DRILLING RIG WITH HINGED, RETRACTABLE OUTRIGGERS

• US 20120138327A1
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Konduc, Kameron Wayne, Sorokan, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/189
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• 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 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/02 Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/023 the mast being foldable or telescopically retractable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A mobile drilling structure with a base frame adapted to accommodate one or more tractor units to drill a series of relatively closely spaced boreholes in an oilfield. The drilling structure has a plurality of hinged outriggers adapted to transfer the weight of the drilling structure to a plurality of outboard tractors, but which may be retracted when not needed. The hinged outriggers allow the drilling structure to be more easy moved when lateral and longitudinal movements of the drilling structure are required in a confined area.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A mobile drill rig, comprising:

a frame structure;

a plurality of hinged outriggers that are adapted to be retractable to a substantially vertical position during a drilling operation and extendable to a substantially horizontal position during movement of said mobile drill rig, wherein said frame structure is adapted to transfer a weight of said mobile drill rig through said plurality of hinged outriggers to a plurality of wheeled frame dollies during said movement.

36. The mobile drill rig of claim 35, wherein said frame structure is adapted to be placed on one or more wheeled frame dollies.

37. The mobile drill rig of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be pulled along by a single towing bar.

38. The mobile drill rig of claim 35, wherein said movement is from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be in a fully assembled condition during said movement from said one wellbore site to said adjacent wellbore site, and wherein said mobile drill rig is further adapted to be disassembled and packaged during transportation of said mobile drill rig along a highway.

39. The mobile drill rig of claim 37, wherein said movement is from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be in a fully assembled condition during said movement from said one wellbore site to said adjacent wellbore site, and wherein said mobile drill rig is further adapted to be disassembled and packaged during highway transportation.

40. The mobile drill rig of claim 39, wherein said frame structure is adapted to be placed on one or more wheeled frame dollies.

41. The mobile drill rig of claim 40, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be moved laterally during said movement using a plurality of tractors, and wherein said mobile drill rig is further adapted to be moved longitudinally during said movement using said plurality of tractors with said plurality of hinged outriggers.

42. The mobile drill rig of claim 35, further comprising one or more wheeled frame dollies that are adapted to facilitate said movement, wherein said movement is from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be in a fully assembled condition during said movement, and wherein said mobile drill rig is further adapted to be disassembled and packaged during transportation of said mobile drill rig along a highway.

43. The mobile drill rig of claim 42, wherein said frame structure is adapted to be placed on said one or more wheeled frame dollies.

44. The mobile drill rig of claim 42, further comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be pulled along by a single towing bar.

45. The mobile drill rig of claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hinged outriggers comprises at least one servomechanism operatively coupled thereto, wherein each of said at least one servomechanisms comprises at least one of an hydraulic servomechanism and a pneumatic servomechanism that is adapted to provide extension and retraction of said hinged outrigger and is integrated with a control system that is adapted to facilitate electronic coordination of said movement of said mobile drill rig.

46. The mobile drill rig of claim 45, wherein said mobile drill rig is adapted to be moved laterally during said movement using a plurality of tractors, and wherein said mobile drill rig is further adapted to be moved longitudinally during said movement using said plurality of tractors with said plurality of hinged outriggers.

47. The mobile drill rig of claim 45, wherein said movement of said mobile drill rig is for a distance of at least approximately 100 feet from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site.

48. A hinged outrigger operatively coupled to a mobile drill rig, the hinged outrigger comprising:

at least one servomechanism operatively coupled to said hinged outrigger, wherein said hinged outrigger is adapted to be retractable to a substantially vertical position during a drilling operation and extendable to a substantially horizontal position during movement of said mobile drill rig, wherein said hinged outrigger is further adapted to transfer weight of said mobile drill rig from a frame structure to one or more wheeled frame dollies during said movement, and wherein said at least one servomechanism comprises at least one of an hydraulic servomechanism and a pneumatic servomechanism and is adapted to provide extension and retraction of said hinged outrigger and to facilitate electronic coordination of said movement; and

a plurality of tractors.

49. The hinged outrigger of claim 48, wherein said hinged outrigger is operatively coupled to a frame structure that is adapted to be placed on one or more wheeled frame dollies.

50. The hinged outrigger of claim 48, further comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein said hinged outrigger is adapted to facilitate towing of said mobile drill rig by a single towing bar.

51. The hinged outrigger of claim 48, wherein said movement is from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site, wherein said hinged outrigger is adapted to facilitate said movement of said mobile drill rig when said mobile drill rig is in a fully assembled condition, and wherein said hinged outrigger is further adapted to be disassembled and packaged during transportation of said mobile drill rig along a highway.

52. The hinged outrigger of claim 50, wherein said movement is from one wellbore site to an adjacent wellbore site, wherein said hinged outrigger is adapted to facilitate said movement of said mobile drill rig when said mobile drill rig is in a fully assembled condition, and wherein said hinged outrigger is further adapted to be disassembled and packaged during transportation of said mobile drill rig along a highway.

53-1. The hinged outrigger of claim 53, wherein said hinged outrigger is adapted to facilitate longitudinal movement of said mobile drill rig during said movement using said plurality of tractors.