GB2529321B

GB2529321B - Apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2529321B
Application number: GB1516764.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Myklebust Erik
Original assignee: Mhwirth AS
Current assignee: Mhwirth AS
Priority date: 2013-04-10
Filing date: 2014-04-09
Publication date: 2019-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-09
Also published as: WO2014167006A3; GB201516764D0; WO2014167006A2; NO20130477A1; GB2529321A; NO336296B1; US20160032665A1; CN105102754A

Description

Apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment

The invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations on a deck, such as a drilling deck, comprising at least one lifting arm. The apparatus is especially useful for lifting and/or moving loads, such as pipes, between different stations.

The invention can be used both onshore and offshore.

In the oil and gas industry pipes are used to create a fluid connection between a platform and a borehole. The pipe forming the fluid connection can be, in addition to being other types of pipe, for example a drill string. The drill string is used to form a borehole as the drill string penetrates further and further into the earth’s crust. A drill string is usually formed by screwing together drill pipes in threes or fours (three, four drill pipes = one stand, 27 - 40 metres in length) for interim storage in a fingerboard before one stand at a time is screwed to the existing drill string and then follows the drill string into the earth’s crust. It is known to use so-called “iron roughnecks” for screwing and unscrewing the drill pipes, and a number of companies supply these devices. An iron roughneck generally consists of a two-piece wrench unit and a spinning device. The spinning device rotates a joint of drill pipe relative to another joint of drill pipe in order either to screw the two joints of drill pipe together or to unscrew them from each other. The wrench unit provides the torque necessary for the screwing or unscrewing operation.

Because of the limited space available on a typical drill floor, it is often necessary to be able to move equipment, such as iron roughnecks, guide devices, gripping devices etc. ahead of, during or after drilling operations. It may be necessary to move equipment between different locations, for example, to and from the well centre, to and from a storage location for pipes, such as a fingerboard, or into a stowed position. US 7178612 B2 makes known an apparatus for moving an iron roughneck into position to allow making-up or breaking-out of threaded joints in a drill string. The apparatus may be configured as a dual parallelogram arm. In US 7178612 B2 there is shown a plurality of embodiments of how the point of connection between a lower and an upper support arm is arranged. In all the illustrated embodiments, the torque is transferred ‘transversely’ through the point of connection, from a lower support arm, via the point of connection point having different configurations for torque transfer, to a diagonally opposite upper support arm. Furthermore, the torque arms are in direct contact with each other in accordance with the prior art; alternatively, they are in contact with each other via a single linkage. US 2011/0108264 Al relates to an articulated apparatus for handing drilling equipment, the apparatus comprising a base, a first set of arms pivotally connected at one end to the base, a joint member pivotally connected to another end of the first set of arms, a second set of arms pivotally connected at one end to the joint member and a carrier assembly pivotally connected to an opposite end of the second set of arms. A drive system is cooperative with the first and second sets of arms so as to move the drilling tool between a stowed position and a deployed position.

It is a disadvantage of the prior art that the movement of the parallelogram arm is not parallel to the floor or underlying surface, and that the parallelogram arm will thus have different heights during deployment. This results in a requirement of extra clearance below the load so as to prevent collision with the underlying surface. Furthermore, the tool does not necessarily encounter the load at the same height each time, which in some situations will require a height adjustment of the tool (the parallelogram arm).

Other prior art embodiments will cause the torque transfer to take place in that the lower support arm has to be made having an elongated arm for fixing the point of connection between the arms, which point of connection is fixed to the elongated arm of the upper support arm. This will set specific requirements as regards a minimum size of the load transfer connection, which in turn sets design-limiting requirements as to the height between the arms, the distance between the attachment of the lower and upper support arms, and has to how much torque can be transferred due to gearing.

An object according to the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus that ensures a rectilinear movement of the lifting arm, parallel with the drill floor, whilst providing greater freedom in relation to the design of the lifting arm.

The invention is defined in the independent claim, whilst the dependent claims describe other characterising features of the invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck comprising a suspension device having at least one lifting arm, wherein the at least one lifting arm comprises at least one pair of torque arms comprising at least a first torque arm and a second torque arm, wherein a first end of the first torque arm is connected to the suspension device, and a second end of the first torque arm is connected to a synchronising linkage; wherein a first end of the second torque arm is connected to the synchronising linkage, and a second end of the second torque arm is connected to a load-bearing device, and wherein the first and the second torque arms are each connected to at least one common synchronising device via a synchronising link.

The invention disclosed herein will ensure that all arm attachment points are always parallel to each other, which in turn will mean that the load-bearing device will remain parallel to the floor, for example, a drill floor.

The torque transfer in the synchronising linkage according to the present invention has at least three separate elements: the two synchronising links that are connected to their respective torque arm, and the synchronising device. The suspension device, to which the lifting arm is connected, can shift the lifting arm in a vertical movement up or down, so as to raise or lower a load above the floor.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the lifting arm further comprises at least a first and a second synchronising arm, the first torque arm being arranged parallel to at least the first synchronising arm, and wherein a first end of the first synchronising arm is connected to the suspension device, and a second end of the first synchronising arm is connected to the synchronising linkage, wherein the second torque arm is arranged parallel to at least the second synchronising arm, and wherein a first end of the at least second synchronising arm is connected to the synchronising linkage and a second end of the at least second synchronising arm is connected to the load-bearing device.

According to an aspect of the apparatus, the synchronising linkage comprises at least one guide for receiving the at least one synchronising device.

In an embodiment, the synchronising linkage may be arranged perpendicular to a motive device for the at least one lifting arm.

In an embodiment, the synchronising device may comprise at least one wheel, at least one slide block or at least one roller bearing.

In a further aspect, the synchronising device may comprise a shaft to which the synchronising links can be connected.

In an embodiment, the synchronising link comprises one or more beams.

In an embodiment, the at least one lifting arm may further comprise a motive device for movement of the at least one lifting arm. In a specific embodiment, the motive device may comprise a cylinder or an electric motor, or another means that causes the lifting arm to move.

In an aspect, the motive device may be connected to the suspension device at its first end and to the first or the second torque arm at its second end. Alternatively, the motive device can be connected to the first or the second synchronising arrangement.

In an embodiment, the lifting arm may further comprise at least one other synchronising linkage connected to the second end of the second torque arm and a third torque arm connected to the second synchronising linkage at one end thereof, and where the second and third torque arms, through their respective synchronising link, are further connected to at least one common synchronising device.

Several non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures in which the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, and wherein:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a lifting arm according to the present invention;

Figs. 2A-2D show the position of the synchronising device in different positions of the lifting arm;

Figs. 3A-3B show an alternative embodiment of the synchronising linkage;

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a lifting arm according to the invention; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show further embodiments of a lifting arm according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a lifting arm 1 according to the present invention. The lifting arm 1 is connected to a suspension device 6 at one end thereof. The lifting arm 1 has a first pair of torque arms comprising a first torque arm 2 and a second torque arm 3. A first end of the first torque arm 2 is connected to the suspension device 6 and a second end of the first torque arm 2 is connected to a synchronising linkage 9 at a first point of attachment 14. A first end of the second torque arm 3 is connected to the same synchronising linkage 9 as the first torque arm 2 at a second point of attachment 15, so as to be able to transfer torque from the first torque arm 2 to the second torque arm 3. A second end of the second torque arm 3 is connected to a load-bearing device 7 at a fifth point of attachment 18.

The synchronising linkage 9 comprises first and second synchronising links 10, 11, where a first synchronising link 10 is connected to the first torque arm 2 at one end thereof and to a synchronising device 12 at its other end, and a second synchronising link 11 is connected to the synchronising device 12 at one end thereof and the second torque arm 3 at its other end. At least one guide 13, for receiving the synchronising device 12, is arranged in the synchronising linkage 9. In the illustrated example, the guide 13 is arranged vertically, and will thus allow a vertical movement, but prevent a horizontal movement of the synchronising device 12.

There is further shown a first 4 and a second 5 synchronising arm. The first synchronising arm 4 is arranged parallel to the first torque arm 2. A first end of the first synchronising arm 4 is connected to the suspension means 6 and a second end of the first synchronising arm 4 is connected to the synchronising linkage 9 at a third point of attachment 16. The second synchronising arm 5 is arranged parallel to the second torque arm 5. A first end of the second synchronising arm 5 is connected to the synchronising linkage 9 at a fourth point of attachment 17, and a second end of the second synchronising arm 5 is connected to the load-bearing device 7 at a sixth point of attachment 19. A motive device 8, shown as a cylinder 8-, is connected to the suspension means 6 at one end thereof and the second synchronising arm 5 at its other end. In other embodiments, the motive device 8 may be connected to any of the first torque arm 2, the second torque arm 3, or the first synchronising arm 4. Alternatively, the motive device 8 may be connected to a synchronising linkage or between arms, such as between the first and second torque arm 2, 3 or between the first and second synchronising arm 4, 5. If the lifting arm 1 comprises more torque arms or synchronising arms than those that can be seen from the figure, the motive device 8 can be connected to each of them.

In operation, the motive device 8 will control the movement of the second synchronising arm 5, which will move the second torque arm 3 in parallel. A rotary movement of the second torque arm 3, as a result of motion of the motive device 8, will force the second synchronising link 11 to push on the synchronising device 12, which will force the first synchronising link 10 into an opposite rotary movement relative to the second synchronising link 11 and thereby an opposite movement to the first torque arm 2. The first and second torque arm 2, 3 will therefore essentially, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, always form the same angle relative to a vertical plane through the synchronising linkage 9 (i.e., mirror-symmetrical about the synchronising linkage 9).

