DK180608B1 - A pipe storage apparatus for a drilling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A pipe storage apparatus for storing stands of drill pipe in an upright orientation, each stand comprising two or more drill pipes, each drill pipe comprising a pipe body and tool joint forming members at respective ends of the pipe body, the two or more drill pipes being interconnected at respective 10 tool joints formed by tool joint forming members of the respective drill pipes, the pipe body defining an outer pipe diameter and the tool joint defining an outer joint diameter larger than the outer pipe diameter; wherein the pipe storage apparatus comprises a fingerboard arranged at a height above a floor and comprising a plurality of fingers; wherein the fingerboard defines a 15 plurality of storage apertures, each configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint of a stand when the stand extends through the storage aperture with the tool joint extending at least partly into the storage aperture; wherein each storage aperture is defined by one or more circumferential wall portions; wherein the circumferential wall portions define 20 one or more lateral openings each lateral opening large enough to allow passage of a pipe body into the storage aperture through said lateral opening and small enough to prevent a tool joint from exiting the storage aperture through said lateral opening.

Description

DK 180608 B1 1 A pipe storage apparatus for a drilling unit Technical Field The invention generally relates to a pipe storage apparatus for a drilling unit such as an offshore drilling unit or a land rig, and a method of placing a stand of drill pipe in an upright orientation in a pipe storage apparatus.

Background Offshore drilling units are widely used in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs under the sea floor.

The various types of offshore drilling units include drillships, semi-submersible drilling units, and bottom-supported rigs which rest on the seafloor. Jack-up drilling units are typical examples of bottom-supported units. Yet other examples include drilling units on stationary offshore production platforms. Yet other examples of drilling units include land rigs.

A general challenge for most offshore drilling units relates to the limit space on offshore vessels or platforms. Many offshore drilling units comprise a so-called pipe setback which is a storage structure for storing stands of drill pipe and, optionally, other types of tubulars where the stands are stored standing upright. The setback is typically associated with a pipe handling apparatus, e.g. a pipe racker, for placing vertical stands of drill pipe into the setback and for retrieving stands of drill pipe from the setback, e.g. for use at the drill floor. To this end, the setback is typically located in proximity to the well center so as to allow efficient movement of stands of drill pipe between the well center and the setback.

Prior art storage structures for storing vertical stands include so-called — fingerboards. Fingerboards comprise a series of fingers positioned over a floor of the setback within which stands of drill pipe are racked back and restrained

DK 180608 B1 2 from horizontal movement. Prior art fingerboards comprise individual pneumatic actuated latches which secure each tubular in place. However, there is a risk that such latches may fail which may result in undesired or even dangerous situations, e.g. when attempting to pull out a stand from a fingerboard when the latch securing the stand is malfunctioning and has not properly opened. US3305107 A discloses a storage system for individual conduit sections with a flange at the end. The conduits sections rests partly on the fingerboard, partly — on dedicated support portions. WO2015043740 A1 discloses a handling device for drill pipes. The handling device comprises a pipe rack having an open section, through which the drill pipes are placed into or removed from the pipe rack. The handling device has a horizontally displaceable gripper element for handling the drill pipe in the pipe rack. Hence, it remains desirable to provide an improved pipe storage apparatus. Summary An improved pipe storage apparatus is defined in claim 1, and a method of placing a stand of drill pipe in an upright orientation in a pipe storage apparatus is defined in claim 14. Preferred embodiments are defined in the depending claims.

Embodiments of the pipe storage apparatus comprise a fingerboard arranged at a height above a floor and comprising a plurality of fingers; wherein the fingerboard defines a plurality of storage apertures configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint of a stand when the stand extends through the storage aperture with the tool joint extending at least partly into the storage aperture; wherein each storage aperture is defined by one or more

DK 180608 B1 2a circumferential wall portions; and wherein the circumferential wall portions define one or more lateral openings each lateral opening large enough to allow passage of a pipe body into the storage aperture through said lateral opening and small enough to prevent a tool joint from exiting the storage aperture through said lateral opening.

DK 180608 B1 3

Accordingly, the stands of drill pipe may be safely stored yet efficiently be placed in, and removed from, the pipe storage apparatus while avoiding the need for fingerboards with latches or other moveable parts.

This reduces the risk of dropped objects.

Also, the risk of stands getting caught in stuck latches when attempting to withdraw a stand from the fingerboard is also avoided or at least reduced; some embodiments completely avoid the need for latches while, in other embodiments, the need for latches is considerably reduced.

The stands can safely be moved from the fingerboard by lifting up the stand before moving it out of the fingerboard along a lateral/horizontal direction.

Stands of drill pipe may include two, three, four or even more sections of drill pipe that are interconnected to form a sequence of pipe sections.

The connections between the drill pipes are referred to as tool joints.

To this end, the drill pipes comprise a tubular pipe body and tool joint forming members at the respective ends of the pipe body.

Typically, the tool joint forming member at one end of the pipe body comprises a tool joint pin and the tool joint forming member at the other end of the pipe body comprises a tool joint box.

The tool joint pin is configured to engage a tool joint box of another section of drill pipe and the tool joint box is configured to receive and retain a tool joint pin of another drill pipe.

In some embodiments, one or both of the tool joint forming members comprise an outer protective ring that helps guiding the drill string inside the bore hole and protects the other parts of the tool joint from being damaged when banging into the walls of the bore hole.

Such a ring is also referred to as a hard bending.

For the purpose of the present description, the term tool joint is intended to include any hard bending attached to the tool joint pin or box.

The outer diameter of the tool joint may thus be defined by the outer diameter of the tool joint including the hard bending.

In some embodiments; the fingerboard comprises a row of two or more transversely spaced-apart fingers.

Generally, each finger may define at least parts of 5 or more, such as 8 or more, such as 10 or more, such as 12 or more, such as 15 or more, such as 20 or more, such as 25 or more, such as 30 or

DK 180608 B1 4 more storage apertures or of any other number of storage apertures (i.e. the finger may either completely define these storage apertures or the finger may define these storage apertures together with one or more other fingers, such that each finger only defines a part of the circumferential wall portions of each — storage aperture). In some embodiments, each finger defines a plurality of storage apertures each configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint, i.e. the circumferential wall portions that define a storage aperture are all part of a — single finger.

Each finger will typically define multiple storage apertures and different fingers define respective storage apertures.

This allows the aperture dimensions and, in particular, the size of the lateral opening to be less sensitive to transverse deflection of the fingers relative to each other, e.g. due to wind, movement of the offshore platform or vessel, impact, or other forces, etc.

Accordingly, the fingers may require smaller amounts of material while still providing sufficient strength and stability.

In other embodiments, respective pairs of neighbouring fingers (e.g. of said row) each define a series of storage apertures, each storage aperture being configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint.

Hence, some of the circumferential wall portions that define a storage aperture are part of one finger, while other circumferential wall portions that define said storage aperture are part of another finger.

In particular, in some embodiments, the storage apertures of said series of storage apertures are interconnected by respective gaps separating the fingers of said pair of fingers from each other and extending between respective pairs of neighbouring storage apertures; wherein each gap has a gap width large enough to receive a pipe body and small enough to prevent a tool joint from moving from a storage aperture into the gap.

In particular, each finger comprises a side wall defining circumferential wall portions of respective ones of the storage apertures.

DK 180608 B1

Accordingly, the individual fingers do not need to have a complicated shape, thus allowing relative low manufacturing costs.

Moreover, the provision of a series of storage apertures along a generally straight gap between neighbouring fingers simplifies the placement of stands into the respective 5 storage apertures, as it only requires a movement of the pipe in vertical direction and along a single horizontal direction.

The gaps and the storage apertures form an alternating sequence where each pair of neighbouring storage apertures is connected by a gap.

Hence, the gaps and storage apertures together form an elongated channel between the fingers of the pair of neighbouring fingers.

Along the pipe direction, the channel extends all the way through the fingerboard.

In the longitudinal direction, the channel has at least one open end defined by the tips of the fingers.

The other end of the channel may be closed; for example, in some embodiments, the fingerboard comprises a base part from which the row of two or more fingers extends.

The channel allows a pipe body to be horizontally inserted into the channel at the open end such that the pipe body projects vertically through the channel.

The pipe body may then horizontally be moved along the channel to a desired storage aperture, e.g. past zero, one or more other storage apertures and past one or more gaps defined by said channel.

The channel has a varying width.

In particular, the storage apertures are formed by wider parts of the channel and the gaps are formed by narrower parts of the channel.

The storage apertures (except for the last storage aperture of a series, closest to a base part) thus have two lateral openings through which a pipe body can pass between the storage aperture and the respective neighbouring gaps.

The lateral openings may thus be defined by the transition between the storage aperture and the gaps.

Each gap width is smaller than the outer joint diameter and no smaller than the outer pipe diameter.

The gap width may be constant; otherwise the gap width may be defined as the smallest distance between the side wall portions of the fingers that define the gap.

When the gap width is

DK 180608 B1 6 chosen slightly larger than the outer pipe diameter, a clearance is provided between a pipe body extending vertically through the gap and the side walls of the fingers defining the gap. This may facilitate insertion of the pipe body into the gap and movement of the pipe body along the channel between the fingers. At the tip ends of the fingers, the fingers may have a decreasing width so as to provide an entrance portion to the channels that is wider than the gap width between storage apertures. This facilitates insertion of the pipe body into the channel.

The fingers may be formed as bars. Each finger has at least one side wall facing a neighbouring finger. The outermost fingers only have a single neighbour; hence, they have one side wall facing a neighbouring finger. The remaining fingers may have a neighbouring finger on each side. Accordingly, they have two side walls each facing a neighbouring finger.

Each side wall that faces a side wall of a neighbouring finger may comprise an alternating series of gap portions and aperture portions. The gap portions of the side wall define the gaps between storage apertures; they may be plane and the gap portions of the side walls of neigbouring fingers may be parallel to each other so as to define a constant-width gap. The aperture portions of the side walls define the circumferential wall portions of the storage apertures. Some or all of the aperture portions may be defined by downwardly extending, sideways open trenches in the side walls of the fingers, i.e. by downwardly extending elongated recesses in the side wall. The trenches may be formed as arcuate wall portions. The trenches have an open side facing the other finger of the pair of fingers.

The top surfaces of the fingers may be plane or they may have a non-planar shape. In some embodiments, the top surface of a finger may bulge upwards at the position of the gaps and/or the top surface of a finger may be indented at the positions of the storage apertures so as to facilitate a stand to move to

DK 180608 B1 7 the storage aperture when positioned next to a storage aperture.

The bulges and/or indentations may transversely extend across the entire width of the finger or they may be only or at least predominantly present towards the transverse edges of the fingers.

The bulges may thus guide a tool joint into the storage aperture when the stand is lowered.

Alternatively or additionally, the fingerboard may comprise other forms of guide members operable to guide a tool joint into the storage aperture when the stand is lowered.

