Simultaneous tubular handling system and method

• US 7,802,636 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Friede & Goldman United B.V.
• Original Assignee: Friede Goldman United, Ltd. (China Communications Construction Company Limited), Atwood Oceanics Incorporated (Valaris Ltd.)
• Inventors: Larkin, Brendan William, Smith, Barry M., Rich, Harvey Mark, Childers, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULLER, ROBERT EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/710,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 166/77.1, 166/77.51, 166/338, 166/339, 166/341, 166/343, 166/345, 166/358, 166/380, 175/52, 175/57, 175/162, 175/203, 175/220, 175/85, 414/22.51, 414/22.54, 414/22.55
• US Class Current: 175/52
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/20 Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically

Abstract

A system and method for building and handling oilfield tubular stands while drilling operations are simultaneously and independently occurring with one drilling deck, one derrick, and one rotary system. An offline guided path horizontal to vertical arm lifts and moves in the same plane tubulars stored horizontally on the catwalk and positions the tubulars vertically directly into a preparation hole for assembling and disassembling tubular stands while online drilling operations are simultaneously being conducted. A stand arm lifts and lowers the tubulars into and out of the adjustable preparation hole, and transports the tubulars for storage to an auxiliary tubular racking station in the upper part of the derrick. A bridge racker crane moves tubular stands from the auxiliary tubular racking station to the top drive or another tubular racking station.

Claims

1. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck having a well center;

a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;

a primary tubular advancing station disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;

an auxiliary tubular handling station comprising a stand arm for connecting a second tubular with a third tubular while said second tubular is in a substantially vertical position; and

a guided path arm positioned adjacent to said auxiliary tubular handling station to guide the second tubular to said auxiliary tubular handling station;

wherein the first tubular does not contact said stand arm and said guided path arm as the first tubular moves to said well center.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first tubular racking station positioned above said primary tubular advancing station; and

an auxiliary tubular racking station positioned above said auxiliary tubular handling station.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said primary tubular advancing station further comprises:

a mousehole positioned radially outward from said well center.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said guided path arm is controlled so as not to intersect between said mousehole and said well center.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said guided path arm rotates substantially in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane comprising said mousehole and said well center.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary tubular advancing station comprises:

a top drive for rotating the first tubular.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary tubular advancing station comprises:

a rotary table for rotating the first tubular.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

drawworks for hoisting.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary tubular advancing station further comprises:

a mousehole positioned radially outward from said well center.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said guided path arm is controlled so as not to intersect between said mousehole and said well center.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said guided path arm rotates substantially in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane comprising said mousehole and said well center.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular is a drill pipe.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular is a casing.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular is a riser section.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular is a production tubing.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular is a liner.

17. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck having a well center;

a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;

a primary tubular advancing station for advancing a first tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said well center;

a stand arm disposed with said drilling structure for handling a second tubular; and

a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said stand arm to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent to said stand arm, wherein said stand arm and said guided path arm are configured to operate during advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station.

18. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck;

a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;

a primary tubular advancing station having a well center and disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;

an auxiliary tubular handling station for handling a second tubular;

said drilling deck having a preparation hole positioned with said auxiliary tubular handling station for receiving the second tubular;

an auxiliary tubular handling device for positioning the second tubular in a substantially vertical position above said preparation hole;

an auxiliary tubular racking station elevated above said auxiliary tubular handling station for holding the second tubular from said auxiliary tubular handling station, wherein the second tubular is received in said preparation hole, positioned in a substantially vertical position above said preparation hole or held in said auxiliary tubular racking station while the first tubular is independently and simultaneously advanced through said primary tubular advancing station to said well center; and

a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said auxiliary tubular racking station and said well center;

wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to directly position the second tubular with said auxiliary tubular racking station; and

wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said system further comprising:

a primary tubular racking station positioned above said primary tubular advancing station for receiving at least one tubular from said auxiliary tubular racking station.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said

bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said primary tubular racking station and said auxiliary tubular racking station.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said crane configured to move the second tubular between said well center and said primary tubular racking station.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device comprises:

a stand arm for moving the second tubular between said preparation hole and said auxiliary tubular racking station.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to assemble a plurality of tubulars so that the first of the plurality of tubulars moved to the preparation hole is on top of the assembled tubulars.

24. A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole wherein the tubulars are provided, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) drilling the borehole through a well center in a drilling deck;

(b) running at least a first tubular through said well center into a portion of the borehole; and

(c) during at least a portion of the time that steps (a) and (b) are performed, (i) moving a second tubular to said auxiliary tubular handling station in a guided path that does not intersect said well center, and (ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, lowering a portion of the second tubular while in a substantially vertical position below said drilling deck, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b), and wherein step (c) being performed in a substantially vertical first plane.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of moving the first tubular over said drilling deck and to said well center in a substantially vertical second plane, wherein said first plane being substantially parallel to said substantially vertical second plane.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

lifting the second tubular from a first substantially horizontal position to a second substantially horizontal position, and

guiding the second tubular from the second substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position substantially aligned with a preparation hole in the drilling deck adjacent the auxiliary tubular handling station.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

moving the second tubular outward from the vertical position substantially aligned with said preparation hole.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

lifting a third tubular from a first substantially horizontal position to a second substantially horizontal position, and

guiding the third tubular from the second substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position aligned with said preparation hole.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the second tubular and the third tubular in said auxiliary tubular handling station; and

moving the connected tubulars outward from the vertical position substantially aligned with said preparation hole.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

lifting the connected tubulars from said preparation hole to a first tubular racking station.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

moving the connected tubulars from the first tubular racking station to a substantially vertical position substantially aligned with said well center.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

moving the connected tubulars from the first tubular racking station to a second tubular racking station.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein steps (b) and (c) are completed at essentially the same time.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the second tubular is a drill pipe.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the second tubular is a casing.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the second tubular is a production tubing.

