting the mast structure from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position about a pivot point between the mast structure and the pedestal structure;

securing the mast structure in a vertical position.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising elevating the rig floor to a specified height.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending a mast leg from the mast structure to the rig floor to secure the mast structure in a vertical position.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein erecting the mast structure comprises extending at least one hydraulic cylinder attached to the mast structure and the rig floor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising extending multiple telescoping mast sections of the mast structure to a final height.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising latching the multiple telescoping mast sections to prevent relative movement.

15. A method to assemble a portable drilling rig, the method comprising:

attaching a mast structure to a pedestal structure on a rig floor; and

pivoting the pedestal structure from a horizontal position to a vertical position about a lower pivot point and securing the pedestal structure to the rig floor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising erecting the mast structure to a vertical position about a pivot point of the pedestal structure.

17. An apparatus to restrict axial movement between an inner mast section and an outer mast section, the apparatus comprising:

a latch mechanism pivotably connected to the inner mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism is configured to move between a collapsed position and an extended position;

a first cutout formed in an outer surface of the inner mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism sits flush with the outer surface of the inner mast section when the latch mechanism is in the collapsed position;

a second cutout formed in an inner surface of the outer mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism is configured to be extended radially and engage the second cutout in the inner surface of the outer mast section.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a spring configured to bias the latch mechanism into the extended position.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a cable to move the latch between the collapsed position and the extended position.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the latch mechanism is configured to provide a path for load forces from the inner mast section to be transmitted to the outer mast section.