In some embodiments, the gap width defined between a pair of neighbouring fingers is adjustable by adjusting a spacing between the fingers of said pair of neighbouring fingers.

This may allow the fingerboard, or at least a part of the fingerboard, to be adapted to stands of pipes of different outer pipe diameters.

For example, the fingers may be attached to the base part such that the transverse position of individual fingers along the base part can selectively be changed, e.g. by providing multiple connection members on the base part to which a finger can be attached, e.g. by bolts, holes, slits, welding strips, or in another suitable way.

The fingers may also be slidably or otherwise movably attached to the base part.

They may be manually displaceable and/or displaceable by a suitable actuator, e.g. by a hydraulic system, a rack-and- pinion system, etc.

In yet another embodiment, one end of each finger (the end opposite the tip end) may have a mounting portion for connecting the mounting portion with a neighbouring finger such that the spacing between the fingers can be altered, e.g. by providing spacers between the mounting portions of neighbouring fingers.

The size of the spacers may then be altered, e.g. by replacing the spacers with spacers of a different width.

It will be appreciated that changing the spacing between fingers may also alter the maximum size of tool joints that can be accommodated in the storage apertures, i.e. alter the aperture diameter.

In some embodiments, the gap width and/or the aperture diameter between all pairs of neighbouring fingers of a fingerboard may be adjustable while, in other

DK 180608 B1 8 embodiments, the gap width and/or the aperture diameter between only one pair or between some of the pairs of fingers is/are adjustable. In yet further embodiments, the spacing between all fingers may be fixed.

In some embodiments, the fingerboard may comprise two or more rows of fingers (e.g. sub-rows of a longer row of fingers), including a first row and a second row. The fingers of the first row may define a uniform first gap width between neighbouring fingers of the first row. The fingers of the second row may define a uniform second gap width between neighbouring fingers of the second row, the second gap width being different from the first gap width. Hence, different rows may have different gap widths and be configured for receiving stands having different outer pipe diameters. The first and second rows may be arranged transversely next to each other in a common plane; for example, the first and second row may together form a combined row of fingers). Alternatively, the first and second rows may be arranged transversely next to each other in parallel planes, e.g. so as to be arranged at different heights above the floor.

As will be discussed in more detail below, in some embodiments, each storage aperture has an uppermost open end defining an uppermost aperture diameter large enough for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint, including any additional hard bending or the like; and some or all storage apertures may have a lower aperture diameter at or near a lowermost open end of the storage aperture; wherein the lower aperture diameter is smaller than the uppermost aperture diameter and large enough to allow a pipe body to protrude out of the lower open end.

In particular, the uppermost aperture diameter may be large enough for receiving a part of the tool joint that has a diameter larger than the outer pipe diameter, e.g. a diameter at least 5% larger than the outer pipe diameter, e.g.

adiameter at least 10% larger than the outer pipe diameter, e.g. large enough to receive the widest portion of the tool joint.

DK 180608 B1 9 In particular, in some embodiments, the lower aperture diameter is no larger than the gap width.

To this end, the pipe storage apparatus may comprise a pair of guide members extending longitudinally along the finger, wherein a lateral distance between the guide members defines the lower aperture diameter.

The guide members may be provided inside the storage aperture or outside the storage aperture, e.g. below the storage aperture.

The guide members may be a part of or connected to the fingerboard or a separate structure positioned below the fingerboard but not directly attached to the fingerboard.

In some embodiments, the storage aperture is shaped and sized so as to receive at least 10% of a tool joint, e.g. at least 15% of a tool joint, e.g. at least 20% of a tool joint, e.g. at least 30% of a tool joint.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, each finger completely defines a plurality of storage apertures each configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint.

In particular, the pipe storage apparatus may comprise one or more fingers, each comprising a plurality of secondary protrusions that extend from a lateral side wall of said finger.

One or more of the secondary protrusions comprise the circumferential wall portions defining at least one of the storage apertures and the lateral opening of said at least one storage aperture.

Accordingly, a stand may be moved into the storage aperture in a lateral direction relative to the fingers.

In the following, a finger having secondary protrusions where some or all of the storage apertures associated with said finger are completely defined by said finger (namely by the side walls of the finger and, in particular of the secondary protrusions of the finger) will also be referred to as a primary finger.

In particular, in some embodiments, each primary finger comprises a first side wall from which a row of two or more spaced-apart secondary protrusions extend, each secondary protrusion comprising a side wall defining circumferential wall portions of respective ones of the storage apertures.

In

DK 180608 B1 10 some embodiments, the primary fingers may have secondary protrusions extending only from one side wall, i.e. only towards one side of the primary finger; in other embodiments, the primary fingers may have secondary protrusions extending from both lateral side walls, i.e. towards both sides; in yet alternative embodiments, a fingerboard may comprise primary fingers with secondary protrusions towards one side as well as primary fingers with protrusions towards both sides.

In some embodiments, the fingerboard comprises a row of primary fingers, each comprising respective rows of secondary protrusions extending to one or both sides of the primary finger, and — each pair of secondary protrusions forming one or more storage apertures.

In some embodiments, each pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions of said row defines a single storage aperture.

To this end, the gap between the pair of secondary protrusions defines the shape and size of the storage aperture.

The gap between neighbouring secondary protrusions has a lateral open end facing away from the primary finger, the open end defining the lateral opening of the storage aperture.

In some embodiments, each pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions of said row defines a series of one or more of said storage apertures, i.e. in these embodiments, the secondary protrusions extending from a side wall of the primary finger form a row of secondary fingers while the primary finger forms a base part in respect of the secondary protrusions.

In such embodiments, each pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions of said row defines a series of two or more of said storage apertures; wherein the storage apertures of said series of storage apertures are interconnected by respective gaps separating the pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions from each other and extending between respective pairs of neighbouring storage apertures of said series; wherein each gap has a gap width large enough to receive a pipe body and small enough to prevent a tool joint from moving from a storage aperture into the gap.

The storage apertures are defined by wall portions of the side walls

DK 180608 B1 11 of two neighbouring secondary protrusions.

The gaps and storage apertures thus form an alternating sequence of gaps and storage apertures where each pair of neighbouring storage apertures is interconnected by a gap, as described above in connection with the series of storage apertures formed by the fingers themselves.

In some embodiments, the number of storage apertures defined on one side of a primary finger is 5 or more, such as 10 or more, such as 20 or more.

The number of storage apertures for each pair of secondary protrusions may be less than 20, such as less than 10, such as less than 5, such as less than 2. In particular, a fingerboard having primary fingers and secondary protrusions as described herein allows the secondary protrusions to be kept relatively short while maintaining a high storage capacity for a given footprint.

The shorter secondary protrusions reduce the sensitivity of the dimensions of the storage apertures and, in particular, of the lateral openings for deflection of the secondary protrusions and/or primary fingers.

The secondary protrusions may extend orthogonally from the sides of the primary fingers or they may form a different angle, e.g. they may be inclined towards or away from the open end of the channels between the primary fingers.

In some embodiments, the secondary protrusions may be generally straight; in other embodiments they may have an arcuate shape.

In some embodiments, the fingerboard comprises at least one pair of primary fingers each primary finger comprising at least one row of secondary protrusions protruding towards the respective other primary finger of said pair.

The ends of the secondary protrusions that face away from the primary finger from which they extend are referred to as the tip ends of the secondary protrusions.

The tip ends of the secondary protrusions of the pair of primary fingers together define a channel extending along the longitudinal direction of the primary fingers, where a width of the channel is defined by a transverse distance between the tip ends of the secondary protrusions of the respective

DK 180608 B1 12 fingers. The channel is wide enough to allow a pipe body to be moved along the channel. In some embodiments, the channel has a width larger than the outer diameter of the pipe body, e.g. larger than the outer diameter of the tool joint, e.g. larger than 150% of the outer diameter of the tool joint.

When the storage apertures of the fingerboard each have an aperture height larger than 10 cm, preferably larger than 20 cm, preferably larger than 30cm, stands of drill pipe of somewhat varying lengths may be stored in the same structure. This is particularly advantageous as drill pipes may vary in length. — This is partly due to production tolerances and partly because drill pipes are occasionally refurbished, e.g. by replacing or refurbishing one of its tool forming members. Such refurbishing may result in a slight modification, e.g. reduction, of the length of the drill pipe. Accordingly, when stands of drill pipes are formed and when the stands are positioned upright (i.e. with the longitudinal direction of the stand vertically oriented), resting with their bottom ends on a floor, the tool joints of different stands may be located at different heights above the floor. When stands of three or even more pipes are formed, this variance may be even more pronounced for the uppermost tool joints of the stands. In some embodiments, it may thus be preferable that the aperture height of the storage apertures, at least of the upper fingerboards, is at least 40 cm, such as at least 50 cm, such as at least 60 cm, such as at least 70 cm, such as at least 80 cm, such as at least 90 cm, such as at least 100 cm, such as at least 110 cm, such as at least 120 cm, such as at least 130 cm, such as at least 140 cm, such as at least 150 cm. In some embodiments, the pipe storage apparatus comprises at least two fingerboards arranged above one another, where the storage apertures of the upper fingerboard of the at least two fingerboards have a larger aperture height than the apertures of the lower fingerboard of the two fingerboards. Generally, it will be understood that the choice of aperture height may be a trade-off, as it is normally desirable to maintain the height of the fingerboard as low as possible so as to reduce

DK 180608 B1 13 weight and construction costs, especially as the weight will have influence on the deflection of the fingers as well.

It will be appreciated that a finger (or a secondary protrusion) does not have to have a constant height.

As regards the locking of the tool joints inside the storage apertures, the height of the walls of the finger that defines the storage aperture is decisive, i.e. the aperture height; other parts of the finger may have different heights, e.g. so as to reduce the weight and required material of the fingers.

Moreover, a finger and, in particular, the walls defining the storage apertures may not have to be solid along the entire aperture height.

For example, a finger may be provided as a stack of multiple finger elements, e.g. a stack of multiple thin fingerboards that are stacked above each other with respective gaps between them.

Preferably, these gaps are smaller than a minimum tool joint height so as to ensure that the tool joint is always locked and never fits in said gap.

A typical minimum length of a tool joint forming member is between around 57-9”, such as 6-8". For new pipes, the non- refurbished tool joint forming members may have a height of e.g. between 12”- 15”. Hence, the aperture height of the storage aperture may be defined as a height between the uppermost open end of the storage aperture and the lowermost open end of the storage aperture, i.e. between the uppermost open end of the stack and the lowermost open end of the stack.

Each storage aperture, when positioned at a selected height, is configured to receive a single predetermined tool joint of a sequence of drill pipes forming a stand, e.g. the lowermost tool joint, the uppermost tool joint or an intermediate tool joints, i.e. when positioned at a given height each storage aperture does not receive multiple tool joints of the same stand at the same time.

