US2653796A

US2653796A - Apparatus for drilling wells

Info

Publication number: US2653796A
Application number: US28206A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean A Mcgee; Seale Tom
Original assignee: KERRMCGEE OIL IND Inc
Current assignee: KERRMCGEE OIL IND Inc; KERRMCGEE OIL INDUSTRIES Inc
Priority date: 1948-05-20
Filing date: 1948-05-20
Publication date: 1953-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-29

Description

Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MCGEE ET'AL APPARATUS FOR DRILLING wms 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1948 INVEN ToRs M Q. lye Gee ZZJ Zwesom 7077a 52% Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MCGEE ETAL 2,653,795

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 12 Sheets-sheaf 2 I' l] INVENTORS 55 M Jamal/463a 25 flzayfim'efiam /07/fl Q ZQZZ Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MOGEE ETAL 2,653,796

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS.

Jean flflz' ee fizz: flrmesm 755a jeale 2.?M

p 1953 D. A. MG'GEE ET AL 2,653,796

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 HI'II I y 'I'I II' n I b? a if Hll JNVENTOR. flmd Q iwmbaw 072W Jew Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MCGEE ETAL- 2,653,796

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 12 Sheets-Shed 5 III III

Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MOGEE ETAL APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 20, 1948 MNN Ev m wbm NM 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 D. A. M GEE ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS INVENTORJ Sept. 29, 1953 Filed May 20, 1948 N \NM\ \QNQ Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MCGEE ETAL 2,653,796

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 12 Sheefi-Sheet 9 V 4 V 694 fl fi! INVENTORJ.

D. A. M GEE ET AL APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Sept. 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 20, 1948 A.AA lwmw mww $5 .5 2 E A 9 A A A A A 0000000 A E w 1 0 6 0 6 E QQ 0906M %Q% %Q A @Q Q A A G l QM A QR, NQ Q Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. M GEE ETAL 2,653,795

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed May 20, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet ll IN V EN TORS Sept. 29, 1953 D. A. MCGEE ETAL APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed May 20, 1948 Aug l 1' INVENTORsf Patented Sept. 29, 1953 APPARATUS FOR DRILLINGeWELLS Dean A. McGee, Otis Danielson, and" Tom Scale,

Oklahoma City, Okla., assignors to Kerr- McGee. Oil Industries, Inc., Oklahoma Cityi Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application May 20,, 1948, Serial 1%..28306.

6- Claims:

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for drilling wells. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus and-method for drilling oil wells in open, unprotected water.

Although oil wells have been drilled u-nder water heretofore, such drilling has been done in relatively shallow water protected to some extent at least by shoals or reefs or other bodies of land. In such prior operations various types of structures have been employed to support: the equipment required to drill the well including platforms supported on pilings. and sunken barges. Such structures are not suited to drilling in open water, however, because the cost of constructing and protecting them is too great.

It is the object of this invention to provide an oil well drilling rig adapted to be. used in open, unprotected water.

Av further object is to provide a drilling rig of. this type which is relatively inexpensive to construct and which can be recovered and. reused in large part at a number of widely separated points.

Still another object is to provide a drilling rigof this type which in large part at" least can be protected against destruction. during severe weather conditions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It has now been found that the foregoing objects are accomplished by a combination of a floating structure and a small cooperating platform structure fixedly supported on the bed of the body of water under which the well is to be drilled, for example, on pilings. All of the equipment required to drillan oil well canbezmounted on this combination of structures in such a way as to-make it feasible to; drill, oil wellsin water which is open and unprotectedby any adjacent. land.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference is made to the accompanying, drawings which form a part of this specificationv and in which:

Figure l is a plan View oi an open water drilling rig embodying features of the present in-, vention;

Figure 2 is. a view in side elevation of. the drilling rig shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is anend elevation of thedrilling rig shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4- is anen-larged, detailed, fragmentary,

elevational View of the; platform portion of the drilling rig shown in Figure 1 taken from, the

side opposite to that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan. view of the upper level of the platform;

Figure 6 is-a plan viewof the main platform level'j;

'7 is anenlarged; detailed, fragmentary, end, elevational view ofthe-endof the platform opposite to that shown in Figure 2;

. Figure 8 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary Viewer 2. portion ofthe elevation shown in- Figure 3;

Figure 9 is an oi-i-tboard profile of the floating portion of the rigshownin Figure 1;

Figure 10- is a longitudinal; inboardprofile of the floating portion of the rig shown in Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a plan view of'thetop of the deck house oithe floating portion of the ri-g shown in Figure 1;

Figure 12'is a plan view of the main deck of the same structure;

Figure13 is a-plan-view'of the hold'of the same structure;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing an alternative arrangement;

Figure 15' is an enlarged, detailed view of a portion of the-elevation shown in'Figure 2 showing the" mannerin which the platformand floating portions of the drilling rig'are interconnected;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the portion of the structure shown in elevation in'Figure 15;

Figure 1'7" is a view of the deck house roof construction, partly in cross section, on the line lT-l! inFigure II;

Figure 181is aplan view of the structure shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 is an enlarged, detailed" view in perspective of one of the members formingpart of the construction shown in Figures 17 and 18;

Figure 20 is another view. in perspective of a portionrof the construction shown in Figures 1.7 and 18-;

Figure 21. isstill another view inperspective of a portion. of the construction shown in Figures ure2 and illustrating the manner in which the I fixed portion of the drilling rig may be moved;

Figure 26 is another elevational view similar to Figure 3 and also illustrating how the fixed portion of the structure is moved;

Figure 27 is a plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 24, 25 and 26; and

Figure 28 is a view similar to Figure 26 showing the fixed structure in raised position.

