KR20170021771A - Floating unit for drilling operations - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating unit, particularly a drill ship, for performing a drilling operation, wherein the floating unit comprises at least one floating structure (2) defining a main deck (3) and at least one drilling tower Wherein a drilling flow (4) is located above the main deck (3) and the drilling tower extends over a drilling flow (4) next to at least one door pool (6) Traverses the floating structure vertically in the drill flow (4) to the bottom (8) of the floating structure. The drilling tower 5 is directly supported by the support structure 10 structurally integrated with the floating structure 2. The support structure 10 and / or tower 5 of the tower 5 traverses the drill flow 4. The drill flow is structurally supported by the support structure 10 of the tower and / or by the tower itself.

Description

[0001] FLOATING UNIT FOR DRILLING OPERATIONS [0002]

The present invention relates to a floating unit for performing a drilling operation.

The floating unit according to the present invention is particularly useful for locating, exploring and exploiting buried layers of hydrocarbons or other energy and mineral resources to operate at deep (over 450 m) and intrinsic (over 1,500 m) It is possible to construct an intended drillship.

Alternatively, the floating unit according to the invention can constitute a drilling platform, in particular a semi-submersible type.

As is known, in current floating units that are coastal drilling, whether ships or platforms, drilling rigs in almost all cases are characterized by a structure of crossed rudos connected to each other by bolts At least one drilling tower (known in the technical jargon derrick) that constitutes the constructed structural trestle-work.

Nearly all drilling rigs, including hooks that pull up drill strings, are included in the trawl-work structure.

From a structural point of view, the trail-work structure A is located on a so-called drill floor B, as shown in Fig. In turn, the drill flow B is supported by a scaffolding (C), also known in the language as a "sub-structure ", which is then located on the easy main deck D. Generally speaking, the substructure C comprises four support columns C1, which support the drill flow B and are located at the support points of the trail-work structure on the drill flow, They extend vertically to mate with each other at the depth below the hull structure below. Vertical forces are applied along the four corners of the base located on the drill deck. This solution has been extensively tested for 20 years on various coastal floating vessels. The entire structure described above extends over a central well E (in the jargon "moon pool"), the central passage extending from the main deck to the bottom, .

In recent years, in order to solve a number of technical and industrial problems related to trawl-work drilling towers, structural alternatives have been proposed to replace the trawl-walk with one or two towers with boxed structures . A hoisting hook is installed outside the tower and spans over the axis of the tower.

This alternative solution allows for a more industrial and modern approach to the construction of the tower, which can be made by welding instead of bolted connections, and other operational advantages directly related to the drilling operation. When considered as a free-standing system and compared to conventional Derrick's trawl-work structures, the main advantage of a box-like structure tower is its simplicity and its industrialized configuration. Additional advantages include operational features.

However, the integration of the box-type towers on the floating unit that performs the drilling operation involves the selection of a series of structural modifications to the tower's sub-structures above the main deck. In particular, the drill flow can withstand the weight of the box-like structure tower, taking into account the asymmetric distribution of the weight and pressure caused by the fact that the drilling devices are located outside the tower, unlike the trawl- There is a need to be strong enough to exist.

As a result, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drilling machine which, by implementing an available floating unit that performs a drilling operation, is structurally related to the loading capacity, notwithstanding the installation of one or more drilling towers having a box- By eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above by implementing a drill ship that does not require a drill flow that is too large in size.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drilling operation in which at least one drilling tower with a box-like structure is installed, which permits proper operation of the drilling devices through available floating units, and particularly associated door pools.

