Patent Application
20220307373
The invention relates to a drilling rig referred to as an underground drilling rig, erected underground and operated underground as well as to a method for its erection.
Drilling rings, namely drilling rings for sinking deep boreholes on hydrocarbon deposits or for developing geothermal energy are in principle known per se. Such drilling rigs are conventionally designed as land drilling rigs or as so-called offshore drilling rigs. From U.S. Pat. No. 2,331,072 and EP 2 245 256 A1 a method and an apparatus for sinking a deep borehole underground are known. An operation of a drilling rig underground has the advantage that the drilling rig does not appear visually or acoustically above ground and the drilling rig does not need any space above ground. In an especially preferred embodiment, no structural measures are required above ground for erecting the drilling rig at the position of the deep borehole.
To erect the underground drilling rig, sometimes referred to in short below as a drilling rig, underground, a tunnel is driven into the rock mass. The expression “rock mass” is to be understood within the meaning of so-called mining terminology and refers to the material of the earth's crust, in particular rock, into which mines (shafts, tunnels, etc.) are driven. The tunnel driven into the rock mass for the erection of the drilling rig comprises at least one horizontal section or at least substantially horizontal section. This is referred to below as a production tunnel. A vertical shaft extends from this production tunnel. This is referred to below as the mast shaft. The mast shaft is preferably, but not necessarily a blind shaft, a shaft that does not extend to the surface. The erection of the drilling rig takes place in the production tunnel and below the mast shaft and in part into the mast shaft. The production tunnel and the mast shaft as well as their construction are not the subject matter of the innovation presented here.
The innovation is a method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) in such a production tunnel and in the area of a mast shaft there and a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) erected according to the method.
The present method is a method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) for sinking deep boreholes referred to sometimes below in short as boreholes, namely deep boreholes on hydrocarbon deposits or for developing geothermal energy or other valuable materials or deep boreholes for research purposes, in a tunnel driven, for example, by means of a tunnel boring machine into a rock mass. The tunnel comprises a horizontal or at least substantially horizontal section. This is referred to here and below as a production tunnel, in order to distinguish it. The production tunnel or at least a section of the production tunnel functions as a production line when erecting the drilling rig or when the drilling operation is later carried out. The terms “horizontal section of the tunnel”, “production tunnel” and “production line” refer to the same thing. A vertical section/a vertical shaft extends from the production tunnel. This is referred to here and below and to distinguish it from the production tunnel as the mast shaft.
It should already now be pointed out that in the description and claims presented here terms and directions such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “parallel”, “aligned” and the like are always to be read as “horizontal or at least substantially horizontal”, “vertical or at least substantially vertical” and so on. The innovation proposed here does not depend on an exactly horizontal or an exactly vertical orientation or an exactly parallel or an exactly aligned orientation and so on. Therefore, even only approximately horizontal, vertical, parallel, aligned and so on alignments or orientations are sufficient. In the interest of a better readability of the following description, said description proceeds with brief direction and orientation information, namely “horizontal”, “vertical”, “parallel” and the like, wherein the general form formulated above is always meant and is to be read accordingly.
The erection of the drilling rig (underground drilling ring) according to the approach proposed here takes place in the production tunnel and in the area of the mast shaft there. When the drilling rig is operated, the handling of the drill pipe elements, which is in principle known per se, takes place in the mast shaft. Handling the drill pipe elements includes connecting the drill pipe elements to the drill string during the so-called installation of a drill string and releasing drill pipe elements from the drill string during the so-called removal of a drill string. The drilling operation of the drilling rig occurs underground in principle in the manner known from land drill rigs or offshore drill rings and accordingly requires no further description here. For a general orientation, it should be noted that the raising or lowering of the drill string in the borehole is effected in the mast shaft underground and that a longitudinal axis of the drill string above the floor level of the production tunnel is parallel or at least substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the mast shaft.
