Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B15/00—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
  • E21B19/08—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
  • E21B19/086—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods with a fluid-actuated cylinder

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a drilling tower device with a drilling machine that is movable relative to the drilling tower during drilling and on the insertion and retrieval of drill string elements, as disclosed in the preamble of claim 1.
• the invention relates to a drilling machine system for a drilling tower or so-called drilling rig, wherein the drilling machine system comprises a controller for controlling the functions of the drilling machine, as disclosed in the preamble of claim 9.
• Drilling machines for use in drilling towers or drilling rigs as mentioned above in purely general terms or for use with a device of the type referred to above are usually of the hydraulic type, where externally supplied hydraulic power is delivered to the drilling machine's drilling motor, its function-controlling valves and necessary hydraulic actuators.
• an electronically or electrically operated controller is arranged on the drilling machine, usually generally termed the PLS unit.
• the controller is connected via a power supply cable and control cable to an external remote control unit.
• Fig. 1 shows the drilling tower according to the invention with a drilling machine in engagement with drill pipes.
• Fig. 2 shows a typical drilling machine.
• Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a supporting frame for the drilling machine for use on the drilling tower.
• Figs. 4 - 7 show the drilling tower in selected positions of use.
• Fig. 8 shows a modification of the actuator parts of the illustrated embodiment according to Figs. 1 - 7.
• Figs. 9 - 17 show animations of operating principles related to the drilling tower according to the invention.
• Fig. 18 shows a simplified hydraulic connection diagram.
• Fig. 19 shows a first embodiment of the drilling machine system according to the invention.
• Fig. 20 shows a second embodiment of the drilling machine system according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a drilling tower 1 with a drilling machine 2 that is movable relative to the drilling tower during drilling and for the insertion of drill string elements 3.
• the drilling tower comprises at least three, but preferably four mutually separate, parallel, 5 vertical columns 4 - 7 which are connected at the bottom to a drill floor 8 or base 9 and at the top to a common frame 10.
• the drilling machine 2 is suspended in a supporting frame 11 via a transverse shaft 12 arranged on the supporting frame.
• the drilling machine may in a conventional manner
• the supporting frame 11 has, for example, a triangular, rectangular or square configuration. For the sake of illustration, a square configuration has been chosen, as shown in Fig. 3.
• the corners of the supporting frame have guides is 13, 14, 15, 16 for slidable engagement with a respective column 4, 5, 6, 7 and means 17, 18 are arranged for controllably moving the supporting frame along the columns to the desired level.
• said means are formed of a pair of telescopic actuators 19, 20, each actuator extending upwards between an adjacent, respective pair 4, 7 and 5, 6 of columns.
• the actuator consists of at least three telescopic parts, and in
• these telescopic parts 17', 17", 17"', 17"" and 18', 18", 18"'and 18"" have a respective diameter of respectively 700 mm
• each actuator may have a lifting capacity of 300-400 tonnes, which may be necessary when a long drill string has to be retrieved in stages in
• the potential stroke length of the actuators thus ensures that during the insertion of new drill pipes in the drill string it is perfectly possible to join at least two drill string pipe elements 3 each time there is a need to extend the drill string, as is indicated in Fig. 6 where a first element 3' is hoisted up from a storage area 19 for drill
• a driving fluid for the actuators a known driving fluid per se may be used for actuators of this type.
• hydraulic oil with anti-freeze properties could, for example, be used.
• Glycol-based fluid may be one of several suitable fluids.
• the drill floor 9 is at a level of about 8 metres above the substructure or a base, the first part 17'; 18' will thus project about 4 metres above the drill floor 9.
• drill pipes 3 that are to be added may also be expedient to allow the drill pipes 3 that are to be added to lie ready in the pipe storage area 19 at a lower level than the drill floor 8, so that when the pipes are pulled up for attachment to the drilling machine 2, they are pulled along a ramp 20 between the drill floor 8 and the pipe storage area 19.
• the spacing between the columns 4 - 7 may, for example, be 4 metres, as indicated in Fig. 4, although other spacing is of course possible, for instance, it could be conceived that the dimension d2 in the direction of the pipe storage area 19 was somewhat larger than the dimension dl transverse thereto.
• the columns may expediently be assembled, e.g., screwed together of sections, as indicated in Figure 5 by 4', 4", 4'"; 5', 5", 5'"; 6', 6", 6'" and 7', 7", 7'", each section, for example, having a length of 15 metres.
• An expedient cross-sectional dimension could, for example, be 500 mm.
• the drilling machine 2 in a position as shown in Fig. 1 can be released from the part 21' of the drill string 21 projecting through the drill floor 8.
• hoisting apparatus For the sake of clarity, hoisting apparatus, rotary apparatus and fixing or clamping means are not shown in the drawings, and nor is handling equipment for fetching pipes from the pipe store or returning pipes to the pipe store when pipe sections 3 are to be connected to and disconnected from the drill string.
• hoisting apparatus rotary apparatus and fixing or clamping means are not shown in the drawings, and nor is handling equipment for fetching pipes from the pipe store or returning pipes to the pipe store when pipe sections 3 are to be connected to and disconnected from the drill string.
• the supporting frame 11 that is shown and described is of square configuration, where the spacing dimensions dl and d2 of the columns are equal, it is, as mentioned, possible to conceive of the supporting frame having a rectangular configuration. Similarly, it is possible to conceive of the supporting frame with a triangular configuration, if this is advantageous for reasons of space. This will then mean that the part where two branches meet is on the opposite side of the ramp 20 and the cross branch connecting them will lie between the columns 4, 5, whilst in reality the columns 6, 7 are brought together to form a single column. The actuators will in this case be fastened to the said two branches.
• Figs. 9 - 17 show a drilling tower 26 with a drilling machine 27 which is movable relative to the drilling tower during drilling and on the insertion and retrieval of drill string pipe elements 28.
• the drilling tower 26 comprises four mutually separate, parallel, vertical columns 29 - 32 which are connected at the bottom to a drill floor 33 and/or base 34 and at the top to a common frame 35.
• the drilling machine 27 is mounted in a supporting frame 35 which in the present example has a U or ⁇ shape, although - as in previous examples - other configurations are possible.
• the free end areas 35% 35" of the supporting frame and its corners 35'", 35"" have guides for slidable engagement with a respective one of the columns 29 - 32.
• a pair of 5 telescopic actuators 36, 37 is arranged for controllably moving the supporting frame 35 along the columns 29 - 32 to the desired level.
• Each actuator 36; 37 extends upwards between an adjacent respective pair 29, 31 and 30, 32 of columns.
• the actuators have at least three I 0 telescopic parts movable relative to one another.
• the actuators 36; 37 are each fastened at the bottom to the drill floor 33 or base 34 and at the top to the underside of the supporting frame 35.
• Figs. 1 - 8 it was shown that at least two of the telescopic parts of is each actuator are equipped with travellers which form sliding engagement with an adjacent pair of columns.
• Figs. 9 - 17 it is the U- or reshaped travellers 38, 39 connected to telescopic parts 36', 36", 36'" and 37', 37", 37'" of respective actuators 36, 37 that form sliding engagement with the columns 29 - 32.
• the travellers ensure that the drilling tower has good stability against torsion and 20 prevent the columns 29 - 32 from moving relative to one another.
• Fig. 9 shows that the drilling machine 27 is at the top of the drilling tower 26, and a drill string 28' hangs down from the drilling machine 27. As operations are carried out, the drill string 28' and thus also the drilling machine 27 will move downwards, as shown in
• Known grab hook equipment 41, 42 is present, partly in the form of equipment 41 mounted on the drill floor 33 and capable of moving up therefrom, as well as backwards and forwards relative to the drilling machine 27, and partly in the form of equipment 42 placed on the drilling machine 27 to
• the drilling machine 27 with newly attached drill string pipe element 28, and together with associated supporting frame 35 is then moved upwards by the actuators 36, 37, whilst the travellers 38, 39 also follow along the columns 29 - 32.
• the lower part of the drill string pipe element 28 slides along a last upper area of the supporting rail 40 and ultimately runs clear of the end thereof so that it is hanging straight down from the drilling machine 27 and can be gripped by the equipment 41 so as to allow it subsequently to be fastened to the upper end of the drill string 28'.
• Figs. 19 and 20 show a drilling machine 51 for drilling rigs, wherein the drilling machine comprises controller 52 for controlling the functions of the drilling machine.
• the controller 52 is wirelessly controllable from an external remote control unit 53 having an antenna 53', and the controller 52 is connected to a plurality of electrically controlled, function-controlling hydraulic valves located in a valve assembly 54.
• the controller is equipped with antenna 52'.
• the controller 52 is supplied with electric power on the basis of externally deliverable electric operating power via cables 55 or hydraulic operating power via lines 56 to the drilling machine 51.
• the drilling machine 51 drilling motor 57 is electrically operated and where the externally suppliable power is deliverable via the cables 55 to the drilling machine's drilling motor 57, controller 52 and function-controlling hydraulic valves 54
• the drilling machine has mounted thereon an electric or hydraulic generator 58, 58' for providing hydraulic pressure via the electrically controlled, function-controlling hydraulic valves 54 connected to the controller 52 to hydraulic function actuators 59 - 65 on the drilling machine.
• Such actuators may, for example, be for controlling equipment attached to the drilling machine, or for use in controlling the rotating driving force of the drilling machine.
• the drilling machine 51 drilling motor 66 is hydraulically operated, and where the externally suppliable hydraulic power is deliverable via said hydraulic lines 6 to the drilling machine's drilling motor 60, function-controlling hydraulic valves 54 and function actuators 59, 59', the drilling machine 51 has mounted thereon a hydraulic or electric generator 67 for power supply to the controller 52 as well as to the controller's connected, electrically controlled function-controlling hydraulic valves 54 which are connected to the hydraulic function actuators 59 - 65.

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-26 WO PCT/NO2008/000239 patent/WO2009002189A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-06-26 RU RU2010102117/03A patent/RU2459065C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-06-26 EP EP08766945.3A patent/EP2173964A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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