Triple activity drilling ship

• US 8,925,647 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stena Drilling Limited (Stena Sphere)
• Original Assignee: Stena Drilling Limited (Stena Sphere)
• Inventors: Humphreys, Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): BUCK, MATTHEW R
• Application Number:
  US11/479,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,112 Days
• Field of Search: 166/358, 166/359, 166/341, 166/380, 175/2, 175/8, 175/10, 175/52, 175/85, 175/5, 414/22.68
• US Class Current: 175/5
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/02 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/004 supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/043 specially adapted for underwater well heads E21B33/0407, E21B33/047 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/128 from floating support with independent underwater anchored guide base

Abstract

A triple activity drilling ship may be provided with two separate drilling centers, each including drilling apparatus. In addition, a trolley that is capable of supporting tubulars may be positioned between a first position within one of said drilling centers and a second position outside that drilling center. As a result, the trolley may be used to hold assembled tubulars while other activities are ongoing in one or more of the drilling centers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

running a marine riser and blowout preventer from a first station of a ship into the sea;

running a conductor from a second station on the ship into the sea while the marine riser and blowout preventer are being run; and

refraining from running said marine riser and blowout preventer when said conductor is in contact with the seabed.

2. The method of claim 1 including assembling tubulars on the ship while the ship is en route to a drilling site.

3. The method of claim 2 including assembling said blowout preventer and riser before completing dynamic positioning of said ship.

4. The method of claim 1 including using a trolley to move assembled tubulars.

5. The method of claim 4 including using a first and second tubular handling center.

6. The method of claim 5 including moving said trolley from a first position under said first tubular handling center to a second position out from under said first tubular handling center.

7. The method of claim 6 including drilling from said second tubular handling center.

8. The method of claim 4 including assembling a casing on said second tubular handling center, transferring said casing to said trolley, and moving said casing from said second tubular handling center.

9. The method of claim 8 including, after transferring said casing, assembling tubulars including said conductor on said second tubular handling center.