The method proposed here for erecting or when erecting the drilling rig (underground drilling rig) comprises at least the following method steps in one variant:
This variant relates to a drilling rig (underground drilling rig), in which the raising and lowering of the drill string takes place by means of a hoisting apparatus and a pulley system belonging to the drilling rig. In a drilling rig, the pulley system includes a crown bearing and a crown block there as well as a block, which is suspended under the crown block and vertically movable, the so-called traveling block. The crown block and the traveling block function as the upper block and lower block of the pulley system. In a corresponding variant, this also applies to the drilling rig (underground drilling rig) proposed here. The drill string hangs directly or indirectly from the lower block. The crown bearing must be located at a certain height above the so-called drill floor, so that the usual handling of drill rods or drill pipe hoists—here and in the following referred to collectively as drill pipe element or drill pipe elements—is possible when installing and removing the drill string. With a functional indication of the height of the crown bearing above the drill floor, this can be related to the drill pipe elements provided for use during the drilling operation, namely, an individual drill pipe (so-called single) or drill pipe combined to form drill pipe hoists (so-called doubles, triples, etc.): Accordingly, the distance (height) of the crown bearing from the drill floor is at least so great that in each case one of the drill pipe elements provided for use in the drilling rig, the respective drive device for rotating the drill string (drill string drive unit), in the case of a drilling rig with a so-called top drive therefore the top drive, and the pulley system are accommodated between the drill floor and crown bearing. In fact, the distance is greater by a margin of safety and movement (a measure of safety and movement) in order to enable a mobility of the units mentioned above the drill floor. These conditions (necessary distance of the crown bearing from the drill floor) also apply in the case of the drilling rig (underground drilling rig) proposed here. In the case of previous drilling rigs (land drilling rig, offshore drilling rig) the necessary height of the crown bearing is achieved by means of a drilling mast (derrick). The drilling mast also absorbs the forces (weight of the drill string), which act on the crown bearing during the drilling and the drilling mast directs the forces occurring indirectly or directly into the ground in the area of the drilling rig. In the case of an underground drilling rig, additional possibilities result for dissipating these forces. In the case of an underground drilling rig—as in the case of previous drilling rigs—a drilling mast (or derrick) can be used to dissipate these forces. The drilling mast (referred to below as the mast structure) is then erected in the mast shaft and in principle the same conditions as in previous drilling rigs result. However, wind loads and the like, for example, do not need to be taken into account, so that in the case of the underground drilling rig, the drilling mast can be designed to be statically correspondingly simpler. Since the drilling mast can be supported along the mast shaft, an operation with longer drill pipe hoists (four-times or five-times as long hoists) is possible. Thus, a reduction of the so-called setback area is advantageously possible. A reduction of the setback area is especially advantageous in a narrow mast shaft. Longer drill pipe hoists are also advantageous for the so-called trip speed. However, it is essential that in the case of an underground drilling rig the possibility exists for the first time to do without a drilling mast for absorbing the forces acting on the crown bearing. For this purpose, the crown bearing is fixed, for example, in the mast shaft itself, namely in principle at the same height as in a use of a drilling mast, and reference is made to the above statements with regard to the necessary distance of the crown bearing from the drill floor (height of the crown bearing above the drill floor). The dissipation of the forces acting on the crown bearing takes place in the case of such an attachment in the mast shaft into the mast shaft wall and the surrounding rock mass; the mast shaft functions to a certain extent as a drilling mast. Another possibility consists in suspending the crown bearing to a certain extent in the mast shaft. Then the forces acting on the crown bearing are absorbed by the suspension of the crown bearing. The suspension (at least a steel cable or the like) thereby extends from the crown bearing to the surface (above ground) and the suspension can thereby, for example, lead through a ventilation shaft or the like extending from the mast shaft. The suspension ends, for example, above ground in a foundation there. Alternatively, the crown bearing can also be hung from the ceiling of the mast shaft.
Each of the two outlined variants (fixing the crown bearing in the mast shaft to dissipate the forces into the mast shaft wall; suspending the crown bearing in the mast shaft and absorbing the forces by the suspension of the crown bearing) belongs—as in principle an optional partial aspect—to the innovation proposed here. Both variants can also be combined and such a combination also belongs—as in principle an optional partial aspect—to the innovation proposed here.
In the method outlined above, which is proposed here, for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig), the attachment of the crown bearing at the necessary height, therefore at a necessary distance from the drill floor of an already existing or, if applicable, subsequently erected substructure of the drilling rig, is in the foreground. Due to the possibilities also outlined above of attaching the crown bearing even without a drilling mast, the possible erection of a drilling mast takes a back seat and the erection of a drilling mast is only optional. In the event of the erection of a drilling mast this takes place preferably together with the raising of the crown bearing in the mast shaft or as a subsequent method step after the raising of the crown bearing in the mast shaft.
In the proposed method, the crown bearing is raised from the production tunnel into the mast shaft. When the necessary height is reached (necessary distance from the drill floor as described above) the crown bearing is fixed in the mast shaft. The fixation is at least a vertical fixation (fixation in the direction of the vertical axis of the mast shaft). The vertical fixation takes place at a distance from a ceiling of the production tunnel. This distance corresponds to at least the length of at least one drill pipe of the drilling rig.