The height above the floor at which the fingerboard is positioned and the aperture height are selected such that one of the tool joints of a stand extends at least partially into the storage aperture when the stand is upright positioned and rests with its one end on the floor.

The aperture height is chosen large enough so as to

DK 180608 B1 14 be able to accommodate stands of drill pipes of varying lengths where the variation in length is caused by production tolerances of the drill pipes and by refurbishing (i.e. re-cutting) the tool joint forming members of the drill pipes.

For example, the production deviation for a Range 3 pipe of length 44.5 ft may be +/-0.51t.

Each storage aperture is configured for receiving and retaining at least a part of a tool joint.

To this end, each storage aperture may define a downwardly extending void through which a stand of drill pipe may downwardly extend and into which a tool joint may be lowered.

The storage aperture is defined by one or more circumferential wall portions that partially surround the void.

Each storage aperture is configured to receive a tool joint of a stand.

In embodiments with multiple fingerboards at different height, different tool joints of the same stand are received by respective storage apertures of different fingerboards.

The circumferential wall portions of a storage aperture may be formed by side walls of one of the fingers or by side walls of a pair of fingers.

The circumferential wall portions only partly surround the void, i.e. they only partly surround a stand positioned in the storage aperture.

More particularly, the circumferential wall portions define at least one lateral opening, e.g. a downwardly extending slot through which an upright pipe body may pass into and out of the storage aperture.

The lateral openings may be defined by edges of the circumferential side walls.

In some embodiments, each storage aperture comprises a single lateral opening while, in other embodiments, some or even all storage apertures comprise two lateral openings, e.g. on opposite sides on the circumference of the storage aperture.

The storage aperture has an upper open end, a lower open end and a lateral opening.

The lateral opening is an opening in the circumference of the storage aperture providing an opening towards the side of the storage aperture; it allows a pipe body to enter/leave the storage aperture along a direction in the plane of the fingerboard, i.e. generally the horizontal direction.

DK 180608 B1 15 Each storage aperture has an uppermost open end and a lowermost open end such that an upright stand may extend through the storage aperture and such that a tool joint is retained in the storage aperture when the tool joint extends into the void between the uppermost and lowermost open ends. The lateral opening extends all the way between the uppermost open end and the lowermost open end. The storage aperture has an aperture diameter, measured in a horizontal direction, no smaller than the outer joint diameter. The aperture diameter may be defined as a diameter of the uppermost open end of the aperture, i.e. the opening defined by the uppermost rim of the aperture. The aperture diameter of the uppermost open end of the storage aperture will also be referred to as the uppermost aperture diameter. If the uppermost open end of the aperture has a non-circular shape, the diameter may be defined as the smallest diameter of the uppermost open end. Generally, it is preferable that the aperture diameter is larger than the outer joint diameter, e.g. slightly larger such that the tool joint snugly fits into the storage aperture but still large enough to account for the inaccuracy of the vertical pipe handling system. It will be understood that the larger the clearance between an outer surface of the tool joint and the inwardly facing circumferential wall portions, the more lateral movement the stands are allowed to perform before being restrained by the circumferential wall portions. Typically, the aperture diameter is larger than a largest outer diameter of the tool joint, i.e. the outer diameter of the thickest portion of the tool joint including any hard bending.

In some embodiments, the aperture diameter of a storage aperture is constant along the pipe direction while, in other embodiments, the aperture may vary. For example, the storage aperture may have an uppermost aperture diameter, measured at an uppermost open end of the storage aperture, that is larger than a lower aperture measured at or near a lowermost open end of the storage aperture. The uppermost aperture diameter should be large enough to

DK 180608 B1 16 allow a tool joint to be lowered into the storage aperture through the uppermost open end of the storage aperture, while it may be sufficient that the lower aperture diameter is large enough to allow a pipe body to extend through the lowermost open end of the storage aperture. If the lowermost open end of the aperture has a non-circular shape, the lower aperture diameter may be defined as the smallest diameter of the lowermost open end. When the lowermost diameter of the storage aperture is smaller than the outer joint diameter, the shape and size of the storage aperture should preferably be chosen such that the stands always rest on the floor rather than hang in the storage aperture, i.e. any narrowing of the storage aperture below the outer joint diameter should be below the vertical position of the tool joint when the tool joint rests on the floor.

The aperture height of the storage aperture may be defined between a rim of the uppermost open end of the storage aperture and a rim of the lowermost open end of the storage aperture. The uppermost and lowermost rims may be defined by edges of the circumferential wall portions. In particular, the aperture height of the storage aperture may be defined as a shortest distance between the rims of the uppermost and lowermost open ends, respectively, of the storage aperture. The aperture height of the storage apertures is defined by the height of the part of the side wall of the fingers that define the storage aperture. The height of the fingers and the aperture height of the storage apertures are defined along the pipe direction.

The void defined by a storage aperture may be cylindrical, e.g. have a cross- section that is round, such as elliptical or circular, and allow a tool joint to pass all the way through the void along the pipe direction. Accordingly, a stand may rest on the floor irrespective of the vertical position of the tool joint relative to the storage aperture. The storage aperture only restrains the tool joint, and thus the stand, horizontally, i.e. in a direction along the fingers and in a direction across the fingers.

DK 180608 B1 17 In alternative embodiments, each storage aperture has a larger diameter at its uppermost end than at its bottommost end. For example, the storage aperture may define a frusto-conical void. In particular, when the diameter at the — bottommost end of the storage aperture is smaller than the outer joint diameter, the stand may be suspended in the fingerboard with the tool joint resting in the storage aperture. In some embodiments, the storage aperture may have a tapered design at the bottom, at the top or both.

Generally, in the present disclosure, the directions related to the fingerboard are defined by the longitudinal directions of the fingers and the stands, respectively. The longitudinal direction of the fingers is referred to as the finger direction; in most embodiments the finger direction is horizontal. In embodiments with primary fingers and secondary protrusions, the finger direction refers to the longitudinal direction of the primary fingers and, unless stated otherwise, the remaining directions are defined relative to the primary fingers. The direction across the gaps between the fingers will be referred to as the transverse direction; it is normal to the finger direction and, in most embodiments, horizontal. The finger direction and the transverse direction together define the plane of the fingerboard. The direction along which the stands extend when they are stored in a storage aperture is referred to as the pipe direction; it is typically normal to the finger direction and to the transverse direction. In most embodiments, the pipe direction is vertical. Directions relative to the stands that are normal to the pipe direction, i.e. directions in the plane of the fingerboard, are generally referred to as lateral directions. The fingerboard is normally mounted with the fingers extending in a horizontal direction and with the row of fingers being horizontally arranged and such that the pipes extend vertically through the fingerboard. Accordingly, the present disclosure also refers to horizontal and vertical directions relative to the fingerboard when referring to directions within the plane defined by the fingerboard and along the longitudinal direction of the stored pipes,

DK 180608 B1 18 respectively. It will be understood that these directions may deviate from a strict horizontal or vertical direction, depending on the exact orientation of the fingerboard.

Generally, the storage apertures may have a cross section in the plane of the fingerboard that matches the shape of the tool joint. As the tool joints normally have circular cross sections, the void may have a cross-section that is round, such as elliptical or circular, as well. In alternative embodiments, the void has a differently shaped cross-section, e.g. polygonal. In some embodiments, the void has a cross-section different from the shape of the cross-section of the tool joint. Generally, the fingers may be formed as bars. Each finger has at least one side facing a neighbouring finger. The outermost fingers only have a single neighbour; hence, they have one side facing a neighbouring finger. The remaining fingers may have a neighbouring finger on each side. Accordingly, they have two sides each facing a neighbouring finger. The fingerboard may comprise a base part from which the fingers extend. The base part may be an elongated member, e.g. a beam or a bar, extending transverse relative to the fingers. Each finger may thus have a base end and a tip end, the base end being connected to the base part such that the finger projects with its tip end pointing away from the base part. The base part and some or all of the fingers may be formed as a single, integral component.

Alternatively or additionally, one, some or even all of the fingers may be formed as separate components that are permanently or detachably mounted to the base part. The base part and/or the transversely outermost fingers may be provided with mounting members e.g. hooks, bolts, holes, or the like for attaching the fingerboard to a support structure.

DK 180608 B1 19 Generally, in some embodiments, the size of the lateral opening and/or the aperture diameter may be uniform across the fingerboard while, in other embodiments, a fingerboard may comprise fingers or pairs of fingers that define lateral openings of different sizes and/or different aperture diameters.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a fingerboard may be adapted to accommodate stands of drill pipe of a single outer pipe diameter while, in other embodiments, the fingerboard may be adapted to accommodate stands of different outer pipe diameter and/or having different tool joint sizes.

In some embodiments, the pipe storage apparatus comprises a safety latch arranged to selectively engage at least two of the fingers and operable to counteract an increase of a spacing between said at least two fingers. In embodiments comprising primary and secondary protrusions, the safety latch may engage the primary or the secondary protrusions. The safety latch may be positioned at or near the tip of the fingers, as lateral deflections of the fingers may result in the largest increase of the width of the channel between neighbouring fingers. Such safety latches may be particularly useful in embodiments where the dimensions of the storage aperture and, in particular, the dimensions of the lateral opening of a storage aperture are defined at least in part by the width of the channel/gap between two fingers. In such embodiments, a lateral deflection of the fingers may increase the lateral opening of a storage aperture, thus increasing the risk that a stand stored in the storage aperture may unintentionally slide out of the storage aperture. A safety latch that engages two neighbouring fingers so as to counteract an increase in the width of the channel between the fingers can significantly reduce this risk. Examples of safety latches may include a movable locking member, e.g. a hook that is hingedly connected to one finger of the pair and that can engage a recess, hole, eye or the like provided on or attached to the other finger of a pair of neighbouring fingers. For example, the latch may be operable by means of a suitable drive unit, e.g. a motor, a hydraulic drive unit, a pneumatic drive unit or the like. The safety latch may thus be selectively

DK 180608 B1 20 engaged and disengaged so as to allow stands to be moved into and out of the fingerboard.

In some embodiments, each finger may include an eye, and the apparatus may comprise a latching bar with spaced apart pins such that the latching bar may be positioned with the pins inserted in the respective eyes, e.g. during heavy weather or during transit of the platform or vessel.

In any event, compared to prior art fingerboards, considerably fewer safety latches may be used, e.g. a single latch per pair of fingers, or even a single latch for the entire fingerboard rather than one latch per storage aperture.

In some embodiments, the actual operational position or state of a latch may be detected by a suitable sensor, e.g. an RFID sensor, a magnetic sensor, etc.

Additionally or alternatively, the fingerboard may comprise such a sensor to scan incoming and/or outgoing pipes.

In some embodiments, one or more of the fingers comprises a finger core and a replaceable sleeve supported by, and at least partially surrounding said finger core.

The sleeve may completely surround the circumference of the core and be slid onto the core along the finger direction.

