Multi-function multi-hole drilling rig

• US 8,181,698 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Springett, Frank Benjamin, Bennett, Dean A., Reid, David Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alker, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/634,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 166/52, 166/76.1, 166/102, 166/313, 175/57, 175/161, 175/220
• US Class Current: 166/52
• 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 19/14 Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence

Abstract

A multi-function multi-hole rig including multiple machines for accomplishing various rig functions, e.g., drilling machine(s), tripping machine(s), casing machine(s), cementing machine(s), workover machine(s), etc., for drilling, completing and/or working over multiple wellbores without moving the rig. Rig functions may be performed one after the other and/or simultaneously, while allowing other functions related to completion and production to continue simultaneously.

Claims

1. A multi-function rig for performing rig operations on a plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at a single wellbore location site, said multi-function rig configured to be movable between multiple wellbore location sites, the multi-function rig comprising:

a rig structure configured to be positioned over said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at said single wellbore location site;

at least one tubular movement apparatus disposed proximate said rig structure;

a plurality of machines operatively coupled to said rig structure and configured to perform at least one of said rig operations on at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein each of said plurality of machines comprises a support attachment having a same attachment configuration that is adapted to be supported by removably coupling said support attachment to a separate machine support at each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations while performing said at least one of said rig operations, wherein each of said separate machine supports comprises a same support configuration that is adapted to matingly engage said same attachment configuration of each of said support attachments of each of said plurality of machines, and wherein at least one of said plurality of machines is configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations without moving said multi-function rig from said single wellbore location site;

at least one pressure-retaining device disposed proximate each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein said at least one pressure-retaining device comprises said separate machine support and at least one of a wellhead and pressure control equipment; and

at least one of said plurality of machines being configured as a drilling machine to perform a drilling operation, and configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations.

2. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a rig floor, a base, a framework and a support structure.

3. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig operations comprise at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation, or a workover operation.

4. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising a movement apparatus disposed proximate said rig structure, said movement apparatus being configured to move at least one of said plurality of machines relative to said rig structure.

5. The multi-function rig of claim 4, wherein said movement apparatus is further configured to position said at least one of said plurality of machines above at least one of said separate machine supports.

6. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said multi-function rig is configured for onshore applications.

7. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said multi-function rig is configured for offshore applications.

8. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base.

9. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said rig structure comprises a non-rectangular base.

10. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one tubular holder configured to support tubulars during said rig operations.

11. The multi-function rig of claim 10, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be modular.

12. The multi-function rig of claim 10, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be moveable relative to said rig structure.

13. The multi-function rig of claim 10, wherein said rig structure comprises a rig floor working area, and said at least one tubular movement apparatus is configured to move tubulars between said tubular holder and said rig floor working area.

14. The multi-function rig of claim 10, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base, wherein each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations are located adjacent to and on a first side of said rig structure and said at least one tubular holder is disposed adjacent to and on a second side of said rig structure other than said first side of said rig structure.

15. The multi-function rig of claim 14, wherein said second side of said rig structure is opposite of said first side of said rig structure.

16. The multi-function rig of claim 14, wherein said second side of said rig structure is adjacent to said first side of said rig structure.

17. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said at least one tubular movement apparatus comprises a catwalk, trough and v-door.

18. The multi-function rig of claim 17, further comprising at least one tubular holder and at least one tubular dispensing mechanism, wherein said tubular dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense tubulars from said at least one tubular holder onto said trough.

19. The multi-function rig of claim 17, further comprising at least one tubular holder configured to stage tubulars during said rig operations and a frame disposed proximate said at least one tubular holder, wherein said catwalk is disposed above said frame.

20. The multi-purpose rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a hydraulic power unit and an electric power unit disposed proximate said rig structure.

21. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising a driller cabin.

22. The multi-function rig of claim 21, wherein said driller cabin is configured to be movable.

23. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of machines is configured to perform said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

24. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said plurality of machines comprises at least one of a tripping machine, a heater installation machine, a casing drilling machine, a casing machine, a cementing machine, a workover machine, a coil tubing unit, or an auxiliary drilling unit.

25. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a degasser or a centrifuge disposed proximate said rig structure.

26. The multi-function rig of claim 1, further comprising a frame structure disposed proximate said at least one pressure-retaining device.

27. The multi-function rig of claim 26, wherein said frame structure disposed proximate said at least one pressure-retaining device comprises said separate machine support.

28. The multi-function rig of claim 1, wherein said pressure control equipment comprises at least one of a blowout preventer apparatus, a flowline apparatus, or a diverter apparatus.

29. A method for performing rig operations on a plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at a single wellbore location site, said method comprising:

providing a single multi-function rig comprising a rig structure, at least one tubular movement apparatus proximate said rig structure, and a plurality of machines operatively coupled to said rig structure to perform said rig operations, wherein at least one of said rig operations comprises a drilling operation and said multi-function rig is configured to be movable between multiple wellbore location sites;

configuring each of said plurality of machines to perform at least one of said rig operations on each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations;

configuring each of said plurality of machines to have a same attachment configuration that is adapted to be supported by a separate machine support at each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations while performing said at least one of said rig operations, wherein each of said separate machine supports is configured to have a same support configuration that is adapted to matingly engage said same attachment configuration of each of said plurality of machines;

positioning at least one pressure-retaining device proximate each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, and configuring said at least one pressure-retaining device to comprise one of said separate machine supports;

configuring at least one of said plurality of machines to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced apart wellbore locations without moving said multi-function rig from said wellbore locations site, wherein at least a first one of said plurality of machines configured to be movable relative to said rig structure is further configured as a drilling machine to perform said drilling operation;

positioning said multi-function rig adjacent to said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at said single wellbore location site;

moving said first one of said plurality of machines proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations and removably coupling said first one of said plurality of machines to one of said separate machine supports; and

performing a drilling operation on said at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations using said first one of said plurality of machines.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein performing said rig operations comprises performing one at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation, or a workover operation.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said rig operations are performed onshore.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said rig operations are performed offshore.

