Simultaneous tubular handling system and method

• US 8,186,455 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• 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: Childers, Mark Alan, Larkin, Brendan William, Rich, Harvey Mark, Smith, Barry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULLER, ROBERT EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US12/807,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 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, 175/85, 175/162, 175/203, 175/220, 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;

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 a portion of 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 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 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.

2. The system of claim 1 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.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said primary tubular racking station and said auxiliary tubular racking station.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said well center and said primary tubular racking station.

5. The system of claim 1 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, wherein said stand arm operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to assemble a plurality of tubulars so that the first of the plurality of tubulars moved to said preparation hole is on top of the assembled tubulars.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said preparation hole includes a centralizer to center the second tubular with said preparation hole.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an hydraulic lifter to elevate the first tubular.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an indexing arm assembly, wherein one of the tubulars is separated by said indexing arm assembly for positioning the tubular to be moved to said drilling deck.

10. A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole from a drilling deck, said method being perfomed, 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 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).

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

12. The method of claim 10, 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.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

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

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

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

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of positioning a portion of the second tubular in a preparation hole comprises centering the second tubular in said preparation hole.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of moving the first tubular to said well center comprises elevating the first tubular with an hydraulic lifter.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the steps for moving a tubular comprises separating the tubular with an indexing arm assembly.

18. 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 on said drilling deck for connecting a second tubular with a third tubular while the second tubular is in a substantially vertical position, wherein said stand aim 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 above said drilling deck for holding the second tubular from said stand arm, wherein said stand arm is configured to directly position the second tubular with said first tubular racking station; and

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

19. The system of claim 18, 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 aim 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.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said stand arm being operable independent of said bridge racker crane.