SIDE-SADDLE CANTILEVER MAST

• US 20180128056A1
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Inventors: GUPTA, Ashish, HAUSE, Ryan, REDDY, Padira
• Granted Patent: US 10,704,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/34 Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/344 Arrangements for lifting tower sections for placing additional sections under them
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/345 Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof E04H12/347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/006 Means for anchoring the drilling machine to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/084 with flexible drawing means, e.g. cables

Abstract

A side saddle slingshot drilling rig includes a right substructure and a left substructure, the substructures positioned generally parallel and spaced apart from each other. The right substructure includes a right lower box and a first strut, the first strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the right lower box. The left substructure includes a left lower box and a second strut, the second strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the left lower box. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig also includes a drill rig floor, the drill rig floor including a V-door. The side of the drill rig floor has the V-door defining the V-door side of the drill rig floor, the V-door side of the drill rig floor parallel to the right substructure. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig further includes a mast, the mast including an open side defining a mast V-door side. The open side is oriented to face perpendicular to the right substructure. The mast is pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor by one or more mast pivot points and one or more lower mast attachment points, the mast being pivotable in a direction parallel to the V-door side of the drill rig floor or the mast being pivotable in a direction perpendicular to V-door side of the drill rig floor. The mast includes two or more subunits, wherein the two or more subunits are pinned together.

Claims

1. A side saddle slingshot drilling rig comprising:

a right substructure and a left substructure, the substructures positioned generally parallel and spaced apart from each other;

the right substructure comprises a right lower box and a first strut, the first strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the right lower box;

the left substructure comprises a left lower box and a second strut, the second strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the left lower box;

a drill rig floor, the drill rig floor including a V-door, the side of the drill rig floor including the V-door defining the V-door side of the drill rig floor, the V-door side of the drill rig floor parallel to the right substructure; and

a mast, the mast including an open side defining a mast V-door side, the open side oriented to face perpendicular to the right substructure, the mast pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor by one or more mast pivot points and one or more lower mast attachment points, the mast being pivotable in a direction parallel to the V-door side of the drill rig floor or the mast being pivotable in a direction perpendicular to V-door side of the drill rig floor, the mast comprised of two or more subunits, wherein the two or more subunits are pinned together.

2. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the two or more subunits comprise a lower mast subunit, a middle mast subunit, and an upper mast subunit.

3. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a catwalk assembly, the catwalk assembly including a catwalk and a slide, the catwalk mechanically connected to V-door side of the drill rig floor

4. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 3, wherein the struts form a bar linkage between the lower boxes and the drill rig floor.

5. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 4, wherein the struts are adapted to allow motion of the drill rig floor relative to the lower boxes while maintaining the drill rig floor parallel to the lower boxes.

6. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 3, wherein the V-door side of the drill rig floor is parallel to the right substructure.

7. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 3, wherein the right and left lower boxes further comprise one or more hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders mechanically coupled to one or more corresponding upper mast attachment points of the mast.

8. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 7, wherein the mast includes one or more braces positioned to brace the mast at the mast attachment points of the mast.

9. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 8, wherein the mast is pivotable in a direction away from the V-door side of the drill rig floor when lowered.

10. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 8, wherein the mast is pivotable in a direction toward the V-door side of the drill rig floor when lowered.

11. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a choke house positioned on the drill rig floor or mechanically coupled to the right or left substructure.

12. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 11, wherein the choke house includes a choke manifold.

13. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising drill line spooler, the drilling rig spooler attached to lower box, the drill line spooler including a spool positioned on a spool bogie.

14. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising walkers, the walkers positioned within the lower boxes.

15. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a mud gas separator, the mud gas separator mechanically coupled to the right or left substructure.

16. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a stair tower, the stair tower mechanically coupled to the right substructure or left substructure.

17. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a standpipe manifold, the standpipe manifold mechanically connected to the right substructure of left substructure.

18. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a drawworks, the drawworks mechanically connected to the left substructure or right substructure.

19. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic power unit, the hydraulic power unit mechanically connected to the left substructure or right sub structure.

20. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising an accumulator, the accumulator mechanically connected to the left substructure or right substructure.

21. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig of claim 1 further comprising a drillers cabin, the drillers cabin mechanically connected to the left or right substructure.

31. The method of transporting a mast of claim 13, wherein the upper mast subunit includes a upper mast subunit bogie, the upper mast subunit bogie mechanically connected to the upper mast section.

32. The method of transporting a mast of claim 21, wherein the upper mast subunit includes a upper mast subunit kingpin, the upper mast subunit kingpin mechanically connected to the upper mast section.

34. The method of transporting a mast of claim 21 further comprising transporting a drill line spooler, the drill line spooler positioned on a spooler bogie.

22. A method of transporting a mast comprising:

transporting a lower mast subunit, the lower mast subunit including a lower mast section, a top drive positioned within the lower mast section, the lower mast section having a V-door side, the lower mast-subunit transported such that the V-door side of the lower mast section is perpendicular to the ground;

transporting a middle mast subunit, the middle mast subunit including a middle mast section, the middle mast section having a V-door side, the middle mast subunit transported such that the V-door side of the middle mast section is perpendicular to the ground; and

transporting an upper mast subunit, the upper mast subunit including an upper mast section, a travelling block positioned within the upper mast section, the upper mast section having a V-door side, the upper mast subunit transported such that the V-door side of the upper mast section is perpendicular to the ground.

23. The method of transporting a mast of claim 22, wherein the lower mast subunit includes a lower mast subunit bogie, the lower mast subunit bogie mechanically connected to the lower mast section.

24. The method of transporting a mast of claim 23, wherein the lower mast subunit includes a lower mast subunit gooseneck, the lower mast subunit gooseneck mechanically connected to the lower mast section.

25. The method of transporting a mast of claim 24, wherein the lower mast subunit gooseneck is adapted to mechanically connect with a tractor and step of transporting the lower mast subunit is performed by a tractor.

26. The method of transporting a mast of claim 24, wherein the lower mast section has a front, wherein a center of the top drive is along the front of the lower mast section.

27. The method of transporting a mast of claim 22, wherein the middle mast subunit includes a middle mast subunit bogie, the middle mast subunit bogie mechanically connected to the middle mast section.

28. The method of transporting a mast of claim 27, wherein the middle mast subunit includes a middle mast subunit gooseneck, the middle mast subunit gooseneck mechanically connected to the middle mast section.

29. The method of transporting a mast of claim 28, wherein the middle mast subunit gooseneck is adapted to mechanically connect with a tractor and step of transporting the middle mast subunit is performed by a tractor.

30. The method of transporting a mast of claim 28, wherein the middle mast section is transported with a racking board, the racking board in a folded configuration.

33. The method of transporting a mast of claim 22, wherein the upper mast subunit kingpin is adapted to mechanically connect with a tractor and step of transporting the upper mast subunit is performed by a tractor.

35. The method of transporting a mast of claim 24, wherein the spooler bogie is mechanically connected to the upper mast subunit.

36. The method of transporting a mast of claim 22, wherein a crown assembly is positioned atop the upper mast section.

37. The method of transporting a mast of claim 27, wherein the crown assembly is connected to a travelling block via a drill line, the travelling block positioned within the upper mast section.