Figure 1 shows in more or less outline form the two main portions of the drilling rig which forms the subject of the present invention, one of which is a floating structure 20 and the other a relatively small platform 22. As will be further explained hereinafter, the floating structure 20 is a reconstructed Navy YF type barge which is several times the size of the platform '22. It is normally anchored in position adjacent the platform 22 which is fixedly supported on pilings driven into the bed 21 of the body of water through which an oil well is to be drilled.

An important feature of the construction shown herein is a method by which the long, narrow floating structure, for example, barge 20 is maintained in operative relation with the platform 22 and is secured so as to eliminate or substantially eliminate the possibility that the barge 20 may be driven by the forces of wind or water against the platform 22, which, for reasons of economy, is preferably small and of relatively light construction which cannot withstand continued buffeting by the barge 20. The preferred plan for securing the barge is illustrated in Fi ure 1. Five 3200-pound anchors 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 ar used and are attached to the barge 20 by the

usual anchor chains

34, 36, 38, 40 and 42, respectively. It will be apparent from a study of Figure 1 that a much stronger force is required to move the barge 20 toward the platform against the resistance of the anchors than is required to move the barge 20 in any other direction. This resistance to movement of the barge 20 against th platform is provided principally by the bow anchor 28 and to a slightly lesser extent by the forward port and starboard anchors 3i) and 26, respectively. The stern anchors 24 and 32, although serving principally to hold the stern of the barge 20 against lateral movement, also aid in maintaining it stationary by opposing in part the action of the forward anchors 26, 28 and 36. This anchor system, except in severe weather conditions, is capable of maintaining the barge at all times in operating position with respect to the platform 22, as shown, and so long as any one of the three

anchors

26, 28 or 30 holds, the barge 20 will be prevented from bumping against the platform 22.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the means for maintaining the floating structure in operative relation with the platform is carried by the floating structure. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the floating structure 20 is not held in place even in part by any means connecting it to the platform 22 and instead is secured in operative position independently of the platform by anchors carried by the floating structure 20 and cooperating solely with the bed of the body of water under which the well is drilled.

The anchors, as a means of maintaining the barge 2B in operative relation with the platform 22, permit or do not prevent rolling, pitching, vertical shifting and limited horizontal shifting of the barge or floating structure 20 with respect to platform 22 in response to the action of the water and wind including rises and falls of the water level due to tidal action, and still maintain the barge 20 in operative relation with the platform 22 except under severe weather conditions. The anchors provide a releasable means for maintaining barge 20 in operative relation with platform 22 and can also be used to move the barge 28 away from the platform 22, when such movement is desired, as, for example, when danger of damage to the platform by the floating structure due to weather conditions arises. This movement is accomplished by pulling up the proper anchors and using the other or others to move the barge 29 in the desired direction. This function of the anchors is important because ordinarily it is the only available means by which the barge 20 can be moved on short notice.

In operative position with respect to the platform 22, the barge 26 has its stem end 2i, which is blunt and of approximately the sam width as the widest part of the barge, juxtaposed to a side 23 of the platform 22. The positioning of the barge 26 or other long, narrow floating structure with a narrow end juxtaposed to a side of platform 22 is preferred to protect the platform. Forces of wind and Water which tend to push the barge toward the platform thus operate on a narrow end, the bow 25 of the barge 20 in the embodiment shown, and not against a long side.

The fixed platform 22 is also located with reference to the direction of the prevailing winds as indicated in Figure 1. The line 21 in this figure is parallel to the center line of the platform 22 which is perpendicular to the side 23 of platform 22 to which the stern 21 of the barge 20 is juxtaposed. It will also be observed that the line '2'! is parallel to the longitudinal axis of barge 20 when the latter is in operative relation with platform 22. Arrow 29 in this same figure represents the direction of the prevailing winds in the area in which the particular platform 22 illustrated is located. As indicated by the legends in the figure there is an angle of only 7 between the line 21 and the line 29 so that the direction of the prevailing winds is from platform 22 toward barge 20 substantially along the axis of barge 20. Consequently, the effect of the prevailing winds is to drive barge 20 away from platform 22 whereby the latter is protected from damage by barge 2!] and in addition the effect of these winds on barge 2D is minimized because they are directed against the narrow dimension of barge 20. The third line 3! in Figure l indicates North and relates the other two

lines

21 and 29 to the points of the compass.

The platform structure 22 with which the barge 20 cooperates is supported on steel pilings in the manner indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 6. In one installation the platform 22 is supported on 28 steel pilings, the principal support being provided by 16 24-inch O. D. steel pilings weighing 128 pounds per foot, eight of which are designated 44 and eight 46. As may be seen in Figure 6, the pilings designated 44 are the eight which are spaced along the long sides of the platform structure 22. These eight pilings 44, as best seen in Figure 3, extend outwardly from the top down at an angle such that the distance between the axis of piling 44 and a vertical through the top of the piling increases approximately one foot for each 12 feet of length of the piling 44. The upper ends of the

various pilings

44 and 46 are positioned as indicated in Figure 6, the pilings ,46 being driven directly down into the bed of the body of water. All 16 of the

pilings

44 and 46 are driven to a minimum penetration of about feet (actually 104 feet in one installation),

into the. bed of the body of waterand extend above the water su-flicientl-y topositionthe main platform level 48 twenty feet abovemean low tide; Above the water level the pilings' 4t and 46 are tied together with a series of 9% inch steel pipe braces 50 all welded together to.- create: a. rigid structure.

Three dolphin timber piles 52 are employed to provide a buffer between the barge. and the-- remainder of the platform structure 22'. The dolphin piles 52 are each formed-1 of I9 timbers. driven in a cluster to. a minimum penetration of 75 feet beneath the floor of the body of water; Theyare each braced by: three: steel; Habeams: 5.4; driven to; a: depth of:125 feet. at an ang1eof'30 and. welded: to; a. steel plate? 56; fastened. to; the;

timbers.

At the. main. level 48. the; platform extends out for a distance of about: 16. feet beyond,- center of the. rowof pilingsi 44. and .46: adjacent the dolphins, 52. which brings it. just up; the dol phins, as-seenin Figure 6.; Thiszolltw i fd extent sion or apron; 5 8; is additionally supported;- on;

small pilings. 60, along its edge. adjacent: the dol phins 52-.

i k 2 is u p r ed. on a; ub tr c ur 64; carried by, theplatform level 48in,-.a position centrally-ofthe width; ofthe; level 48 and adja; cent: the. end of the main-portionoflevel. from which the apron. 58 extends. Suchlocation off. the, derrick 62 at. an end of. the platform level 48- makes itpossible to drill asecond directionalwelt fromthe platform 22; if desiredbymoving. the

derrick 623 tothe opposite end, of theplatform.

feet abovethe platform level. 48. Thejplatform level 66is ofapproximately'tlie"samewidth as the derrick substructure 64 and is'leverwit-h' the top of" this substructure 64: As ma-ykbe" seen in Figures 2, 4-and-7, it extends about two-thirds of the distance from the derrick 62'- to the end of-the platform 22 remote from thederrick protective-roof structure 68; supported at one-end on the derrick-- 62' and at the-.otherby posts 10 extending up from the platform 68', provides -aprotective covering forthe uppert'level llifi.v

As inclicated' above, therequipment actuallyusedt in the drilling-operation .onthe platfornn22=,. as. distinguished from its dispositionandzthe:mane.

nerin which it issupported, is: all equipment which ,is .conventional;. fort use. in". land; drilling; operations. This; conventional? equipn'ient in-.- cludes the. usual drawworks 12.: which. is. sup;

ported inpart ong the platform. level: 66; and; in; partgon-thetop; of the derrick s ubstructure fig as, It is connected in the usual: way to therotary 14;..and, isdrivem-by a, pair of-diesel; enginesfilfip-and- 18 mounted on-the.

best seenin Figure '7;

platformrlevel 66, The enginest'IG-and lalalso drive the usualimud pump, whichis mounted.

on the main platformlevellll. Adjacent vthemud pump 80, on this same platform isa. small. mud

tank 82. pump llfl, mud tank 82 and t.h.e welljare not shown since these. are of thetus ual type,foundindrilling rigs employed in land operations,

Thedetailsof thepiping for the mud x was designed; and has been found in practice: to

be true, that during the drilling of a well weather conditions: are encountered which necessitatea movement of the barge 20 away from; the plat form; 22 forperiods aslong as a day or more in the main platform level 48: near theend oppositethat oniwh'ich: the derrick 62 is mounted, as may beseen in Figure 62 A partition 88- (Figure 5') 1 divides the tank 84: interiorly into two compart-- ments, tne smaller of which 90 is for fresh water and the: larger ot'which 92 is: for fuel. Lengths.

of drilling pipe (not shown) can be stood up;

within the derrick structure: 62 and with these and thewater and 'fuel supplies and the mud carried inthe mud tankitis: possible for drilling operations to continue even when thebarge 20 isdriven away from the platform 22 as; described above.

Extending out from: one side and from the end of the platform opposite'that carrying the derrick,

respectively, are two escape platforms or runways and 96 These platforms or runways 94 and 9e are supported from- -the underside of the main platform level 48- and extend outwardly therefrom over the water. Short flightsofsteps at andl-00 extenddown' to these runways 94' and:

96 from the platformlevel 48" to give workmen: on theplatformeasy access to the runways 94 and 96; The extreme ends of these runways 94" and- 96' are open and are provided withladders l02-and lM extending down toward the water. In the event that it becomes desirable for' the workmen to leave the platform quickly beca'use of 'a-present orimminent catastrophe, these runways provide a means for departing hurriedly but with a minimum of danger;

Between the derrick 62 and the dolphins 52- a shortram'p I06 extends downwardly from the upper'level of the derricksubstructure 64' to the apron-5'8; This ramp I06 is provided to guide drill=pipc=orother like articles during transfer of such articles-from the-barge 20' to the inside of the derrick 62% As seen in Figure 6 a personnel landing platform; I08; supportedondolphins l l 0, is provided alongside the main part of the platform 22; This platform IUBtogether with the various walkways, stairs, protective railsand' ladders'which are provided for the convenience of personnel in boarding, and moving around onthe platform 22 are not described in detail since-theydo not form important parts ofthe structure. Theymay=be located at any convenient place as desired; Gang'planks l0! and IDS-facilitate movement of personnel betweenthe barge 20' and platform'22;

Arrangement of the various pieces of equipment required. for drilling, as described above, permits the main platform to be kept to a minim-um' size and thusminimum cost; In one installation which has-beenoperated satisfactorily theoverall"dimensions-of the platform 22 including the apron- 58' were 'approximately 46 feetby about-4000 squarefeetand preferably somewhat It was contemplated at the time this structure less, is entirely satisfactory and; highly d m 7 from the standpoint of economy and risk of loss due to storm damage.

The above described platform structure 22 has the further advantage that when the drilling operation is completed at one location it is possible to move the platform structure to a new location as hereinafter described.

The cooperating floating structure or barge 20 which is readily floated at any time to a new location, and the use of which in turn permits the platform structure 22 to be floated also is illustrated in detail in Figures 9 to 14. Although the floating structure 20 illustrated is a reconstructed Navy YF type barge which has been found quite satisfactory, and is a preferred type of structure, the invention is not intended to be limited to this particular type of floating structure. Any other type of floating structure may be used which is adapted to contain and support in a convenient and accessible manner the various items of equipment hereinafter described as forming part of the barge or floating structure 20.

