Patent Application
20210317710
Drilling rigs are machines that drill wells, e.g., oil and gas well. Drilling rigs may include a substructure that supports an elevated rig floor and a mast over a well center. Drilling equipment may be located on the rig, including on the floor and the mast, and may be configured to run a drill string (including a drill bit, drill pipes, and potentially various other equipment) into the ground, thereby forming and extending the wellbore.
Various types of equipment may be located below the rig floor, e.g., between bases boxes of the substructure, such as a blowout preventer (BOP) that controls fluid flow into and/or out of the wellbore. For example, mud may flow into the drill string, and may be circulated through the drill string, and back up to the BOP through the annulus between the drill string and the wellbore. The mud may be used to control the pressure in the wellbore, lubricate the drill bit, remove cuttings, etc.
The mud that circulates back up through the BOP may be delivered into mud tanks. Various mud treatment devices, e.g., shakers, separators, etc. may be provided to condition the mud for re-use in the well. The mud may then be stored and/or pumped back into the well. Large diameter pipes may be employed to direct the mud from the BOP to the mud tanks, providing a “flow line” from the BOP to the mud tanks. The flow line generally extends horizontally or at a slight downward angle to facilitate the flow of the mud from the BOP to the mud tanks.
Drilling rigs may be assembled, used, and then disassembled at a wellsite. Large equipment may be called for to conduct such assembly processes, including cranes, for example, to hoist the large diameter, horizontal pipes of the flow line for assembly with the BOP and mud tanks. Such equipment may be rented, and thus the cost associated therewith may be directly related to the amount of time that the equipment is onsite. Accordingly, it may be desirable to reduce the process that rely on such cranes.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a pipe installation device for a drilling rig. The pipe installation device includes a frame that is pivotably coupled to an elevated rig floor of the drilling rig, a saddle coupled to the frame and configured to grip a pipe, and a driver coupled to the frame and the elevated rig floor of the drilling rig. The driver is configured to cause the frame to pivot from a first configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation to a second configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially horizontal orientation for connection to a well device.
Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide a method for installing a pipe on a drilling rig. The method includes securing the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation in a saddle coupled to a rig floor via a frame, pivoting the frame relative to the rig floor so as to rotate the pipe to a substantially horizontal orientation, and coupling the pipe in the substantially horizontal orientation to a well device, such that the pipe is configured to communicate fluid to or from the well device while the pipe is in the substantially horizontal orientation.
Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide a drilling rig. The drilling rig includes an elevated rig floor, a well device positioned at least partially below the rig floor and proximal to a first side of the rig floor, a mud tank positioned at least partially below the rig floor and proximal to a second side of the rig floor, a flow line extending in a substantially horizontal orientation from the well device to the mud tank, and an installation device. The installation device includes a frame that is pivotably coupled to the elevated rig floor, a saddle coupled to the frame and configured to receive and grip a pipe, and a driver coupled to the frame and the elevated rig floor of the drilling rig. The driver is configured to cause the frame to pivot from a first configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation to a second configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the flow line in the substantially horizontal orientation.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
It will also be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first object could be termed a second object, and, similarly, a second object could be termed a first object, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The terminology used in the description of the techniques herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the techniques herein and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Further, as used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.
The drilling rig 100 may further include a mast 110, which may extend upwards from the rig floor 102. A pipe rack 112 may be coupled to the mast 110 and configured to support an upper end of drill pipes that may be stored on the rig 100. A catwalk 114 may also be provided, e.g., for loading tubulars from a horizontal orientation at the ground to a substantially vertical orientation at the rig floor 102. A driller's side cabin 120 may further be provided on the rig floor 102. An off-driller's side cabin may also be provided, in some embodiments.
Further, a flow line 200 may extend between the RCD 105 and a mud tank 201. In embodiments in which the RCD 105 is omitted, the flow line 200 may instead extend between the catch can and the mud tank 201. For purposes of this description, the flow line 200 will be described, as illustrated, extending from the RCD 105. As shown, the flow line 200 may extend in a generally horizontal orientation, e.g., between about horizontal and about 10 degrees to the ground, below the elevated rig floor 102. The flow line 200 may be configured to be coupled to the BOP 104 on one end and to a mud tank 202 on the other end, with the RCD 105 and the mud tank 202 being on different sides of the elevated rig floor 102, as shown. The drilling rig 100 may also include a choke manifold 203, which may include various chokes, valves, etc., for managed pressure drilling (MPD). The flow line 200 may extend past the choke manifold 203, e.g., at least partially above the choke manifold 203, as shown. The flow line 200 may thus be configured to receive drilling mud from the BOP 104 and provide the drilling mud to the mud tank 201, e.g., via gravity. The mud tank 201 may include various skids, shakers, pumps, etc. configured to store and/or prepare the mud for recirculation into the well.
The flow line 200 may be supported in the substantially horizontal orientation by an installation device 210. For example, the installation device 210 may be coupled to the elevated rig floor 102, e.g., so as to be able to pivot (“pivotable”) with respect thereto. In an embodiment, the installation device 210 may include a frame 212, a saddle 214, and a driver 216. The frame 212 may be pivotably coupled to the rig floor 102, e.g., via one or more pins, bearings, etc. located at a pivot point 217. In a specific embodiment, the installation device 210 may include a brace 218, which extend downward and parallel to the rig floor 102, with the pivot point 217 being located at a distal end of the brace 218.
