Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drilling method and apparatus

• US 6,047,781 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Incorporated (Transocean Limited)
• Original Assignee: Transocean Offshore (U.K.), Inc.
• Inventors: Herrmann, Robert P., Ray, Donald R., Scott, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/057,466
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 175/5, 175/7, 175/8, 175/9, 175/85, 175/161, 175/162, 405/195.1, 405/224, 405/223.1
• US Class Current: 175/5
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2003/147 Moon-pools, e.g. for offshore drilling vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09

Abstract

A multi-activity drillship, or the like, method and apparatus having a single derrick and multiple tubular activity stations within the derrick wherein primary drilling activity may be conducted from the derrick and simultaneously auxiliary drilling activity may be conducted from the same derrick to reduce the length of the primary drilling activity critical path.

Claims

1. A drillship having a bow, a stern and an intermediate moon pool between the bow and stern and being fitted to conduct offshore drilling operations through the moon pool and into the bed of a body of water, said drillship including:

a derrick positioned upon the drillship and extending above the moon pool for simultaneously supporting drilling operations and operations auxiliary to drilling operations through the moon pool;

a first means connected to said derrick for advancing tubular members through the moon pool, to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water;

first means, connected to said derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the moon pool by said first means for advancing;

a second means connected to said derrick for advancing tubular members through the moon pool, to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water;

second means, connected to said derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the moon pool by said second means for advancing for conducting operations extending to the seabed auxiliary to said drilling operations; and

means positioned within said derrick for transferring tubular assemblies between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations and operations auxiliary to said drilling operations, wherein said drilling activity can be conducted from said derrick by said first or second means for advancing and said first or second means for handling tubular members and auxiliary drilling activity can be simultaneously conducted from said derrick by the other of said first or second means for advancing and the other of said first or second means for handling tubular members.

2. A drillship as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means for advancing tubular members comprises:

a first and second top drive assembly respectively.

3. A drillship as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means for advancing tubular members comprises:

a first and second rotary table positioned within said derrick.

4. A drillship as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for transferring includes:

a rail assembly operably extending between a position adjacent to said first means for advancing tubular members and a position adjacent to said second means for advancing tubular members;

said first means for handling tubular members being mounted to traverse upon said rail wherein conduit assemblies may be operably transferred between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations and operations auxiliary to said drilling operations.

5. A drillship as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said first rotary table and said second rotary table being mutually spaced along a center line of the drillship and within the periphery of said derrick.

6. A drillship as defined in claim 1 and further including:

a first driller'"'"'s console operable to control said first means for advancing tubular members; and

a second driller'"'"'s console substantially similar to said first driller'"'"'s console and being operable to independently control said second means for advancing tubular members.

7. A drillship as defined in claim 1 and further including:

a first tubular setback envelope positioned adjacent to said first means for advancing tubular members; and

a second tubular setback envelope positioned adjacent to said second means for advancing tubular members.

8. A drillship as defined in claim 7 and further including:

a third tubular setback envelope positioned between said first tubular setback envelope and said second tubular setback envelope.

9. A drillship as defined in claim 7 and further including:

a tubular handling system for transferring tubular members between said first tubular setback envelope and said second tubular setback envelope and

said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members.

10. A multi-activity drilling assembly operable to be mounted upon a drilling deck of a drillship, semi-submersible, tension leg platform, jack-up-platform, or offshore tower and positioned above the surface of a body of water for supporting drilling operations through the drilling deck, to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water, said multi-activity drilling assembly including:

a derrick operable to be positioned above a drilling deck and extending over an opening in the drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations and operations auxiliary to drilling operations through the drilling deck;

a first top drive positioned within the periphery of said derrick;

a first drawworks positioned adjacent to said derrick and operably connected to a first traveling block positioned within said derrick adjacent to said top drive for conducting drilling operations on a well through the drilling deck;

a second top drive positioned within the periphery of said derrick;

a second drawworks positioned adjacent to said derrick and operably connected to a second traveling block positioned within said derrick adjacent to said second top drive for conducting drilling operations or operations auxiliary to said drilling operations extending to the seabed for the well; and

means positioned within said drilling derrick for transferring tubular assemblies between a first top drive station and a second top drive station to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations and operations to the seabed auxiliary to said drilling operations, wherein drilling activity can be conducted within said derrick with said first or second top drive, said first or second drawworks and said first or second traveling block and auxiliary drilling activity extending to the seabed can be simultaneously conducted within said derrick with the other of said first or second top drive, the other of said first or second drawworks and the other of said first or second traveling block.

11. A multi-activity drilling assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for transferring includes:

a rail assembly operably extending between a position adjacent to said first top drive station and a position adjacent to said second top drive station;

a first tubular handling apparatus mounted to traverse upon said rail; and

a second tubular handling apparatus mounted to traverse upon said rail, wherein tubular assemblies may be operably transferred between said first top drive and said second top drive to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations and operations auxiliary to said drilling operations.

12. A multi-activity drilling assembly as defined in claim 11 and further including:

a first tubular setback envelope positioned adjacent to said first top drive station; and

a second tubular setback envelope positioned adjacent to said second top drive station.

13. A multi-activity drilling assembly as defined in claim 12 and further including:

a tubular handling system for transferring tubular assemblies between said first tubular setback envelope and said second tubular setback envelope and said first top drive station and said second top drive station.

14. A multi-activity drilling assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said pipe handling system includes:

a rail assembly operably extending between a position adjacent to said first top drive station and a position adjacent to said second top drive station; and

at least one tubular handling apparatus operable for traveling upon and along said rail assembly.

17. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of advancing the tubular members from the second tubular stations includes:

rotating the tubular members with a second top drive supported from the derrick.

15. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations for a single well from a drillship having a moon pool and a derrick positioned above the moon pool and a first tubular station and a second tubular station, the method including the steps of:

advancing tubular members from the first tubular station through the moon pool, through the body of water and into the bed of a body of water for drilling a well;

advancing tubular members from the second tubular station through the moon pool and into the body of water to the seabed for conducting operations auxiliary to drilling the well; and

transferring tubular members between the first tubular station and the second tubular station wherein primary drilling activity for the well can be conducted from the derrick by advancing tubular members from the first tubular station and auxiliary drilling activity for drilling the well can be simultaneously conducted to the seabed from the derrick by advancing tubular members from the second tubular station.

16. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 15 wherein said step of advancing the tubular members from the first tubular station functions includes:

rotating the tubular members with a first top drive supported from the derrick.

18. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 15 wherein said step of advancing tubular members from the second station includes:

making up new drilling assemblies with a rotary table and drawworks.

19. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claims 18 wherein said step of advancing tubular members includes:

running a blowout prevention unit from the first tubular advancing station while simultaneously drilling and running casing from the second tubular advancing station.

20. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations with a multi-activity drilling assembly operable to be mounted upon a drilling deck positioned above the surface of a body of water and having a first tubular station and a second tubular station, the method including the steps of:

advancing tubular members from the first tubular station and into the bed of a body of water for conducting drilling operations for a well;

advancing tubular members from the second tubular station and into the body of water to the seabed for conducting activity auxiliary to drilling activity for the well; and

transferring tubular members between the first tubular station and the second tubular station wherein primary drilling activity can be conducted by advancing tubular members from the first tubular station and auxiliary drilling activity can be conducted simultaneously for the well by advancing tubular members to the seabed from the second tubular station.

21. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 20 wherein said step of advancing the tubular members from the first tubular station functions includes:

rotating the tubular members with a first top drive supported from an upright superstructure.

22. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 21 wherein said step of advancing the tubular members from the second tubular stations includes:

rotating the tubular members with a second top drive supported from an upright superstructure.

23. A method for conducting offshore drilling operations as defined in claim 20 wherein said step of advancing tubular members from the first second tubular stations includes:

rotating tubular members at said first tubular station with a rotary table; and

rotating tubular members at said second tubular station with a second rotary table.

24. A method for conducting drilling operations as defined in claim 20 wherein said steps of advancing first and second tubular members includes:

hoisting tubular members from a first tubular station; and

hoisting tubular members from a second tubular station respectively.

25. A multi-activity assembly operable to be positioned above the surface of a body of water for conducting at least one of work over and completion operations from a drilling deck, to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water, said multi-activity assembly including:

a superstructure operable to be mounted upon a drilling deck for simultaneously supporting at least one of a work over and completion operation for a well and supporting operations to the seabed auxiliary to said at least one of said work over and completion operations for the well;

first means connected to said drilling superstructure for advancing tubular members to the seabed and into a well at the bed of the body of water;

second means connected to said superstructure for advancing tubular members, simultaneously with said first means into the body of water to the seabed; and

means for transferring tubular members between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members, wherein at least one of said work over and completion activity can be conducted for a well from said superstructure by said first means for advancing tubular members to the seabed and auxiliary activity can be simultaneously conducted to the seabed for the well from said superstructure by said second means for advancing tubular members.

26. A multi-activity assembly operable to be supported from a drilling deck and positioned above the surface of a body of water, as defined in claim 25, wherein said first and second means for advancing tubular members include:

a first and second top drive assembly respectively.

27. A multi-activity assembly operable to be supported from a drilling deck and positioned above the surface of a body of water, as defined in claim 25, wherein said first and second means for advancing tubular members include:

a first and second rotary table respectively.

28. A multi-activity assembly operable to be supported from a drilling deck and positioned above the surface of a body of water, as defined in claim 25, wherein said first and second means for advancing tubular members include:

a first and second means for hoisting tubular members respectively.

29. A method for conducting at least one of work over and completion offshore operations with a multi-activity drilling assembly operable to be positioned above the surface of a body of water, the method including the steps of:

advancing tubular members from a first tubular station to the seabed and into a well at the bed of the body of water for conducting activity for at least one of said work over and completion operations for a well;

advancing tubular members from a second tubular station into the body of water to the seabed for conducting activity for at least one of said work over and completion operations for the well; and

transferring tubular members between the first tubular station and the second tubular station wherein primary activity can be conducted to the seabed by advancing tubular members from the first tubular station and auxiliary activity can be conducted to the seabed simultaneously for the well by advancing tubular members from the second tubular station.

30. A multi-activity drilling assembly operable to be supported from a position above the surface of a body of water for conducting drilling operations into the bed of the body of water, said multi-activity drilling assembly including:

a drilling superstructure operable to be mounted upon a drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations for a well and operations auxiliary to drilling operations for the well;

first means connected to said drilling superstructure for advancing tubular members into the bed of body of water, wherein said first means includes a first means for hoisting tubular members;

second means connected to said drilling superstructure for advancing tubular members simultaneously with said first means into the body of water to the seabed, wherein said second means includes a second means for hoisting tubular members; and

means positioned adjacent to said first and second means for advancing tubular members for transferring tubular assemblies between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations auxiliary to said drilling operations, wherein drilling activity can be conducted for the well from said drilling superstructure by said first means for advancing tubular members and auxiliary drilling activity can be simultaneously conducted for the well from said drilling superstructure by said second means for advancing tubular members.