The barge 20, as illustrated in Figures 9 to 14, is approximately 260 feet long by 48 feet wide and the drawings are made substantially to scale in order accurately to show the relative size and plan of the various parts of the equipment carried by the barge 20. The items of equipment on the barge 20 are arranged on three levels which are, respectively, the hold II2, the main deck I I4 and the deck house roof I I6. Figure 10 shows in a general way the frame construction of the barge which includes an inner or false bottom I I8 and various columns I22 which support the deck house roof II6. At the bow end forecastle deck or foredeck I24 provides an intermediate level which supports various items of equipment employed in the anchoring of the barge 20.

Figures 10 and 13 show the inboard profile and the plan of the hold of the barge 20. As may be seen, the rearmost space which is utilized in the hold H2 is chain locker I26. Immediately forward of this chain locker I26 is a compartment I28 extending across the entire width of the barge 20. A bulkhead I20, also extending across the entire width of the barge 20 and from the hull up to the main deck II4, separates compartment I28 from chain locker I26 and the unused space in bold II2 aft of the bulkhead I20. As may be seen in Figure 13 compartment I28 is subdivided by longitudinally extending partitions into four smaller compartments I30, I32, I34 and I36.

The compartment I36 houses a 60 kilowatt 240 volt D. C. diesel electric generator I38 and a switchboard therefor I40. The compartments I36 and I34 are ventilated by a duct I42 extending in the compartment I36 which opens into this compartment at I44 and into compartment I34 at I46. Access to the compartment I36 is provided by a door I48.

The space I34 houses a second switchboard I for the other generating equipment to be described and also provides space for a fire pump I52, a workbench I54, a tool locker I56, a series of five carbon dioxide cylinders I58 and steps I60 leading up to a 36-inch by 48-inch raised hatch on the afterdeck to be described. The main pieces of equipment housed within the compartment I32 are a second 60 kilowatt generator I62, a 20 kilowatt generator I64, a fuel oil service tank I66 and a lubricating oil tank I68. Access to the space or compartment I32 is obtained through an opening I10 connecting compartment I32 with compartment I34.

Access to compartment I30 is provided by a door I12 connecting with compartment I32. Compartment I30 contains a second ventilating duct I14 which opens into compartment I32 through an opening I16. The compartment I30 is otherwise void except for some shelving I18 in one corner thereof.

The portion of the hold II2 forward of the space I28 is separated from that aft by a bulkhead I extending from the bottom hull of the boat up to the main deck H4 and from the outer hull of the boat on one side to the outer hull on the other. The space I8I in the hold I I2 immediately forward of this bulkhead I80 is divided by a longitudinally extending partition I82 into two relatively large compartments I84 and I86 of substantially the same size and is further subdivided On either side by an inner hull I88.

The space between the inner hull I88 and the outer hull I90 is further subdivided by a partition I92 on the port side and a similar partition I94 on the starboard side. The enclosure of the space I8I is completed at the forward end by a second bulkhead I96 similar to the bulkhead I80. The small compartment I98 lying between the bulkhead I80 and partition I82 and between the inner hull I88 and the outer hull I90 on the port side and the similar compartment 200 on the starboard side are both void. However, the remaining spaces on both the port and starboard sides between the inner hull I88 and outer hull I90 designated respectively 202 and 204 are utilized for diesel fuel storage, each of these tanks having a capacity of 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

For the purpose of giving proper marine balance to the barge 20 the relatively large compartment I84 is substantially void of equipment. It contains only some piping, not shown, which serves to connect various pieces of equipment located elsewhere and a series of twenty-five 50- pound carbon dioxide cylinders 206 which are piped to the engine room on the main deck above the compartment I84. Access to compartment I84 is provided by a ladder 201 leading to a hatch on the main deck I I4.

Compartment I86, the other of the two large compartments, serves as an auxiliary engine room. It contains a water transfer pump 208 having a capacity of 80 gallons per minute at a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch and a diesel oil transfer pump 2I0 having a capacity of 40 gallons per minute at 30 pounds per square inch. A door 209 in partition I82 connects compartments I84 and I86 and a second door 2II in bulkhead I80 connects compartment I86 with compartment I30.

The next major subdivision 2I3 of the hold II2 terminates at the bulkhead 2I2 which is also similar to the bulkhead I 80, reviously described. This space 2I3, like space I8I, is subdivided by the inner hull I88 to provide a space or compartment 2 I4 on the port side and a similar compartment 2I6 on the starboard side. The remainder of the space 2I3 is occupied by three tanks 2I8, 220 and 222, each of a different size as shown in Figure 13. The tank 2I8 serves as the active mud pit, the tank 220 provides a reserve mud pit and the largest tank 222 is a water tank which has a capacity of 43,250 gallons.

The pit 2I8 is separated from the pit 220 by a longitudinal bulkhead 2I5 formed of inch plate and extending up to the underside of the transverse webs of the main deck I I4. The tanks '9 2I8 and 220 are also provided respectively with longitudinal bulkheads 2H and 219 similar to the longitudinal bulkhead .2I5 but having openings therethrough so that they do not actually subdivide the tanks 2I.8 and 220 into smaller tanks =but serve instead to prevent fluid in the tanks from swashing. To the same end, tanks 2I8 and 220 are further provided with laterally extending swash plates which, like longitudinal bulkhead 2I5, are formed of t; inch plate and extend up to the underside of the transverse webs of the main deck II4. These plates extend across tank 2I8 as indicated at 22I and 225 and correspondingly across tank 220 at Y221 and 228.

Both longitudinally and laterally extending rows of swash plates, five feet high, are employed in the large water tank 222. Two rows 23I and 235 extend the full length of tank 222 and two

more rows

231 and 239 extend across the full width. All of these swash plates are formed of inch plates and are suspended in the tank 222 intermediate the top and bottom thereof as indicated in Figure 10.