Technical features of the present invention in accordance with the above-mentioned objects can be seen clearly in the following claims, which can be understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one or more embodiments by non-limiting examples, , In which: < RTI ID = 0.0 >
1 shows a schematic isometric view of a traverse-work tower of an associated support structure of the conventional type and of the drill flow on the main deck; Fig.
2 shows a perspective sectional view of a floating unit according to the present invention, constituting a drill ship;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 2, showing for the engagement zone of the drilling towers in the body; FIG.
4 shows an isometric view of the section of FIG. 2, taken in accordance with the arrow IV shown;
Figure 5 shows Figure 4 in which the drill strings are moved by the drilling tower shown;
Figure 6 shows a simplified view of the easy part of Figure 2, taken along a section cut along the longitudinal center line plane through the door pools;
7 shows a perspective view of the alternative solution shown in Fig. 3, in relation to the engagement zone of the drilling towers in the sheath body; Fig.
Figures 8 and 9 show two isometric views from each of the front and sides of the floating unit according to the invention, which constitute the drilling platform;
Figures 10 and 11 show two isometric views from the front side and side, respectively, of the exploded view of the structural contact between the drilling tower and the floating unit according to the invention.

The floating unit according to the invention may constitute a drilling or, alternatively, a drilling platform, in particular a semi-submersible type.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates a floating unit for coastal drilling according to the present invention, and reference numeral 100 designates a floating unit which performs a drilling operation according to the present invention constituting a platform.

In the present description and in the following description of the invention and in the claims, the reference may be made to a floating unit that performs a drilling operation, irrespective of the ease (1) or platform (100) according to the conditions of use. Therefore, the criteria for top or bottom position or horizontal or vertical orientation should be understood in this sense.

According to a general embodiment of the present invention, a floating unit (1, 100) for coastal drilling operation comprises a floating structure (2) defining a main deck (3) on which a drill flow (4) , And at least one drilling tower (5), the drilling tower extending over the drill flow (4) next to the at least one door pool (6).

In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, the floating structure 2 may define one or more secondary decks 7 located below the main deck 3.

The floating structure mentioned above is defined by the hull 2 of the shore 1 and the hull is defined between the bow 21 and the stern 22 in the longitudinal direction And extends along the axis Z.

In the case where the floating unit constitutes a semi-submersible platform, the floating structure referred to above includes: at least one deck 101 on the water in conditions of use, ; A hull 102 underwater in accordance with the conditions of use in which first watertight compartments located under the deck and acting as ballast are installed; And - a plurality of columns (103) structurally connecting the hull (102) and the deck (101).

As can be seen, for example, in Figures 2 and 5, or in Figures 8 and 9, the door pool 5 extends vertically across the floating structure in the drill flow 4 up to the bottom 8 of the floating structure, do.

Advantageously, as shown in Figures 2-7, two or more drilling towers 5 may be installed in a floating unit, particularly a floating unit that constitutes an easy one. The two or more towers as described above may each operate on their own door pools, irrespective of the others, or alternatively may operate on a single shared door pool.

Preferably, as shown in the accompanying drawings, each of the one or more of the above mentioned drilling towers 5 serves as a single drill line. In other words, preferably two or more such towers operate independently of each other.

Advantageously, even if the floating unit has a single drilling tower, such a tower can be structured to serve as a single drill line.

Preferably, if the floating unit is easy, the provided single door pools or independent door pools are readily available on the longitudinal center axis Z.

The above-mentioned at least one drilling tower 5 has a columnar box-like structure having a base of any shape (generally circular), and the tower is provided with a plurality of drill- A hook 50 for a lift device of drill strings is provided.

This type of tower can be used to compress both the external load hanging from the hook 50 for the lift and the pull originating from the elevator winch cable 51 on the opposite side of the vertically and symmetrically perfectly aligned tower It just supports the compression load. 5 and 8, the elevator cables of the hooks go to a pair of pulleys 52 and 53 located on the top 5 'of the tower 5, 50 and the winch 51 which is symmetrical. Such a geometric structure ensures perfect vertical and symmetrical alignment of elevator cables, thereby ensuring a static load on the tower of compression only.

According to the invention, the at least one drilling tower 5 mentioned above is directly supported by the supporting structure 10 structurally integrated with the floating structure 2 of the floating unit. The support structure 10 and / or the tower 5 traverse the drill flow 4.