The distance related to the ceiling of the production tunnel, therefore the height of the crown bearing in the mast shaft related to the ceiling of the production tunnel, is a definition of the height without reference to the drill floor of the drilling rig, which may be installed later. The plane of the drill floor will lie in the production tunnel between the floor level of the production tunnel and its ceiling. When installing and removing the drill string, in each case at least one drill pipe is moved, i.e. connected to the drill string or released from the drill string, both in each case with a vertical orientation of the at least one drill pipe. Even with a drill floor significantly below the ceiling of the production tunnel, the definition of the distance of the crown bearing from the ceiling of the production tunnel (the height of the crown bearing above the ceiling of the production tunnel) with reference to the length of at least one drill pipe of the drilling rig is correct, because the height corresponds at least to the length of at least one drill pipe. According to the definition, the height can also be greater than the length of exactly one drill pipe, for example, if so-called doubles (two drill pipes; a drill pipe hoist comprising two drill pipes) or triples (three drill pipes; a drill pipe hoist comprising three drill pipes) etc. (drill pipe hoists with more than three drill pipes) are provided. However, the height can also be greater than the length of at least one drill pipe for the reason that space remains for a pulley system and, for example, a top drive. This required additional vertical height of the crown bearing beyond the height required due to the length of the at least one drill pipe is taken into account by the definition of the distance from the ceiling of the production tunnel (height of the crown bearing above the ceiling of the production tunnel) with the word “at least”— “at least the length [ . . . ] of a drill pipe”. An exact definition of the required height of the crown bearing (either above the ceiling of the production tunnel or above the level of the drill floor) is not possible for any variant of an underground drilling rig and the specific height depends, for example, on whether a top drive or another drill string drive unit is used to rotate the drill string, how great the minimum distance is between the upper block (crown bearing/crown block) and the lower block (traveling block) of the pulley system, on which, for example, the top drive is suspended, and so on.
The crown bearing in the mast shaft can be raised, for example, with cables guided in the mast shaft and in a ventilation shaft connected to the mast shaft and a hoist apparatus placed above ground or another pulling or lifting unit. Alternatively, in principle optional possibilities for raising the crown bearing in the mast shaft are described further below.
In one embodiment of the method, it is provided that before the method step of raising the crown bearing in the mast shaft said method also comprises the method step of erecting an erecting structure in the production tunnel and below the mast shaft. The crown bearing is then raised starting from the erecting structure and into the mast shaft. The erecting structure creates defined and safe conditions for the positioning of the crown bearing before raising and during raising.
The advantage of the proposed innovation consists in the basic possibility of the erection of a drilling rig underground and the simple possibility of an erection of such a drilling rig by placing the crown bearing of the drilling rig in the vertical mast shaft extending from the production tunnel. Following the raising and fixing of the crown bearing in the mast shaft proposed here, the erection of the drilling rig is continued with the method steps substantially known in principle per se (from land drilling rigs or offshore drilling rigs).
It was pointed out above that a pulley system in a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) is only one way of raising and lowering the drill string. Another variant of the method proposed here for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) relates to a drilling rig, in which the drill string is raised and lowered without a hoist apparatus and pulley system. Then a drive device for rotating the drill string (drill string drive unit), therefore, for example, a top drive, is moved vertically by means of a drive device and/or a lifting device. A rack and pinion drive or an electromagnetic linear drive, for example, can be considered as the drive device for the vertical movement of the drill string drive unit. A hydraulic cylinder, in particular, a telescopic hydraulic cylinder, can be considered as the lifting device for the vertical movement of the drill string drive unit. Such drive or lifting devices as well as the sequences of movements resulting from the drilling operation during the vertical movement of the respective drill string drive unit are known per se, so that no further explanation is necessary here and reference is made to the prior art.
Because such a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) without a pulley system does not require a crown bearing, the method for erecting such a drilling rig underground cannot be defined with reference to a crown bearing. In the case of such a drilling rig intended to sink deep boreholes of the type mentioned above, the method for their erection in a tunnel driven into a rock mass, which comprises a horizontal section functioning as a production tunnel and a production line, from which a vertical section extends as a mast shaft, is characterized in that by means of an erecting structure in the production tunnel and starting from the production tunnel a mast structure (drilling mast structure) is erected in the mast shaft and from the production tunnel into the mast shaft (therefore, so to speak “from bottom to top”), and that the mast structure comprises a plurality of mast segments erectable/erected successively by means of the erecting structure. The erecting structure is located in the production tunnel and is erected there—in an introductory method step that is optionally part of the method proposed here—for example, on the floor level of the production tunnel. The mast structure comprises the plurality of mast segments as mast segments which are connected to one another or can be connected to one another. In the case of mast segments that are connected to one another, these are already connected to one another when the mast structure is erected, for example, connected to one another in an articulated manner. In the case of mast segments that can be connected to one another, these are connected to one another at the latest after the mast structure has been erected. The mast structure functions as a guide and as a torque support for a drill rod drive unit, therefore, for example, for a top drive.