33. The method of claim 29, said method further comprising performing a plurality of said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein performing a plurality of said rig operations simultaneously comprises supporting each of said plurality of machines performing at least one of said plurality of said rig operations by removably coupling each of said plurality of machines to a respective one of said separate machine supports.

35. The method of claim 29, said method further comprising supporting tubulars using at least one tubular holder, wherein said tubular holder is configured to support said tubulars during said rig operations.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be modular.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one tubular holder is further configured to be moveable relative to said rig structure.

38. The method of claim 35, said method further comprising moving said tubulars between said at least one tubular holder and a rig floor working area of said rig structure using said at least one tubular movement apparatus configured to move said tubulars between said at least one tubular holder and said rig floor working area.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said rig structure comprises a rectangular base and each of said plurality of space-apart wellbore locations are located adjacent to and on a first side of said rig structure.

40. The method of claim 39, said method further comprising disposing said at least one tubular holder adjacent to and on a second side of said rig structure other than said first side of said rig structure.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said second side of said rig structure is opposite of said first side of said rig structure.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said second side of said rig structure is adjacent to said first side of said rig structure.

43. The method of claim 29, further comprising dispensing tubulars onto a trough from at least one tubular holder using at least one tubulars dispensing mechanism configured to dispense tubulars from said at least one tubular holder onto said trough.

44. The method of claim 29, further comprising staging tubulars using at least one tubular holder configured to stage said tubulars during said rig operations, said at least one tubular holder comprising a frame disposed proximate thereto and a catwalk disposed above said frame.

45. The method of claim 29, wherein each of said plurality of machines is configured to perform said rig operations simultaneously at a plurality of said spaced-apart wellbore locations.

46. The method of claim 29, wherein said plurality of machines comprises at least one of a tripping machine, a heater installation machine, a casing drilling machine, a casing machine, a cementing machine, a workover machine, a coil tubing unit, or an auxiliary drilling unit.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing at least one of a completions operation or a workover operation using said workover machine.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing at least one of a drilling operation, a completions operation or a workover operation using said coil tubing unit.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising drilling an upper portion of a wellbore using an auxiliary drilling unit disposed proximate said rig structure.

50. The method of claim 29, wherein said multi-function rig further comprises at least one of a degasser or a centrifuge disposed proximate said rig structure.

51. The method of claim 29, wherein said multi-function rig further comprises at least one of a de-sander or de-silter disposed proximate said rig structure.

52. The method of claim 29, further comprising installing a heater apparatus in a drilled wellbore using a heater installation machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

53. The method of claim 29, further comprising automatically operating said plurality of machines using a control system.

54. The method of claim 29, further comprising performing a tripping operation on at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations.

55. The method of claim 29, further comprising utilizing said plurality of machines to drill a plurality of wellbores and perform tripping operations at each of said plurality of drilled wellbores.

56. The method of claim 29, further comprising producing a cased wellbore using a casing drilling machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

57. The method of claim 29, further comprising casing a previously drilled wellbore using a casing machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

58. The method of claim 29, further comprising cementing a previously cased wellbore using a cementing machine operatively coupled to said rig structure.

59. The method of claim 29, wherein performing said drilling operation comprises supporting said at least one of said plurality of machines configured as a drilling machine by removably coupling said machine to at least one of said separate machine supports.

60. A multi-function rig for performing rig operations on a plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at a single wellbore location site, said multi-function rig configured to be movable between multiple wellbore location sites, the multi-function rig comprising:

a rig structure configured to be positioned over said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations at said single wellbore location site;

at least one tubular movement apparatus disposed proximate said rig structure;

a plurality of machines operatively coupled to said rig structure and configured to perform at least one of said rig operations on at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein each of said plurality of machines comprises a support attachment having a same attachment configuration that is adapted to be supported by removably coupling said support attachment to a separate machine support at each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations while performing said at least one of said rig operations, wherein each of said separate machine supports comprises a same support configuration that is adapted to matingly engage said same attachment configuration of each of said support attachments of each of said plurality of machines, and wherein at least one of said plurality of machines is configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations without moving said multi-function rig from said single wellbore location site;

at least one pressure-retaining device disposed proximate each of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations, wherein said at least one pressure-retaining device comprises at least one of a wellhead and pressure control equipment;

a frame structure disposed proximate said at least one pressure-retaining device, wherein said frame structure comprises said separate machine support; and

at least one of said plurality of machines being configured as a drilling machine to perform a drilling operation, and configured to be movable relative to said rig structure to positions proximate at least one of said plurality of spaced-apart wellbore locations.