37. A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole across a drilling deck, wherein the plurality of tubulars are provided, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;

(b) running at least a first tubular from said primary tubular advancing station through said well center and into a portion of the borehole; and

(c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular with a guided path arm in a guided path so as not to intersect said well center, and (ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, positioning a portion of the second tubular with said guided path arm in a preparation hole in the drilling deck, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b), and wherein the first tubular does not contact said guided path arm during steps (a) to (c).

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of moving the second tubular includes the step of guiding the second tubular substantially in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane comprising said well center and a mousehole positioned radially outward of said well center.

39. A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole from a drilling deck, said method being performed, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;

(b) moving a first tubular with said primary tubular advancing station to said well center in a substantially vertical first plane comprising said well center; and

(c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular in a guided path in a substantially vertical second plane so as not to intersect said first plane;

(ii) positioning a portion of the second tubular in a preparation hole substantially in said second plane in the drilling deck; and

(iii) lifting the second tubular to an auxiliary tubular racking station, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b).

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of moving the second tubular includes the step of rotating the second tubular substantially in said second plane substantially parallel to said first plane comprising said well center and a mousehole positioned radially outward of said well center.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

connecting a plurality of the tubulars in said auxiliary tubular handling station; and

lifting the connected tubulars from the auxiliary tubular handling station to said auxiliary tubular racking station.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of:

moving the connected tubulars from said auxiliary tubular racking station to a position substantially aligned with said well center.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of:

moving the connected tubulars from said auxiliary tubular racking station to a primary tubular racking station.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the second tubular is a drill pipe.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the second tubular is a casing.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the second tubular is a production tubing.

47. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck having a well center;

a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;

a primary tubular advancing station for advancing a first tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said well center;

a stand arm disposed with said drilling structure for connecting a second tubular with a third tubular while the second tubular is in a substantially vertical position, wherein said stand arm is configured to operate during said primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station;

a first tubular racking station elevated above said drilling deck and adjacent to said stand arm for holding the second tubular from said stand arm; and

a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said first tubular racking station and said well center, wherein said stand arm is configured to directly position the second tubular with said first tubular racking station.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a second tubular racking station positioned above said drilling deck for holding the second tubular, wherein said bridge racker crane is configured to move the second tubular between said second tubular racking station and said first tubular racking station.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said stand arm to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent to said stand arm, wherein said stand arm and said guided path arm are configured to operate during said primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first tubular not making contact with said stand arm and said guided path horizontal to vertical arm.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein said stand arm being operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the first tubular not making contact with said stand arm.

53. The system of claim 47, further comprising a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said stand arm to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent to said stand arm, wherein said stand arm and said guided path arm are configured to operate during the primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the first tubular not making contact with said stand arm and said guided path horizontal to vertical arm.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein said stand arm being operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

56. The system of claim 47, wherein the first tubular not making contact with said stand arm.

57. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck;

a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;

a primary tubular advancing station having a well center and disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;

an auxiliary tubular handling station for handling a second tubular;

an auxiliary tubular handling device for positioning the second tubular in a substantially vertical position;

a first tubular racking station elevated above said auxiliary tubular handling station for holding the second tubular from said auxiliary tubular handling station, wherein the second tubular is positioned in a substantially vertical position above said drilling deck and held in said first tubular racking station while the first tubular is advanced through said primary tubular advancing station to said well center; and

a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said first tubular racking station and said well center;

wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to directly position the second tubular with said first tubular racking station; and

wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising a second tubular racking station positioned above said drilling deck for holding the second tubular, wherein said bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said second tubular racking station and said well center.

59. A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole from a drilling deck, said method being performed, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising:

(a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;

(b) moving a first tubular with said primary tubular advancing station to said well center; and

(c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular so as not to intersect said well center;

(ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, connecting the second tubular with a third tubular while the second tubular is in a substantially vertical position;

(iii) lifting the connected second tubular and the third tubular to a tubular racking station elevated above said drilling deck with a stand arm; and

(iv) after the step of lifting, hanging the connected second tubular and the third tubular with said tubular racking station directly from said stand arm, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b); and

wherein the first tubular does not contact said stand arm during steps (a) to (c).

60. The method of claim 59, wherein moving the second tubular and connecting the second tubular with the third tubular being performed in a substantially vertical first plane.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the first tubular moving across said drilling deck to said well center in a second plane, wherein the first plane being substantially parallel to said second plane.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein moving the second tubular comprises rotating the second tubular substantially in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane substantially comprising the first tubular moving across said drilling deck to said well center.

63. The method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of

lifting the second tubular from a first substantially horizontal position to a second substantially horizontal position;

and

guiding the second tubular from the second substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position substantially aligned with a preparation hole in the drilling deck.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

moving the second tubular to said stand arm in a guided path that does not intersect said well center; and

after the step of moving the second tubular in a guided path, lowering a portion of the second tubular while in a substantially vertical position below said drilling deck.

65. A system for drilling, said system comprising:

a drilling deck having a well center;

a drilling structure positioned on the drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations and operations auxiliary to the drilling operations;

a primary tubular advancing station disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;

an auxiliary tubular handling station disposed with said drilling structure for handling a second tubular simultaneously with said primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular; and

a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said auxiliary tubular handling station to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said auxiliary tubular handling station;

wherein the first tubular does not contact said auxiliary tubular handling station and said guided path arm as the first tubular moves over said drilling deck and to said well center.