The mast structure can carry a crown bearing in an in principle optional manner. The crown bearing, the crown block there and the so-called traveling block and the pulley system formed with it then function as a lifting device for the respective drill string drive unit. In a corresponding, in principle optional, advantageous embodiment of a method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) with such a mast structure and by means of an erecting structure, it is provided that, as part of the method, on the one hand, the raising of the crown bearing in the mast shaft and the vertical fixing of the crown bearing as well as, on the other hand, the erection of the mast structure takes place in the mast shaft. The crown bearing can be raised in the course of erecting the mast structure and by means of the mast structure in such a way that the mast structure carries the crown bearing and the crown bearing is also raised when the mast structure is raised into the mast shaft. The raising of the crown bearing and the raising of the mast structure into the mast shaft can also be carried out independently of one another. Then the crown bearing is first raised in the mast shaft and fixed vertically there and then the mast structure is raised into the mast shaft. The crown bearing and the mast structure can then be connected to one another. If the crown bearing is raised by means of the mast structure and is thus connected to the mast structure from the start or if the crown bearing is raised in the mast shaft independently of the mast structure and the crown bearing is only connected to the mast structure after the mast structure has been erected, the connection of the crown bearing and mast structure results, in any case, in the mast structure absorbing at least part of the forces later acting on the crown bearing during drilling. In addition, the mast structure functions as a guide and/or as a torque support for the respective drill string drive unit. The crown bearing and the mast structure can also remain independent of one another, so that—as described above—the forces acting on the crown bearing during the drilling operation are dissipated, for example, into the wall of the mast shaft. The mast structure then essentially only functions as a guide and/or as a torque support for the respective drill string drive unit.
Here, too, the advantage of the proposed innovation is the basic possibility of erecting a drilling rig underground and the simple possibility of erecting such a drilling rig by erecting a mast structure comprising several mast segments in the vertical mast shaft extending from the production tunnel. Here, too, following the erection of the mast structure in the mast shaft proposed here, the erection of the drilling rig is continued with method steps substantially known in principle per se (from land drilling rigs or offshore drilling rigs).
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims. In this regard, back references used within the claims indicate further formation of the subject matter of the referenced claim by the features of the respective dependent claim. They are not to be understood as a waiver of obtaining independent protection for the features or feature combinations of a dependent claim. Furthermore, with regard to an interpretation of the claims, it is to be assumed that in the case of a more detailed specification of a feature in a dependent claim that such a limitation is not present in the respective preceding claims. Finally, it should be pointed out that the method specified here can also be further developed in accordance with the dependent device claims, and vice versa.
Since the subjects of the dependent claims can form their own and independent inventions with regard to the prior art on the priority date, the applicant reserves the right to make them the subject matter of independent claims or divisional applications. They can also contain independent inventions that have a configuration that is independent of the subjects of the preceding dependent claims.
In a special embodiment of a method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) underground, which also comprises the erection of a mast structure, it is provided that the erecting structure on an input side of the erecting structure is successively fed mast segments in a horizontal orientation, that by means of the erecting structure in the area of an output side of the erecting structure, in each case at least one mast segment is erected in a vertical orientation into the mast shaft or at least pointing into the mast shaft and that when further mast segments are fed in on the input side, the or each already vertically erected mast segment is raised into the mast shaft on the output side.
The number of mast segments successively fed in overall at the input side naturally depends on the desired height of the mast structure and if the height of a mast structure is for a drilling rig, for example, six mast segments are successively fed to the erecting structure, and if the height of the mast structure is for another drilling rig, for example, eight or nine mast segments are fed to the erecting structure. The numerical values mentioned are expressly to be understood only as examples.
A first mast segment fed to the erecting structure is erected by means of the erecting structure and initially remains in the erected alignment in/on the erecting structure. A second mast segment fed to the erecting structure comes into contact with the first, already erected mast segment at latest when erecting and to a certain extent displaces it from its previous position. This displacement results in the first, already vertically erected mast segment being raised into the mast shaft. This is repeated during the successive feeding of further mast segments and in the course of their erection by means of the erecting structure.
