Modular drilling rig system

• US 9,228,394 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itrec BV (Ace Innovation Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: Itrec BV (Ace Innovation Holding BV)
• Inventors: Wijning, Diederick Bernardus, Roodenburg, Joop
• Primary Examiner(s): MAESTRI, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US14/383,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20150008039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34336 Structures movable as a whole, e.g. mobile home structures vehicles comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping or like vehicles B60P3/32
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/344 with hinged parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/187 with hinged sections
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/345 Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof E04H12/347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/20 Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/02 Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting

Abstract

Modular transfigurable drilling rig system composed of multiple components, which system is transfigurable between a transport mode in which the components of the system are transportable and an operational mode in which the components are assembled to a drilling rig which is adapted to drill into a well center in the ground.

Claims

1. A modular transfigurable drilling rig system composed of multiple components, which system is transfigurable between a transport mode in which the components of the system are transportable by vehicles and an operational mode in which the components are assembled to a drilling rig which is adapted to drill into a well center in the ground, the system comprising:

a drilling rig mast which is movable between a substantially horizontal connecting position and a substantially vertical operational position above the well center, the drilling rig mast having a top end and a foot;

a base structure adapted to be positioned in the operational mode on a surface near the well center to support the drilling rig mast thereon, the base structure comprising;

a cross beam adapted to be positioned on the surface near the well center;

two support beams placed on the surface and connected to a first side of the cross beam, defining a first space configured to accommodate the well center, the two support beams extending in a first direction; and

at least two elongated base units placed on the surface and connected to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the cross beam, the at least two elongated base units extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction and away from the first space defined by the two support beams, and defining a second space, the second space being dimensioned to receive a vehicle carrying at least a foot portion of the drilling rig mast in the substantially horizontal connecting position wherein the base structure forms an H shape in the operational mode;

a pedestal, comprising;

an arm adapted to be, in a substantially horizontal connecting position thereof, pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to the cross beam of the base structure, about a pedestal pivot axis; and

a cantilevered mast support connected to an upper end of the arm, the cantilevered mast support extending upwardly and being connected to the foot of the drilling rig mast in the substantially horizontal connecting position of the pedestal, and extending forward of the arm in the first direction and supporting the drilling rig mast above the well center in the substantially vertical operational position,

wherein the pedestal is operable to pivot between the substantially horizontal connecting position and the substantially vertical operational position;

at least one drive assembly configured to pivot the connected pedestal and drilling rig mast as a unit between the substantially horizontal connecting position and the substantially vertical operational position, such that in the vertical operating position the drilling rig mast is positioned above the well center;

a pipe loader for loading pipes into the drilling rig mast, the pipe loader being received in the second space between the at least two elongated base units when the drilling rig is in the substantially vertical operational position.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more drill floor members adapted to form a drill floor in the operational mode, said drilling floor in the operational mode being located at an elevated position above said base structure, wherein the one or more drill floor members are adapted to be installed in the drilling rig mast once it is in the vertical operating position thereof.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each base unit has an axial end face perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, and the second side of the cross beam is provided with two sets of connector members each for connecting the cross beam to the respective axial end face of the base units.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said drive assembly engages on the pedestal.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the drive assembly includes one or more hydraulic jacks.

6. System according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that is adapted to lock the pedestal in its raised position, the locking mechanism comprising a locking bar that extends between the pedestal and the base structure.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein an upper end of the locking bar is provided with a latch connecting the upper end to the pedestal in the raised position thereof.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the locking bar is provided with a damper, to dampen motion of the drilling rig mast when reaching the vertical operational position.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising drilling drawworks, and wherein the drilling rig mast or the pedestal is provided with drawworks connection members adapted to connect the drawworks to the drilling rig mast or the pedestal at an elevated drawworks position.

10. The system at least according to claim 9, wherein the pedestal with the drilling mast connected thereto is operable to move from the substantially horizontal connecting position, via the substantially vertical operational position to a tilted position beyond the vertical operating position thereof, in which position the drilling rig mast is able to connect the drilling drawworks to the drilling rig mast.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the drilling rig mast is provided with a hoist device adapted to hoist a drilling drawworks—

with the drilling rig mast in its vertical operational position—

to the elevated drawworks position on the drilling rig mast.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a guide mechanism to guide the foot of the drilling rig mast—

when supplied in substantially horizontal position—

to the pedestal.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the drilling rig mast is composed of multiple transportable mast sections, and wherein the drive assembly is adapted to move the drilling rig mast composed from said mast sections in substantially horizontal orientation from said horizontal position to its vertical operational position.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a lifting mechanism to lift the foot of the drilling rig mast, when supplied in substantially horizontal position, to the pedestal.

15. The system according to claim 5, wherein the cantilevered mast support includes a first end connected to an upper end of the arm, and a second end extending toward the first space, and the one or more hydraulic jacks extends to the second end of the cantilevered mast support.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pedestal is shaped as an inverted L.