Section 223 of the hold II2 immediately forward of the bulkhead 2I2 and lying between it and the next similar bulkhead 224 is used entirely for water storage. The two tanks lying between the inner hull I88 and the outer hull I98 are designated 226 on the port side and 228 on the starboard side. The remaining space is also formed into two

tanks

230 and 232. Tank 230 has a capacity of 22,800 gallons of water and tank 232 has a capacity of 43,250 gallons of water. Both the

tanks

230 and 232 are provided with rows of swash plates like the

rows

23I, 235, 231 and-239 in tank 222.

The next main section 233 of the hold H2 also is utilized for water storage. It lies between the bulkhead 224 and another similar bulkhead 234. In this section the space between the inner hull I88 and the outer hull I80 is subdivided on each side into three parts providing tanks 236 and 238 and void space 248 on the port side, and tanks 242, 244 and void space 246 on the starboard side. The centra1 portion of space 233 is divided into two

large tanks

248 and 250 similar to the

tanks

230 and 232 and similarly provided with rows of swash plates like the

rows

23I, 235, 231 and 233. The

tanks

236, 238, 242 and 244 are used for the storage of potable water, tanks 236 and 242 each holding 5160 gallons, and tanks 238 and 244 each holding 4800 gallons. The water in

tanks

248 and 250 is simply fresh water, tank 248- holding 38,160 gallons and tank 258 holding 52,140 gallons.

In the space 25I forward of the bulkhead 234 there are two

main compartments

252 and 254 separated by a partition 216 and enclosed by the bulkhead 234, a partition 253 on the port side, a partition 255 on the starboard side and a partition Z51 extending across the bow of the barge. The compartment 252 serves as crew's quarters and is provided with bunks 256 and lockers 258. From this compartment 25.2 a 15-inch by 30-inch air duct 260 extends up to. a cowl on the foredeck to be described.

A partition 262 having a door 284 walls off a small room 266 at one end of the compartment 264. Located within this room 266 are a flushing tank and pump 268 and a fresh water tank and pump 218. The remainder of the compartment 254 is void except for steps 212 which lead up to the galley on the 'main deck to be described. Communication between

compartments

250 and 254 is provided by an opening 214 in the wall 216 which separates the two. Half of the space 211 in the forepeak forward of the

compartments

252 and 254 provides a chain locker 218, the other half being void, asare the other portions of space 25I lying outside

compartments

252 and 254.

Referring now to Figure 12 which shows the plan of the main deck II4, it will be seen that the bulk of this deck is enclosed by a. deck house 230. lit the forward end of the boat the deck house extends up to the forecastle 282. The deck house 280 does not extend clear to the stern of the boat, however, so that there is a small, open aiterdeck 284. The deck house 286 is also spaced inwardly from the sides of the barge 26 to leave small walkways 286 on the port side and 283 on the starboard side of the barge 28, each of which is about four feet wide. As best seen in Figures 9 and 11, the

walkways

286 and 288 toward the forward end of the barge 20 communicate respectively with

ramps

290 and 282 leading from the main deck I I4 to the forecastle deck I24.

Referring back again now to Figure 12, it will be seen that the afterdeck 284 carries various items of equipment used in connection with the anchoring and mooring of the barge, 20 including a warping winch 296, a control stand therefor 298, a pair of 14-inch

double bitts

300 and 382, a stern chock 304, two

closed chocks

306 and 388, an anchor ,davit 3I0, a Windlass 3I2 and a chain pipe 3I4, which latter communicates with the chain locker I26, previously described. In addition to the foregoing pieces of equipment the afterdeck 284 is also provided with a 36-inch by 48-inch raised hatch 3I6, an 18-inch cowl 3I8 and a 24-inch cowl 320. The hatch 3I6 provides access to the steps I60 leading down to the hold compartment 134 and cowls 3! and 328 are connected, respectively, to the ducts I42 and I14 to complete the ventilating system for the hold space I28.

A door 322 in the rear wall portion of the deck house 286 gives access to the interior of the deck house from the afterdeck 284. The interior of the deck house 280 is divided into several rooms, the room 324 nearest the stern extending up to a partition 326 which extends directly above the bulkhead I96 in the hold. The next room forward designated 328 extends up to a, partition 330 which is directly above the bulkhead 2I2. A third partition 332, located directly above the bulkhead 224 forms the forward wall of another room 334. Still another bulkhead or partition 336 form the forward wall of an additional room 338 and separates the crew's quarters, designated generally 340, which lie forward of the partition 336 from the remainder of the main deck.

The room 324 nearest the stern of the boat is used as an engine room. The two main pieces of equipment housed'within this room are the main mud pump 3:12am! the diesel engine for driving the same 344, and the mud mixing pump 346 and the diesel engine for driving it 348. The large engine 344 exhausts through a mufiler 358 and the smaller engine 348 exhausts through a line 352 including a mufller 354. From the

mufflers

350 and 354 the exhaust is carried up to outlets on the deck house roof I16, to be described. I

To one side of the main mud pump engine 344 near the deck house wall is an electrically driven air compressor 356; Fuel for the diesel engines :44 and 348-is supplied from a 1000-gallon diesel fuel oil day tank 358 supported in an elevated position adjacent one end of the engine 344. To assist in handling the large machinery within room 324, a one-ton chain block is suspended from the deck house roof upon a trolley riding on a track 366 secured to the underside of the deck house roof 116 and running longitudinally of the barge 28 over the main engine 344. A similar one-ton chain block on a trolley rides on a track 362 suspended from the underside of the deck house roof 116 adjacent the after end 01 room 324 and extending laterally of the barge 28. Approximately under one end of the track 362 a rack 364 is provided to contain four 55- gallon drums.

