Blow out preventer handling system

• US 4,230,190 A
• Filed: 10/13/1978
• Issued: 10/28/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Archie K. Haggard, David C. Guinn, John P. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Archie K. Haggard, David C. Guinn, John P. Thomas
• Inventors: Haggard, Archie K., Thomas, John P., Guinn, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purser, Ernest R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Favreau, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/952,031
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 175/5, 175/7, 175/85, 114/264, 166/362, 166/352, 166/354, 166/368
• US Class Current: 175/5
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 3/045 movably mounted on the drilling structure or platform derricks adapted to be moved on their substructure E21B15/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads

Abstract

A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel and offshore drilling rigs, although the system may be used on other rotary drilling rigs, is disclosed. Retractable rotary table supporting beams are disposed over the moon pool and the rotary table is releasably connected to them. Retractable sub-structure beams are provided below the rotary table so that means provided to move the assembled blow out preventer can move it through an opening in the derrick and over the moon pool when the rotary beams are retracted. Retractable moon pool skid beams are provided which support the blow out preventer when skidded through the moon pool opening in the sub-structure.

In one aspect of the invention, the means connecting the rotary table to its support beams are self-aligning to that once the rotary table is aligned it can be removed and replaced without any further alignment. Also, support shoulders are provided on the main blow out preventer and lower riser section thereof which engage and are supported by the moon pool beams, so that the rotary support beams, rotary table and sub-structure support beams can be replaced and the blow out preventer hooked up to the riser, drill string or casing, the moon pool beams retracted and the blow out preventer lowered in the moon pool to the sea floor.

Claims

1. A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel having a moon pool and a derrick over the moon pool, the derrick having an opening through which a portion of the blow out preventer can be moved and having means for lowering it into the moon pool comprising,

retractable rotary table support beams disposed over the moon pool supporting a rotary table for rotating a drill string during rotary drilling operations,

means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary table support beams,

retractable substructure beams below the rotary table,

test stump means

means for positioning an upper section and a lower section of the blow out preventer on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vessel, for placing the lower section of the blow out preventer on the test stump means and placing the upper section on the lower section,

support shoulders extending from at least one of the upper and lower sections arranged to support the blow out preventer on the substructure beams,

means operable to move the assembled blow out preventer through the derrick opening and space provided by the retracted substructure beams and over the moon pool,

guide means operable to restrain swinging movement of the blow out preventer when moving it in the moon pool,

whereby the upper section and the lower section of the blow out preventer can be positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vessel thereby minimizing forces due to the roll of the vessel, the upper section can be placed on the lower section and the blow out preventer assembled and tested on the test stump means and then moved through the derrick opening and space provided by the retracted rotary table support beams and over the moon pool and guided while being lowered until the support shoulders engage the retractable substructure beams, the rotary table support beams replaced and the rotary table connected to them, the upper section of the blow out preventer connected to the means to lower it, the blow out preventer lifted and the substructure beams retracted, and the blow out preventer then lowered in the moon pool.

2. The system of claim 1 where the means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary support beams comprise,

coacting self-aligning anchor members connected to the retractable rotary support beams and to the rotary table arranged to self-align the rotary table upon securing it to the rotary table support beams.

3. The system of claim 1 where the means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary table support beams comprise,

anchor members connected to the retractable rotary table support beams,

the anchor members including inwardly tapered upper guide surfaces and having V-slot portions in their upper ends,

V-members secured to the rotary table mating in the V-slot portions,

the guide surfaces, V-slot portions and V-members guiding the rotary table into a transversely and longitudinally aligned position over the moon pool,

whereby the rotary table can be removed from the rotary table support beams and replaced in alignment by placing the V-members in the V-slots.

4. The system of claim 1 where the means arranged to move the assembled blow out preventer through the opening in the derrick and the space provided by the retractable substructure beams and over the moon pool comprise,

skid beams having retractable portions extending over the moon pool,

skids on the lower section of the blow out preventer slidable on the skid beams, and

means operable to slide the skids on the skid beams.