The drill flow 4 is structurally supported by the support structure 10 of the tower 5 either by the tower itself or by both the support structure and the tower.

The technical solution based on the present invention reverses the conventional approach conceptually.

As already mentioned above, the drill flow or drill deck, where the feet of the base of a conventional trawl-work tower (derrick) are located, is traditionally supported directly by scaffolding with vertical legs (substructures) , The vertical legs directly abut on the main deck, and then directly onto the unitary structures of the unit.

In accordance with the present invention, instead, the drill flow (or drill deck) is supported by a drilling tower or support structure in which the tower is directly located. This means that the drilling tower does not sit on the drill deck but directly abuts the floating structure 2 by the above-mentioned support structure 10 across the drill deck.

Thus, the drilling tower is wholly independent of the drill deck. The drill deck should be located higher than the main deck and considered essential for operational purposes, which also advantageously proves the use of the presence of the tower and the relative support structure to be positioned on the drill deck.

Such a structure solution has a number of advantages, and among these advantages the advantage lies in a significant reduction in weight, other equivalent features. Drill decks do not actually need to be scaled to support the weight of the tower.

Advantageously, the drill flow 4 (or drill deck) - furthermore the tower 5 and / or the support structure 10 of the tower - can also be used to support other vertical structures existing around dedicated pillars or their extensions As shown in Fig.

Preferably, the support structure 10 of the tower 5 extends vertically into the floating structure 2, as shown in the accompanying drawings. The support structure 10 can extend into the floating structure 2 at varying depths and depending on different opportunities and requirements considered separately for each project.

2 to 6, the tower support structure 10 extends vertically into the floating structure 2 up to the main deck 3 and is structurally integrated with the positioned main deck 3 do.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the tower's support structure 10 extends vertically into the floating structure 2 up to the bottom 8 and is structurally integrated with the positioned floor 8.

In the case where the floating structure 2 defines one or more auxiliary decks 7 located below the main deck 3, according to an alternative embodiment not shown in the attached drawings, the support structure 10 of the tower One of the auxiliary decks 7 can extend vertically into the floating structure 2 and is structurally integrated with one of the positioned auxiliary decks.

Preferably, the support structure 10 of the tower 5 is a columnar structure.

In particular, the tower's support structure 10 is a tubular or box-like structure.

The support structure 10 preferably extends laterally along the main vertical extension axis X with the at least one door pool 6 referred to above in which the drilling tower 5 is supported and supported by the support structure 10 And includes a main part 11 which goes out.

Advantageously, the support structure 10 of the tower 5 includes a portion 12 which is in contact and connection with the base 5 'of the tower 5.

The specific geometrical structure of the boxed tower with the lift hooks located outside the tower does not allow the tower to be placed with the door pool 6, but requires installation in the door pool side direction.

Preferably, the above-mentioned contact and connection portions 12 are offset relative to the main vertical extension axis X of the support structure 10 and are at least partially offset from the door pull 6, . In this way the support structure 10 can support the boxed drilling tower 5 at least partially over the door pool 6 to position the lift 50 for the lift on the door pool 6. [

Preferably, the contact portion 12 extends out of the door pool so that the lift 50 hook is aligned with the main vertical extension axis Y of the door pool.

Alternatively, the drilling tower can be perfectly positioned with the vertical stretching axis of the support structure, thereby preventing the construction of the cantilever structures. However, the pulleys 51, 52 located on the tops of the towers, to ensure adequate maneuvering space for the drill strings to prevent interference with the edges of the door pool, It should be properly extended to ensure a sufficient distance between the axis and the edges of the article. Increasing the dimensions of the pulleys increases the distance between the moving axis of the strings and the vertical axis of the tower. This determines an already large increase in dynamic load which weighs on the tower, and therefore the tower must be adjusted from the structural viewpoint.