In a first variant of this embodiment of the method, to a certain extent a mast segment newly fed to the erecting structure pushes all the mast segments previously fed to the erecting structure in front of it in the erecting structure and causes them to be raised into the mast shaft—if they are already erected. For this purpose, a drive device is provided which temporarily engages that mast segment, which pushes all other mast segments previously fed to the erecting structure in front of it. The erecting structure thereby functions as a guide of the or each mast segment or for the or each mast segment and functions for the mast segments like a rail system or in the manner of a rail system. The process is repeated until all mast segments have been raised into the mast shaft.
The drive device can have a pushing effect and is then realized, for example, in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Realization with a rack and pinion drive or the like can also be considered. The drive device can alternatively have a pulling effect. A realization of the drive device in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, a rack and pinion drive, a pulley system or the like can then also be considered.
In a second variant of this embodiment of the method, the or each mast segment that has already been erected by means of the erecting structure is raised by means of a lifting device. For example, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, a rack and pinion drive, a pulley system or the like functions as the lifting device. The lifting device engages the mast segment erected by means of the erecting structure or the last mast segment erected by means of the erecting structure. In the first case, the lifting device lifts this mast segment. In the latter case, the lifting device lifts a plurality of mast segments, namely all mast segments erected by means of the erecting structure.
The raising by means of the lifting device takes place until there is space below the or each mast segment raised in this way for the erection of a further mast segment by means of the erecting structure. Then the newly erected mast segment is fixed in the erecting structure. This connects, for example, directly to the or each previously raised mast segment and carries it in the fixed configuration and by means of the erecting structure. The lifting device can then be disengaged from the or each previously raised mast segment and, for example, brought into an initial position.
Alternatively, the or each previously raised mast segment is lowered onto the mast segment fixed in the erecting structure by means of the lifting device, so that in the course of lowering a load is transferred to the mast segment fixed in the erecting structure and to the erecting structure. Then, too, the lifting device can be disengaged from the or each previously raised and then lowered mast segment and, for example, brought into an initial position.
The newly erected mast segment can then be raised by means of the lifting device together with the or each previously raised mast segment and the process is repeated until all mast segments have been raised into the mast shaft. Here, too, the erecting structure functions as a guide of the or each mast segment or for the or each mast segment and like a rail system or in the manner of a rail system.
The mast structure erected in this way (first variant or second variant) is fixed in the mast shaft and functions at least as a torque support and/or as a guide for the respective drill string drive unit, for example a top drive. The fixation in the mast shaft takes place along the vertical axis of the mast shaft and transversely to the vertical axis of the mast shaft. Optionally, this mast structure also carries the crown bearing of the drilling rig, wherein—as already mentioned—the crown bearing can be raised by means of the mast structure or independently of the erection of the mast structure in the mast shaft.
In a particular embodiment of a method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig), which also comprises the erection of a mast structure, it is provided that the erecting structure comprises two devices arranged spaced apart and parallel to one another, which each carry a guide profile. The devices comprised by the erecting structure and arranged parallel to one another, are intended together for erecting in each case at least one mast segment for a “two-legged” mast structure or an at least “two-legged” (“three”, four or “multi-legged”) mast structure and are accordingly referred to below as erecting trestles. In the case of a two-legged or at least two-legged mast structure as described above, this comprises two continuous, parallel vertical sections serving for load absorption/load dissipation. Between these there is a strut which ensures the static stability of the mast structure and the spacing between the vertical sections. In such a mast structure, each mast segment provided therefore likewise has two parallel sections, which later become part of the vertical sections of the mast structure. Each mast segment also has a strut between these parallel sections, which constitute the strut of the later mast structure. Each erecting trestle of the erecting structure in each case accommodates one of these parallel sections of the mast segments.
The guide profile of each erecting trestle allows a mast segment fed to the erecting structure to move along the guide profiles and causes such a mast segment to be guided transversely to a longitudinal extension of the respective guide profile. For example, a U-profile or the like, that is connected to the erecting trestle or formed in the erecting trestle and is open at the top or side, functions as the guide profile.
In the case of a U-profile as a guide profile, it is preferably provided that its base has a friction-reducing layer, for example, in the form of sliding plates (sliding pads) made of plastic or metal. Instead of a U-profile, in principle any other profile that is suitable for guidance transversely to a longitudinal extension of the respective guide profile can also be used, for example, an I-profile, an L-profile, a T-profile and so on. In the case of such profiles, too, a friction-reducing layer of the type mentioned above is preferably provided in the area, in which the mast segment moved along the guide profile comes into contact with the profile.
