The present disclosure relates generally to drilling equipment, and specifically to tubular handling equipment.
When forming a wellbore, one or more tubular strings may be introduced in the wellbore using a drilling rig. The tubular strings may include a drill string used to drill the wellbore, a casing string used to case the wellbore, or other tool strings. Each string is made up of a series of tubular members joined end-to-end to form a continuous tubular string. Typically, the tubular members are joined using a threaded connection made up as an additional tubular member is added to the existing string. Tubular members are transported to the drilling rig by truck in a horizontal orientation and are positioned on a ground handling system which typically includes a catwalk and ramp leading to the drilling rig. However, where a single catwalk is used, tubulars may need to be removed when switching the type of tubular members being utilized. For example, if introducing casing into the wellbore, drill pipe may need to be removed from the catwalk to allow casing tubulars to be introduced to the drilling rig.
The present disclosure includes a ground handling system. The ground handling system includes a main skid. The main skid has a main skid frame, the main skid frame including a main tubular handling cradle. The main skin also includes a catwalk, the catwalk mechanically coupled to the main skid frame. In addition, the ground handling system includes a secondary skid, the secondary skid mechanically coupled to the main skid. The secondary skid includes a secondary skid frame, the secondary skid frame including a tubular handling cradle. The second skid also includes a secondary catwalk, the secondary catwalk mechanically coupled to the secondary skid frame.
The present disclosure also provides a method. The method includes providing a ground handling system that includes a main skid. The main skid includes a main skid frame that includes a main tubular handling cradle. The main skid also includes a main catwalk mechanically coupled to the main skid frame. The ground handling system also includes a secondary skid mechanically coupled to the main skid. The secondary skid includes a secondary skid frame that includes a secondary tubular handling cradle. In addition, the secondary skid includes a secondary catwalk, the secondary catwalk mechanically coupled to the secondary skid frame. The method also includes positioning one or more tubular members on the catwalk and transferring a first tubular member from the catwalk to the tubular handling cradle. The method may further include transferring a second tubular member from the secondary catwalk to the secondary tubular handling cradle and transferring the second tubular member from the secondary tubular handling cradle to the main tubular handling cradle.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
In some embodiments, ground handling system 100 may include main skid 101 and secondary skid 201. In the exemplary embodiments and description herein, main skid 101 is discussed as being utilized for drill pipe 20 and secondary skid 201 is discussed as being utilized for casing segment 30. However, both main skid 101 and secondary skid 201 may be used for either drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or any other tubular members for use in a wellbore without deviating from the scope of this disclosure.
As depicted in
In some embodiments, main skid 101 may include a pipe treatment carriage 107. Pipe treatment carriage 107 may include one or more of cleaning canister 109, doping canister 111, roller clamp 113, and tire clamp 115. Although described separately herein, cleaning canister 109 and doping canister 111 may be included as part of a single canister. In some embodiments, main skid 101 may include a positioning carriage 117. Positioning carriage 117 may include one or more of roller clamp 113′, tire clamp 115′, and positioning plate 119. Pipe treatment carriage 107 and positioning carriage 117 may be slidably coupled to main skid frame 103 as discussed further herein below. Main skid 101 may further include a measurement plate 121. In some embodiments, measurement plate 121 may be positioned on pipe treatment carriage 107
In some embodiments, drill pipe 20 positioned on catwalk 105 may be introduced into a tubular handling cradle 123 positioned on main skid frame 103. Tubular handling cradle 123 may include one or more spinner rollers 125 positioned to rotate or allow drill pipe 20 to be rotated within tubular handling cradle 123. One or more of spinner rollers 125 may be powered to cause rotation of drill pipe 20. In some embodiments, tubular handling cradle 123 may include one or more rollers for moving drill pipe 20 longitudinally within tubular handling cradle 123 such as V-rollers 127. In some embodiments, one or more of V-rollers, conveyor belts, rollers, chain systems, or rack and pinion systems may be used to move drill pipe 20 longitudinally within tubular handling cradle 123. In some embodiments, one or both of spinner rollers 125 and V-rollers 127 may be retractable into and out of engagement with drill pipe 20 within tubular handling cradle 123. In some embodiments, one or both of spinner rollers 125 and V-rollers 127 may be retractable by, for example and without limitation, one or more hydraulic cylinders. In some embodiments, one or more of spinner rollers 125 and V-rollers 127 may be powered by, for example and without limitation, one or more of electric motors, hydraulic motors, or pneumatic motors.
