DRILLING RIG STAIR TOWER WITH INTEGRATED UTILITY LINES AND CABLE TRAY

• US 20170362901A1
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Inventors: GUPTA, Ashish, PATTERSON, JR., Derek, HAUSE, Ryan, REDDY, Padira
• Granted Patent: US 10,662,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/04 Movable stairways, e.g. of loft ladders which may or may not be concealable or extensible ship ladders B63B; stairs for aircraft B64F; escalators or moving walkways B66B
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/26 specially adapted for supporting the pipes all along their length, e.g. pipe channels or ducts channels for electric cables formed by wire H02G3/0443

Abstract

A stair tower for a drilling rig is disclosed, the stair tower including a frame, one or more stair flights and platforms positioned within and mechanically coupled to the frame, and a cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame.

Claims

1. A stair tower for a drilling rig comprising:

a frame;

one or more stair flights and platforms positioned within and mechanically coupled to the frame; and

a cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame.

2. The stair tower of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more of electrical cables or utility piping running on or through the cable tray from the frame to a distal end of the cable tray.

3. The stair tower of claim 2, wherein the electrical cables or utility piping comprises one or more of electrical cables, air hoses, water hoses, steam hoses, mud hoses, or hoses or pipes for other fluid.

4. The stair tower of claim 1, wherein the cable tray is pivotably coupled to the frame by a first cable tray pivot.

5. The stair tower of claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder mechanically coupled between the frame and the cable tray.

6. The stair tower of claim 4, further comprising a winch mechanically coupled to the frame and a hoisting line mechanically coupled between the winch and the cable tray.

7. The stair tower of claim 1, wherein the frame is at most 8′

6″

wide and 9′

6″

in depth.

8. The stair tower of claim 7, wherein the cable tray is pivoted to a retracted position, and the cable tray does not substantially protrude from the metes of the frame.

9. The stair tower of claim 1, further comprising a second cable tray, the second cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame.

10. The stair tower of claim 1, further comprising a lower stair assembly, the lower stair assembly pivotably coupled to the frame.

11. The stair tower of claim 10, wherein the lower stair assembly is pivoted to a raised position, and the lower stair assembly does not substantially protrude from the metes of the frame.

12. A system comprising:

a drilling rig, the drilling rig including a drill rig floor;

a stair tower mechanically coupled to the drilling rig, the stair tower including;

a frame;

one or more stair flights and platforms positioned within and mechanically coupled to the frame; and

a cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame, the cable tray having one or more of electrical cables or utility piping running on or through the cable tray from the frame to a distal end of the cable tray, the cable tray pivoted to a raised position, the one or more of electrical cables or utility piping mechanically coupled to one or more corresponding electrical cables or utility piping of the drilling rig positioned at or near the distal end of the cable tray.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrical cables or utility piping comprises one or more of electrical cables, air hoses, water hoses, steam hoses, mud hoses, or hoses or pipes for other fluid.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cable tray is pivotably coupled to the frame at a first cable tray pivot.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder mechanically coupled between the frame and the cable tray.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a winch mechanically coupled to the frame and a hoisting line mechanically coupled between the winch and the cable tray.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the frame is at most 8′

6″

wide and 9′

6″

in depth.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a festoon;

a second cable tray, the second cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame;

one or more electrical cables extending through or on the second cable tray from the frame to a distal end of the second cable tray, the distal end of the second cable tray positioned at or near the festoon.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising a lower stair assembly, the lower stair assembly pivotably coupled to the frame.

20. A method comprising:

providing a drilling rig;

transporting a stair tower to the drilling rig in a horizontal position, the stair tower including;

a frame;

one or more stair flights and platforms positioned within and mechanically coupled to the frame; and

a cable tray pivotably coupled to the frame, the cable tray having one or more of electrical cables or utility piping running on or through the cable tray from the frame to a distal end of the cable tray, the cable tray pivoted to a raised position, the one or more of electrical cables or utility piping mechanically coupled to one or more corresponding electrical cables or utility piping of the drilling rig positioned at or near the distal end of the cable tray;

raising the stair tower from the horizontal position to a vertical position;

mechanically coupling the stair tower to the drilling rig;

extending the cable tray; and

mechanically coupling the one or more of electrical cables or utility piping to one or more of corresponding electrical cables or utility piping of the drilling rig.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the stair tower further comprises a lower stair assembly pivotably coupled to the frame, and the method further comprises moving the lower stair assembly into a lowered position.