Dual hoist derrick system for deep sea drilling

• US 6,217,258 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Drilling Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Drilling Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiromitsu, Ishiguro, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US08/934,599
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 405/195.1, 405/201, 405/224.2, 405/224.3, 405/224.4, 405/224, 405/224.1, 175/5, 175/6, 175/7, 175/8, 175/9, 175/10, 114/264, 114/265
• US Class Current: 405/201
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices

Abstract

A dual hoist derrick system for deep sea drilling, capable of elevating a very long and massive heavy object involved in a drilling for deep sea, is provided with a normal drilling hoisting system and a heavy load hoisting system arranged on a single derrick in parallel. The derrick is mounted on a skid movable in a horizontal direction. The skid is provided with a cut broader than a blow-out prevention device, so that the skid may travel to a position of the blow-out prevention device to lift up the blow-out prevention device. The system contributes to speeding up in hoist speed of offshore drilling units for deep sea, reducing working hours and improvement in safety.

Claims

1. A dual hoist derrick system for drilling of deep sea having a depth not less than 1000 m, the system comprising:

a single derrick;

a first hoisting system for normal drilling by raising and lowering of drill strings;

a second hoisting system for heavy loading by raising and lowering of a riser pipe and a blow-out prevention device, the first hoisting system and the second hoisting system being provided on the single derrick in parallel; and

a skid beam capable of traveling in a horizontal direction, wherein said derrick is mounted on said skid beam so that said first hoisting derrick system for normal drilling and said second hoisting derrick system for heavy loading may travel to a working position.

2. A dual hoist derrick system for deep sea drilling according to claim 1, wherein a setting place for a blow-out prevention device is provided on a spider deck, and an upper substructure, which is movable in a horizontal direction on the skid beam equipped with said derrick, is provided with a cut wider than a width of a blow-out prevention device so that the blow-out prevention device travels within the cut and said upper substructure can lift the blow-out prevention device.