The rearmost portion of the room 324 serves as a machine shop. It is equipped with an electrically driven 300-ampere welding unit 366, a work bench 368 and a tool locker 318. In the above description of the hold, reference was made to a ladder 281 extending up in room 184. Access to this ladder is provided through a hatch 312 opening through the main deck 114 into the engine room 324. This hatch is approximately five feet in diameter and is provided with a 12- inch combing.

Mud returning to the barge 28 from the platform 22 enters a 12-inch outside diameter pipe 314 suspended from the deck house roof 116. As will be further described hereinafter, the deck house roof 116 extends out over the afterdeck 284 and one end of the pipe 314 is located approximately vertically above the sternmost edge of the afterdeck 284. From this point the pipe 314 extends forwardly and passes through the rear portion of the deck house wall 288 at 316. Pipe 314, as may be seen in Figure 10, inclines downwardly from the stern of the barge 28 toward the bow so that gravity flow of mud through the pipe is obtained. At its forward end within the engine room 324 the pipe 314 empties into an inclined trough 318 supported on the main deck H4 and extending through the partition 326 to empty into the active mud tank 218 through an opening in the main deck 114 i to be described which opening is located in room 328. Inclination of the trough 318 is such that at the partition 326 it is approximately eight inches above the main deck and at its after end trough 318 is approximately five feet above the main deck.

A relatively large central opening 388 in the partition 326 provides access between

rooms

324 and 328. The only piece of equipment housed within room 328 is an oil well cementing skid unit 382 which is located on the starboard side. On this same side of the barge 28 in the room 328 and forward of the unit 382 is a 12-feet by 14-feet covered hatch 384 which gives access to water tank 222.

The main deck on the port side of room 328 overlies the active mud pit 21 8 and the reserve mud pit 228. To facilitate various operations within these mud pits, six openings are cut through the main deck I 14 in room 328. Two of these 386 and 388 are approximately 6 feet, 6 inches by 9 feet. 11 inches, a third 398 is approximately 9 feet, 11 inches by 13 feet, two

others

392 and 388 are each 4 feet, 11 inches by 13 feet, 6 inches and the sixth 384 is approximately 4 feet, 11 inches by 13 feet. It will be seen that it is through the opening 382 that the trough 318 empties into the active mud tank 218.

An opening 398 through the partition 338, which is similar to the opening 388, connects 12

rooms

328 and 334. This room 334 is used as a storage room and has a capacity of ten boxcar loads of mud, weight materials, chemicals and the like. Two 12-feet by l6-feet covered

hatches

488 and 482 in room 334' open into water tanks 238 and 232.

The relatively large central opening 484 through the partition or bulkhead 332 makes the next small room 338 substantially a part of the room 334. This room 338 provides a portion of the storage capacity which accommodates the ten boxcar loads of material, as described above. Room 338 also contains two l2-feet by 14-feet covered

hatches

486 and 488 through which

water storage tanks

248 and 258, respectively, may be reached.

From the after portion of the main deck 114, the crews quarters 348, which are located in the forward portion of the main deck and in the forecastle 282 as set out above, are reached through a door 418 in the bulkhead or partition 336, previously described. The crews quarters may also be entered from the walkway 286 through a door 412 in the deck house wall 288. The door 412 opens into a, space 414 which serves both as a passageway and as a space for lounging and recreation.

Adjoining the bulkhead 336 on the starboard side of the barge 28 is a room 416 containing bunks 418 and lockers 428. This room is entered through a door 422 from a passage 424. From the passage 424 a door 428 opens into another passage 428 extending longitudinally of the barge 28 and communicating with the passage 414. Another door 438 in the passage 424 opens into additional sleeping quarters 432 provided with bunks 418. At the forward end of the passage 424 an opening 434 leads into still another passage 436. From this passage 436 storeroom 438 may be entered through a door 448 and from the storeroom 438a door 442 opens into a lamproom 444. From passage 436 another door 446 leads into the galley 448.

The galley 448 is provided with the usual equipment including a refrigerator 458, a sink 452, a range 454, a fan 456, bins 458, mess table 468, a dish rack 462, a second fan 464, and a medicine cabinet 466. On the starboard side of the galley 448 a door 468 opens into a commissary storeroom 418 provided with shelving 412. A door 414 in the forward wall of the galley 448 leads into boatswains stores 416 provided with shelving 418 on both the port and starboard sides. A hatch 488 through the main deck 1 14 within the galley 448 gives access to steps 212 leading down into the hold H2. Above the steps 212 a second flight of steps 482 leads up from the galley 448 to the foredeck 124.

On the starboard side of the barge 28 additional sleeping quarters 484 are reached through a door 486 from the galley 448. Sleeping quarters 484, like the others described, contain bunks 418 and lockers 428. A washroom 481 adjoins the sleeping quarters 484 and is reached through a door 483. This washroom is equipped with a shower 582, a locker 428, two toilets 586 and two lavatories 584.

Referring back now to the passage 428, it will be seen that at the forward end thereof there is a hose rack 488 and a fire plug 498. Leading off from the passage 428 toward the port side of the barge 28 is a short passage 492 at the end of which a door 484 leads into a room 496. This room 486 is provided with bunks 418 for the men in charge of the drilling crews and also houses the mmunica ions eq ipm nt 4.9. Frem h room 496 a door 500 ives access to a washroom 50] provided with a shower 5 62 a lavatory 5.04 and a toilet 506.

Referring back once more to the passage 428., it will be observed that a door 508 leads from .this passage into a room 5W which serves as a hos: pital. It is provided with bunks 41.8, a lavatory 504, and a medicine cabinet 466. Adjoining the hospital 5I0, but accessible only from the passage l4 through a door 512, is another washroom 514 which is al o equipped with a shower 5.02, a locker 628, toilets 565 and lavatories 504. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the barge 2!! is provided with extensive and well equipped crews quarter hich e de e. to accomm date two ull drilling crews. n lud n he men in s ares o the crews and also to leave space for the personn w ope a th a e or the er onne required. fro time to. me t op r t e al equipment utilized in connection with the drilling operation.

