Semi-submersible, mobile drilling vessel with storage shaft for tubular drilling equipment

• US 6,524,049 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Workships Contractors BV (Merweoord BV)
• Original Assignee: Workships Contractors BV (Merweoord BV)
• Inventors: Minnes, Roelof Arnoldus
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/445,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 414/22.51, 414/22.63, 414/22, 414/745, 414/747, 414/22.58, 405/207, 405/210, 405/211, 175/52, 175/5, 211/70.4, 114/265
• US Class Current: 414/22.51
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/143 specially adapted for underwater drilling

Abstract

The drilling vessel includes at least one floating body and a platform which is supported by one or more support columns on the floating body and includes a drilling installation. The vessel is provided with storage provisions for tubular drilling equipment. The storage provisions include one or more shafts which are disposed in one or more of the support columns, extend downwards from the platform and in which a number of items of the drilling equipment can be vertically disposed.

Claims

1. Semi-submersible, mobile drilling vessel, comprising at least two floating bodies and a platform which is supported by at least one support column on each of the at least two floating bodies and includes a drilling installation, the vessel being provided with storage means for tubular drilling equipment, wherein the storage means comprise at least one shaft disposed in at least one of the said support columns, which at least one shaft extends downwards from the platform and is configured for vertical disposition therein of a number of items of the said drilling equipment, wherein said support columns define an outer perimeter of said vessel, and wherein said shafts lie vertically above said floating bodies.

2. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the tubular drilling equipment comprises at least one of risers, drill pipes, casings and liners.

3. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is provided with a guide system for holding the tubular drilling equipment disposed in the shaft vertically and at a fixed position.

4. Drilling vessel according to claim 3, wherein the guide system includes a rack.

5. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is open.

6. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the shaft can be accessed from above.

7. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes a main deck, and wherein the shaft, measured from the main deck of the platform, has a depth which is less than the length of the tubular drilling equipment to be disposed therein, so that said tubular drilling equipment projects above the main deck in the position in which it is disposed in the shaft.

8. Drilling vessel according to claim 7, wherein the shaft includes an opening, wherein a protective means is provided on the main deck around the shaft opening, so that the ends of the tubular drilling equipment disposed in the shaft which ends project above the main deck are protected against impact.

9. Drilling vessel according to claim 8, wherein the protective means includes at least one of railings and a bumper system.

10. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes a freeboard height, and wherein the shaft is water-tight from the bottom thereof up to at least the freeboard height.

11. Drilling vessel according to claim 10, wherein the bottom end of the shaft is accessible to people, through access means.

12. Drilling vessel according to claim 11, wherein said access means includes a staircase, and wherein the bottom end of the shaft is accessible to people by said staircase arranged in the shaft.

13. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is configured for accommodating risers.

14. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a guide system arranged therein.

15. Drilling vessel according to claim 14, wherein the guide system is configured for accommodating risers.

16. Drilling vessel according to claim 1, wherein the drilling vessel comprises two floating bodies which are disposed parallel to one another and with a space therebetween, and wherein at least two support columns are provided per floating body.