A first section of the guide profiles is located at a first end of the erecting trestles. This is aligned horizontally there. This first end of the erecting trestles functions as the input side of the erecting structure. A second section of the guide profiles is located at a second end of the erecting trestles opposite the first end. This is aligned vertically there. The vertical sections of the guide profiles below the mast shaft point into the mast shaft. At least the second end of the erecting trestles of the erecting structure erected in the production tunnel is therefore located below the mast shaft. This second end of the erecting trestles functions as the output side of the erecting structure.
The two sections of the guide profiles are connected to one another along the erecting trestles, so that a continuous or at least for the sections of the mast segments to be guided by means of the guide profiles continuous guide profile results. When the mast structure is erected into the mast shaft, in each case a mast segment is fed to the erecting structure in the area of the first section of the guide profile there (input side). This mast segment is moved along the guide profiles and is erected in the area of the second sections of the guide profiles there (output side) by means of the second sections of the guide profiles.
The guide profiles of the two erecting trestles function like a rail system for the mast segments as they move from the input side to the output side. They ensure the guidance of each individual mast segment when moving along the guide profiles—for example by means of a pulling or pushing drive device or by means of a lifting device as described above. They also ensure correct alignment and positioning of successive mast segments with respect to one another.
In summary, the erection of the mast structure in the mast shaft and, correspondingly, this aspect of the method for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) can also be briefly described as follows: The erecting of the mast structure in the mast shaft takes place by means of the erecting structure, by in each case at least one mast segment being pulled or pushed on an input side of the erecting structure in the erecting structure in the horizontal direction and/or being raised (pushed up/pressed up) on an output side of the erecting structure in or on the erecting structure in the vertical direction.
The method proposed here for erecting a drilling rig (underground drilling rig) and individual embodiments of the method does not define or do not define the complete erection of the drilling rig. In addition to the method steps proposed here, the erection of a drilling rig includes many other individual method steps, which are known per se and which do not contribute anything to the present invention. The method steps proposed here are, however, carried out to erect a drilling rig or—in another formulation—when erecting a drilling rig of the type proposed here. Correspondingly, with every formulation “method for erecting a drilling rig” the formulation “method when erecting a drilling rig” must also be read, wherein a “method when erecting a drilling rig” is a partial aspect of a “method for erecting a drilling rig”.
For the further description, in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, it applies that features and details that are described in connection with the present method and possible embodiments thereof naturally also apply in connection with and with regard to an apparatus intended and configured for carrying out the method and vice versa. Accordingly, the method can also be advanced by means of individual or several method features that relate to method steps carried out by such an apparatus, and such an apparatus can likewise be advanced by means for carrying out method steps carried out within the scope of the method. Consequently, features and details that are described in connection with the present method and possible embodiments thereof naturally also apply in connection with and with regard to an apparatus intended for its implementation and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is or can always be made reciprocally.
In this respect, the innovation proposed here is, for example, the apparatus already mentioned and referred to as an erecting structure for erecting a drilling rig of the type mentioned at the beginning underground, namely an apparatus for erecting a mast structure of the drilling rig comprising a plurality of mast segments connected to one another or connectable with one another. At least one mast segment can be fed to the erecting structure in a horizontal orientation on an input side. A mast segment fed to the erecting structure on its input side is moved—for example by means of a corresponding drive device—through the erecting structure or along the erecting structure to an output side of the erecting structure and guided by means of the erecting structure and can correspondingly be guided through the erecting structure or along the erecting structure to an output side there. In the area of the output side, a mast segment guided thereto can be erected and is brought into a vertical orientation that is aligned with the vertical axis of the mast shaft. Furthermore, the innovation proposed here is also, for example, a mast structure of a drilling rig for sinking deep boreholes underground, namely a drilling rig with a mast structure, wherein the mast structure comprises a plurality of mast segments connected to one another or connectable to one another and wherein the mast structure is erected underground, by in each case at least one mast segment being erected in a vertical orientation into the mast shaft or at least pointing into the mast shaft and by the or each already erected mast segment being raised into the mast shaft by means of further mast segments. The result is a mast structure consisting of several mast segments erected underground “from below”—namely extending from the production tunnel into a mast shaft. The totality of the mast segments essentially determines the height of the mast structure.
The patent claims submitted with the application presented here are formulation proposals without prejudice for obtaining further patent protection. Since, in particular, the subject matter of the dependent claims may form separate and independent inventions in view of the prior art at the priority date, the applicant reserves the right to make these or still further combinations of features, hitherto disclosed only in the description and/or drawing, the subject matter of independent claims or divisional applications. They can also contain independent inventions having a configuration that is independent of the subjects of the preceding dependent claims.
An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Objects or elements that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures and—insofar as this is possible with regard to the clarity of the illustrations—are also designated in all figures with the respective reference numerals.
The or each embodiment is not to be understood as a limitation of the invention. Rather, changes are definitely also possible within the scope of the present disclosure, in particular those, which, for example, by combining or modifying individual features described in connection with the general or special description part and contained in the claims and/or the drawing can be inferred by a person skilled in the art with a view to solving the problem and, through combinable features, lead to a novel subject matter or to new method steps or sequences of method steps.
The illustration in
In the production tunnel 12, which has a circular or at least substantially circular cross-sectional contour, a floor level 18 of the production tunnel 12 is formed, for example, at least in the area that is intended for the erection of the drilling rig 10, in order to obtain a level or at least substantially level installation surface by heaping up excavated material and/or by attaching a standing surface, which functions as a floor level 18, which, if necessary, rests on heaped up excavated material.
In the schematically greatly simplified illustration of the drilling rig 10, a mast structure 20 (
The illustrations in
The illustrations in
The illustrations in
The movement of drill pipe elements 34 from and to the position above the borehole underground and from and to the position next to the mast structure 20 takes place in the drilling rig 10 shown by way of example by means of a drill string drive unit, in particular a so-called top drive 38 that functions as a drill string drive unit and is in principle known per se. The drill string drive unit, the top drive 38 in the situation shown, can be moved vertically along the mast structure 20 in a manner which is in principle known per se. By means of the drill string drive unit, the drill string 24 is rotated during the drilling operation in a manner which is in principle known per se. The vertical movement of the drill string drive unit takes place in a manner which is in principle known per se by means of a hoisting apparatus 40 (
In order to feed drill pipe elements 34 to the drill floor 32, a machine, which is in principle known per se, is arranged for this purpose in the production tunnel 12 and in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the production tunnel 12. As an example of such a machine, a so-called catwalk machine 42 is shown in the illustrations in
Below the drilling rig 10, a so-called blow-out preventer 44 (BOP) is located above the borehole in a manner which is in principle known per se. To accommodate it, the production tunnel 12 is extended (deepened) in a cellar-like manner below the drilling rig 10 and in the region of the borehole. Similar to the way in which a section extending from the production tunnel 12 and extending beyond the edge contour of the production tunnel is provided for the blow-out preventer 44—as the illustration shows this in
The illustrations in
In the embodiment shown, the erecting structure 50 comprises two erecting trestles 52 aligned side by side and parallel to one another (see
The guide and the guide profiles 54 there are divided into at least three adjoining sections and function as a continuous guide. In respect to the illustrations in
The illustration in
The illustration in
At the end of the erection of the vertical section 58, the erection trestle 52 is also moved further under the mast shaft 14. In the situation shown in
The illustration in
The denomination of the individual sections 56, 58 of the guide as input side and output side relates to a direction of a movement of segments of the mast structure 20 when the mast structure 20 is erected along the guide and thus overall in the erecting structure 50. The erection of the mast structure is shown in
The illustrations in
The illustration in
In the example shown, the mast segment 60 placed on the guide profiles 54 comprises the crown bearing 22. This mast segment 60 is later the top segment of the mast structure 20 in the erected mast structure 20, so that the crown bearing 22 is raised together with the erection of the mast structure 20. The mast structure 20 is thereby erected into the mast shaft 14 and with this erection the crown bearing 22 is also raised into the mast shaft 14. Thus, after the mast structure 20 has been erected, the crown bearing 22 is located at the top of the mast structure 20, therefore, in the area of the highest point of the mast structure 20.
It should be pointed out that a crown bearing 22 connected to a mast segment 60 is only an option and that for erecting the mast structure 20 it does not depend on whether a crown bearing 22 is connected to one of the mast segments 60. For the further description of the erection of the mast structure 20, the crown bearing 22 is therefore no longer taken into account. A crown bearing 22 connected to a mast segment 60, in particular, a crown bearing 22 connected to the first mast segment 60 placed on the erecting structure 50, and a crown bearing 22 raised with the erection of the mast structure 20 are nevertheless always to be read in the further description.
The illustration in
The illustration in
It should be pointed out that the illustration in
The drive device, which engages with in each case a mast segment 60 placed in the area of the input side of the erecting structure 50, preferably works in a clocked manner and thereby moves back and forth, for example, in the area of the input side, therefore, in the area of the horizontal sections 56, in each case alternately over a predetermined distance, in particular a distance, whose length is at least slightly greater than the length of a mast segment 60. Each mast segment 60 that comes into the effective area of the drive device by being placed in the erecting structure 50 is detected by the drive device, for example, by a driver moved by the drive device, and then moved in the direction of the vertical sections 58.
The illustration in
In the illustration in
In a particular embodiment, the struts 26—struts 26 in the area of the crown bearing and/or struts 26 along the entire mast structure 20—are automatically telescopic along their longitudinal axis. The automatic telescoping takes place, for example, by means of a control, which processes a signal from an inclination sensor (not shown) on the mast structure 20, in particular, an inclination sensor on that mast segment 60, from which the respective strut 26 extends.
An automatic telescoping is advantageous, when the surface of the mast shaft wall is assumed to be irregular. When such a strut 26 comes into contact with its free end with an inwardly bulging section of the mast shaft wall, the strut 26 with its current length presses the mast structure 20 to the side in a certain extent, so that it is inclined relative to the vertical. This inclination can be detected by means of the inclination sensor and a sensor signal encoding the resulting inclination can be used to automatically adjust the length of the strut 26. In the event of contact with an inwardly bulging section of the mast shaft wall, this control leads to a shortening of the length of the strut 26. The lateral pressure on the mast structure 20 due to the previously too long strut 26 for this section of the mast shaft 14 disappears.
For an outwardly bulging section of the mast shaft wall or in connection with a section of the mast shaft wall that previously bulged inward, the same applies accordingly in reverse. If the strut 26 loses contact with the mast shaft wall with such a bulge and this leads to an inclination of the mast structure 20, this inclination can also be detected by means of the inclination sensor and a corresponding signal can also be used here to adjust the length of the strut 26. Here, this control leads to an increase in the length of the strut 26. As soon as the strut 26, which was previously too short for this section of the mast shaft 14, is again in contact with the mast shaft wall, the strut 26 takes on the support function for the mast structure 20 again.
Optionally, such a control can also be superimposed with an automatic detection of a continuously existing contact of the free end of each strut 26 with the mast shaft wall. For this purpose, a roller mounted on the end of a strut 26, for example, resiliently, is connected to a sensor, for example, a sensing device, placed along the spring path. As long as the strut 26 with its roller is in contact with the mast shaft wall, the roller is slightly spring-deflected and the sensor delivers a signal, which encodes the contact of the roller with the mast shaft wall. As soon as the roller loses contact with the mast shaft wall, it springs outwards and the sensor signal disappears. When the sensor signal disappears, a telescoping of the strut 26 is automatically triggered to obtain a greater length of the strut 26 until the roller comes into contact with the mast shaft wall again and the sensor signal reappears.
The illustrations in
In the illustration in
Specifically in the illustration in
The illustration in
Individual aspects of the description submitted here that are in the foreground can thus be briefly summarized as follows: The invention relates to an underground drilling rig 10 (drilling rig 10 for deep drilling underground) and a method for its erection. During the erection, in one embodiment of the method, a crown bearing 22 of the drilling rig 10 is raised into a vertical shaft (mast shaft 14) extending from the installation site (production tunnel 12) (raised extending from the production tunnel 12 into the mast shaft 14; therefore, “from bottom to top”). This raising takes place either alone, in that only the crown bearing 22 is raised in the mast shaft 14, or in that the crown bearing 22 is raised by means of the mast structure 20 when a mast structure 20 of the drilling rig is being erected. To erect the mast structure 20, in one embodiment of the method, an erecting structure 50 is provided, which takes into account the fact that the mast structure 20 cannot be brought erect to the erection site of the drilling rig 10 in the production tunnel 12 and rather has to be assembled only on site (underground). The mast structure 20 is erected extending from the production tunnel 12 into the vertical mast shaft 14, therefore, “from bottom to top”. In this respect, the invention also relates to this erection structure 50, a method for its operation, therefore a method for erecting a mast structure 20 of a drilling rig 10 into a vertical mast shaft 14 extending from the production tunnel 12 at the erection site of the drilling rig 10, and a mast structure 20 erected according to the method and a drilling rig 10 (underground drilling rig 10) with such a mast structure 20. The mast structure 20 can carry a crown bearing 22 and/or raise it. A drilling rig 10 with such a mast structure 20 and without a crown bearing 22 is also possible.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2019 212 152.7 | Aug 2019 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/072381 | 8/10/2020 | WO |
