HYDRAULIC WALKING MUD/SHAKER TANK SYSTEM

• US 20170106925A1
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Corporate Services Inc. (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nabors Corporate Services Inc. (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: SHAMAS, JR., Ralph, GUPTA, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 10,472,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/032 with alternately or sequentially lifted supporting base and legs; with alternately or sequentially lifted feet or skid B62D57/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/128 tank containers, i.e. containers provided with supporting devices for handling
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/14 Legs, e.g. detachable
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/01 Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/065 Separating solids from drilling fluids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/067 Separating gases from drilling fluids

Abstract

A walking mud handling system may include a walking mud tank and a plurality of hydraulic walkers coupled to the walking mud tank. Each hydraulic walker may include a walking foot, a hydraulic lift, and a sliding actuator. The hydraulic lift may include a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the walking foot such that extension of the hydraulic cylinder extends the walking foot into contact with the ground. The sliding actuator may include one or more hydraulic cylinders coupled to the walking foot such that extension of the sliding actuator moves the walking foot laterally relative to the hydraulic lift.

Claims

1. A walking mud handling system comprising:

a walking mud tank; and

a plurality of hydraulic walkers coupled to the walking mud tank, the hydraulic walkers including;

a walking foot;

a hydraulic lift assembly including a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the walking foot; and

a sliding actuator including one or more hydraulic cylinders coupled to the walking foot.

2. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the hydraulic walkers is rotatable relative to the walking mud tank.

3. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional piece of mud handling equipment;

4. The walking mud handling system of claim 3, wherein the additional piece of mud handling equipment is one of a mud process tank, trip tank, mud transfer tank, mud process pump, trip tank pump, degasser, mud cleaner, shaker, or any other mud process equipment.

5. The walking mud handling system of claim 4, further comprising one or more cutting slides 131 mechanically coupled to the walking mud tank positioned adjacent to one or more corresponding shaker tables.

6. The walking mud handling system of claim 5, wherein each cutting slide is pivotably coupled to the walking mud tank by a pivot pin.

7. The walking mud handling system of claim 6, wherein any cutting slides are mechanically coupled to each other by a structural tie.

8. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, wherein the walking mud tank comprises a mud process tank skid.

9. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, wherein the walking mud tank is adapted to receive an existing mud handling skid.

10. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, wherein the walking mud tank includes a skid.

11. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of bearing surfaces, linear bearings, ball bearings, or roller bearings positioned between the walking foot and the hydraulic lift assembly.

12. The walking mud handling system of claim 1, wherein the sliding actuator and walking foot are rotatably coupled to the hydraulic lift assembly by a rotary coupler.

13. A method comprising:

providing a walking mud handling system, the walking mud handling system including;

a walking mud tank; and

a plurality of hydraulic walkers coupled to the walking mud tank, the hydraulic walkers including;

a walking foot;

a hydraulic lift assembly including a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the walking foot such that extension of the hydraulic cylinder extends the walking foot into contact with the ground; and

a sliding actuator including one or more hydraulic cylinders coupled to the walking foot such that extension of the sliding actuator moves the walking foot laterally relative to the hydraulic lift;

positioning the walking mud handling system at a first position in a wellsite;

extending the hydraulic lifts of the hydraulic walkers;

lifting the walking mud tank off the ground;

actuating the sliding actuators to move the walking feet from a first position to a second position;

moving the walking mud handling system in a first direction;

retracting the hydraulic lifts;

placing the walking mud tank on the ground; and

actuating the sliding actuators to return the walking feet to the first position.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

rotating the hydraulic walkers;

repeating the extending, lifting, actuating, retracting, and reactuating operations; and

moving the walking mud handling system in a second direction.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

repeating the extending, lifting, actuating, retracting, and reactuating operations until the walking mud handling system is at a desired second position in the wellsite.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

coupling an existing mud handling skid to the walking mud handling system.