In other embodiments, the sleeve may comprise a longitudinal slot, e.g. along its bottom side, such that the sleeve can laterally or vertically be placed on the core.

The sleeve may be suitably secured to the base part of the fingerboard and/or to the finger core, e.g. by bolts, welding or in another suitable manner.

Accordingly, maintenance of the fingerboard may be greatly facilitated, as the sleeves may be replaced by replacement sleeves, thus allowing the replaced sleeves to be repaired off- site without preventing further use of the fingerboard during the repair period.

Similarly, the fingerboard can easily be adapted to stands of different outer diameters of the pipe bodies and/or tool joints, namely by replacing the current sleeves by sleeves having different outer shapes and/or dimensions.

It will be appreciated that each finger may be covered by a single sleeve or by multiple sleeves covering respective parts of the finger.

It will further be appreciated that, in embodiments with primary fingers and secondary protrusions, the primary fingers may be formed as a core and sleeve, where the sleeve

DK 180608 B1 21 comprises the secondary protrusions.

Alternatively, each of the secondary protrusions may be formed as a core and sleeve as described above with reference to the fingers.

Generally, the fingerboard may be made from a single material or different parts of the fingerboard may be made from different materials.

In order to facilitate replacement of fingers or sleeves, the fingers or sleeves may be provided with suitable connectors, e.g. lift eyes or hooks that allow a crane to engage the finger or sleeve and to lift the finger or sleeve, or an entire fingerboard.

In some embodiments, the size of the lateral opening is adjustable, e.g. by making the spacing between neighbouring fingers or between neighbouring secondary protrusions adjustable or by providing replaceable and/or adjustable wall elements defining the width of the lateral opening.

For example, such replaceable wall elements may be provided as pads.

The wall elements may be attached to a side wall, the top or bottom of the fingers or to sidewall, top, bottom or end face of the secondary protrusions.

They may e.g. be bolted, welded or otherwise attached to the finger or secondary protrusion.

One or more replaceable or adjustable wall elements may be positioned adjacent to one of the lateral openings such that the wall elements define at least a part of a periphery of the lateral opening.

The wall elements may be made of the same material as the finger/secondary protrusion or from a different material.

Replaceable wall elements may have additional advantages, as worn or damaged wall elements can be replaced by other elements.

This may be particularly advantageous, as the edges of the lateral openings are likely subject to increased wear due to stands impacting these edges during their placement into the storage apertures.

The wall elements may be individual elements that are individually attached; alternatively, wall elements associated with different storage apertures may be

DK 180608 B1 22 provided as a single structure that can be attached to the finger. For example, the wall elements associated with 2, 3, 4, or more, e.g. all storage apertures may be combined into a single element.

The fingerboard may be mounted to an upwardly extending support structure such as a metal frame, mast, tower, or the like. For example, the fingerboard may be connected with its base part to the support structure, i.e. with the fingers extending away from the support structure. Alternatively or additionally, the fingerboard may be attached to a support structure at the outermost fingers. The support structure may be part of the drilling rig or drilling unit or attached to the drilling rig or drilling unit. In some embodiments, the fingerboard is selectively positionable at two or more different heights above the floor. This may allow the pipe storage apparatus to be adapted for accommodating stands of different lengths and/or stands formed from drill pipe sections of different lengths. To this end, the support structure may comprise mounting members, e.g. bolts, holes, hooks, or the like, for connecting the fingerboard to the support structure at different heights. Accordingly, in order to alter the height of the fingerboard, the fingerboard may be detached from the support structure, raised or lowered to a different height, and re-attached to the support structure at a different height. To this end, the fingerboard may be lifted by a crane and/or by a dedicated lifting mechanism, e.g. a motor-driven rack-and-pinion system, a hydraulic system, or the like. The support structure may comprise rails or other vertical guides facilitating the raising or lowering of the fingerboard while maintaining the proper horizontal alignment to the support structure. In some embodiments, the pipe storage apparatus comprises two or more fingerboards. The fingerboards may be positioned at different heights, e.g. one — above the other so as to receive and retain respective tool joints of the same stand and to provide horizontal support to the stand at different heights.

DK 180608 B1 23 Alternatively or additionally, the pipe storage apparatus may include two or more fingerboards arranged horizontally displaced from each other so as to accommodate different stands of drill pipe and to provide an increased storage capacity, e.g. for stands of the same or of different dimensions. The multiple fingerboards may be individually positionable at respective heights above a floor, e.g. as described above, so as to increase the flexibility of the pipe storage apparatus in accommodating stands of various lengths and/or stands formed from different types of drill pipe, e.g. drill pipe of different outer pipe diameter and/or drill pipe of different lengths.

The stands rest with their bottom ends (i.e. with the end of the stand that points downward when the stand is oriented vertically) on the floor. The floor may be a deck or platform of a drilling rig or it may be a part of the pipe storage apparatus or formed by the rigfloor. To this end, the rigfloor at the location of the setback area for the pipes may be made of wood, i.e. the floor may be made of wood so as to reduce wear and tear of the pipe ends. It will be appreciated, however, that other materials may be used. In some embodiments, the floor provides a flat surface on which the bottom ends of the stands can rest. Alternatively, the floor may define recesses or other forms of receptacles, e.g. defined by a metal frame, into which the bottom ends of the stands can be received and horizontally restrained. Yet alternatively, the floor may comprise another form of retaining members to retain the bottom ends of the stands at their respective positions.

In some embodiments, the pipe storage apparatus comprises a pipe handling apparatus configured to lift a stand such that a tool joint of the stand is lifted out of one of the storage apertures and to horizontally move the upright stand through the lateral opening of said storage aperture, e.g. along and past at least one of the gaps of some embodiments of the fingerboard, and out of the fingerboard. Examples of such pipe handling apparatus include pipe rackers or other suitable machines for handling vertical stands of drill pipe. The pipe

DK 180608 B1 24 handling apparatus may likewise be adapted to place a stand of drill pipe into the fingerboard as described herein.

The adaptation may include the mechanical design of the pipe handling apparatus and/or design of the control system that controls operation of the pipe handling apparatus.

The control system may be computer-implemented and/or comprise other suitable control circuitry.

The present disclosure relates to different aspects including the apparatus described above and in the following, corresponding methods, apparatus, — systems, and/or product means, each yielding one or more of the benefits and advantages described in connection with the first mentioned aspect, and each having one or more embodiments with all the features, or with just the additional features, corresponding to the embodiments described in connection with the first-mentioned aspect and/or disclosed in the appended claims.

In particular, disclosed herein are embodiments of a drilling rig comprising: - a pipe storage apparatus as disclosed herein; and - a plurality of drill pipes; wherein the drilling rig is configured to form stands of said drill pipes and to store the stands in the pipe storage apparatus.

The drilling rig may be any suitable type of drilling rig, e.g. a drilling rig of an offshore drilling unit.

The drilling rig may comprise a drill floor defining a well centre.

Embodiments of the drilling rig may comprise a derrick, a tower, a mast or another suitable drilling support structure.

The hoisting system may be a drawworks based hoisting system, a hydraulic hoisting system or another suitable type of hoisting system.

The hoisting system of the drilling rig may have a rated capacity sufficiently high to allow raising tubular equipment, such as production tubing or casing, out of a well.

The drilling rig may comprise a

DK 180608 B1 25 top drive or another suitable device for imparting sufficient torque on a drill string that extends into a wellbore for performing drilling or similar operations. The drilling rig may comprise the pipe storage apparatus for use as a pipe setback. A pipe setback is a tubular storage area, typically in direct communication with one or more well centres (via pipe handling equipment), where stands of drill pipe can be stored ready and quickly retrieved to be lowered towards the seabed, and where stands can be set back. In many cases drill pipe will be transported to another storage area or off the drilling — unit during transit due to the substantial weight and/or higher centre of gravity of the setback relative to the motions of the drilling unit in the sea. Stand of drill pipe are typically stored vertically as this is convenient because the stands do not require a complete rotation before being run. The stands may, for example, be stored in the setback when tripping drill pipe out of the well centre. Typically, a setback is suitable for storing and receiving stands of two or more joined single drill pipes in varying diameters. Storing drill pipe in stands saves time in a drilling operation because fewer connections have to be made when running drill pipe through the well center, and broken when tripping drill pipe out of the well centre. In such cases vertical storage also is preferable because storing stands (which are typically very long) horizontally requires a large footprint. The setback comprises a pipe storage apparatus as described herein for holding the pipes, which may be designed to accommodate one or more diameters of tubulars.

In some embodiments, the setback further comprises pipe handling equipment, such as a pipe racker, arranged to deliver individual stands to and from the pipe storage apparatus of the pipe setback and to present the stands to the hoisting system or to hand over the stands to another pipe handling machine (such as a chute or a further pipe racker machine) which performs the presentation. A setback may also comprise, or be combined with stand building equipment which is arranged to receive singles and connect those into

DK 180608 B1 26 a stand after which the stand is set back in the pipe setback ready to be run through the well centre.

The present disclosure further relates to an offshore drilling unit comprising a pipe storage apparatus and/or a drilling rig as described herein. Generally, an offshore drilling unit may comprise one or more drilling rigs. Alternatively or additionally, the offshore drilling unit may comprise a multi-activity drilling rig, such as a dual-activity drilling ring, defining two or more well centers and comprising one, two or more hoisting systems for raising or lowering tubulars — through the respective well centres.

The offshore drilling unit may be a stationary or a mobile offshore drilling unit.

Examples of offshore drilling units include a drillship, a semi-submersible, a jack-up drilling unit, a tension-leg platform, and/or the like. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term offshore drilling unit is also intended to encompass production units that comprise a drilling rig.

According to yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of storing an upright stand of drill pipe, the stand comprising two or more drill pipes, each drill pipe comprising a pipe body and tool joint forming members at respective ends of the pipe body, the two or more drill pipes being interconnected at respective tool joints formed by tool joint forming members of the respective drill pipes, the pipe body defining an outer pipe diameter and the tool joint defining an outer joint diameter larger than the outer pipe diameter; the method comprising: - providing a pipe storage apparatus as disclosed herein; - mounting the fingerboard at a height above the floor, the height being selected such that a tool joint of the stand extends into a storage aperture of the fingerboard when the stand is upright positioned with a bottom end of the stand resting on said floor.

DK 180608 B1 27 Some embodiments of the method further comprise: - lifting an upright stand, the stand being stored in the fingerboard with a tool joint of the stand extending into a storage aperture of the fingerboard, above the floor such that the tool joint is high enough above the floor to not extend into the lateral opening of the storage aperture when the stand is moved horizontally out of the storage aperture through the lateral opening; - moving the upright stand out of the storage aperture through the lateral opening. Some embodiments of the method further comprise: - lifting the upright stand above the floor such that the tool joint is high enough above the floor to not extend into the gaps of some embodiments of the fingerboard when the stand is moved along the longitudinal direction of the fingers into a spacing between the fingers of a pair of neighbouring fingers of — the fingerboard, - moving the upright stand into the spacing along the longitudinal direction of the fingers and to one of the storage apertures; - setting down the upright stand onto the floor such that a tool joint of the stand is at least partly received and horizontally retained by the storage aperture.

