EP2173964A1

EP2173964A1 - Drilling tower device and drilling machine system

Info

Publication number: EP2173964A1
Application number: EP08766945A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Egil Lauvsland
Original assignee: Nordrill As
Current assignee: Nordrill As
Priority date: 2007-06-26
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Also published as: EP2173964A4; WO2009002189A1; RU2010102117A; RU2459065C2

Abstract

A drilling tower device (1; 26) with a drilling machine (2; 27) that is movable relative to the drilling tower (1; 26) during drilling and on the insertion and retrieval of drill string elements (3; 21; 28). The drilling tower comprises at least three mutually separate, parallel, vertical columns (4 - 7) which are connected at the bottom to a drill floor (8; 33) or base (9; 34) and at the top to a common frame (10; 35). The drilling machine (2) is mounted in a supporting frame (11) which has a triangular, rectangular or square configuration. The corners of the supporting frame have guides (12 - 16; 35' - 35'') for sliding engagement with a respective column (4 - 7; 29 - 32), and a pair of telescopic actuators (17; 18; 36; 37) are arranged for controllably moving the supporting frame (11; 35) along the columns (4 - 7; 29 - 32) to the desired level. The actuators cooperate with travellers (35; 38; 39) which slide along the supporting columns (4 - 7; 29 - 32) of the drilling tower (1; 26). A drilling machine system is also described, said drilling machine comprising a controller for controlling the functions of the drilling machine, wherein the controller is wirelessly controllable from an external remote control unit, and where the controller is supplied with electric power on the basis of externally deliverable hydraulic or electric operating power to the drilling machine.

Description

DRILLING TOWER DEVICE AND DRILLING MACHINE SYSTEM

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. In addition, 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.

There is previously known a device of the said type where the drilling machine is suspended from a wire that runs over a crown block at the top of the tower, the wire then being passed downwards and out to the side to a winch, usually of the electromechanical type. Although such devices have been known for a long time, in particular for drilling on on-shore installations, but also for offshore installations, these known devices have the disadvantage that their lifting power has been limited and the length of travel of the drilling machine has been limited, thus requiring the frequent insertion of pipe sections, whilst the structure of these devices requires a great deal of space.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to remedy these disadvantages, and the device according to the invention is characterised by the features set forth in attached claim 1.

Additional embodiments of the device are set forth in attached subsidiary claims 2 - 8.

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. To control the valves and thus the motors and 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. The use of such power supply cables and control cables has often been found to complicate operations on a drilling rig, especially on board an offshore installation where available space is limited, and where such cables at times during the handling of equipment on board get in the way or may accidentally be damaged upon impact with equipment, with the result that the cables or their connectors are rendered completely or partly ineffective. This is a problem also for land-based equipment. The challenges are also great where high drilling towers are used.

It is therefore an additional object of the present invention to remedy these disadvantages in connection with cable use, and at the same time permit external supply of power to the drilling machine, either in the form of hydraulic or electric power.

The above-mentioned drilling machine system is characterised, according to the invention, by the features set forth in attached claim 9.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

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; and

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

I₀ have a lower portion tiltable relative to an upper portion, but it is also conceivable that the drilling machine is tiltably stored relative to the supporting frame, for example, about the transverse shaft 12. 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. To be more precise, 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

20 the illustrated example there are four, i.e., 17', 17", 17'", 17"" and 18', 18", 18'", 18"".

In the illustrated, though non-limiting, example, these telescopic parts 17', 17", 17"', 17"" and 18', 18", 18"'and 18"" have a respective diameter of respectively 700 mm,

₂₅ 600 mm, 500 mm and 400 mm in size, and a length each of about 12 metres. The actuators are expediently of a known hydraulic type with a known mode of operation, although their physical size here is adapted to the tasks for which they must be dimensioned. For example, 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

₃o order to replace a drill bit or if a drilling operation is to be terminated because a drilling attempt fails. 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

35 string pipe elements and is then lowered slightly for screwing into a drill string section 21' which projects up through the drill floor, after which a further drill string element 3" is fetched from the storage area 19 for drill string pipe elements 3, is hoisted up and then lowered for screwing to an upper end of the element 3' (not shown in Fig. 6), after which the drilling operation may be resumed with a drill string that has been lengthened by means of the elements 3' and 3", as shown in Fig. 7. As driving fluid for the actuators, a known driving fluid per se may be used for actuators of this type. As operations on offshore installations and on-shore installations are often carried out at times of the year when temperatures are low, hydraulic oil with anti-freeze properties could, for example, be used. Glycol-based fluid may be one of several suitable fluids.

If, for example, 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.

It 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. This would allow the sections to be appropriately protected against corrosion, for example with a slip coating, and/or be of the zinc-coated type. Constant up and down movements of the supporting frame 11, and the possibility of lubrication for the pillars 4 - 7 will however will help to reduce corrosion. The use of columns with maximum corrosion resistance will however be preferable.

As shown in the drawings, 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.

With full stroke of the actuators, it will be possible to bring the drilling machine 2 right to the top of the drilling tower 1, as shown in Fig. 5. However, it will first be necessary to bring the drilling machine up to an intermediate level suitable for attaching, for example, a first length 3' of drill pipe 3 to the drilling machine, as shown in Fig. 6, in order then to hoist this up and attach it to the drill string part 21' in the usual way, after which the additional drill string element 3" is fetched when the drilling machine is at a level slightly above that shown in Fig. 6, is brought into engagement with the drill pipe 3' and at the top is brought into driving engagement with the standard drill pipe attachment of the drilling machine 2, see Fig. 7.

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. For a person of skill in the art, all these are conventionally used and obvious equipment and will not be described in more detail.

Although 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.

To prevent bending damage of the actuators 17, 18 when they are moved to and from maximum stroke length, it will be appropriate, as indicated in Fig. 8, to arrange at least two travellers 22, 23 and 24, 25 on each respective actuator 17 and 18, such that traveller 22, for example, engages with an upper end of actuator part 17", traveller 23 engages with an upper end of actuator part 17'", traveller 24 engages with an upper end of actuator part 18", and traveller 25 engages with an upper end of actuator part 18'". The travellers 22 - 25 will each at respective ends 22', 22"; 23', 23"; 24', 24"; and 25', 25" form sliding engagement with the respective columns 4, 5 and 6, 7, thereby ensuring increased stability and safer guiding of the actuator parts.

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. In the illustrated example, 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 π 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.

As shown somewhat more clearly in Figs. 1 - 8, the actuators have at least three I₀ 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.

In connection with 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. In the embodiment shown in 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

25 Figs. 10 and 11, whilst also the actuators 36, 37 contract and the travellers 38, 39 move downwards simultaneously with the supporting frame 35. In the bottom position of the drilling machine 27 as shown in Fig. 12, a supporting rail 40 is tilted up that is to support a new drill string pipe element 28 which is to be fastened to the top of the drill string 28'. Concurrently with this, as shown in Fig. 13, the supporting frame 35 is

30 moved up slightly so as better to be able to tilt the drilling machine 27 in order to receive the new drill string pipe element 28. 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

₃₅ grip the drill string pipe element 28 so that it can be fastened to the drilling machine 27. As shown in Fig. 16, 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. At the same time, 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'.

It will be understood that, in particular in an initial phase of the upward movement of the drilling machine, a substantial supply of fluid volume per time unit at high pressure will be required, which will also call for powerful and rapid fluid pumps in order efficiently to cause the drilling machine and travellers, in addition to the weight of the actuators' telescopic parts, to move up at sufficient speed.

As shown purely schematically in Fig. 18, it is therefore advantageous to provide a hydraulic accumulator 43 that is charged when the total length of the actuators is reduced as the drilling machine moves downwards during a drilling operation, so that hydraulic pump 44 which feeds the actuators 36, 37 with pressurised fluid is then supplied with fluid which is under pressure. There are shown feed lines 45, 46 from the accumulator 43 via the pump 44 to the actuators 36, 37, and return lines 47 from the actuators 36, 37 via a pump 50 to the accumulator 43. Controllable valves 49, 49' can advantageously be arranged as indicated so as to be able to close the connections to the actuators, and additional valves to those shown are of course possible, such as one-way valves 49"; 49'".

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. According to the invention, 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.

In the case where 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.

In the other case where 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.

In this way, the cabling that is necessary from an external power source, whether electric or hydraulic, is solved in a simple, inexpensive and efficient way, and at the same time a safer and simpler connection between the remote control unit 53 and the controller 52 is obtained.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1.

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, characterised in that the drilling tower comprises at least three mutually separate, parallel, vertical columns which are connected at the bottom to a drill floor or base and at the top to a common frame; - that the drilling machine is mounted in a supporting frame which has a triangular, rectangular or square configuration; that the corners of the supporting frame have guides for sliding engagement with a respective column; and that means are arranged for controllably moving the supporting frame along the columns to the desired level.

2.

A device as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in that said means are formed of a pair of telescopic actuators, each actuator extending up between an adjacent respective pair of columns.

3.

A device as disclosed in claim 2, characterised in that the actuators each have at least three telescopic parts which are movable relative to one another.

4.

A device as disclosed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the actuators are each fastened at the bottom to the drill floor or base and at the top to the underside of the supporting frame.

5.

A device as disclosed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that at least two of the telescopic parts of each actuator are equipped with travellers which form sliding engagement with an adjacent pair of columns.

6.

A device as disclosed in claim 5, characterised in that the travellers are U-shaped or π-shaped.

7.

A device as disclosed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuators and connected pumps cooperate with at least one hydraulic accumulator.

8.

A device as disclosed in any one of claims 1 - 7, wherein the drilling machine comprises a controller for controlling the functions of drilling machine, characterised in that the controller is wirelessly controllable from an external remote control unit; - that the controller is connected to electric power; that connected to the controller are electrically controlled, function-controlling hydraulic valves for operating hydraulic function actuators on the drilling machine; and

- either that the drilling machine drilling motor is electrically operated, external electric power being deliverable to the drilling machine's drilling motor, controller and function-controlling hydraulic valves, and wherein the drilling machine has mounted thereon an electric or hydraulic generator for providing hydraulic pressure via said valves to said actuators;

- or - that the drilling machine drilling motor is hydraulically operated, external hydraulic power being deliverable to the drilling machine's drilling motor, function- controlling hydraulic valves and function actuators, and wherein the drilling machine has mounted thereon a hydraulic or electric generator for power supply to the controller as well as to the controller's hydraulic valves.

9.

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, and where the controller is wirelessly controllable from an external remote control unit; characterised in that that the controller is connected to electric power; that connected to the controller are electrically controlled, function-controlling hydraulic valves for operating hydraulic function actuators on the drilling machine; and