Method and apparatus for erecting a drilling rig mast
First Claim
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1. A method for mounting a mast on a substructure having a drawworks mounted thereon comprising the steps of:
- placing the mast in a horizontal position with the foot of the mast being adjacent the lower portion of the substructure;
pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to the lower portion of the substructure;
connecting the drawworks cable to the mast;
pivoting the end of the mast upwardly about the foot of the mast by reeling in drawworks cable;
detaching the foot of the mast from the lower portion of the substructure;
raising the foot of the mast to a point on the substructure at which it is to be secured for drilling or other operations while maintaining the end of the mast in its raised condition with the drawworks cable;
pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to said point; and
further pivoting the end of the mast upwardly about the foot of the mast to the position in which it is to be used for drilling or other operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for erecting a drilling rig mast. The foot of a drilling rig mast is pinned to the base of a substructure. A traveling block is strung with a crown block at the top of the mast and the traveling block is secured to the substructure. A drawworks mounted on the substructure reels in traveling block line thus pivoting the end of the mast upwardly. The foot of the mast is unpinned and raised to the top of the substructure where it is pinned in a shoe. The drawworks reels in additional cable thus pivoting the mast into an upright position at which point it is secured for drilling or other operations.
75 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for mounting a mast on a substructure having a drawworks mounted thereon comprising the steps of:
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placing the mast in a horizontal position with the foot of the mast being adjacent the lower portion of the substructure; pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to the lower portion of the substructure; connecting the drawworks cable to the mast; pivoting the end of the mast upwardly about the foot of the mast by reeling in drawworks cable; detaching the foot of the mast from the lower portion of the substructure; raising the foot of the mast to a point on the substructure at which it is to be secured for drilling or other operations while maintaining the end of the mast in its raised condition with the drawworks cable; pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to said point; and further pivoting the end of the mast upwardly about the foot of the mast to the position in which it is to be used for drilling or other operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for mounting a mast having a traveling block strung on a substructure having a drawworks, which includes the line on which the traveling block is strung, and a gin pole mounted therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing the mast in a horizontal position with the foot of the mast being adjacent the base of the substructure; pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to the base of the substructure; connecting one end of a cable to the traveling block; running the cable over the grin pole and connecting the other end to the mast; activating the drawworks to reel in line to pivot the end of the mast upwardly about the foot of the mast; - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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7. detaching the foot of the mast from the base of the substructure;
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raising the foot of the mast to the point on the substructure at which it is to be secured for drilling or other operations while maintaining the end of the mast in its raised condition with the drawworks cable; pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to said point; and activating the drawworks to further reel in line until the mast is in an upright position.
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11. Apparatus for mounting a mast on a substructure comprising:
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first means for pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to the substructure adjacent its base; second means for pivotally attaching the foot of the mast to the substructure at the top thereof; a vertical track extending between said first and second means; and roller means mounted on the foot of said base for rollingly engaging said track, said mast foot being engageable with said pivotally attaching means when said roller means is so engaged. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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15. An assembly for drilling a well comprising:
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a substructure base; a drawworks-supporting unit above the central portion of said base; an upright substructure end frame at each end of said unit resting on said base; means hinging the bottoms of the end frame to the base so that said frames can be swung from an upright position to a reclining position extending away from each other; a winch mounted on said base substantially beneath each end frame; a track mounted on the outward-facing side of one of said end frames; and a mast having a foot which is engageable with said track for sliding movement therealong.
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Specification