Some embodiments of the method further comprise: - lifting the upright stand above the floor such that the tool joint is high enough above the floor to not extend into the gaps of some embodiments of the fingerboard when the stand is moved along the longitudinal direction of the primary fingers into a spacing between the primary fingers of a pair of neighbouring primary fingers of the fingerboard; - moving the upright stand into the spacing along the longitudinal direction of the primary fingers and along the transverse direction of the primary fingers to one of the storage apertures defined by secondary protrusions of the primary fingers;

DK 180608 B1 28 - setting down the upright stand onto the floor such that a tool joint of the stand is at least partly received and horizontally retained by the storage aperture.

To this end, the dimensions of the fingerboard, in particular the height of the storage apertures, and the height above the floor at which the fingerboard is mounted are suitably selected.

Brief description of the drawings The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of embodiments and aspects of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a partial cutaway view of an example of a drillship comprising a drilling rig.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of an example of pipe storage apparatus.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a section of drill pipe.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an example of a fingerboard for a pipe storage apparatus, e.g. the pipe storage apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic side view of an example of pipe storage apparatus having multiple stands of pipe stored in it.

FIGs 6 and 7A-B schematically illustrate views of embodiments of a pipe storage apparatus having more than one fingerboard.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for placing a stand of drill pipe into a pipe storage apparatus.

FIGs. 9-10 illustrate top views of further examples of a fingerboard for a pipe storage apparatus, e.g. the pipe storage apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIGs. 11A-B illustrate a 3D view and a top view, respectively, of another example of a fingerboard for a pipe storage apparatus, e.g. the pipe storage apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

DK 180608 B1 29 FIGs. 12A-C illustrate an example of a finger formed as a finger core and a sleeve.

FIGs. 13-14 illustrate cross-sections of examples of fingers comprising pads at the lateral openings of the storage apertures.

FIGs. 15A-C illustrate a finger of a fingerboard with guide members.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a fingerboard comprising multiple layers.

FIG. 17 illustrates an alternative distribution of storage positions along the fingers.

FIGs. 18A-B illustrate asymmetrically shaped storage apertures.

FIG. 19 schematically illustrates a safety latch that selectively engages two fingers of a fingerboard.

Detailed description In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, — which show by way of illustration how the invention may be practiced.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a partial cutaway view of an example of a drillship comprising a drilling rig.

The drillship comprises a hull 2501 and a drilling rig.

The drilling rig comprises a mast 2404, a hydraulic hoisting system and a drill floor 2407 formed on top of a substructure 2897. The substructure comprises a platform supported by legs.

The platform defines the drill floor and spans across a moon pool 2722 formed in the hull of the drillship.

The drill floor 2407 comprises two holes defining well centres, one or both being equipped with a diverter housing.

In this example, the mast is a dual-activity mast — including two mast portions, each associated with, and adjacent to, one of the well centres and each accommodating a hydraulic hoisting system for lowering a drill string through a respective one of the well centres and the moon pool 2722 towards the seabed.

Each hydraulic hoisting system comprises cylinders 2406, respectively, that extend upwardly relative to the drill floor 2407 and — support the load to be lowered or hoisted.

Each well centre is located next to one of the mast portions and the corresponding hoisting system.

DK 180608 B1 30 The rods of the cylinders support respective sheaves 2533, e.g. in the form of a sheave cluster, over which the hoisting wires 2484 are suspended. One end of the hoisting wires 2484 is anchored to the drilling rig, while the other end is connected to a top drive or hook of the corresponding hoisting system, via a travelling yoke. The sheaves 2533 are laterally supported and guided by the respective mast portions. Each top drive is connected via a dolly to a vertical track arranged at the mast 2404. The fixed ends of the hoisting wires are anchored via a yoke 2482 and respective sets of deadline compensators 2483.

The drilling rig further comprises a pipe storage area 2509 for storing pipes in horizontal orientation and catwalk machines 2508 or other horizontal pipe handling equipment for transporting pipes between the storage area 2509 and the drill floor.

The drilling rig comprises a setback or similar pipe storage apparatus for storing vertically oriented stands of drill pipe and, optionally, other tubulars below the substructure 2897 and partly covered by the drill floor 2407. The setback comprises a support structure 102 (e.g. a frame) supporting fingerboards 101 having horizontally extending fingers between which tubulars may be stored. Different embodiments of fingerboards will be described below. The stands rest in an upright orientation with their respective bottom ends resting on a floor 103. One or more pipe rackers 2491 or similar vertical pipe handling equipment may be arranged to move stands into and out of the setback. The setback further comprises stand building equipment configured to build stands from individual pieces of pipe through a foxhole 2589. The setback is located adjacent to the moon pool 2722. Moreover, the drilling rig comprises one or more further catwalk machines configured to feed tubulars from the pipe storage area 2509 or from other storage areas on the opposite side of the mast (towards the aft of the ship) to

DK 180608 B1 31 the stand building equipment of the setback. The stand building equipment may thus receive the pipes from the catwalk machine, bring them in upright orientation, and connect them to other pieces so as to form stands. To this end, the stand building equipment may comprise a foxhole 2589 through which the stand may be gradually lowered while it is made up (assembly of the drill pipe to make a stand) until the lowermost end of the stand is at the lowermost level of the setback and can rest on the floor 103. The stand may then be received by pipe rackers 2491 and placed in a fingerboard 101 for future use. To this end, the pipe rackers are operable to traverse across the setback.

The drilling rig comprises a number of slanted chutes 2592 each for feeding pipes from the setback to one of the well centres. Each chute 2592 receives pipes from one of the pipe rackers 2491, feeds the pipes in a slanted upward direction through a corresponding slit 2485 in the drill floor and through the gap formed by the cylinders 2406 of the corresponding hoisting system towards a respective one of the well centres, where they are picked up at their uppermost end by the corresponding hoisting system and lifted through the slit 2485 until they are vertically suspended above the corresponding well centre. To this end, the drilling rig further comprises pipe handling equipment 2486 operable to guide the pipes while they are being lifted through the slit 2485. Even though the drilling rig and setback of FIG. 1 have been described in the context of a drillship, it will be appreciated that the described features may also be implemented in the context of a semi-submersible, jack-up or other type of — offshore drilling unit or even in the context of a land rig. It will further be appreciated that the setback may be positioned at other locations relative to the well centers and or the mast, e.g. at a position opposite the mast or laterally adjacent to the mast. The setback may also be positioned at different elevations relative to the drill floor and the pipe feeding path and associated pipe handling equipment may vary, e.g. depending on the layout of the drilling rig. Yet further, it will be appreciated that the features of the pipe storage

DK 180608 B1 32 apparatus may be implemented in connection with other types of hoisting systems and/or in connection with masts, derricks, towers and/or other forms of drilling support structures. Alternative embodiments of setbacks may be implemented with or without dedicated stand building equipment and/or with or without dedicated pipe handling equipment. FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of an example of a pipe storage apparatus, e.g. a pipe storage apparatus for use as a setback, e.g. for a drilling rig as described in FIG. 1 or another type of drilling rig. The pipe storage apparatus comprises a support structure 102, a fingerboard 101 and a floor

103. The support structure 102 may be a metal frame, a mast, a tower or any other structure suitable for supporting the weight of the fingerboard and to provide lateral support to the stands stored in the fingerboard. The fingerboard 101 is mounted to the support structure 102 at a height H above the floor 103 — and with the fingers of the fingerboard extending horizontally. To this end, the fingerboard 101 may be mounted to the support structure, e.g. via one or more suitable mounting members 209, e.g. bolts, hooks, etc., or otherwise connected to the support structure e.g. by welding. Optionally, the support structure and/or the fingerboard may be configured to allow the fingerboard to be selectively mounted at different heights H above the floor 103, e.g. by providing mounting members at different heights at the support structure, by providing a movable connection between the fingerboard and the support structure, e.g. along vertical rails, a rack-and-pinion system, and/or the like. The pipe storage apparatus is configured for storing a plurality of stands 204 of drill pipe. In FIG. 2 only a single stand 204 is shown, but it will be appreciated that embodiments of the pipe storage apparatus may be adapted to allow storage of multiple stands e.g. at least 10 stands, such as at least 50 stands, such as at least 100 stands, such as at least 200 stands, such as at least 300 stands. Each stand is built from two or more sections of drill pipe.

DK 180608 B1 33 FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a section of drill pipe. The drill pipe comprises a tubular pipe body 205. The drill pipe comprises a tool joint forming member 207, 208 at each end of the pipe body. In particular, at one end of the pipe body, the drill pipe comprises a tool joint pin 207 and, at the other end of the pipe body, the drill pipe comprises a tool joint box for receiving and retaining a tool joint pin of another section of drill pipe. To this end, the tool joint box may comprise an inner thread while the tool joint pin comprises an outer thread. The tool joint pin and the tool joint box may be welded to the respective ends of the pipe body. The joint formed by a tool joint pin of one section of drill pipe and the tool joint box of another section of drill pipe is also referred to as a tool joint.

The stand 204 shown in FIG. 2 is formed from 3 sections of drill pipe, thus comprising two tool joints 206. It will be appreciated, however, that other examples of stands may be formed from a different number of sections of drill pipe, e.g. two or four sections. A stand built from two sections thus has a single tool joint while a stand made up from four sections has three tool joints.

Drill pipes are available in different lengths, but a length of 30 ft (9.15 m) is one common choice (also referred to as Range 2 pipe) while 44.5 ft (13.56 m) is another common choice (referred to as Range 3 pipe). Typical production deviations for drill pipes are +/- 0.5 ft (0.15 m). Drill pipe is also available in different diameters. Common choices of outer diameters of drill pipe include 3 %in(89cm),4%in(11.4cm), 5 in (12.7 cm), 5% in (14 cm), 5 7/8 in (14.9 cm) and 6 5/8 in (16.8 cm). The outer diameter of drill pipe is defined as the outer diameter of the pipe body 205. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the pipe body is also referred to as the outer pipe diameter (“OPD”).

DK 180608 B1 34 The tool joints have an outer diameter larger than the outer pipe diameter.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the tool joints is referred to as outer joint diameter (“OJD”). While the tool joint may be a cylindrical body having a constant diameter, many forms of tool joints have a frusto-conical shape or otherwise a shape with varying diameter, e.g. conical at each end.

Moreover, some embodiments of tool joints may comprise one or more flanges, annular members, so called hard bendings, and/or the like.

Accordingly, the outer joint diameter may be defined as the largest outer diameter of a tool joint, i.e. the diameter at the widest portion of the tool joint, including any flanges, annular members, hard bendings and/or the like.