As explained above, the ioredeck 1 forecastle deck 124 carries equipment which is utilized in anchoring or moor n he bar e 2 Th s includes a Windlass l6, a bow chock- 518, a davit a pair of clo ed che k 5 .2 a d 2 a a r of 14.-inch

double bitts

526 and 52,8 and a warps in winch 530. Just. forw rd h W ndl s 5 .6 a chain pipe 532 leads down into the chain locker 218, The steps 4.82 leading up from the l y are ached from the orede k 2 through a 36-inch by 48-inch raised hatch 5.3.4. The. after portion of the foredeck I is covered y a awning 6 pport d at i s o ward. end. t

on posts .538. extendin up f om he er de k I24 and from short columns or posts 54.51 extending up from the roof H6 of the deck house. The crews quarters in the foreeastle are ventilated through a 10-inch cowl 5.42 and an .8- 8

inch cowl 544 extending up from the foredeck I24. The remainder of the crews quarters .in the forepart of the main deck and in the hold are ventilated by three 18-inch cowls, two, of which 546. and 568 extend up near the forward end of the deck house roof H46, and the third of which 550 extends up from the deck house roof H6 farther aft.

The bulk of the deck house roof H6 is uti? lized for pipe storage and to this end six pipe storage racks are provided.

Hacks

552 and 554 are located approximately over the room 334, racks 55.5 and 558 are located about mid-way between the stern of the barge 2.0 and the first two racks, and racks .560 and 562 are mounted adjacent the stern end of the barge. These racks 56c and 562 extend out beyond the deck house 280 onto the extension 5.6.4 of the deck house roof I [6 which extension overlies the af erdeck 284 as men ioned abovesion .564 is firmly supported by a series of eight 54 0. 1 p p sta ehions 66 extendin up. from the main deck H4. Each of the pipe storage racks 552, 554, 556 and 558 has a capacity of approximately tons of drilling pipe and the two

racks

550 and 582 each have aicapacity of approximately tons of drilling pipe.

The details of the constructi n of the pipe racks 560 and 56.2 are shown in Figures 17 to 22. The construction of the

racks

552, 554 556 and 558 is the same as that of 560 and 562, and it should therefore be understood that Figures 17 to 22 are also illustrative of the structure f these ac s. As m be een in Fi ure 17. the deck house roof H6 beneath th pipe reeks This .extene s ppor ed n rders su h as the s r-fi r 6.8 an s sli ht h her in th c nte ha it s at. he s de f as e hav n a pit i about Six inches twenty feet. The base of each pipe rack is a series, or four I-beam p eces 51!! xt d a e l 0 h ar e 2 a a ed ve t qua dis an e l udin l he o a w m re ull ap r rom Figures 10 and ll. as the description proceeds, two of the tour p e e 0. in ea ack a e p a ed espee: ir edie n the fore an a ends O h reek and the other two pieces 510 are located therebetween to .proyide equal spacing as set out. in the p ecedin enten The lower portion or each piece 510 is cut awa on an n e a s o n n Figure s t when the piece rests upon the sloping deck house roof H6 the top flange 512 extends in a he ize tel Plane Th I- a pieces are ea h welded to, the deck house roof H6 and are each braced with a series of twelve gusset plates 5", six on each side, each of which is welded to the deckhouse roof H6 and to its associat- .ed I ebearn 510 At the outer end of each I- beam 5]!) adjacent the side of the barge 20, a vertically extendin Iebeam piece 516 is secured to the deck house roof and to the I-.-beam 5.10 to form an abutment member which prevents pipe such as the pipe 518 from rolling oh the barge 20.. To provide strength at the base without ezgcessiye weight, the vertically extending l-bearn or abutment 516 is formed from a relatively large I-beain and one flange and a portion of the web of the I-beam are cut away 01. a d a on l as i i ated i i u 7. and a new flange 580 is welded on the cut surface. The la e 2 wh c ema n o h eam or abutment .516 serves as a track as will be decr bed- There is also an abutment in the form of a column 596 at the inner end of each base 510. This column is supported on a base comprise ing a small, hollow box-like structure 584 sowi ed to the deck. h u e Q f H and p r ing a plate .586 in raised position. Plate 586 we ed o the bQK-lik t ucture 584 and as best seen in Figure 22, a. flange 588 is in turn welded to the plate 586 which is provided with a central opening 590 which registers with the threaded opening 594 of the flange 588. Column 596 has a threaded lower .end which screws into the flange 58g, whereby the column 596 is sup orted in vertical position as shown.

As best seen in Figure 22 the columns 596 are for-med of a plurality of nipples or Couplings 598 each of which is internally threaded on one end as indicated at 600 and exteriorly threaded on the other end as at 602 with threads matching the threads 600, whereby one nipple 588 may be threaded into another and so on to form a column 585 of a height determined by the number of nipples 528 which are threaded together. It will be apparent that the column 596, in addition to being adapted to be increased or decreased in height rapidly by altering the number of nipples 598 included therein, is also readily removed from the flange 588 to facilitate the transfer of pipe into or out of the

pipe racks

552, 554, etc.

To secure pipe 518 firmly in place in the racks each rack provided with a series of tie rods 60!, one of which is shown in perspective in Figure 19. The tie rods 604 are formed of two red po tions 59.6 and 60a. The rod 606 is bent into rin a one end of proper size to re- 15 ceive the column 595 slidably therethrough, and is threaded on the other end at 6l2 into a tie member 6| 4. The second rod 608 is secured at its outer end to a block BIG which is cut away at 6!! to receive the flange 582 and the web portion of the vertically extending I-beam piece 516 loosely in slidable relation. It will be apparent that the arms 62!] and 622 of the block 6H5 extending in behind the flange 582 will resist a horizontal pull tending to disengage the block BIS from the track or flange 582.

