GB2160564A

GB2160564A - Drill pipe handling equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2160564A
Application number: GB08515269A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kjell Haughom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-18
Filing date: 1985-06-17
Publication date: 1985-12-24
Also published as: AU4367385A; FI852277L; NO154933C; KR900009222B1; NL8501506A; SE8502505D0; GB8515269D0; GB2160564B; SE8502505L; DE3520084C2; IT8521085A0; NO154933B; FR2566043B1; KR860000461A; DE3520084A1; JPS6114389A; IT1184600B; FR2566043A1; FI852277A0; BR8502891A

Abstract

Pipe handling equipment for drill pipe 8, 8' on an oil drilling platform 20 for transporting the pipe in a substantially vertical position from a position above the mousehole 16 to a racked storage position, and vice-versa is arranged on the platform deck and includes a carriage 12 which is driven to and fro along a straight-line path and is rotatably connected about a vertical axis to an over-lying component of the equipment. To enable 30-metre long stands of drill pipe to be handled with mechanically/hydraulically co-ordinated movements without requiring the presence of an operator in the derrick 17 and to permit automatic operation of the pipe handling movements, the overlying system component comprises two substantially vertical, elongate structural members 1, 2, namely a primary member 1 which is pivotally connected to the carriage 12 and a secondary member 2 which is carried by the primary member and which can be extended away from the retracted toward the primary member in a parallel plane while both members are in a vertical position. The extensible/retractable secondary member 2 is provided with grasping and retaining means 3 for vertical retention of the drill pipe during pipe handling operations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe handling equipment The present invention relates to pipe handling equipment for use on an oil drilling platform.

Several times during the drilling of an oil well, the entire drill string must be withdrawn from the well, broken down and stored in sections, and later returned to the well. The stands of drill pipe, normally in 30-meter long sections, are temporarily stored by stacking them vertically in the derrick in suitable racks provided for this purpose.

Heretofore, in this type of handling and racking operation, the pipe sections have been handled manually or with the aid of mechanical/hydraulic handling equipment controlled by an operator.

Known pipe handling equipment for this purpose requires visual co-ordination of the handling operation by operators situated in the derrick. Co-ordination of the various movements is difficult, which increases the risk of incorrect manoeuvres and accidents.

The present invention seeks to provide improved pipe handling equipment which permits 30-meter stands of drill pipe to be handled with mechanically/hyraulically co-ordinated movements without requiring the presence of the operator in the derrick itself, and which also permits automation of the pipe handling operations.

In accordance with the invention there is provided pipe handling equipment for use on an oil drilling platform, and adapted for transporting drill pipe in a substantially vertical position from a position above the mousehole to a racked storage position and vice versa, and adapted to be connected with the platform via a carriage which is driven to and fro along a straight-line path and which is pivotally connected about a vertical axis to an overlying component of the equipment, said overlying component of the system comprising two substantially vertical, elongate structural members, namely a primary member which is pivotally connected to the carriage, and a secondary member which is carried by the primary member in a manner which permits the secondary member to be moved away from and towards the primary member in a parallel plane while both said structural members are in a vertical position, and wherein the extensible/ractractable secondary member is provided with grasping and retaining members for vertical retention of a stand of drill pipe during a handling operation.

Preferably the primary and secondary members are connected to each other by means of hydraulically manoeuverable articulated arms, and wherein the grasping and retaining means on the secondary member consist of hydraulically controlled grab claws.

The equipment consists basically of two vertical, elongate structural components which are movable in a parallel plane in relation to each other, namely a primary support member and secondary support member, the latter being provided with grab means, preferably in the form of grab claws, which grasp and support the drill pipe from a position above the mousehole to a racking position, and vice versa. The handling movements include pivoting about a vertical axis, a straight-line, to-and-fro movement initiated by a carriage, and movements of the secondary support member in a parallel plane relative to the primary member. During all of these movements the pipe is held in a stable, correct position.

In order that the invention may be better understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of pipe handling equipment according to the invention, mounted on a drilling platform; Figure 2 shows the equipment of Figure 1 in side view, drawn on a somewhat larger scale; and Figure 3 is a cross section along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, drawn on a still larger scale in order to illustrate the grab claw.

The primary structural component of the pipe handling equipment comprises a vertical, elongate U-shaped channel member 1, which is connected via a swivel 9 having a vertical axis to a carriage 12. The wheels 14 of the carriage 12 run on rails 15 mounted on the platform deck 20, and the carriage moves in a straight path toward and away from the mousehole 16 in the desk. The primary support member 1 carries a similar structural component, the secondary support member 2, which in the illustrated embodiment has a smaller cross section but a somewhat longer length than the primary member.The secondary member is supported on the primary member by means of two hyraulically manoeuvred (7) articulated arms 6, so that the secondary member 2, in addition to following the vertical movements and rotary movements of the primary member 1, can also execute a movement in a parallel plane, i.e., the secondary member can be pushed out and drawn in relative to the primary member. The to and fro movement of the carriage 12 is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 11, while the rotary movement of the members 1, 2 about a vertical axis is actuated by a rotary hydraulic motor 10. A hydraulic cylinder 7 (see Figure 2) manoeuvres the pairs of articulated arms 6.

The stands of pipe 8, 8' , which constitute approximately 30-meter-long sections of the drill string, remain in a substantially vertical position as they are moved from a position above the mousehole 16 to a storage position. The movement of the pipe 8vertically from the mousehole is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 5 mounted centrally within the secondary support member 2.

To facilitate vertical storage of the pipe in the derrick, which is shown in outline by the dotted lines 17, suitable pipe support plates 18 containing guide grooves, channels or the like are provided on the platform deck 20, and racks 19, only one of which is illustrated in Figure 1, are provided immediately above but spaced apart vertically from the support plates on the deck.

During the pipe handling operation, the primary 43 execute movements as indicated by the directional arrows A, B, C and D, as described above.

The secondary support member 2 is provided with horizontally directed grab claws 3 which are manoeuvred by hydraulic cylinders 4 provided within the U-shaped secondary support member.

Figure 3 shows how the claws grasp and retain the drill pipe 8.

Claims

1. Pipe handling equipment for use on an oil drilling platform, and adapted for transporting drill pipe in a substantially vertical position from a position above the mouselhole to a racked storage position and vice versa, and adapted to be connected with the platform via a carriage which is driven to and fro along a straight-line path and which is pivotally connected about a vertical axis to an overlying component of the equipment, said overlying component of the system comprising two substantially vertical, elongate structural members, namely a primary member which is pivotally connected to the carriage, and a secondary member which is carried by the primary member in a manner which permits the secondary member to be moved away from and towards the primary member in a parallel plane while both said structural members are in a vertical position, and wherein the extensible/ractractable secondary member is provided with grasping and retaining members for vertical retention of a stand of drill pipe during a handling operation.

2. Pipe handling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary members are connected to each other by means of hydraulically manoeuvrable articulated arms, and wherein the grasping and retaining means on the secondary member consist of hydraulically controlled grab claws.

3. Pipe handling equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.