Various examples of fingerboards will now be described with reference to FIGs. 4 and 9-19 and with continued reference to FIGs 2 and 3. A first example of a fingerboard 101 will now be described with reference to — FIG. 4 and with continued reference to FIG. 2. The fingerboard 101 comprises an elongated base part 310 from which a row of fingers 311, 315, 323, 324 extend in a comb-like manner.

Each finger is formed as an elongated bar.

One end of each finger is connected to the base part 310 and another end 320 of the finger (also referred to as the tip end of the finger) projects away from the base part.

The fingers extend parallel to each other from the base part and are arranged in a common plane.

The longitudinal direction (“L”) of the fingers will simply be referred to as longitudinal direction.

Accordingly, unless specified otherwise, the term longitudinal direction as used herein refers to the longitudinal direction of the fingers of the fingerboard.

The direction normal to the longitudinal direction within the plane of the fingerboard is also referred to as the transverse direction (“T”). The longitudinal direction of the stands of drill pipe will also be referred to as pipe direction (“P”). In the example of FIG. 4, fingers 311 and 315 are integrally formed with the base part 310 as a single coherent structure, while fingers 323 and 324 are individual components detachably mounted to the remaining fingerboard

DK 180608 B1 35 structure, e.g. as will be described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, all fingers may be integrally formed with a base part or all fingers may be formed as separate components that are permanently or detachably attached to each other and/or to a base part. The row of fingers comprises two outer fingers 311 and 323 and a plurality of inner fingers 315 and 324. While each outer finger only has a single neighbouring finger, each inner finger has two neighbouring fingers. The fingers are spaced apart along the transverse direction from their respective neighbouring fingers so as to form a through-going channel between each pair of neighbouring fingers. The channels are open at the tip end of the fingers and, at the opposite end, closed by the base part 310. Stands of drill pipe may vertically extend through the channels.

Each channel defines a series of storage apertures 322 distributed along the longitudinal direction and each shaped and sized to receive a tool joint 206 or a tool joint forming member. In particular, the storage aperture defines an aperture diameter “AD” that is no smaller than the outer joint diameter of the stands 204 to be accommodated. Preferably, the aperture diameter is slightly larger than the outer joint diameter to facilitate lowering the tool joint into the storage aperture along the pipe direction and to raise the tool joint out of the storage aperture along the pipe direction. Each channel further defines gaps 321, each located between a pair of storage apertures. The gaps have a gap width (“GW”), measured in the transverse direction, large enough to allow a pipe body 205 that projects vertically through the channel to be moved in the longitudinal direction between storage apertures. The gap width is small enough to retain a tool joint in a storage aperture, i.e. to prevent a tool joint 206 that extends into one of the storage apertures to be moved away from the storage aperture along the longitudinal direction.

DK 180608 B1 36 The storage apertures 322 and the gaps 321 are defined by the side walls of the fingers.

The gaps are formed by plane portions 317 of the side walls while the storage apertures are defined by arcuate recesses 316 in the side walls.

The fingerboard of FIG. 4 comprises three sets of channels formed by respective sub-rows of fingers: Two sets 313 and 314 of channels have a fixed gap width and a fixed aperture diameter while the third set 312 of channels has a variable gap with and aperture diameter.

In particular, the gap width of the set 314 of fingers is selected such that stands of drill pipe having an outer pipe diameter of 6 5/8 inch can be received in them.

The gap width of the set 313 of fingers is selected such that stands of drill pipe having an outer pipe diameter of 5 7/8 inch can be received in them.

The gap width of the set 312 of fingers is adjustable such that either stands of drill pipe having an outer pipe diameter of 3 1/2 inch or stands of drill pipe having an outer pipe diameter of 5 inch can be accommodated in them.

To this end, the fingers 323 and 324 each comprise a mounting end 318, opposite the tip 320, configured to be connected to a mounting end of a neighbouring finger or to the base part 310, e.g. by bolts or another suitable mounting mechanism.

The gap width between the fingers 323 and 324 may be adjusted by inserting suitable spacers 319 between the mounting ends of neighbouring fingers.

It will be appreciated, however, that the gap width and aperture diameter may be adjusted in different ways.

It will further be appreciated that other embodiments of fingerboards may be provided for a different number of sizes of drill pipe, e.g. a single size, two sizes, a range of sizes, etc.

For example, in one embodiment the gap width of a storage aperture may be selected so as to accommodate pipe bodies with an OD ranging from 5” to 5-7/8” and a tool joint OD of 6-5/8” to 7-1/4” plus the height of hard bending.

In some embodiments, the gap widths between all fingers may be adjustable while, in other embodiments, only some gap widths or even no gap width may be adjustable.

A fingerboard may also include more or fewer regions than the three regions shown in the FIG. 3.

DK 180608 B1 37 Generally, the height H at which the fingerboard is arranged above the floor 103 depends on the length of the stands to be accommodated in the pipe storage apparatus and on the length of the sections of drill pipe from which the stands are made up. In particular, the height H is chosen such that a tool joint partially or completely extends into a storage aperture of the fingerboard when the stand vertically rests with its one end on the floor 103. For example, the fingerboard may be aligned with the uppermost tool joints of the stands, i.e. at a height between the uppermost section of drill pipe and the second highest section of drill pipe of the stands.

Also, generally, the height of the fingers and, in particular, the aperture height h of the storage apertures of the fingerboard is selected sufficiently large to accommodate for variations in the lengths of the individual pipe sections. Such variations may e.g. occur due to an occasional refurbishing of drill pipes, e.g. — when a tool joint pin and/or a tool joint box is replaced by a replacement pin or box. As is illustrated in FIG. 5, such variations in length may result in the vertical position of the tool joints of different stands to vary when the stands are positioned vertically on the floor 103. The aperture height h is thus selected large enough such that a tool joint of each stand at least partly extends into a storage aperture of the fingerboard when the stands rest on the floor 103. Moreover, when the aperture height h is chosen large enough, even if the stand bends, the tool joint still remains at least partly in the storage aperture. To this end, the fingerboard may be positioned at a height H above the floor 103 that is aligned with an average position of the tool joints. Preferably, the vertical extent of the storage apertures is at least 10 cm, such as at least 20 cm, such as at least 30 cm, such as at least 40 cm, such as at least 50 cm, such as at least 60 cm, such as at least 70 cm, such as at least 80 cm, such as at least 90 cm, such as at least 100 cm, such as at least 110 cm, such as at least 120 cm, such as at least 130 cm, such as at least 140 cm, such as at least 150 cm.

DK 180608 B1 38 FIGs 6 and 7A-B schematically illustrate front views of respective embodiments of a pipe storage apparatus having more than one fingerboard, e.g. fingerboards as described in any of FIGs. 4, and 9-19. In particular, in the example of FIG. 6, fingerboards 101A and 101B are mounted to a support structure 102 such that they are located next to each other, i.e. such that they each may receive respective stands 204A and 204B of drill pipe made from different ranges of pipes. The height at which the fingerboards are mounted above the floor 103 may differ so as to allow stands of different size (or made up of drill pipe of different lengths) to be accommodated by the respective fingerboards. It will be appreciated that the fingerboards may be arranged at respective fixed heights or at adjustable heights, as described above.

In the example of FIG. 7A, two fingerboards 101A and 101B are mounted to a support structure 102 above each other at different heights above the floor 103 such that they are aligned with different tool joints 206A and 206B, respectively, of the same stand 204. As in the previous examples, the height at which the fingerboards are mounted above the floor may be fixed or adjustable.

In the example of FIG. 7B, two fingerboards 101A, 101B and 101C are mounted to a support structure 102 above each other at different heights above the floor 103 such that fingerboards 101A and 101B are aligned with different tool joints 206A and 206B, respectively, of the same stand 204, and fingerboard 101C is aligned with the uppermost tool joint forming member 207 of the stand. The additional fingerboard at the top of the stand counteracts a swaying of the upper ends of the stands. As in the previous examples, the height at which the fingerboards are mounted above the floor may be fixed or adjustable.

As illustrated in FIGs. 7A-B, the aperture height h of the fingerboards positioned so as to support the stand at a higher tool joint may be chosen to

DK 180608 B1 39 be larger than the aperture height of the lower fingerboards, as the variations — du to varying pipe lengths — of the positions of the tool joints increase for the upper tool joints, because the individual variations accumulate. FIG. 8illustrates how a stand 204 of drill pipe may be placed in an embodiment of the pipe storage apparatus described herein, e.g. in the embodiment of FIG.

2. Initially, a as illustrated in FIG. 8 A), the vertical stand 204 is lifted such that a portion of its pipe body 205 is aligned with the fingers of the fingerboard 101 and such that the tool joint 206 that is to be inserted into a storage aperture of — the fingerboard is positioned higher than the fingerboard. As illustrated in FIG. 8 B), the upright stand is then horizontally moved into the channel between two fingers of the fingerboard such that its pipe body 205 extends through the channel and such that the tool joint 206 is free of the fingerboard. The stand is moved to the desired storage aperture and then lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 8 C), such that the stand 204 gets to rest with its bottom end on the floor 103 and such that one of its tool joints 206 at least partly extends into the storage aperture. The stand 204 is now horizontally restrained as the tool joint 206 is prevented from horizontal movement by the sidewalls of the fingers and the narrow gaps adjacent the storage aperture. When the fingerboard is of the type shown in e.g. FIG. 4, the horizontal movement of the stand is along the horizontal direction of the fingers. When the fingerboard is of the type shown in e.g. FIGs. 9-13, the movement comprises a movement along the longitudinal direction of the primart fingers followed by a movement along the transverse direction of the primary fingers. The stand 204 may be retrieved from the pipe storage apparatus by reversing the above sequence. The placement and/or retrieval of stands from the pipe storage apparatus may be performed by any suitable pipe handling device for handling vertical stands of drill pipe, e.g. by a pipe racker known as such in the art.

DK 180608 B1 40 FIG. 9 illustrates another example of a fingerboard 901. The fingerboard 901 comprises an elongated base part 910 from which a row of two primary fingers 915 extend.

Each finger is formed as an elongated bar.

One end of the finger is connected to the base part 910 and another end 920 of the finger (also referred to as the tip end of the finger) projects away from the base part.

The fingers extend parallel to each other from the base part and are arranged in a common plane.

Each primary finger comprises rows of secondary protrusions 923 extending from the respective lateral sides of the primary fingers in a comb-like fashion.

One end of each secondary protrusion is connected to the corresponding primary finger 915 and another end 925 of each secondary protrusion (also referred to as the tip end of the secondary protrusion) projects away from the — primary finger to which the secondary protrusion is connected.

The secondary protrusions of each primary finger extend parallel to each other from the primary finger and are arranged in a common plane.

In the example of FIG. 9, the secondary protrusions extend orthogonally relative to the primary fingers.

