Device for handling and racking riser pipes and drill pipes

• US 4,117,941 A
• Filed: 03/25/1977
• Issued: 10/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Golar-Nor Offshore As (Resolute Investments Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Golar-Nor Offshore As (Resolute Investments Ltd.)
• Inventors: Putnam, Paul S., McCleskey, Robert W. Jr., Boltad, Arne Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US05/781,482
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 214/2.5, 214/1 P, 214/1 R, 214/1 BB, 214/12, 214/13, 175/52, 175/85, 294/90, 114/264, 114/265, 211/60 S
• US Class Current: 414/22.63
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/14 Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence

Abstract

Handling and racking of riser pipes in a drilling derrick on a platform by means of manipulators. The pipes are racked vertically on a set back platform and are displaced to and from a position above the rotary table by manipulators.

Claims

1. Device for handling and racking riser pipes in a driling derrick on a platform for drilling and/or production of oil wells on the bottom of the sea, said platform/drilling derrick comprising a drill floor and a cellar deck, characterized in that said device comprises a set back platform on the cellar deck for vertical racking of riser pipe stands in the drilling derrick, a first manipulator for displacement of a riser pipe stand'"'"'s lower end between a first position near the centre line of the drilling derrick and another position outside the center line, a second manipulator for displacement of a riser pipe stand'"'"'s lower end between the aforementioned other position and a position above the set back position on the cellar deck, an elevator in the drilling derrick for raising and lowering riser pipe stands, a finger-board in the drilling derrick intended for taking up handling subs on the riser pipe stands, locking members on the finger-board for securing the handling subs in the finger-board, a third manipulator for guiding and moving respectively a handling sub between a position near the centre line of the drilling derrick, in which position the handling sub can be coupled with the elevator, and a set back position in the finger-board.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first manipulator is a combined drill pipe and riser pipe manipulator.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second manipulator is located under the drill floor.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the second manipulator is constructed as a traverse between two sturdy rotary beams in the drill floor, said traverse being movably mounted on rails on the rotary beams, and that a trolley which carries a manipulator head for a riser pipe stand is driveably placed on the traverse.

5. Device according to claim 3, characterized by trap doors, which can be swung up in the drilling floor above the set back platform on the cellar deck.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a control console for the second manipulator is placed on the underside of that one of the trap doors which can be swung up and which is nearest the rotary table (FIGS. 5 and 6).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third manipulator comprises a winch which is transversely movable in the drilling derrick, guide arms pivotally mounted in the links of the elevator, and intended for disengageable interaction with the finger-board, as well as pivotally mounted guiding members on the finger-board for guiding the handling subs in and out respectively of the spaces between the fingers of the board.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide arms are counter balanced so that when they are released from interaction with the riser pipe finger-board, they swing up to a position parallel with the elevator links.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first manipulator has exchangeable guiding heads.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform on the cellar deck has upwardly projecting guide cones for cooperation with the bottom ends of the riser pipe stands, when in racked position.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the manipulator head of the first manipulator is shaped like a vertical half cylinder which is pivotally mounted over the centre of gravity, so that it normally hangs vertically.

12. Device for handling and racking drill pipes in a drilling derrick, in connection with racking of riser pipe stands according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises a first manipulator for the displacement of a drill pipe stand'"'"'s lower end between a first position near the centre line of the drilling derrick, and a position above a set back position on the drilling floor, an elevator in the drilling derrick for raising and lowering stands of drill pipes, a drill pipe finger-board for catching up the upper ends of the drill pipe stands, locking members on the drill pipe finger-board for securing the stands of drill pipe in the drill fingerboard, and a derrick manipulator for gripping and moving of a drill pipe stand'"'"'s upper end between a position near the centre line of the drilling derrick, in which position the drill pipe stand can be coupled with the elevator, and a set back position in the drill pipe finger-board.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the derrick manipulator mainly comprises cart which is driveably mounted on rails under a monkey-board, and which carries an arm which can be slid in and out with a gripping head for the drill pipe.