The partial cantilever arrangement of the tower above the door pool allows the use of pulleys of smaller dimensions to completely position the hoist for the hoist with the vertical reaching axis of the door pool, Lt; / RTI > This moves to the possibility of installing a lighter, less space-consuming tower.

Preferably, the drilling tower 5 is aligned perpendicular to the contact portion 12 of the support structure 10.

The support structure 10 of the tower 5 has a fitting portion 13 between the main portion 11 and the contact portion 12 in the preferred case in which the contact portion 12 is positioned to partially over the door pool. ). The fitting portion 13 as described above extends from the main portion 11 toward the door pool 6 deflected from the main vertical extension axis X of the support structure 10 of the tower 5.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the base 5 'of the tower 5 and the contact portions 12 of the support structure 10 are penetrating each other. In particular, the base 5 'of the tower 5 abuts the interior of the seat 14 made in the contact portion 12.

Advantageously, the base 5 'of the tower 5 is attached to the contact portion 12 by a flanged coupling. However, different types of coupling for flange coupling may also be provided.

Preferably, the floating unit is easy to configure. The floating structure is defined by the hull 2 of the ship 1 and the ship extends along the longitudinal axis Z between the bow 21 and the stern 22.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, the at least one drilling tower 5 mentioned above is positioned asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis Z, and the tower 5 has a first, (23).

According to an embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the at least one drilling tower 5 mentioned above can be symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal central axis Z, i.e. the drilling tower 5 is easily On the longitudinal center axis Z thereof.

Advantageously, in the case of the asymmetric positioning of the tower, the drilling flow 4 (or drill deck) is carried out by the tower 5 and / or by the support structure 10 of the tower- And the at least one structural support element can be supported by the main deck (3) opposite the drilling tower (5) next to the easy second side (24) with respect to the easy longitudinal center stretch axis As shown in Fig.

3 and 4, the above-mentioned structural support element 30 consists of a wall delimiting the storage and assembly areas of the drill strings next to the drilling tower 5. In particular, such a wall 30 extends vertically beyond the drill flow 4 (or drill deck).

The storage and assembly areas of the drill strings are referred to in technical terms as "setback ". This zone, which is integrated with the drill flow or which is in any case next to the drill flow, is arranged in groups of three strings screwed on one side to form a single string of approximately 41 m It is used to store pre-prepared drill strings. This often makes it possible to reduce the time required to lower and raise the total string, which is several kilometers in length and has the right diameter and which has the type of string for the specific drilling operation planned.

In operation, the pre-assembled drill strings using the main lift hooks can thus be used as special racks, called fingerboards, that block the strings vertically at two points (one at the bottom and one at the top) Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > drilling < / RTI > campaign in the set bag and the other drilling campaign. In particular, such fingerboards can be made in the above-mentioned wall 30, which is used as a vertical support element of the drill flow.

In this phase, the strings are prevented from bending by their own weight, and claws previously caught by the machine, prepared under the main hook and known as roughneck, Are always handled in a vertical position to prevent damage by special machines, called smartrackers, which move the string to a position within the frame.

From this moment the strings are ready to start the cycle of introduction and oil wells and are moved by the smart tracker from the center of the drill deck to the hook for the lift from the sinker board and vice versa.

At the end of the drilling operation the strings are unscrewed by the rough knuckles and in the opposite manner as described above and are individually fed into the storage stacks using a special dedicated horizontal chute called a catwalk Is replaced.

5, the drill strings 54 may be stored one by one on one side of the floating unit so as to be tilted toward the center of the ship, with the upper end being vertically below the hoist hook, Can be stored until it is in; The string is then lifted and inserted into the center hole on the drill deck and down into the hole in the well below the sea bed.

The present invention allows a number of advantages to be obtained, some of which are already described above.

In a floating unit, particularly a drill ship, for performing drilling operations according to the present invention, one or more drilling towers of the box-type with drilling devices outside the tower may be installed, but with respect to the load capacity, It can be installed without necessarily having a large drill flow or drill deck.

A floating unit performing a drilling operation made in accordance with the present invention may include one or more drilling operations of the box type having drilling devices located outside the tower, in order to take account of both the distribution of the load resulting from the dynamic acceleration of the tower, Towers can be installed.

Thus, the present invention has been devised to achieve the intended object.

Obviously, the actual embodiments thereof are capable of other forms and configurations than those described and still remain within the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, all parts can be replaced with technically equivalent parts, and the dimensions, shape and materials used can be changed as needed.

Claims (21)

At least one floating structure 2 defining a main deck 3 and at least one drilling tower 5 having a box structure wherein a drill floor 4 is provided above the main deck 3, And the drilling tower extends over a drill flow (4) next to at least one moon pool (6), the gate pool vertically traversing the floating structure in the drill flow (4) , A floating unit for performing an offshore drilling operation traversing to the bottom (8) of the floating structure,
Wherein the drilling tower 5 is directly supported by a supporting structure 10 structurally integrated with the floating structure 2 and the supporting structure 10 and / Traverses the drill flow (4), said drill flow being structurally supported by the support structure (10) of the tower and / or by the drilling tower itself. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower (5) extends vertically into the floating structure (2). The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower extends vertically into the floating structure (2) and is structurally integrated with the positioned main deck (3). The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The floating structure 2 defines one or more auxiliary decks 7 located below the main deck 3,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower extends vertically into the floating structure (2) and is structurally integrated with one of the auxiliary decks (7) located therein. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The floating structure 2 is provided with a bottom 8,
Wherein the tower's support structure (10) extends vertically into the floating structure (2) and is structurally integrated with the bottom (8) of the positioned floating structure (2). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower is a column structure. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower is a tubular or box-like structure. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Wherein the support structure (10) of the tower comprises a main portion (11) extending laterally along a main vertical extension axis (X) with the door pool (6). The method of claim 8,
The support structure 10 of the tower 5 comprises a portion 12 in contact with and connected to the base 5 'of the tower 5,
The contact portion 12 is offset relative to the main vertical extension axis X of the support structure 10 and at least partially overlaps the door pool 6,
Wherein the support structure (10) supports the tower (5) at least partially over the door pool (6) by the contact portion (12). The method of claim 9,
The drilling tower (5) is provided with a hook (50) for at least one hoistway of a drill string coupled to the top of the tower (5) and positioned externally, the contact portion (12) (50) is located above the door pool (6) and preferably extends from the door pool so as to be aligned with the main vertical extension axis (Y) of the door pool. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
Wherein the tower (5) is aligned perpendicular to the contact portion (12) of the support structure (10). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The support structure 10 of the tower includes a fitting portion 13 between the main portion 11 and the contact portion 12,
The fitting part (13) extends from the main part (11) towards a door pool (6) deflected from a main vertical extension axis (X) of the support structure (10) of the tower (5). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
Wherein the base (5 ') of the tower (5) and the contact portion (12) of the support structure (10) are inserted one another. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13,
Wherein the base (5 ') of the tower (5) is attached to the contact part (12) by a flanged coupling. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The floating unit is a ship 1 comprising a hull extending along a longitudinal axis Z between a bow 21 and a stern 22,
Wherein the floating structure is the hull (2) of the sheath (1). 16. The method of claim 15,
The at least one drilling tower 5 is positioned asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis Z of the sheath 1 and the tower 5 is moved towards the first side 23 , A floating unit. 18. The method of claim 16,
The drill flow (4) is supported by at least one structural support element (30)
The support element extends vertically from the main deck (3) opposite the drilling tower (5) next to the easy second lateral side (24) with respect to the easy longitudinal center stretch axis (Z) . 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the structural support element (30) consists of a wall delimiting the storage and assembly areas of the drill strings by the tower (5). 19. The method of claim 18,
Said wall extending vertically beyond said drill flow (4). 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the at least one drilling tower (5) is located on the easy longitudinal center axis (Z). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
Wherein the floating unit is a semi-submersible platform (100).

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