However, it will be appreciated that the secondary protrusions may also form — other angles relative to the primary fingers or they may even have an arcuate shape, e.g. corresponding to a swing motion of a pipe racker.

The secondary protrusions of each row are spaced apart (along the transverse direction of the secondary protrusions) from their respective neighbouring secondary protrusions so as to form a through-going channel between each pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions.

The channels are open at the tip end of the fingers and, at the opposite end, closed by the corresponding primary finger.

Stands of drill pipe may vertically extend through the channels.

Each channel defines a series of storage apertures 922 distributed along the longitudinal direction of the secondary protrusion and each shaped and sized to receive a tool joint, as described in connection with FIG. 4. Each channel

DK 180608 B1 41 further defines gaps 921, each located between a pair of storage apertures, also as described in connection with FIG. 4. Hence, each row of secondary protrusions 923 functions in much the same fashion as the row of fingers of the fingerboard of FIG. 4, where the primary fingers 915 function as base part in respect of the secondary protrusions. Accordingly, the description of the shape and size of the storage apertures and the channels between fingers and of the aperture heights of the fingers of the embodiment of FIG. 4, as well as their way of operation also applies to the secondary protrusions of the embodiments of FIG. 9.

However, the secondary protrusions 923 of the embodiment of FIG. 9 may be kept considerably shorter than the fingers of the embodiment of FIG. 4 while providing a comparable number of storage apertures within a similar footprint. In the example of FIG. 9, each pair of secondary protrusions only provides two — storage apertures, while each pair of fingers of the embodiment of FIG. 4 provides 16 storage apertures. It will be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments, the secondary protrusions may have a different length and provide a different number of storage apertures, e.g. 16 or less, such as 12 or less, such as 10 or less, such as 8 or less, such as 5 or less. The shorter length of the secondary protrusions reduces the risk that they deflect and that stands may inadvertently slip out of their storage positions. Moreover, a deflection of the longer primary only causes a minor deflection of the secondary protrusions. Another difference between the embodiments of FIG. 4 and of FIG. 9 is the movement path of stands that are to be stored in the storage apertures. While, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the stands can be moved into the fingerboard and to the storage apertures along a linear path, movement of the stands to a torage position of the embodiment of FIG. 9 requires a movement along two directions. This is illustrated by the arrow 926 in FIG. 9. Initially the stand 905 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the primary finger in order to align the stand with a desired channel formed by a pair of secondary protrusions.

DK 180608 B1 42 Then the stand is moved along the longitudinal direction of the secondary protrusions into the channel between the desired pair of secondary protrusions and to the desired storage aperture.

FIG. 10 illustrates another example of a fingerboard 1001. The fingerboard 1001 is similar to the fingerboard of FIG. 9 in that it comprises an elongated base part 1010 from which a row of two primary fingers 1015 extend, all as described in connection with FIG. 9. Also, each primary finger 1015 comprises a row of secondary protrusions 1023 transversely extending from a side wall of the respective primary finger, where pairs of secondary protrusions define the storage apertures 1022, also all as a described in connection with FIG. 9. The embodiment of FIG. 10 differs from the embodiments of FIG. 9 in that the primary fingers only comprise secondary protrusions on one side of the fingers, in this example on the side facing the other primary finger. The secondary protrusions are longer than in the example of FIG. 9 and each pair of secondary protrusions provides four storage apertures. Consequently, the total number of storage apertures is the same for both the embodiments of FIGs. 9 and 10.

FIGs. 11A-B illustrate yet another example of a fingerboard 1101. The fingerboard 1101 is similar to the fingerboard of FIG. 9 in that it comprises an elongated base part 1110 from which a row of (in this example four) primary fingers 1115 extend, all as described in connection with FIG. 9. Also, each primary finger 1115 comprises rows of secondary protrusions 1123 transversely extending from the side walls of the respective primary finger, where pairs of secondary protrusions define the storage apertures 1022, also all as a described in connection with FIG. 9. The embodiment of FIGs. 11A differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 in that each pair of secondary protrusions provides only a single storage aperture 1122 defined between the secondary protrusions of said pair. Nevertheless, as the primary fingers may be positioned closer to each other, the total number of storage apertures for a

DK 180608 B1 43 given footprint of the fingerboard is the same for both the embodiments of FIGs. 9 and 11A-B. The primary fingers thus define a sequence of storage apertures one one or on both sides of the primary finger. Each storage aperture can be directly accessed without having to pass through another one of the storage apertures. The secondary protrusions are wider at their tips than at their central portion, as the wider tips define the lateral openings of the storage apertures. It will be appreciated that variations of the embodiments of FIGs. 9, 10 and 11A-B may be provided. For example, alternative embodiments of fingerboards may include a different number of primary fingers, e.g. 1, 3, 4 or more primary fingers. Additionally or alternatively, in alternative embodiments, the secondary protrusions may have a different length or otherwise provide a different number of storage apertures, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more storage aperture per pair of secondary protrusions. Other examples of variations that may be applied to the various embodiments of fingerboards described herein will be described below. FIGs. 12A-C illustrate an example of a finger formed as a finger core and a sleeve. In the example of FIGs. 12A-C the finger is a finger of a fingerboard as shown in FIGs. 11A-B. It will be appreciated, however, that the fingers of other embodiments of fingerboards, e.g. the fingers of the embodiments shown in FIGs. 4, 9 and 10, may also be provided as a finger core and a sleeve as will now be described.

The finger 1215 comprises a finger core 1230 and an outer sleeve 1231. The finger core is formed as an elongated bar having a mounting plate 1232 or flange at its one end so that it can be attached to a suitable base part, e.g. by bolting, welding and/or in another suitable way. The finger core may also be integrally formed with a base part. FIG. 12A shows the sleeve 1231 removed from the finger core 1230 while FIG. 12C shows the sleeve positioned onto the

DK 180608 B1 44 finger core, but slightly displaced longitudinally from its final position.

In its final position an end plate 1233 of the sleeve abuts the mounting plate 1232 of the finger core and may be attached thereto, e.g. by bolting, welding and/or in another suitable manner.

FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the open end of the sleeve illustrating the inner void 1234 of the sleeve that accommodates the finger core when the sleeve is positioned on the finger core.

The sleeve 1231 has a general U-shaped cross section such that it can be slid onto the finger core with the open end of the U-shaped profile.

In other embodiments, the sleeve may completely surround the circumference of the finger core and be longitudinally slid onto the finger core.

The outer side walls of the sleeve 1231 comprise secondary protrusions 1223 that form storage apertures 1222 as described in connection with FIGs. 11A-B.

FIGs. 13A-B and 14 illustrate cross sections of examples of fingers comprising pads at the lateral openings of the storage apertures.

FIG. 13A shows a cross-sectional view of a part of a primary finger 1115 of a fingerboard as shown in FIGs. 11A-B.

The primary finger 1115 comprises secondary protrusions 1123 extending from both lateral side walls of the primary finger, and the secondary protrusions form storage apertures 1122 between respective pairs of neighbouring secondary protrusions, all as described in connection with FIGs. 11A-B.

Each storage aperture has a lateral opening 1235 facing laterally away from the primary finger.

The storage apertures may have different cross-sectional shapes (in the example of FIG. 13 the storage apertures have a general elliptical cross-section) as long as they are large enough to allow a tool joint to extend into the storage aperture.

Preferably, they are shaped and sized to avoid excessive lateral movement of the tool joints when positioned in the storage aperture However, the width D of the lateral opening should preferably be carefully selected, namely wide enough to allow a pipe body to enter the storage aperture but small enough to prevent a tool joint to pass through the lateral opening.

This is illustrated in

DK 180608 B1 45

FIG. 13 by the circles 1336 and 1337 where the dotted circle 1336 represents the outer dimensions of a pipe body while the solid circle 1337 represents the outer dimensions of the tool joint, including a hard bend where present.

As can be seen from the drawing, the edges 1338 of the secondary protrusions that define the perimeter of the lateral opening 1335 define the width D of the lateral opening.

The edges may be subject to wear due to impact by the stands stored in the storage aperture and, in particular, when the stands are moved into and out of the storage apertures.

Therefore, it may be desirable to provide the edges from a different material and/or to make them replaceable in order to — ensure that the with D of the lateral opening is maintained within the required limits that allow insertion of a pipe body while preventing tool joint to slip out of the storage aperture.

Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 13, the end faces of the secondary protrusions are provided with pads 1339 whose edges define the perimeter of the lateral opening and, hence the width of the lateral opening.

The pads may be bolted or welded to the end faces of the secondary protrusions or they may be otherwise attached to the finger, e.g. attached to the upper or lower faces of the finger.

To this end two or more pads may be connected as a bracket or similar structure such that multiple pads may be connected to the finger as an integral unit, e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 13B which shows a cross-section through the finger along the line B-B'. FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of parts of a pair of neighbouring fingers 315 of a fingerboard as shown in FIG. 4 (or of a pair of neighbouring secondary protrusions of the embodiments of FIGs 9 or 10). In this example, the storage apertures 322 have two opposite lateral openings 1435 through which a pipe body may exit the storage aperture into the adjacent gap 321. As in the previous examples, the storage apertures 322 may have different cross- sectional shapes while the width D of the lateral opening should preferably be carefully selected, namely wide enough to allow a pipe body to enter the storage aperture but small enough to prevent a tool joint to pass through the lateral opening.

Also in this embodiment, the width of the lateral openings may

DK 180608 B1 46 be defined by replaceable pads which may be attached to the inner walls of the gaps 321. The pads may be bolted or welded to the inner walls of the gap or they may be otherwise attached to the finger, e.g. attached to the upper or lower faces of the finger.

Generally, the pads may be made from the same or from a different material than the bulk of the finger. For example, in some embodiments, both may be made from steel while, in other embodiments, one of them, e.g. the bulk of the finger, may be made from a composite material while the pads may be made from steel, or vice versa. In both embodiments, the pads may be easily replaced when they are worn off or otherwise need maintenance, or they may be replaced by pads of a different shape or size so as to reconfigure the fingerboard for a different type of pipes, e.g. pipes having a different outer diameter of the pipe body.

FIGs. 15A-C illustrate a finger of a fingerboard with guide members. In particular, FIG. 15A shows a top view of a part of a finger 115 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 illustrating two recesses that form storage apertures 322 on either side of the finger. FIG. 15B shows a cross section of the finger along line A-A’, i.e. at the position of the storage aperture 322. At the bottom of the finger, the finger comprises guide elements 1540 that extends laterally outwards from the side wall portion 1522 of the finger that forms the recess. The edge 1543 of the guide member that faces away from the finger is aligned with the side walls 1521 of the finger that define the gaps adjacent the storage aperture. Hence, when a stand of drill pipe is moved along the gap between the fingers, pass the storage aperture, the pipe is prevented from banging into the edges of the lateral opening, thus reducing wear of the fingers. FIG. 15C shows the cross section of the finger with a stand 1541 while it is elevated and moved along the gap and with another stand 1542 which has been positioned and set off at the storage aperture, i.e. with the tool joint 206

DK 180608 B1 47 extending into the storage aperture.

