Fast moving drilling rig
First Claim
1. A transportable drilling rig comprising:
- a first side box comprising one or more positioning pads and one or more leg frames, wherein each positioning pad comprises a plurality of positioning cylinders capable of moving the side box in the horizontal and vertical directions;
a second side box comprising one or more positioning pads and one or more leg frames, wherein each positioning pad comprises a plurality of positioning cylinders capable of moving the side box in the horizontal and vertical directions;
a drill floor connected to the first and second side boxes; and
a drilling rig mast connected to the drill floor.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transporting and assembling a drilling rig is disclosed. The drilling rig of a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes specialized positioning pads integral to the side boxes of the drilling rig to facilitate the connection of the center drill floor of the drilling rig to the side boxes of the rig. A preferred embodiment of the present invention may also utilize a specialized positioning dolly and an adjustable fifth-wheel truck connection for transporting the mast to the drill site, assembling the mast sections together, and positioning the mast for connection to the drill floor of the rig. The result is a unique drilling rig design and sequence for assembly that significantly reduces the time required to transport the rig from location to location and to assemble the rig at the drill site.
93 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A transportable drilling rig comprising:
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a first side box comprising one or more positioning pads and one or more leg frames, wherein each positioning pad comprises a plurality of positioning cylinders capable of moving the side box in the horizontal and vertical directions; a second side box comprising one or more positioning pads and one or more leg frames, wherein each positioning pad comprises a plurality of positioning cylinders capable of moving the side box in the horizontal and vertical directions; a drill floor connected to the first and second side boxes; and a drilling rig mast connected to the drill floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A transportable drilling rig comprising:
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a first side box comprising a base side box, a drill floor side box, one or more telescoping diagonal braces, and one or more leg frames, wherein the one or more leg frames support the drill floor side box in an elevated position; a second side box comprising a base side box, a drill floor side box, one or more telescoping diagonal braces, and one or more leg frames, wherein the one or more leg frames support the drill floor side box in the elevated position; a drill floor comprising a center drill floor section connected to the drill floor side boxes of the first side box and the second side box; one or more drill floor raising cylinders for raising the drill floor to the elevated position; wherein the one or more telescoping diagonal braces of the first and second side boxes comprise concentric cylinders and wherein the one or more telescoping diagonal braces are in an extended position prior to the drill floor being raised to the elevated position such that the concentric cylinders telescope inwardly as the drill floor is raised and the one or more telescoping diagonal braces secure the drill floor in the elevated position; a drilling rig mast connected to the drill floor; and one or more mast raising cylinders connected to the drilling rig mast. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of assembling a drilling rig at a drill site comprising:
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positioning a first side box, the first side box comprising one or more positioning pads connected thereto; positioning a center drill floor section; aligning a plurality of connection points on the center drill floor section with a plurality of connection points on the first side box through operation of the positioning pads connected to the first side box; connecting the center drill floor section to the first side box; positioning a second side box, the second side box comprising one or more positioning pads connected thereto; aligning a plurality of connection points on the center drill floor section with a plurality of connection points on the second side box through operation of the positioning pads connected to the second side box; connecting the center drill floor section to the second side box; connecting a drilling rig mast to the center drill floor section, the drilling rig mast comprising one or more mast sections; raising the drilling rig mast; and raising a drill floor to an elevated position, the drill floor comprising the drill floor side boxes connected to the center drill floor section. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of assembling a drilling rig at a drill site comprising:
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positioning a first side box, the first side box comprising a base side box, a drill floor side box, one or more telescoping diagonal braces, and one or more leg frames; positioning a center drill floor section; connecting the center drill floor section to the first side box; positioning a second side box, the second side box comprising a base side box, a drill floor side box, one or more telescoping diagonal braces, and one or more leg frames; connecting the center drill floor section to the second side box; connecting a drilling rig mast to the center drill floor section, the drilling rig mast comprising one or more mast sections; raising the drilling rig mast; raising a drill floor to an elevated position, the drill floor comprising the drill floor side boxes connected to the center drill floor section; supporting the drill floor in the elevated position with the one or more leg frames of the first and second side boxes; and securing the drill floor in the elevated position with the one or more telescoping diagonal braces of the first and second side boxes, whereby the one or more telescoping diagonal braces telescope inwardly to a retracted position as the drill floor is raised to the elevated position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification