Modular mobile drilling system and method of use

• US 6,161,358 A
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drilling International Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drilling International Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Stronach, Stevan D., Meissner, Siegfried, Mochizuki, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDermott, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/360,964
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 52/651.05, 52/651.1, 52/651.01, 52/650.3, 52/650.1, 52/561, 52/122.1, 52/125.1, 52/127.1, 52/562, 405/303, 405/232, 212/294, 212/175
• US Class Current: 52/651.05
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/003 adapted to be moved on their substructure, e.g. with skidding means; adapted to drill a plurality of wells

Abstract

A modular mobile drilling system and method of use supports land-based drilling operations on remote sites. Plural support boxes fixedly deployed in first and second rows define a drilling zone. A plurality of platform support beams disposed from the first row to the second row support a platform for holding drilling equipment. An actuator associated with the platform and beams skids the support beams relative to the boxes to align the platform with predetermined positions in the drilling zone, allowing the drilling of multiple wells along the length of the support box rows. The drilling equipment can also skid laterally across the drilling platform to support drilling of multiple rows of wells in the drilling zone. The drilling platform is supported by some but not all of the support boxes, enabling modular transportation by helicopter of support boxes to a new remote drilling site, disassembly of the drilling platform at the existing site, reassembly of the drilling platform on the transported boxes at the new site, and then transportation of remaining boxes from the existing site to the new site to support new drilling operations. The box-on-box substructure and skiddable drilling platform enhance transportability by helicopter and assembly with minimal footprint and reduced assembly steps.

Claims

1. A system for land-based drilling operations, the system comprising:

a plurality of support boxes fixedly deployed in a first row and a plurality of support boxes fixedly deployed in a second row, said rows defining a drilling zone

a plurality of platform support beams disposed from the first row to the second row;

a platform coupled to the plurality of support beams, the platform for supporting drilling equipment; and

an actuator associated with the platform and beams, the actuator for moving the support beams relative to the boxes to align the platform with predetermined positions in the drilling zone.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a vertically-assembled mast coupled to the platform.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the vertically-assembled mast comprises a boot strap mast.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein the support boxes, support beams, platform and mast comprise modular components suitable for helicopter transportation.

5. A method for land-based drilling operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of boxes at a first drilling site;

providing a drilling platform at said first drilling site and supporting said platform on some but not all of said plurality of boxes;

transporting the boxes not supporting the drilling platform to a second drilling site;

disassembling the drilling platform at the first drilling site;

transporting the drilling platform to the second drilling site;

assembling the drilling platform on the boxes at the second drilling site; and

transporting the boxes remaining at the first drilling site to the second drilling site.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said transporting the boxes step further comprises transporting the boxes by helicopter.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said assembling the drilling platform step further comprises:

arranging the boxes in first and second rows, the rows defining a drilling zone; and

supporting the drilling platform on the boxes above the drilling zone.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said transporting the boxes remaining at the first site step further comprises the steps of:

arranging the remaining boxes along the first and second rows to extend the drilling zone; and

moving the drilling platform relative to the boxes to align the platform with predetermined positions in the drilling zone.

9. The method according to claim 5 wherein said assembling the drilling platform step further comprises vertically assembling a mast on the drilling platform.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the mast comprises a boot-strap mast.