System for lifting tubulars and equipment below the main deck of platforms

• US 5,467,833 A
• Filed: 06/08/1994
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fastorq, LLC (SESI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jack A. Crain
• Inventors: Crain, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAY, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/255,652
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 175/5, 175/7, 175/203, 175/52, 175/162, 166/338, 166/340, 254/274, 254/286, 254/314
• US Class Current: 175/52
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/008 Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for lifting equipment or tubulars below the deck of a platform or a drilling rig. Lifting force is monitored with a load cell. A portable platform is added above the deck of an offshore platform to allow running or retrieving a string of tubulars through the deck, thereby avoiding the need to deploy a workover or drilling rig to the platform.

Claims

1. Apparatus for lifting and measuring the lift force of a load located beneath a platform or rig deck, the deck having an aperture therethrough, comprising:

a base frame, the base frame having an aperture therethrough;

a winch, the winch disposed on a winch beam at a selected position on the beam, the beam being supported at a spaced apart distance above the base frame by a pivot disposed at a selected position on the beam and;

a load cell, the load cell being supported by the base frame at a selected distance from the pivot and disposed so as to support the winch beam at a spaced apart distance above the base frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load cell is electrically operated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot comprises a bearing and shaft.

4. Apparatus for moving a string of tubulars through an aperture in a deck over a well comprising:

a least two movable beams adapted to extend between skid beams on a platform;

a movable platform adapted to be supported by the movable beams at a selected distance above the deck and to receive slips for supporting the string of tubulars;

winch apparatus, the winch apparatus comprising a base frame with an aperture therethrough and a winch disposed on a pivoted beam, the winch apparatus being adapted to be located between the movable platform and the deck; and

a cable wrapped on the winch and supporting an elevator adapted to support the string of tubulars.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the elevator is remotely controlled.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the winch is supported by load cells so as to measure the lifting force of the winch apparatus.

7. A method for moving a string of tubulars through an aperture in the main deck of a platform over a well comprising:

placing a winch unit on the main deck of the platform, the winch unit comprising at least two winches, the winches having cable thereon and being supported by a pivoted beam, the beam being supported at a spaced apart distance above a base frame by a load cell so as to indicate the lift force exerted by each winch;

placing movable beams between the skid beams of the platform;

placing a movable deck above the winch unit, the movable deck being supported by the movable beams and adapted to support slips for supporting the tubulars to be moved;

attaching to the cable of the winch an elevator, the elevator being below the main deck of the platform;

alternatively supporting the tubular string in the slips and the elevator and moving the elevator by cable on the winch; and

connecting or disconnecting joints of the string of tubulars so as to move the string of tubulars through the aperture.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the elevator is remotely controlled.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the string of tubulars is comprised of casing.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the string of tubulars is comprised of drill pipe.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of rotating the drill pipe after it is lowered through the main deck.