Three rail multi-directional direct cantilever skidding system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cantilever skidding system suitable for an offshore drilling system comprising:
- a plurality of aft guides slidably disposed on an aft transverse skidding rail;
a plurality of forward guides slidably disposed on a forward transverse skidding rail;
a plurality of forward hold down guides slidably disposed on a forward hold down rail;
a plurality of skid driving mechanisms;
a plurality of longitudinal skidding supports slidably attached to a proximate cantilever; and
a plurality of transverse skidding supports slidably attached on the aft and forward transverse skidding rails,wherein the plural aft and forward guides accommodate the cantilever and enable the aft and forward transverse skidding rails to support the cantilever,wherein the plural forward hold down guides provide hold down forces for the cantilever, andwherein each of the plurality of the skid driving mechanisms is coupled at one end thereof to one of the plural aft or forward guides and coupled at the other end thereof to one of the plural longitudinal or transverse skidding supports to thereby allow both longitudinal and transverse movement of the cantilever.
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Abstract
The present subject matter provides a three-rail multi-direction direct cantilever skidding system suitable for an offshore drilling system, where the three-rail multi-direction direct cantilever skidding system comprises movable guides accommodating the cantilever of a Jackup drilling unit and enabling transverse skidding rails to provide direct support for the cantilever so the cantilever may be moved in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
20 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A cantilever skidding system suitable for an offshore drilling system comprising:
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a plurality of aft guides slidably disposed on an aft transverse skidding rail; a plurality of forward guides slidably disposed on a forward transverse skidding rail; a plurality of forward hold down guides slidably disposed on a forward hold down rail; a plurality of skid driving mechanisms; a plurality of longitudinal skidding supports slidably attached to a proximate cantilever; and a plurality of transverse skidding supports slidably attached on the aft and forward transverse skidding rails, wherein the plural aft and forward guides accommodate the cantilever and enable the aft and forward transverse skidding rails to support the cantilever, wherein the plural forward hold down guides provide hold down forces for the cantilever, and wherein each of the plurality of the skid driving mechanisms is coupled at one end thereof to one of the plural aft or forward guides and coupled at the other end thereof to one of the plural longitudinal or transverse skidding supports to thereby allow both longitudinal and transverse movement of the cantilever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A drilling rig comprising:
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a rig platform; parallel aft and forward transverse skidding rails and a forward hold down rail, each rail secured on the rig platform; a cantilever skidding system slidably disposed on the parallel transverse skidding rails and forward hold down rail, the cantilever skidding system comprising; a plurality of aft guides slidably disposed on an aft transverse skidding rail, a plurality of forward guides slidably disposed on a forward transverse skidding rail, a plurality of forward hold down guides slidably disposed on a forward hold down rail, a plurality of skid driving mechanisms, a plurality of longitudinal skidding supports slidably attached to a proximate cantilever, and a plurality of transverse skidding supports slidably attached on the aft and forward transverse skidding rails; a cantilever slidably disposed on the transverse skidding rails and slidably engaged by the plurality of aft guides, forward guides and forward hold down guides; and a drilling floor slidably disposed on the cantilever, wherein the plural aft and forward guides accommodate the cantilever and enable the aft and forward transverse rails to support the cantilever, wherein the plural forward hold down guides provide hold down forces for the cantilever, and wherein each of the plurality of the skid driving mechanisms is coupled at one end thereof to one of the plural aft or forward guides and coupled at the other end thereof to one of the plural longitudinal or transverse skidding supports to thereby allow both longitudinal and transverse movement of the cantilever. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A drilling rig comprising:
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a rig platform; parallel aft and forward transverse skidding rails and a forward hold down rail, each rail secured on the rig platform; and a cantilever skidding system slidably disposed on the parallel transverse skidding rails and forward hold down rail, the cantilever skidding system comprising; a plurality of aft guides slidably disposed on an aft transverse skidding rail, a plurality of forward guides slidably disposed on a forward transverse skidding rail, a plurality of forward hold down guides slidably disposed on a forward hold down rail, a plurality of skid driving mechanisms, a plurality of longitudinal skidding supports slidably attachable to a proximate cantilever, and a plurality of transverse skidding supports slidably attached on the aft and forward transverse skidding rails, wherein each of the plural forward hold down guides comprises an outer fixture, an inner fixture, and locking mechanisms to lock the outer and inner fixtures together, the locked fixtures adaptable to form an engaging interface on an upper portion of the hold down guide with a proximate beam of a cantilever and forming an engaging interface on a lower portion of the hold down guide with a proximate forward hold down rail, and wherein each of the plural aft and forward guides comprises an outer fixture, an inner fixture, and locking mechanisms to lock the outer and inner fixtures together, the locked fixtures adaptable to form an engaging interface on an upper portion of the respective aft or forward guide with a proximate beam of a cantilever and forming an engaging interface on a lower portion of the respective aft or forward guide with a respective aft or forward transverse skidding rail. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A drilling rig comprising:
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a rig platform; parallel aft and forward transverse skidding rails and a forward hold down rail, each rail secured on the rig platform; and a cantilever skidding system slidably disposed on the parallel transverse skidding rails and forward hold down rail, the cantilever skidding system comprising; a plurality of aft guides slidably disposed on an aft transverse skidding rail, a plurality of forward guides slidably disposed on a forward transverse skidding rail and a forward hold down rail, a plurality of skid driving mechanisms, a plurality of longitudinal skidding supports slidably attachable to a proximate cantilever, and a plurality of transverse skidding supports slidably attached on the aft and forward transverse skidding rails, wherein each of the plural aft guides comprises an outer fixture, an inner fixture, and locking mechanisms to lock the outer and inner fixtures together, the locked fixtures adaptable to form an engaging interface on an upper portion of the aft guide with a proximate beam of a cantilever and forming an engaging interface on a lower portion of the respective aft or forward guide with a aft transverse skidding rail, and wherein each of the plural forward guides comprises an outer fixture, an inner fixture, and locking mechanisms to lock the outer and inner fixtures together, the locked fixtures adaptable to form engaging interfaces on upper portions of the forward guide with a proximate beam of a cantilever and forming engaging interfaces on a lower portion of the forward guide with a proximate forward transverse skidding rail and forward hold down rail. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification