FR2589942A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRILLING OIL WELLS AND GAS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN APPARATUS AND A PROCESS FOR DRILLING AND RE-DRILLING OIL AND GAS WELLS AT SEA OR ON LAND. A DRILLING ROD 20 RECEIVES A TORQUE BY MEANS OF A FUR 34, DRIVEN IN ROTATION BY A ROD 22, ITSELF ROTATED BY A MOTOR AND FIXED IN THE AXIAL DIRECTION, WHILE THE FUR 34 IS AXIALLY MOVABLE. A 42-62 DRIVE ASSEMBLY IS INSERTED BETWEEN THE FUR AND THE DRILL ROD. THE MOTOR, DRIVE ROD AND DRIVEN FURRY ARE MOVED AWAY FROM THE ROTATION AXIS OF THE DRILL ROD, ALLOWING THE DRILLING AND RE-DRILLING OF WELLS USING THE DRILL RODS CONNECTED IN ADVANCE. ONE TO THE OTHERS TO FORM BLOCKS OR TRIPLETS. FIELD OF APPLICATION: DRILLING OF OIL AND GAS WELLS.

Description

The invention relates to the drilling of oil and gas wells, at sea or

  on land, and it relates in particular to a method and apparatus for drilling such triplet wells (three lengths of drill pipe connected together in a single block). The conventional and most widely used drilling system includes a platform having a rotary table for transmitting torque to a vertically movable drive shaft, and a drill pipe, a drilling rig, and a movable muffle disposed within the drill tower to raise and lower the drill pipe at

  through an opening in the platform.

  All sections of the drill pipe are connected, one at a time, to the movable muffle and lowered through

  the rotation table for drilling the borehole.

  In this conventional system, reforging, i.e. removing the drill pipe in rotation from the borehole, is simply a reverse operation also consisting of disconnecting one rod section at a time at the level of the plate. -form. This conventional system is used on continuous mobile platforms such as ships or semi-submersible platforms, as well as on stationary platforms including jack-up or cable-jack platforms.

  for well drilling and stationary platforms

  for the drilling of wells on land.

  More recently, a system for triplet drilling has been developed. In such a system, three drill pipes are connected to each other in a single block, and then descended en bloc through the platform. This triplets drilling system is

  considered to be faster than the conventional system

  that because the three drill rods are connected the

  each other outside the drilling area.

  It has also been found that the triplet drilling system has particular advantages during reforging operations. Further details of these systems are given in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,421,179, 4,437,524, 4,449,596.

and N4,458,728.

  In the above-mentioned patent systems, also referred to as top-drive systems, a large, rail-mounted motor moves vertically within the drill tower to apply rotational movement to the upper drill pipe. the block consisting of three drill pipes. However, the top-drive systems described in

  the aforementioned patents, while saving time, presented

  also have significant disadvantages. The installation of the drive unit from the top requires a major overhaul of an existing installation,

  because you have to increase the height of the drill tower.

  The high torque imposes heavy loads on the rails.

  The top drive requires the presence in the drill rig area of a 22.5 m

  length, with a capacity of 1000 amps, which

  always kills a huge source of danger, especially on a mobile platform where motion compensators are used. Top-drive systems are also affected by downtime, because the big engine is a complicated device and,

  operators often retain the standard training

  only by rotation table and emergency drive rod.

  In addition, because of the weight of the training device from the top, the latter must be placed on the side

  and a hook mounted on the movable muffle for handling

heavy casings.

Z589942

  The present invention provides improved

  Both the conventional single rod drilling system and the triplet drilling systems using the top drive unit have the following advantages: the possibility of using existing drilling tools; an inexpensive system; the possibility of putting it in place on any installation with minimal reworking; I im && ma, the need now gone to put in place the drilling of high power electrical controls; the possibility of using a -vane -e internal security; great simplicity, great lightness and the fact that it is useless for staff to follow a relearning or special training;

  the possibility of using it on

  floating ports equipped with existing motion compensators; and

  the possibility of descending a heavy casing.

  The apparatus and method of the invention utilize a vertically located fixed drive shaft extending substantially over the height of the boring tower and driven by a conventional motor located near the platform level. form or below this level, a led fur being connected to the drive rod in order to be driven by it. The led fur moves vertically on

  the drive rod and is connected to a drive shaft.

  Drill rod drilled on a drill assembly, by means of a drive assembly. Through the vertical movement of the wheel and a set of wheeled wheels, a suitable torque is applied to the drill pipe

  to drill and reforge into triplets.

  It is also provided a top link adapter equipped with means for handling

heavy casing.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which: - Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional drilling rig mounted on a platform without rotation table and equipped of the side control according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the drilling system shown in Figure 1, in the area surrounded by the circle 2; FIG. 3 is a side view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the drilling system; - Figure 4 is a section along the

  line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the training set

  with chat and gear wheels, for transmitting a torque to the drill pipe; - Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but showing the transmission assembly of a torque to the drill pipe, the assembly being of the type belt and pulleys; FIG. 6 is a section following the

  line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing the toothed wheel of

  trailing and part of the fur carried with partial vertical tearing intended to show the connection between the toothed wheel and the fur

conducted; -

  Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Figure 6, showing the led fur; FIG. 8 is an elevation partially in section along the line 8-8 of FIG. 4, showing the driven gear; and Figures 9 and 10 are an elevation and a front view, similar to those of Figures 2 and 3, but showing motion compensators

  as part of the drilling system.

  Figure 1 shows a platform having a central opening 12 through which drilling operations can be conducted and - ';. * r & ge ,, as well as a drilling rig 14 of dimension

  and conventional type based on the platform 10.

  A drilling system 16, intended to descend a drill pipe connected thereto, is placed inside the tower 14 and is only partially shown in the drawings. This drilling system 16 will be described in more detail below, but at this point it should be noted that three sections of drill rods are connected to each other in a single block above the platform. for drilling and reforging. This is called drilling or reforging in

  triplets and those represented above the platform

  form are shown as being connected to similar blocks below the platform. The center of the opening 12, the running direction of the apparatus 16 and the axis of rotation of the drill rod 20 are on the central axis of the tower 14 in the conventional manner. This axis is called the main axis or drill axis. The platform and the boring tower can be placed on a floating support (i.e.

  a vessel or a semi-submersible support) or on a platform

  marine stationary form (ie, tense cable type) for drilling a subsea well, or they can be part of a facility based on

  on land for drilling a well on land.

  In accordance with the invention and as shown in FIG. 4, an elongated solid rod 22 having flat faces 24 (three are shown) extends substantially over the height of the drilling tower 14 and is connected to a motor and a transmission box 26, shown below the platform 10 and on one side of the opening 12. The engine can be

  the conventional horizontally mounted engine, as currently

  used for training rotational tables.

  tion. A second opening 28 is provided in the platform

  form 10 on one side of the opening 12 to allow the connection of the rod 22 to the assembly 26 motor and gearbox. This elongated rod 22, called the driving rod, is disposed centrally with respect to vertical guide means in the form of sections 30 (I-beams) fixed at several points in the height of the drilling rig, parallel to the main axis. Any suitable means may be provided for fixing the guide means to the boring tower with sufficient strength to withstand any torque applied to them, fourteen bars 32 being shown schematically in FIG. 1. The assembly 26 with motor and gearbox transmission may be placed at or above the platform, at the option of the operator, and attached to the platform or lower part of the

  convenient way. The main requirement is that the

  appears motor and gearbox is placed on one side of the opening 12 and connected so as to

  rotate the drive rod arranged vertically-

  is lying. In addition, suitable bearings (not shown) may be provided for the drive shaft at its upper end and at its lower end and may be fixed in any suitable manner to

  drill tower in order to stabilize the training rod.

  ment and allow it to rotate with minimal friction. A fur 34, driven in rotation by the drive rod (shown in phantom in FIG. 4 and in more detail in FIG. 7) is positioned on a support 36 inside the profile 30 and comprises suitable supports to facilitate the vertical movement of the support and the led fur. Only four of the eight

  support members 40 are shown to be suitable

  u support 36. The number and type of

  these organs of appuesde the spring of the person skilled in the art.

  The fur led 34 is teamed, more

  two rollers 42 (three shown) arranged in a triangle ....--

  and intended to bear against an equal number of flat faces 24 of the drive rod so that this

  last can communicate a couple to the fur.

  The arrangement of the rollers depends on the number of flat faces of the drive rod. As shown, the rollers 42 of the rotary table are themselves equipped with suitable bearings 44 intended to facilitate their rotation with respect to the drive rod and to minimize

  friction during the vertical movement of the fur

  re conducted 34 on the drive rod.

  In the embodiment shown on

  Figures 4 and 7, the led fur 34 is suitable-

  it is fixed to a toothed wheel 46 so that the latter rotates with the fur 34 and that it attacks a drive chain 50 which is connected to it. This toothed wheel 46 is also a driving element of a chain and gear assembly described hereinafter. In the embodiment shown, the fastening means of the driven fur 34 to the toothed wheel 46 comprise several bolts 52. Suitable bearings 54 arranged between a casing 56 of the toothed wheel and this toothed wheel 46, facilitate the rotational movement. with

a minimum of friction.

  A larger wheel 62, fixed to rotate a drive shaft 64, is connected to the gear 46 by the drive chain 50. The drive shaft is centrally drilled to allow passage a drilling fluid, in a conventional manner. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, the housing 56 encloses the chain and gear arrangement, contains an oil for lubricating and cooling this arrangement, and suitable sealing seals are placed at all points necessary to prevent the leaks. The drive shaft 64 is part of the drilling system 16 and communicates a rotation to the drill pipe, and all the driven elements, the driven fur and the chain and gear arrangement are placed on a muffle 68 which moves vertically and is part of the drilling system 16. The wheel 62, as well as the toothed wheel 46, is equipped with suitable bearings 66 disposed between this

  toothed wheel and housing 56 to minimize friction

is lying.

  Figure 5 illustrates a variant of the

  seems to drive chain and cogwheels. On this-

  Figure, the two gears 46 and 62 and the chain are replaced by two pulleys 46a and 62a and a transmission belt 50a. These last elements carry the same numerical references followed by the letter "a", because they work in the manner of a training set, in the same way that the whole

with chain and cogwheels.

  It should be noted that toothed drive units and chains or belts are only shown as examples. Other drive means such as a gear train can be used to transmit a pair of the fur led by the drive rod to the assembly.

drilling.

  It can thus be seen that the invention as described up to now differs by several points

  of the prior art. The fur carried by the stem of

  treatment is no longer available at the platform level.

  shape or on the main axis or drill axis, and is no longer a driving element intended to communicate

  a couple to a vertically movable drive shaft.

  On the other hand, the driven fur is a driven element and the driving rod is the driving element and the latter is fixed relative to the platform. In other words, the driven fur and the drive rod operate in the present invention exactly in opposition to their operation in a conventional drilling system. It also appears that, the vertical drive rod and its source of motive power being placed on one side of the main axis and the driven fur can move vertically,

  the big engine and the subsequent complications are eliminated

  driven by a high power electrical cable used for controlling such an engine at the top of the rig. It is also suitable

  to note that, due to the removal of the engine from

  dragging placed in height, it is no longer necessary to increase the height of the drilling rig. So you can build a conventional drill rig, or readjust a conventional drill rig for a drill

and reforging in triplets.

  Reference will now be made to FIG.

  3, 9 and 10 to further describe the system.

  drill 16 for raising and lowering drill rods and other tubular elements, as well as raising and lowering the rotary table O10

  and the chain and gear arrangement.

  These figures illustrate the drilling system 16 for raising and lowering the drill pipe and also used for raising and lowering the fur carried by the drive rod and the chain drive gear and gears, and the described embodiment also has means by which heavy casing can be raised

and lowered.

  Thus, the drilling system 16 comprises an 8obile muffle 80 generally connected to a fixed muffle (not shown) located at the top of the boring tower. The fixed muffle supports a swivel 82, the driven furring 36 and the chain and gear drive arrangement 46-62 (or 46a-62a) supported by the muffle 68 and connected to the driven shaft 64, a device

  internal 86 anti-eruption safety, and a hydrau-

  Rotary belt 90, a high-load adapter link 92 below which is disposed an upper drive rod valve 94, and a reduction 86 to be operated with a guide bell 100 connected thereto. The links 102 connect a drill stem elevator 104 to the adapter link 92 for

heavy load.

  For the handling of a heavy casing, an upper adapter link 106 may be connected to the movable muffle 80 and may also be connected, by links 102 for high load, to the adapter link

92 for heavy load.

  The drill pipe elevator 104 is connected to the top of the three drill pipes connected for

the maneuvering of the stems.

  Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the drilling system 16 to which a motion compensator is connected to show that the invention can be used with such equipment. Since all

  the other parts of the drilling system 16 are identi-

  those described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, they have the same numerical references. Moreover, since motion compensators are old and well known, it seems unnecessary to describe

  in more detail their operation.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the system described and represented

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

  1. System for drilling an oil or gas well, characterized in that it comprises   first means (16) for raising, lowering   Drilling and rotating a drill stem (20) in an opening (12) of a platform (10) to lower, mount and drive a drill tool used for well drilling, opening and first means which can also be implemented on a vertical axis, the system also comprising second means (26) which can be implemented on a second vertical axis and intended to   to communicate a torque to the drill pipe.   2. The system of claim 1, wherein   in that the second means apply said   couple at the top of the drill rod.   3. The system of claim 2, wherein   in that several drill pipes are connected to   of a single block and that a couple is applied at the top of the block.   4. The system of claim 2, wherein   characterized in that the drill pipe consists of a block formed of three elements connected to each other and   at the top of which a couple is applied.   5. System for drilling an oil and gas well, comprising a platform (10)   through an opening (12) through which   The system further comprises a drilling tower (14) located on the platform and centered above the opening, the system being characterized in that it comprises drive means (26), an elongate shaft (22) disposed within the drill tower and connected to the drive means to be rotated by the latter, said rod being parallel to the center of the opening and to the vertical central axis of the tower, driven means reacting to the torque applied to the rod by the drive means and being connected to the drilling means so that drilling operations   are made through said opening.   6. System according to claim 5, characterized   characterized in that the drilling means comprise several   a number of drill pipe sections (20) connected to each other and to which the means applied apply a couple.   7. The system of claim 6, characterized   it is a driving rod and that the driven means comprise a four-stroke   (34) driven by the drive rod and mobile verCic a.- on the latter.   8. The system of claim 7, characterized   characterized in that the driven means also comprises a chain and gear assembly having a first gear (46) attached to the rotary table and a second gear (62) attached to a shaft (64), the chain (50 ) passing over the two gears and the shaft being connected to the drilling means, in relation drive with these.   9. The system of claim 7, characterized   characterized in that the driven means also includes a belt and pulley assembly having a first pulley (46a) attached to the rotary table and a second pulley (62a) attached to a shaft, the belt (50a) passing over the two pulleys. and the tree being connected to the means   drilling, in training relationship with these.   10. The system of claim 9, wherein   in that the means carried out include   vertical guiding elements (30) attached to the tower   drilling to guide the vertical movement of the fur re conducted.   A method of drilling a well bore below a platform which has an opening through which drilling operations can take place, characterized in that it consists in raising and lowering a drill pipe on a first vertical axis passing through the center of the opening, and applying power to the top of the drill stem from a power source spaced from said main axis. 12. A method of drilling a well bore below a platform which has an opening through which drilling operations can take place, characterized in that it consists in setting up a source of motive force rotation in the platform area, but away from the opening,   to use means to raise and lower   drilling a drill pipe into said opening and raising and lowering means which are driven continuously by the source of motive force to apply a rotational force to the drill pipe, which force is applied substantially over the level of the platform while the drilling rig is up and   descended passing through said opening.   Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the rotational force is applied at the top of the drill pipe.