Figures 2A-D show the position of the synchronising device 12 in different positions of the lifting arm 1. Figure 2A shows the lifting arm 1 in a fully extended position. In this position the synchronising device 12 will be uppermost in the guide 13 whilst the first and second torque arm 2, 3 are in a deployed position, each of the torque arms 2, 3 having an angle of extension of about 60 degrees. In Figure 2B the lifting arm 1 is in a partially extended position compared to that which can be seen in Figure 2A. Figure 2C shows the lifting arm 1 in a partially retracted position, whilst in Figure 2D the lifting arm 1 is in a wholly retracted position.

Figures 3 A and 3B show alternatives of the synchronising linkage. Figure 3B shows the inside of the synchronising linkage 9 and the connections between the synchronising links 10, 11, the torque arms 2, 3, the synchronising device 12 in the guide 13 etc. Figure 3B, moreover, shows details of a first connecting lug 20 arranged on the first torque arm 2, which connecting lug 20 connects the first torque arm 2 to the first synchronising link 10, and a second connecting lug 21 on the second torque arm 3, which connects the second torque arm 3 to the second synchronising link 11.

Although the illustrated embodiments are shown with the torque arms 2, 3 arranged below the synchronising arms 4, 5, it should be understood that the torque arms 2, 3 can be arranged above the synchronising arms 4, 5. An example of such an embodiment is shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, a person of skill in the art will understand that although the illustrated embodiments show the lifting arm 1 to have a “V-shape”, it is also possible to turn the lifting arm 1 the other way such that it will form an inverted “V-shape”; examples of this are shown in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the first and the second torque arm 2, 3 are arranged above the first and the second synchronising arm 4, 5, whilst in Figure 6 the torque arms 2, 3 are arranged below the synchronising arms 4, 5.

The embodiments described herein should be regarded as non-limiting. It is obvious that a person of skill in the art could make modifications or changes to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. Although the lifting arm described herein is described in connection with an iron roughneck, it should be understood that the apparatus could be used to move or lift other elements too, such as a mud box, casing tong, grease for pipe threads, centring arm etc. Furthermore, there may be more torque arms and the synchronising arm synchronising arms connected to the illustrated examples, such that a lifting arm can comprise at least three torque arms, with associated higher number of synchronising linkages.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for lifting and/or moving operations of drilling equipment on a deck, comprising a suspension device (6) with at least one lifting arm (1), the at least one lifting arm (1) comprising at least one pair of torque arms comprising at least a first torque arm (2) and a second torque arm (3), wherein a first end of the first torque arm (2) is connected to the suspension device (6), and a second end of the first torque arm (2) is connected to a synchronising linkage (9), characterised in that the synchronising linkage (9) comprises at least one guide (13) for receiving at least one common synchronising device (12), wherein a first end of the second torque arm (3) is connected to the synchronising linkage (9) and a second end of the second torque arm (3) is connected to a load-bearing device (7), and wherein the first (2) and second (3) torque arms are each connected to the at least one common synchronising device (12) via a synchronising link (10, 11).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the lifting arm (1) further comprises at least a first (4) and a second (5) synchronising arm, wherein the first torque arm (2) is arranged parallel to at least the first synchronising arm (4), and wherein a first end of the first synchronising arm (4) is connected to the suspension device (6), and a second end of the first synchronising arm (4) is connected to the synchronising linkage (9), wherein the second torque arm (3) is arranged parallel to at least the second synchronising arm (5), and wherein a first end of the at least second synchronising arm (5) is connected to the synchronising linkage (9) and a second end of the at least second synchronising arm (5) is connected to the load-bearing device (7).

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the guide (13) is arranged perpendicular to a direction of travel of the at least one lifting arm (1).

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the synchronising device (12) comprises at least one wheel, at least one slide block or at least one roller bearing.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that the synchronising device (12) comprises a shaft to which the synchronising links (10, 11) are connected.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the synchronising links (10, 11) comprise one or more beams.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5, characterised in that the at least one lifting arm (1) further comprises a motive device (8) for moving the at least one lifting arm (1).

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the motive device (8) is connected to the suspension device (6) at its first end and the first (2) or the second torque arm (3) at its second end.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the motive device (8) is connected to the suspension device (6) at its first end and the first (2) or the second (3) synchronising arm at its second end.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, characterised in that the lifting arm (1) further comprises at least one other synchronising linkage connected to the second end of the second torque arm (3) and a third torque arm connected to the second synchronising linkage at its first end, and wherein the second (3) and third torque arm, through their respective synchronising link, are further connected to at least one common synchronising device.