Method and apparatus for a horizontal pipe handling system on a self-elevating jack-up drilling unit

• US 6,609,573 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Friede & Goldman United B.V.
• Original Assignee: Friede & Goldman LLC
• Inventors: Day, Howard W F
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US09/449,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 166/75.14, 166/77.51, 166/85.1, 166/85.5, 166/380, 175/9, 175/85, 175/161, 414/22.51, 414/22.52, 414/22.54, 414/22.57, 414/22.55, 414/22.59, 414/22.62, 414/22.63
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/00 Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/143 specially adapted for underwater drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/15 Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Abstract

A pipe handling system is designed for use on an offshore structure, particularly an offshore structure provided with a cantilevered drill floor. The pipe handling system allows to handle significantly longer sections of tubulars, up to 100 feet, if necessary. The pipe handling system transports the pipes from a horizontal pipe rack adjacent to a drill floor to a vertical orientation in a set-back area of the drill floor where the drill string or casing is made up for lowering down hole. The cantilevered drill floor allows to save valuable platform space, while not significantly increasing the cost of the drilling rig. The pipe handling system, while increasing the length of handled tubulars, reduces the number of joints for making of a drill string, thereby significantly reducing the cost of pipe handling operations.

Claims

1. An offshore structure comprising a platform, a cantilevered drill floor portion, a vertical storage area for tubular members formed on said cantilevered drill floor portion adjacent a well bore, and

a system for system for handling tubular members, said system comprising:

a rack for retaining a plurality of various length tubular members in a generally horizontal position on said platform;

a lifting means for lifting at least one tubular member and lowering said at least one tubular member adjacent the vertical storage area; and

a vertical lift assembly for grasping said at least one tubular member adjacent opposite ends of said at least one tubular member and moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical storage area, while retaining said at least one tubular member in a generally vertical orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lifting means is an articulated crane.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feeding assembly for transporting said lifted at least one tubular member towards the vertical lift assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said feeding assembly comprises a horizontal conveyor assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said feeding assembly comprises an elevated platform.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vertical lift assembly is provided with a pair of vertically spaced hoisting members for secure holding of said at least one tubular member while said at least one tubular member is being moved to the vertical storage area.

7. A system for handling tubular members at an offshore structure, comprising:

a pipe rack for retaining a plurality of double and greater lengths tubular members in a generally horizontal position;

a lifting means for lifting at least one tubular member and lowering said at least one tubular member adjacent a vertical storage area;

a means for socking the vertical storage area with a plurality of tubular members at a location adjacent a well bore, said means comprising a vertical lift assembly for grasping said at least one tubular member and moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical pipe storage area, said vertical lift assembly being provided with a pair of vertically spaced ripping jaws for secure holding of said at least one tubular member adjacent opposite ends of said at least one tubular member while said at least one tubular member is being moved to the vertical storage area; and

a feeding assembly with a conveyor for transporting said at least one tubular member from said lifting means to said vertical lifting assembly.

8. An offshore drilling unit, comprising:

a platform adapted for conducting drilling and production operations at a selected offshore location, said platform being supported by a plurality of leg members at a pre-determined height above wave action;

a cantilevered portion fixedly attached to said platform and having a major surface area thereof extending above water level;

a drill floor located on said cantilevered portion;

a vertical storage area for tubular members located on said drill floor on the cantilevered portion;

a pipe rack for retaining a plurality of tubular members on said platform adjacent said drill floor; and

a means for moving said tubular members from said pipe rack to the vertical storage area on said drill floor, said moving means comprising a lifting means for lifting at least one tubular member from said pipe rack, a hoisting means for picking up said lifted at least one tubular member and moving it vertically to the cantilevered portion and a vertical lift assembly for grasping said at least one tubular member adjacent opposite ends of said at least one tubular member and moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical storage area while retaining said tubular members in a generally vertical orientation in said vertical storage area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pipe rack retains said tubular members in a generally horizontal orientation.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said moving means comprises an articulated crane.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for moving said tubular members further comprises a feeding assembly for transporting said at least one tubular member from said lifting means to said hoisting means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said feeding assembly comprises a horizontal conveyor assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said feeding assembly comprises an elevated platform.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said vertical lift assembly comprises a pair of grasping members for grasping said at least one tubular member and moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical storage area while retaining said at least one tubular member in a generally vertical orientation.

15. A method of moving tubular members from a horizontal storage area to a vertical storage area on a cantilevered drill floor, comprising the following steps:

providing a pipe rack for retaining a plurality of various length tubular members in a generally horizontal position;

positioning the plurality of tubular members in said pipe rack;

providing a lifting means for lifting at least one tubular member;

providing a vertical lift assembly for grasping said at least one tubular member;

lifting at least one tubular member from the pipe rack and moving said at least one tubular member towards said vertical lift assembly;

lowering said at least one tubular member adjacent said vertical lift assembly;

grasping said at least one tubular member with said vertical lifting assembly adjacent opposite ends of said at least one tubular member, while moving said at least one tubular member in a generally vertical position; and

forming a vertical storage area on a cantilevered drill floor for tubular members by placing said at least one tubular member in the vertical storage area.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a feeding assembly with a conveyor for transporting said at least one tubular member from said lifting means to said vertical lifting assembly.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said lifting means comprises a crane.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said vertical lifting assembly is provided with a pair of vertically-spaced gripping jaws for grasping said at least one tubular member while moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical storage area.

19. A method of moving tubular members on an offshore structure, comprising the following steps:

providing a platform with a cantilever portion;

forming a drill floor on said cantilever portion;

providing a pipe rack for retaining a plurality of various length tubular members in a generally horizontal position on said platform;

providing a vertical storage area for said tubular members on said drill floor;

positioning the plurality of tubular members in said pipe rack;

providing a lifting means for lifting at least one tubular member;

providing a hoisting means for hoisting said at least one tubular member and moving said at least one tubular member to a position adjacent said drill floor;

providing a vertical lift assembly for grasping said at least one tubular member at locations adjacent to opposite ends of said at least one tubular member;

lifting at least one tubular member from the pipe rack and moving said at least one tubular member towards said vertical lift assembly;

placing said at least one tubular member adjacent the vertical lift assembly; and

grasping said at least one tubular member with said vertical lift assembly, while moving said at least one tubular member to the vertical storage area on said drill floor.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a feeding assembly with a conveyor for transporting said at least one tubular member from said hoisting means to said vertical lift assembly.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a feeding assembly with an elevated platform for transporting said at least one tubular member from said hoisting means to said vertical lift assembly.