5. The system of claim 1 where,

the means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary table supporting beams comprise,

anchor members connected to the retractable rotary table supporting beams,

the anchor members including inwardly tapered upper guide surfaces and having V-slot portions in their upper ends, and

V-members secured to the rotary table mating in the V-slot portions,

the guide surfaces, V-slot portion and V-members guiding the rotary table into a transversely and longitudinally aligned position over the moon pool,

whereby the rotary table can be removed from the rotary table supporting beams and replaced in alignment by placing the V-members in the V-slots,

and where the means arranged to move the assembled blow out preventer through the opening in the derrick and the space provided by the retractable substructure beams and over the moon pool comprise,

skid beams having retractable portions extending over the moon pool,

skids on the lower section of the blow out preventer slidable on the skid beams, the skids including means restraining upward movement while on the skid beams, and

means operative to slide the skids on the skid beams.

6. A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on an offshore drilling rig having a moon pool and a derrick over the moon pool, the derrick having an opening through which a portion of the blow out preventer can be moved and having means for lowering it into the moon pool comprising,

retractable rotary table supporting beams disposed over the moon pool supporting a rotary table for rotating a drill string during rotary drilling operations, and providing an additional opening below the opening in the derrick,

means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary table support beams comprising co-acting, self-aligning anchor members connected to the retractable rotary table support beams and to the rotary table and arranged to self-align the rotary table upon connecting it to the rotary table support beams,

means operable to move the assembled blow out preventer through the derrick opening and over the moon pool,

whereby the rotary table and the rotary table supporting beams can be retracted from the moon pool, the blow out preventer moved through the openings and over the moon pool and lowered into the moon pool, the rotary table support beams replaced and the rotary table reconnected to them.

7. The system of claim 6 where the means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary support beams comprise,

anchor members connected to the retractable rotary table support beams,

the anchor members including inwardly tapered upper guide surfaces and having V-slot portions in their upper ends, and

V-members secured to the rotary table mating in the V-slot portions,

the guide surfaces, V-slot portions and V-members guiding the rotary table into a transversely and horizontally aligned position over the moon pool,

whereby the rotary table can be removed from the rotary table support and replaced in alignment by placing the V-members in the V-slots.

8. The system of claim 6 including,

retractable substructure beams below the rotary table, and

support shoulders extending from the blow out preventer arranged to engage and support the blow out preventer on the substructure beams.

9. A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel having a moon pool and a derrick over the moon pool, the derrick having an opening through which a portion of the blow out preventer can be moved and having means for lowering it into the moon pool comprising,

retractable rotary table support beams disposed over the moon pool supporting a rotary table for rotating a drill string during rotary drilling operations,

means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary table support beams,

retractable substructure beams below the rotary table,

test stump means,

means for placing a lower section of the blow out preventer on the test stump means and placing an upper section of the blow out preventer on the lower section,

support shoulders extending from at least one of the upper and lower sections arranged to support the blow out preventer on the substructure beams,

means operable to move the assembled blow out preventer through the derrick opening and space provided by the retracted substructure beams and over the moon pool,

guide means operable to restrain swinging movement of the blow out preventer when moving it in the moon pool,

whereby the upper section and the lower section of the blow out preventer can be positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vessel thereby minimizing forces due to the roll of the vessel, the upper section can be placed on the lower section and the blow out preventer assembled and tested on the test stump means and then moved through the derrick opening and space provided by the retracted rotary table support beams and over the moon pool and guided while being lowered until the support shoulders engage the retractable substructure beams, the rotary table support beams replaced and the rotary table connected to them, the upper section of the blow out preventer connected to the means to lower it, the blow out preventer lifted and the substructure beams retracted, and the blow out preventer then lowered in the moon pool.

10. The system of claim 9 where the means releasably connecting the rotary table to the rotary support beams comprise,

coacting self-aligning anchor members connected to the retractable rotary table support beams and to the rotary table arranged to self-align the rotary table upon securing it to the rotary table support beams.

12. The system of claim 9 where the guide means comprise,

vertically extending guides and slides on the blow out preventer and in the moon pool arranged to restrain the swinging motion of the blow out preventer.

13. The system of claim 12 where,

the slides comprise vertical guide posts secured to the frame of the blow out preventer.

14. The system of claim 12 where,

the slides comprise vertical tracks secured in the moon pool.

11. The system of claim 17 where the means arranged to move the assembled blow out preventer through the opening in the derrick and the space provided by the retractable substructure beams and over the moon pool comprise,

skid beams having retractable portions extending over the moon pool,

skids on the lower section of the blow out preventer slidable on the skid beams, and

means operable to slide the skids on the skid beams.