X-Y-Z Pipe Racker for a Drilling Rig
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig;
a y-direction support structure moveable relative to the x-direction support structure, the y-direction support structure extending on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig; and
a racker device retained by one of the x-direction and the y-direction support structures, the racker device being configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand adapted for well drilling, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to provide space for additional drilling equipment along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig, the racker device comprising;
an upper carriage having an upper extending arm configured to selectively connect with a stand of pipe;
a lower carriage disposed at a location lower than the upper carriage, the lower carriage having a lower extending arm configured to selectively connect with the tubular stand; and
a lift system configured to raise and lower the upper carriage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.
51 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig; a y-direction support structure moveable relative to the x-direction support structure, the y-direction support structure extending on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig; and a racker device retained by one of the x-direction and the y-direction support structures, the racker device being configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand adapted for well drilling, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to provide space for additional drilling equipment along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig, the racker device comprising; an upper carriage having an upper extending arm configured to selectively connect with a stand of pipe; a lower carriage disposed at a location lower than the upper carriage, the lower carriage having a lower extending arm configured to selectively connect with the tubular stand; and a lift system configured to raise and lower the upper carriage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of installing a modular pipe racker on a mobile drilling rig, comprising:
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installing an x-direction drive support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on the drilling rig; installing a y-direction drive support structure to cooperate with the x-direction drive support structure so that the y-direction drive support structure can move in the direction of the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig; and installing a modular racker device onto one of the y-direction and x-direction support structures, which comprises; installing an upper column drive onto one of the y-direction and the x-direction drive support structures, the upper column drive being configured to move the modular racker device in the y-direction from a position along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig toward a position offline from the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of building a stand offline on a mobile drilling rig, comprising:
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laterally displacing a racker device from a position inline with a line between well center and a V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line between well center and the V-door; with the racker device in the offline position, grasping a first tubular with an upper drive carriage of the racker device; grasping the first tubular with a lower drive carriage of the racker device; inserting the first tubular into a mousehole in the drilling rig floor; with the racker device in the offline position, grasping a second tubular with the upper drive carriage of the racker device; grasping the second tubular with the lower drive carriage of the racker device; inserting the second tubular into the mousehole in the drilling rig floor to build the stand; and returning the racker device from the position offline onto the line between well center and the V-door. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of racking tubulars from a mousehole on a drilling rig, comprising:
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pulling a stand of tubulars from a mousehole with a racker device having extending arms and orienting the stand in a substantially vertical position; moving the racker device with the stand along a line between well center and a V-door on the drilling rig by displacing the racker device with a y-direction drive support structure that is associated with an x-direction drive support structure, the x-direction drive support structure extending in a direction parallel to and offset from the line between well center and the V-door on the drilling rig, the x-direction support structure having a height greater than a height of the stand so that the y-direction drive support structure moves over the stand in a fingerboard; and rotating the racker device with the stand and extending the extending arms of the racker device to insert the stand into the fingerboard. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification