The present disclosure relates in general to drilling rigs, and in particular, to assembling a drilling mast using a self-elevating mast employing draw works.
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. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the platform 20 includes a row of sub boxes 20a and 20b. A mast cart 90 may be positioned under the opening 30, for example in a channel created by a width separating the row of sub boxes 20a and 20b. In an exemplary embodiment, the mast cart 90 sequentially accommodates each of the mast sections 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e. That is, each of the mast sections 60b, 60c, 60d, and 60e may be arranged on the mast cart 90 in a vertical position on the mast cart 90. In some embodiments, each mast section is secured to the mast cart 90. In an exemplary embodiment and as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
At step 205 and as shown in
At step 210 and as shown in
At step 215 and as shown in
At step 220, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60b. In one embodiment, the hook 85 is attached to a padeye located on the mast section 60b. In one embodiment, the hook 85 and a sling are used to attach to the mast section 60b. In one embodiment, the hook 85 is operably coupled to the mast section 60b.
At step 225 and as shown in
At step 230 and as shown in
At step 235, the mast section 60b is attached to the support structure 35 using the plurality of lower holding pins 50. That is, the mast section 60a is attached to the support structure 35 using the plurality of upper holding pins 45, the mast section 60b is attached to the support structure 35 using the plurality of lower holding pins 50, and the mast section 60a is connected to the mast section 60b.
At step 240, the mast section 60c is located or disposed on the mast cart 90. In one embodiment, the mast section 60c is arranged on the mast cart 90 in a similar manner to that which the mast section 60b is arranged on the mast cart 90 at the step 215.
At step 245, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60c. In one embodiment, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60c is a manner similar to that which the mast section 60b is attached to the hook at the step 220.
At step 250 and as shown in
At step 255, the mast section 60c is connected to the mast section 60b. In one embodiment, the mast section 60c is connected to the mast section 60b in a manner similar to that which the mast section 60b is connected to the mast section 60a in the step 230.
At step 260, the mast section 60a is detached from the plurality of upper holding pins 45 and the mast section 60b is detached from the lower holding pins 50 while using an overhead support, such as the crane 95, to support the mast section 60a, the mast section 60b, and the mast section 60c.
At step 265 and as shown in
At step 270, the mast section 60b is attached to the plurality of upper holding pins 45 and the mast section 60c is attached to the plurality of lower holding pins 50.
At step 275, the mast section 60d is located or disposed on the mast cart 90. In one embodiment, the mast section 60d is arranged on the mast cart 90 in a similar manner to that which the mast section 60b is arranged on the mast cart 90 at the step 215.
At step 280, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60d. In one embodiment, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60d is a manner similar to that which the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60b at the step 220.
At step 285 and as shown in
At step 290, the mast section 60d is connected to the mast section 60c. In one embodiment, the mast section 60d is connected to the mast section 60c in a manner similar to that which the mast section 60b is connected to the mast section 60a in the step 230.
At step 295, the mast section 60b is detached from the plurality of upper holding pins 45 and the mast section 60c is detached front the lower holding pins 50 while using an overhead support, such as the crane 95, to support the mast section 60a, the mast section 60b, the mast section 60c, and the mast section 60d.
At step 300 and as shown in
At step 305, the mast section 60c is attached to the plurality of upper holding pins 45 and the mast section 60d is attached to the lower holding pins 50.
At step 310, the mast section 60e is located or disposed on the mast cart 90. In one embodiment, the mast section 60e is arranged on the mast cart 90 in a similar manner to that which the mast section 60b is arranged on the mast cart 90 at the step 215.
At step 315, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60e. In one embodiment, the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60e is a manner similar to that which the hook 85 is attached to the mast section 60b at the step 220.
At step 320 and as shown in
At step 325, the mast section 60e is connected to the mast section 60d. In one embodiment, the mast section 60e is connected to the mast section 60d in a manner similar to that which the mast section 60b is connected to the mast section 60a in the step 230.
At step 330, the mast section 60c is detached from the plurality of upper holding pins 45 and the mast section 60d is detached from the plurality of lower holding pins while using an overhead support, such as the crane 95 to support the mast sections 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, and 60e. At step 335 and as shown in
At step 340, the mast section 60e is attached to the plurality of upper holding pins 45. Once the mast section 60e is attached to the plurality of upper holding pins 45, the mast 60 is constructed.
In an alternative embodiment, the mast cart 90 is not required at the steps 215, 240, 275, and 310. The mast sections 60b, 60c, 60d, and 60e may be located on any surface below the opening 30 at the steps 215, 240, 275, and 310, respectively.
The present disclosure also describes an apparatus including a support structure having a plurality of vertically extending members arranged to define an inner perimeter of a mast channel, the support structure attached to a platform having a platform floor and the support structure positioned above an opening in the platform floor; a first mast section configured to be attached, using a first plurality of holding pins located on the support structure, to the support structure, at least a portion of the first mast section located within the mast channel, the first mast section having a lower first mast portion and an upper first mast portion, the first mast section configured to be attached to a pulley system; wherein the pulley system includes a hoist attached to the platform; a line attached to the hoist and operably coupled to a pulley, the pulley attached to the upper first mast portion; and a hook coupled to the line, the line and the hook located within the mast channel; and a second mast section configured to be attached, using a second plurality of holding pins located on the support structure, to the support structure; wherein, the second mast section is configured to be raised, using the pulley system, from a first location below the platform to a second location directly below the first mast section; wherein an upper second mast portion of the second mast section is configured to be attached to the lower first mast portion; wherein the first mast section is configured to detach from the support structure while the first mast section is supported by an overhead source located above the first support structure and connected to the first mast section; wherein the second mast section is configured to detach from the support structure while the second mast section is supported by the overhead source; and wherein the first mast section and the second mast section are configured to be raised by the overhead source to a third location where the second mast section can attach to the support structure using the first plurality of holding pins. In one aspect, the lower first mast portion connects to the upper second mast portion using a pin. In one aspect, the hoist is a draw works. In one aspect, the pulley is a crown block. In one aspect, the opening is located above a wellbore. In one aspect, the platform floor is a rig floor. In one aspect, the opening is larger than the second mast section. In one aspect, the second mast section is spaced vertically from the rig floor when in the first location. In one aspect, the second mast section has a longitudinal axis that is parallel or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the opening. In one aspect, the second mast has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial to a longitudinal axis of the opening.
The present disclosure also describes a system that includes a support structure having a plurality of vertically extending members arranged to define an inner perimeter of a mast channel, the support structure attached to a platform having a rig floor and the support structure positioned above an opening in the rig floor; a first mast section that is attached to the support structure, at least a portion of the first mast section located within the mast channel; a second mast section that is attached to the support structure and the first mast section; and a third mast section; wherein the system has a first arrangement in which the third mast section is located below the rig floor in a vertical position and is vertically spaced from the second mast section; and wherein the system has a second arrangement in which the third mast section is attached to the second mast section and at least a portion of the third mast section extends within the opening of the rig floor. In one aspect, the opening is larger than each of the second mast section and the third mast section. In one aspect, the first mast section is attached to the support structure at a first location using a first plurality of pins located on the support structure; and wherein the second mast section is attached to the support structure using a second plurality of pins located on the support structure. In one aspect, each of the fist mast section and the second mast section is adapted to be detached from the support structure while being supported by an overhead source that is located above the first support structure and that is connected to the first mast section; the first mast section, the second mast section, and the third mast section are adapted to be raised, using the overhead source and relative to the support structure, to move the first mast section from the first location to a second location relative to the support structure; and wherein the second mast section is adapted to be attached to the support structure using the first plurality of holding pins while at the second location. In one aspect, in the first arrangement, the rig floor is vertically spaced from the third mast section. In one aspect, the first mast section is attached to the second mast section using a pin. In one aspect, the first mast section is attached to a pulley system including a hoist attached to the platform; a line attached to the hoist and operably coupled to a pulley, the pulley attached to the first mast section; and a hook coupled to the line, the line and the hook located within the mast channel. In one aspect, each of the second mast section and the third mast. section is adapted to be attached to the hook. In one aspect, the opening is located above a wellbore. In one aspect, the third mast section has a longitudinal axis that is parallel or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the opening when the system is in the first arrangement. In one aspect, the third mast has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial to a longitudinal axis of the opening When the system is in the first arrangement.
In several exemplary embodiments, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative exemplary embodiments may be combined in whole or in part in some or all of the illustrative exemplary embodiments. In addition, one or more of the elements and teachings of the various illustrative exemplary embodiments may be omitted, at least in part, and/or combined, at least in part, with one or more of the other elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments.
Any spatial references such as, for example, “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “between,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “angular” “upwards,” “downwards,” “side-to-side,” “left-to-right,” “right-to-left,” “top-to-bottom,” “bottom-to-top,” “top,” “bottom,” “bottom-up,” “top-down,” etc., are for the purpose of illustration only and do riot limit the specific orientation or location of the structure described above.
In several exemplary embodiments, while different steps, processes, and procedures are described as appearing as distinct acts, one or more of the steps, one or more of the processes, and/or one or more of the procedures may also be performed in different orders, simultaneously and/or sequentially. In several exemplary embodiments, the steps, processes and/or procedures may be merged into one or more steps, processes and/or procedures.
In several exemplary embodiments, one or more of the operational steps in each embodiment may be omitted. Moreover, in some instances, some features of the present disclosure may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Moreover, one or more of the above-described embodiments and/or variations may be combined in whole or in part with any one or more of the other above-described embodiments and/or variations.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, the embodiments described are exemplary only and are not limiting, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many other modifications, changes and/or substitutions are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications, changes and/or substitutions are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.
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.
The Abstract at the end of this disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Moreover, it is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112(f) for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the word “means” together with an associated function.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/799,635, filed Mar. 13, 2013, now allowed, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by express reference thereto.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13799635 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 14581499 | US |