The guide elements 1540 of the fingers are positioned sufficiently low relative to an uppermost open end of the storage aperture and the fingerboard is arranged at a suitable height above the floor so that the tool joint does not rest on the guide elements when the stand is set off and the tool joint extends into the storage aperture.

Hence, the stand 1542 rests on the floor above which the fingerboard is arranged.

In FIGS. 15A-C, the fingers are of the type comprising a finger core 1530 and an outer sleeve 1533. However, it will be appreciated that the guide element may also be provided with other embodiments of fingers, e.g. fingers made as a single element.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a fingerboard comprising multiple layers.

Embodiments of the fingerboard have an aperture height large enough to — ensure that stands made from pipes of varying lengths may be stored in the storage apertures.

It will be appreciated that a fingerboard may be implemented as a layered structure including a plurality of finger elements that may be spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction, as illustrated in FIG. 16. In this example, a finger 1615 is formed as a stack of finger elements 1645 separated from each other by horizontal gaps 1646. The height of the gaps between the finger elements are smaller than a minimum height of a tool joint 206, i.e. such that even a refurbished (and thus shortened) tool joint, when inserted into a storage aperture formed by the stacked finger, always is restrained by at least one of the finger elements.

In this example, the aperture height h of the finger 1615 is taken to be the total height of the stack of finger elements.

For example, in some embodiments, a refurbished tool joint may be as small as between 147-20” in height.

In some embodiments, the vertical gaps may thus be around 4” (10 cm) in height; while other embodiments may have different gap heights.

DK 180608 B1 48 FIG. 17 illustrates an alternative distribution of storage positions along the fingers.

In some embodiments, the fingers of the fingerboard define respective storage apertures on both sides of the finger.

The storage apertures on both sides may be located at the same positions along the finger, e.g. as in the embodiments of FIG. 4. Alternatively, the storage apertures on one side of the finger may be positioned at longitudinal positions different from the longitudinal positions of the storage apertures on the other side of the finger, e.g. as illustrated in the example of FIG. 17. Here the storage apertures 322 are aligned with the gaps between storage apertures 1722 on the respective other — side of the fingers 1715. It will be appreciated that other longitudinal positions may also be possible.

The alternating positions of the storage apertures as in FIG. 17 may provide an increased stability of the finger.

It will further be appreciated that the relative displacement of storage apertures on different sides of the fingers may also be provided in the other embodiments of fingers described herein, e.g. for the positions of the secondary protrusions in the embodiments of FIGs. 9-11 or in respect of the positions of the storage apertures along the secondary protrusions in the embodiments of FIGs 9-10. FIGs. 18A-B illustrate asymmetric storage apertures.

In particular, the side wall portions of the neighbouring fingers 1815 that define each storage aperture may be shaped differently.

In the example of FIG. 18A, the recess 1822A in one of the fingers is larger than the corresponding recess 1822B in the other finger.

In the example of FIG. 18B, only one of the fingers has a recess 1822A while the opposite side wall of the other finger is plane at the location of the — storage aperture.

Similar asymmetric arrangements may also be provided by the secondary protrusions of the embodiments of FIGs. 9-11. FIG. 19 schematically illustrates a safety latch 1947 that selectively engages two fingers 115 of a fingerboard.

The safety latch has a hinged connection 1948 to one of the fingers and has a hole that engages a pin 1949 on the neighbouring finger when the latch is in its closed position.

When stands are

DK 180608 B1 49 to be moved into or out of the storage apertures between the fingers, the latch may be pivoted upwards so as to allow unobstructed passage of a stand. When in the closed position, the latch prevents the fingers from deflecting away from each other so as to prevent stands stored in the storage apertures between thefingers to slide out of the storage apertures. It will be appreciated that other forms of latches may be provided using other mechanisms for closing and opening the latch and/or with other connectors for engaging the fingers so as to counteract an increase of the lateral openings of the storage apertures defined by the pair of fingers. It will also be appreciated that latches may be — provided with any of the embodiments of the fingerboard described herein. Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In — particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In device claims enumerating several features, several of these features can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (15)

DK 180608 B1 50 Requirements: A pipe storage apparatus for storing drill pipe stands (204) in an upright orientation, each drill pipe stand (204) comprising two or more - drill pipes, each drill pipe comprising a pipe body (205) and tool assembly forming elements (207, 208) at respective ends of the tubular body (205), wherein the two or more drill pipes are connected to each other by respective tool assemblies (206) formed by tool assembly-forming elements (207, 208) on the respective drill pipes, the tubular body (205) defines an outer pipe diameter and the tool assembly (206) defines an outer joint diameter greater than the outer pipe diameter; wherein the pipe storage apparatus comprises a fingerboard (101) located in use at a height (H) above a floor (103) and comprising a plurality of fingers (315); wherein the fingerboard (101) defines a plurality of storage openings (322); wherein each storage opening (322) is defined by one or more peripheral wall portions; wherein the peripheral wall portions define one or more transverse openings (321), each transverse opening (321) being large enough to allow in use the passage of a tubular body (205) into the storage opening (322) through the transverse opening (321) , and small enough to prevent a tool assembly (206) from leaving the storage opening (322) through the transverse opening (321); the plurality of storage openings (322) on the fingerboard (101) are configured to: o receive, through the transverse opening (321), the upright stand (204) when it is lifted so that a part of its tubular body (205) aligns with the fingerboard (101), while the tool assembly is located higher than the fingerboard, and 180808 B1 51 o to hold the upright stand (204) when it is lowered so that at least a part of a tool assembly (206) for a stand (204) extends through the storage opening (322), characterized in that the opening (322) peripheral wall sections extend through the fingerboard (101). A pipe storage apparatus according to claim 1; characterized in that the fingerboard (101) comprises a series of two or more transversely spaced fingers (315), each finger comprising a side wall defining peripheral wall portions of the respective of storage openings (322). A pipe storage apparatus according to claim 2; characterized in that each pair of adjacent fingers (315) in said row defines a series of two or more storage openings (322). Pipe storage apparatus according to claim 3; characterized in that the storage openings (322) in said series of storage openings are connected to each other at respective spaces (321) which separate the fingers (315) of said pair of fingers from each other and extend between the respective pairs of - adjacent storage openings (322). ); wherein each gap (321) has a gap width (GW) large enough to receive a tubular body (205) and small enough to prevent a tool assembly (206) from moving from a bearing opening (322) into the gap ( 321). A pipe storage apparatus according to claim 4; characterized in that the gap width (GW) is adjustable by adjusting a distance between the fingers (315) of said adjacent pair of fingers. A pipe storage apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5; Characterized by comprising two or more rows of fingers (315), where different DK 180608 B1 52 rows have different spacing widths (GW) and are configured to receive stands (204) with different outer pipe diameters. A pipe storage apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6; - characterized in that each finger (315) in a pair of fingers has a side wall facing the other finger (315) of the pair of fingers; and wherein each space (321) is defined by respective portions of the sidewalls of the finger pair (315); wherein said parts of the side walls are parallel to each other. A pipe storage apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7; characterized in that each finger (315) of the pair of fingers has a side wall facing the other finger of the pair of fingers; and wherein each storage opening (322) is defined by downwardly extending transverse open trenches in the side walls; where the respective open sides of the ditches of the side walls face each other. A pipe storage apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3; characterized by comprising at least one primary finger (915) and a plurality of secondary projections (923) extending from a side wall of the primary finger (915); wherein the primary finger (915) comprises all the peripheral wall portions defining at least one of the storage openings (922) and the transverse opening (921) of the at least one storage opening (922). A pipe storage apparatus according to claim 9; characterized in that the primary finger (915) comprises a first side wall, from which a row of two or more separate secondary projections (923) extends, each secondary projection comprising a side wall defining the respective peripheral wall parts of the storage openings (922). A pipe storage apparatus according to claim 10; characterized in that each pair - adjacent secondary protrusions (923) in said row defines a single DK 180608 B1 53 storage opening (922) or a series of two or more of said storage openings (922). The pipe storage apparatus according to claim 11; characterized in that each pair of adjacent secondary projections (923) in said row defines a series of two or more of storage openings (922); wherein the storage openings (922) in said series of storage openings (922) are interconnected by respective spaces (921) separating the pair of adjacent secondary projections (923) from each other and extending between respective pairs of adjacent storage openings (922) of said series. ; wherein each gap (921) has a gap width (GW) large enough to receive a tubular body (205) and small enough to prevent a tool assembly (206) from moving from a storage opening (922) into the gap (921). The pipe storage apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12; characterized in that the storage openings (922) are completely defined by wall parts on the side walls of two adjacent secondary projections (923) and possibly by a side wall on the primary finger (915). > A method of placing an upright drill pipe stand (204) in a pipe storage apparatus, the stand (204) comprising two or more drill pipes each having a pipe body (205) and tool assembly forming elements (207, 208) at respective ends of the pipe body (204). 205), wherein the tube storage apparatus comprises a fingerboard (101) disposed at a height (H) above a floor (103) and comprising a plurality of fingers (315); wherein the fingerboard (101) defines a plurality of storage openings (322), each configured to receive and hold at least a portion of a tool assembly (206) on a stand (204) as the stand (204) extends through the storage opening with the tool assembly; (206) at least partially extending into the storage opening; characterized by 180608 B1 54 - forming the stand (204) by joining two or more drill pipes interconnected by respective tool assemblies (206) formed by tool assembly forming elements on respective drill pipes, the pipe body (205) defining an outer pipe diameter and the tool assembly (206 ) defines an outer joint diameter larger than the outer pipe diameter; wherein each storage opening is defined by one or more peripheral wall portions extending through the fingerboard (101) and defining one or more transverse openings (321), each transverse opening (321) being large enough to allow passage of a tubular body ( 205) into the storage opening through the transverse opening (321) and small enough to prevent a tool assembly (206) from leaving the storage opening through the transverse opening (321); wherein the placement of the drill pipe stand in the pipe storage apparatus comprises the steps of: o lifting the upright stand (204) so that a part of its pipe body (205) is flush with the fingers (315) on the fingerboard (101), while the tool assembly (206) is located higher than the fingerboard; o moving the upright stand (204) horizontally into a passage between two fingers (315) on the fingerboard (101); and o lowering the upright stand (204) when it is inserted into a desired storage opening through the transverse opening (321) so that the upright stand (204) rests on the floor (103) and that the tool assembly (206) in at least partially extends into the storage opening (322). A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the stand (204) comprises three drill pipes connected to two tool assemblies (206), characterized in that the lifting of the stand (204) comprises that the fingers (315) on the fingerboard (101) align with a part of the tubular body (205) between the two tool assemblies (206).