As depicted in
In some embodiments, individual lengths of drill pipe 20 may be loaded into tubular handling cradle 123 from catwalk 105 by one or more indexers 133. Indexers 133 may be pivotably coupled to main skid frame 103. Indexers 133 may include transfer rail 135, separators 137, and stoppers 139. In some embodiments, multiple indexers 133 may be included having configurations intended for use with different tubular members, such as drill pipe 20 or casing segment 30.
In an indexing operation, indexers 133 may be pivoted upward from the home position depicted in
Once drill pipe 20′ is positioned in tubular handling cradle 123 as depicted in
Once in the desired position, pipe treatment carriage 107 may be traveled along main skid frame 103 into the pipe-treatment position as depicted in
In some embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, once drill pipe 20′ has been cleaned, cleaning canister 109 may be retracted as depicted in
Once drill pipe 20′ is cleaned and doped, doping canister 111 and pipe treatment carriage 107 may be moved away from drill pipe 20′ as depicted in
In some embodiments, although not depicted, positioning carriage 117 may include one or more of a cleaning canister or doping canister to clean and/or dope the other end of drill pipe 20′. In some embodiments, the cleaning canister and doping canister may be combined into a single cleaning/doping canister.
In some embodiments, ground handling system 100 may include main skid 101 as described herein above alone. In some embodiments, ground handling system 100 may further include one or more secondary skids 201. For the purposes of this disclosure, a single secondary skid 201 is discussed, but one having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure will understand that any number of secondary skids 201 may be utilized with ground handling system 100.
Secondary skid 201, may be positioned at an end of main skid 101. In some embodiments, secondary skid 201 may be mechanically coupled to main skid 101. For example, in some such embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, casing segments 30 positioned on secondary catwalk 205 may be introduced into a tubular handling cradle 223 positioned on secondary skid frame 203. In some embodiments, tubular handling cradle 223 may include one or more V-rollers 227. In some embodiments, one or more of V-rollers, conveyor belts, rollers, chain systems, or rack and pinion systems may be used to move or allow casing segments 30 to be moved longitudinally within tubular handling cradle 223.
As depicted in
In some embodiments, individual lengths of casing segment 30 may be loaded into tubular handling cradle 223 from secondary catwalk 205 by one or more indexers 233. Indexers 233 may be pivotably coupled to secondary skid frame 203. Indexers 233 may include transfer rail 235, separators 237, and stoppers 239. In some embodiments, multiple indexers 233 may be included having configurations intended for use with different tubular members, such as casing segment 30.
In an indexing operation, indexers 233 may be pivoted upward from the home position depicted in
Once casing segment 30′ is positioned in tubular handling cradle 223 as depicted in
In some embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, bucking unit 271 may by positioned within tubular handling cradle 223 of secondary skid 201. Bucking unit 271 may include one or more pipe tongs, here depicted as fixed pipe tong 273 and rotating pipe tong 275. In some embodiments, fixed pipe tong 273 and rotating pipe tong 275 may include one or more fixed clamp jaws 277 and rotating clamp jaws 279 respectively to mechanically couple to a length of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component. Rotating pipe tong 275 may rotate the piece of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component relative to the piece of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component coupled to fixed pipe tong 273. In some embodiments, bucking unit 271 may include pipe spinner 281. Pipe spinner 281 may rotate a piece of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component positioned therein relative to the piece of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component held by fixed pipe tong 273. In some embodiments, pipe spinner 281 may rotate at a high speed but at low torque, and rotating pipe tong 275 may rotate at a low speed but with high torque in order to make up the threaded connection. In some embodiments, one or more components of bucking unit 271 may be retractable into secondary skid 201 and out of tubular handling cradle 223 to, for example and without limitation, allow movement of drill pipe 20, casing segment 30, or other tubular component as discussed herein above.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Such features may be replaced by any one of numerous equivalent alternatives, only some of which are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application is a nonprovisional application that claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 62/417,878, filed Nov. 4, 2016.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180128065 A1 | May 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62417878 | Nov 2016 | US |