The driver 216 may be coupled to the frame 212 and configured to extend and retract, so as to pivot the frame 212 with respect to the rig floor 102 and with respect to the driver 216 itself, as will be described in greater detail below. For example, the driver 216 may be an extensible hydraulic cylinder, but a variety of other electric, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or other types of drivers could be employed. In an embodiment, the driver 216 may be coupled to the brace 218, and positioned between the brace 218 and the rig floor 102.
The saddle 214 may be coupled to the frame 212, and may be configured to receive and grip the flow line 200. For example, the saddle 214 may include at least two connections 215A, 215B that are separated axially apart for connection to the flow line 200. The provision of at least two connections 215A, 215B may facilitate control of the rotational orientation of the flow line 200 via the installation device 210, e.g., preventing the flow line 200 from pivoting with respect to the saddle 214.
Once received into the saddle 214, the flow line 200 may be supported from the rig floor 102 via the frame 212 across a range of orientations, e.g., between substantially vertical and substantially horizontal. As the term is used herein, “substantially vertical” refers to perpendicular to the ground within a reasonable tolerance, e.g., plus or minus 10 degrees. For example, the connections 215A, 215B of the saddle 214 may include latches, clamps, slips, or any other device configured to grip a tubular member, such as the flow line 200. In an embodiment, the flow line 200 may include a collar 220, which may be configured to couple with the saddle 214 so as to secure the flow line 200 into connection with the saddle 214. The collar 220 may be located a sufficient distance from a lower end 230 of the flow line 200 to provide clearance from the ground when the flow line 200 is supported in the installation device 210.
In addition, the installation device 210 may include a support arm 602. The support arm 602 may be pivotally coupled to the rig floor 102 at a second pivot point 604. The support arm 602 may also be pivotally coupled to the flow line 200, e.g., at a position that is axially offset from, e.g., above, the connection 215A of the saddle 214, at a second pivot point 606. The support arm 602 may prevent free-swinging of the flow line 200 until the driver 216 retracts, at which point, the support arm 602 may swing through an arc, at the same time that the saddle 214 swings through an arc, thereby reorienting the flow line 200 from the substantially vertical orientation of
The method 800 may include securing the pipe 200 in a substantially vertical orientation in a saddle 214 coupled to a rig floor 102 via a frame 212, as at 802. Securing the pipe 200 in the substantially vertical orientation in the saddle 214 may include, for example, lifting the pipe 200 using a crane, and then lowering the pipe 200 in the substantially vertical orientation. Lowing the pipe 200 may cause a collar 220 of the pipe 200 to be landed onto a connection 215A of the saddle 214. The collar 220 may be positioned such that a lower end 230 of the pipe 200 is elevated from the ground, and the lower end 230 of the pipe 200 does not contact the BOP 104 when the pipe 200 is rotated to the substantially horizontal orientation.
The method 800 may also include pivoting the frame 212 relative to the rig floor 102 so as to rotate the pipe 200 to a substantially horizontal orientation, as at 804. Pivoting the frame may include energizing a driver 216 coupled to the rig floor 102 and to the frame 212. For example, the driver 216 may be or include a hydraulic cylinder, and energizing the driver 216 may include extending the hydraulic cylinder.
In an embodiment, the method 800 may also include moving the pipe 200 in a horizontal direction, toward the RCD 105, after securing the pipe 200 in the saddle 214, as at 806. For example, a second driver 500 coupled to the saddle 214 may be energized, such that the saddle 214 is moved relative to the frame 212 and/or relative to the rig floor 102 in the horizontal direction. In another example, moving the frame 212 in the horizontal direction may be accomplished by retracting the driver 216 coupled to a carriage 600 of the frame 212, which causes the frame 212 and a support arm 602 pivotably coupled to the rig floor 102 and the pipe 200 to pivot about respective pivot points 217, 604. In some embodiments, moving the pipe 200 in the horizontal direction may be accomplished before, during, or after rotating the pipe 200 from the substantially vertical orientation to the substantially horizontal orientation.
The method 800 may further include coupling the pipe 200 in the substantially horizontal orientation to a well device (e.g., an RCD 105, catch can, or another device), such that the pipe 200 is configured to communicate fluid to or from the well device while the pipe 200 is in the substantially horizontal orientation, as at 808. In an embodiment, the well device may be a an RCD 105, and the pipe 200 may be a mud flow line 200 that extends from the RCD 105 to a mud tank 201. Coupling the pipe 200 to the RCD 105 may, in some embodiments, include extending a pipe slide 402 from the lower end 230 of the pipe 200 to the RCD 105, or from the RCD 105 to the lower end 230 of the pipe 200.
The pipe 200 may be retained in the horizontal position indefinitely, while the rig 100 is in operation. When it is desired to disassemble the rig 100, the method 800 may be reversed, such that the pipe 200 is detached from the RCD 105, pivoted back to its substantially vertical orientation, and then removed from connection with the installation device 210 via a crane.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Moreover, the order in which the elements of the methods described herein are illustrate and described may be re-arranged, and/or two or more elements may occur simultaneously. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain at least some of the principals of the disclosure and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosed methods and systems and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
