Drilling vessel with moveable substructure
First Claim
1. A movable structure for use in drilling operations, comprising:
- (a) a drilling platform, including a plurality of downwardly extending support members attached thereto;
(b) a base below said drilling platform having means for securely supporting the weight and position of said drilling platform; and
(c) repositioning means, operatively connected between said support members and said base, for moving said drilling platform in a predetermined direction relative to said base.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drilling vessel is provided for selectively drilling two or more wells from a single location of the vessel, comprising a buoyant hull having a deck, including ballasting devices in the hull for allowing the vessel to be stabilized on the bottom surface of a body of water; a movable substructure in contact with the deck, wherein the movable substructure includes a drilling platform having a plurality of downwardly extending support legs attached thereto, wherein the height of the drilling platform from the deck is sufficient to allow simultaneous drilling and production activities to occur; and a repositioning system, operatively connected between the support members and the deck, for moving the drilling platform in a predetermined direction relative to the deck. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of lift and roll jacks are employed beneath each level of a two-tiered repositioning system such that the substructure may be moved in both a transverse and a longitudinal direction. In this manner, multiple wells may be drilled without relocating the vessel, while allowing maintenance activities to occur on previously drilled wells.
39 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A movable structure for use in drilling operations, comprising:
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(a) a drilling platform, including a plurality of downwardly extending support members attached thereto;
(b) a base below said drilling platform having means for securely supporting the weight and position of said drilling platform; and
(c) repositioning means, operatively connected between said support members and said base, for moving said drilling platform in a predetermined direction relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
(a) at least two horizontal and parallel beams attached to said support legs; and
(b) means for allowing said beams to be moved in unison relative to said base.
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4. The movable structure of claim 3, wherein said means for allowing said beams to be moved comprises a plurality of lift and roll jacking assemblies, wherein each of said jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with said base;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said beam in a vertical direction away from said base;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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5. The movable structure of claim 1, wherein said repositioning means comprises:
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(a) a transverse repositioning device for movement of said drilling platform in a port or starboard direction; and
(b) a longitudinal repositioning device for movement of said drilling platform in a bow or stern direction.
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6. The movable structure of claim 5, wherein said longitudinal repositioning device is connected to said support legs of said drilling structure, and wherein said longitudinal repositioning device resides above and moves relative to said transverse repositioning device.
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7. The movable structure of claim 6, wherein:
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(a) said transverse repositioning device includes at least two horizontal and parallel transverse beams in contact with said base;
(b) said longitudinal repositioning device includes at least two horizontal and parallel longitudinal beams connected to opposing pairs of said support legs of said drilling structure, and wherein said longitudinal beams are parallel to and in contact with said transverse beams;
(c) said transverse repositioning device includes a plurality of lift and roll transverse jacking assemblies operatively in contact between said transverse beams and said base; and
(d) said longitudinal repositioning device includes a plurality of lift and roll longitudinal jacking assemblies operatively in contact between said longitudinal beams and said transverse beams.
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8. The movable structure of claim 7, wherein each of said transverse jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with said base;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said transverse beam in a vertical direction away from said base;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said transverse beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said transverse beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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9. The movable structure of claim 7, wherein each of said longitudinal jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with an upper surface of said transverse beam;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said longitudinal beam in a vertical direction away from said transverse beam;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said longitudinal beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said longitudinal beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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10. The movable structure of claim 6, further comprising:
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(a) transverse clamping means operatively connected between said base and said transverse repositioning device for securing the position of said transverse repositioning device relative to said base between repositioning operations; and
(b) longitudinal clamping means operatively connected between said transverse repositioning device and said longitudinal repositioning device for securing the position of said longitudinal repositioning device relative to said transverse repositioning device between repositioning operations.
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11. The movable structure of claim 1, further comprising clamping means operatively connected between said base and said repositioning means for securing the position of said drilling platform relative to said base between repositioning operations.
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12. A drilling vessel for selectively drilling two or more wells from a single location of said vessel, comprising:
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(a) a buoyant hull having a deck, including ballasting means in said hull for allowing said vessel to be stabilized on the bottom surface of a body of water;
(b) a movable substructure in contact with said deck, wherein said movable substructure includes;
(i) a drilling platform having a plurality of downwardly extending support legs attached thereto, wherein the height of said drilling platform from said deck is sufficient to allow simultaneous drilling and production activities to occur; and
(ii) repositioning means, operatively connected between said support members and said deck, for moving said drilling platform in a predetermined direction relative to said deck. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
(a) at least two horizontal and parallel beams attached to said support legs; and
(b) means for allowing said beams to be moved in unison relative to said deck.