The rod 608 is also threaded into the tie member 6 l 4 at its inner end at 624. One of the threads BIZ and 624 is a right-hand thread and the other a left-hand thread so that the tie member GM with the inner ends of the rods 554 and 608 forms a turnbuckle whereby the total length of any rod 604 may be increased or decreased to permit it to slide up the column 596 and abutment 515 and be removed or to secure it firmly in place above a layer of pipe as illustrated in Figure 17 and to clamp a layer of ipe tightly between a column 596 and a cooperating abutment member 516.

To facilitate the transfer of pipe from storage racks 552. 554, etc, to the platform 22 under which the well is being drilled, a trough 626 is provided which extends longitudinally of the deck house roof H5 centrally thereof from just forward of the

racks

552 and 554 to the after end of the deck house roof extension 564. The trough 526 is secured in place on the deck house roof I I6 by supports 628 and lies between a pair of walkways 530 and 532 which are substantially coextensive with the trough 625 lengthwise.

Two derricks G34 and 635, each of five tons capacity, are used to handle the drilling pipe 518. Derrick 634 is supported on the deck house roof I l S centrally thereof and just forward of the forward end of the trough 626, and the derrick 636 is mounted just forward of the pipe rack 552 on the starboard side of the deck house roof H5. Each of the

derricks

534 and 536 is provided with a pivotal mounting, the boom 638 on derrick 634 being of sufiicient length to reach the

racks

552 and 554, and the boom 645 on derrick 636 reaching the other four

pipe racks

556, 558, 550 and 562.

With the aid of

derricks

634 and 636, sections of pipe are lifted quite readily from any of the pipe racks and deposited in the trough 626. At the forward end of the trough there is a double drum winch G42. Sections of pipe 518 in the trough 52!; are readily transferred along the trough 525 with the aid of a cable extending from the winch 542 to a sheave, not shown, secured at the stern of the barge 2l and back to the other drum of the winch $42.

The deck house roof I I5, in addition to supporting the various items of equipment previously described, also supports on the port side in the space between racks 554 and 553, adjacent the walkway 530, an electric logging and side well coring device 646. As shown in Figure 24 a platform 648, secure-cl to the deck house roof H6, provides a level area. upon which the logging and coring device 546 may rest.

Also on the port side, but farther aft between the

racks

556 and 560, there is a double width squirrel cage exhaust fan 558 with a capacity of 50,050 cubic feet of air per minute at half-inch static pressure. This fan 655 is supported on a l2-feet by 16-feet raised hatch cover 652. Beneath the fan 65! an opening, not shown, is provided in the hatch cover so that the fan 650 may draw air up from the deck house and exhaust it through the louvres 654 on the port side of the fan structure. Fan 350 is surrounded and protected by a housing 655.

Although a number of the original hatches of the YF type barge are covered over and rendered inaccessible by the various items of equip ment carried on the deck house roof H6, as has been described, three 12-foot by 16-

feet hatches

658, 650 and 652 are retained. These hatches are all raised slightly above the deck house roof and provided with removable covers. The hatch 652 is not accessible to either of the

derricks

634 or 636 and for this reason a cargo davit 564 is retained adjacent this hatch.

As a safety precaution the barge 28 carries two lifeboats 566 and 668. These are supported near the forward ends of the barge on the deck house roof IIS-BBG on the port side and 658 on the starboard side. Each lifeboat is 20 feet by 6 feet by 2 feet, 6 inches and of metallic construction with a capacity of 18 persons and a volume of cubic feet. The lifeboats are supported respectively on mechanical

boom type davits

610 and 512 by means of which the lifeboats may be swung out over the sides of the barge and launched.

Figure 9, which shows the outboard profile of the barge 2D, is closely related to Figure 11 since it shows many of the same items of equipment in elevation which are shown in plane in Figure 11 and have already been described in connection with the latter figure. It also has features in common with Figure 12. For example, it shows the '7- feet by 10-feet double door 614 which opens from the engine room 324 onto the walkway 288 on the starboard side of the barge. This door 514 facilitates the transfer of machinery into and out of the engine room 324. The interior of the deck house is lighted through a number of portholes 6'56, the location of which is indicated in Figure 9. Figure 9 also shows the handrail 618 which runs up the outer edge of the ramp 292, around the foredeck I24 and down the outer edge of the ramp 295 to the walkway 285, and ladders '380 and 682 which extend from the walkway 283 up to the deck house roof I IS. The port profile, not shown, is substantially the same as the starboard profile shown in Figure 9.

For normal drilling operations the barge 20 is moored, as shown in Figure l, with the broad stern end adjacent the dolphins 52. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, although the barge 25 is not in any manner secured to the platform 22, there are flexible connections running between the barge 2n and the platform 22 through which mud, water and electricity are supplied to the platform from the principal sources thereof located on the barge, as previously explained.

Referring particularly to Figure 16, it may be seen that there is a pipe 684 shown which extends longitudinally of the barge adjacent the port side. As indicated in the figure, the forward portion of this pipe which is not shown leads to the discharge from the mud pump 342. The pipe, as shown in Figure 15, is supported just under the deck house roof extension 564, and on the apron 58, opposite it, there is a corresponding pipe 688 which, as indicated by the legend, extends to the well. The adjacent ends of

pipes

684 and 686 are connected by a series of swivel joints 688 and short lengths of steel pipe 690.

Such swivel joints for example as ch Swivel Joints and metal pipe are preferred be- Pause of the h gh pressures which are employed In the ud lines. It is to be understood however, that other types of flexible connections