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14. The drilling vessel of claim 13, wherein said means for allowing said beams to be moved comprises a plurality of lift and roll jacking assemblies, wherein each of said jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with said deck;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said beam in a vertical direction away from said deck;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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15. The drilling vessel of claim 12, wherein said repositioning means comprises:
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(a) a transverse repositioning device for movement of said drilling platform in a port or starboard direction; and
(b) a longitudinal repositioning device for movement of said drilling platform in a bow or stern direction.
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16. The drilling vessel of claim 15, wherein said longitudinal repositioning device is connected to said support legs of said drilling platform, and wherein said longitudinal repositioning device resides above and moves relative to said transverse repositioning device.
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17. The drilling vessel of claim 16, wherein:
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(a) said transverse repositioning device includes at least two horizontal and parallel transverse beams in contact with said deck;
(b) said longitudinal repositioning device includes at least two horizontal and parallel longitudinal beams connected to opposing pairs of said support legs of said drilling platform, and wherein said longitudinal beams are parallel to and in contact with said transverse beams;
(c) said transverse repositioning device includes a plurality of lift and roll transverse jacking assemblies operatively in contact between said transverse beams and said deck; and
(d) said longitudinal repositioning device includes a plurality of lift and roll longitudinal jacking assemblies operatively in contact between said longitudinal beams and said transverse beams.
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18. The drilling vessel of claim 17, wherein each of said transverse jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with said deck;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said transverse beam in a vertical direction away from said deck;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said transverse beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said transverse beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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19. The drilling vessel of claim 17, wherein each of said longitudinal jacking assemblies includes:
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(a) a mounting portion in contact with an upper surface of said transverse beam;
(b) a jacking element connected to said mounting portion, wherein said jacking element is adapted to lift said longitudinal beam in a vertical direction away from said transverse beam;
(c) a rolling element connected to said jacking element; and
(d) a force applying element connected to said mounting portion adapted to move said longitudinal beam over said rolling element relative to said jacking assembly when said longitudinal beam is lifted by said jacking element.
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20. The drilling vessel of claim 17, further comprising:
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(a) two or more platens constructed onto said deck beneath said repositioning means, wherein said platens are sized and dimensioned to provide a bearing surface for said drilling platform and said transverse beams, and wherein each of said platens includes a first horizontally extending flange; and
(b) second horizontally extending flanges connected to each of said transverse beams.
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21. The drilling vessel of claim 20, further comprising:
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(a) transverse clamping means operatively connected to said transverse beams and matably engageable with said first horizontally extending flanges of said platens for securing the position of said transverse beams relative to said deck between repositioning operations; and
(b) longitudinal clamping means operatively connected to said longitudinal beams and matably engageable with said second horizontally extending flanges of said transverse beams for securing the position of said longitudinal beams relative to said transverse beams between repositioning operations.
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22. The drilling vessel of claim 12, further comprising two or more platens constructed onto said deck beneath said repositioning means, wherein said platens are sized and dimensioned to provide a bearing surface for said movable substructure, and wherein each of said platens includes a horizontally extending flange.
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23. The drilling vessel of claim 22, further comprising clamping means operatively connected to said repositioning means and matably engageable with said horizontally extending flanges of said platens for securing the position of said drilling platform relative to said deck between repositioning operations.
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24. The drilling vessel of claim 12, wherein said hull further comprises:
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(a) a plurality of support members rigidly connected within said hull below said movable substructure, such that said support legs of said drilling platform reside directly above said support members at any position of said movable substructure relative to said deck; and
(b) a keyway formed into said hull sized and dimensioned to allow the drilling of multiple well locations corresponding to the position of said movable substructure.
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25. The drilling vessel of claim 24, further comprising skating means constructed onto said deck and adjacent to said keyway for transporting equipment to and from a desired well.
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26. The drilling vessel of claim 25, wherein said skating means comprises:
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(a) a track member fixed relative to said deck and parallel to said keyway;
(b) a carrier matably engaged to said track member; and
(c) rolling means disposed between said track member and said carrier for enabling smooth movement of said carrier relative to said track member.
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27. A mobile drilling system, comprising:
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(a) a buoyant vessel having a deck, said vessel including;
(i) a drilling platform movably mounted on said deck and movable relative to said vessel, wherein said movable drilling platform may be moved on said deck to enable drilling two or more wells from a single vessel location;
(ii) a keyway formed into said vessel through which drilling may occur;
(b) a well protect structure fixed in a waterbottom and operatively disposed in a fixed position within said keyway of said vessel, said well protect structure comprising two or more protective vertical members through which drilling may occur, the positions of said two or more protective vertical members defining a positional pattern for drilling of wells through said well protect structure, said drilling platform movable over each of said protective vertical members; and
(c) a protective deck removably connectable to said well protect structure, said protective deck disposed above said well protect structure and below said drilling platform, said protective deck not connected to said drilling platform and thereby remaining in a fixed location when said drilling platform moves, wherein said protective deck includes a reinforced deck surface. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification