US3001594A - Off-shore drill rig - Google Patents

Description

G. E. SUDEROW OFF-SHORE DRILL RIG Sept. 26, 1961 Filed May 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .n III1 INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. SUDEROW A TTORNEYS Q 4 3 H 9 I Sept. 26, 1961 G. E. SUDEROW OFF-SHORE DRILL RIG 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1954 1N VEN TOR.

GEORGE E.SUDEROW A T TORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 G. E. SUDEROW 3,001,594

OFF-SHORE DRILL RIG Filed May 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. SUDEROW A T TORAEYS U i d a e P ten 7 OFF-SHORE DRILL RIG George E. Suderow, New York, N.Y., assignor to De Long Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1954, Ser. No. 427,554 16 Claims. (Cl. 175-9) The present invention relates to a marine vessel such as a floating barge or the like for use in subaqueous operations and more particularly to an improved olfshore drilling rig assembly.

An important object is to provide a simple, efficient, economical and compact floating barge, on which is movably mounted complete drilling rig and producing platform equipment. The drilling rig preferably includes a mobile hollow or boxlike structure the top wall or surface of which is sufficiently rigid and durable to constitute a base or floor for supporting a drilling derrick or the like. Within the hollow base may be positioned the operating machinery and pumps. To one end or side of the barge may be pivotally or detachably connected at producing platform which is arranged to be moved to a horizontal position substantially in alignment with the deck of the barge so as to constitute a longitudinal extension thereof.

A further object consists in associating with the mobile supporting member, a pipe handling platform which may be pivotally connected to the supporting member so as to extend outwardly and above the producing platform when the latter is in its horizontal position, in order to provide means for facilitating the transfer of the pipes from the stowage rack and pipe chute to the derrick to insure quick and eflicient handling of the pipes during the drilling operation.

Another object consists in operatively associating a producing platform with a floatable barge or the like, and in which means are provided for severably connecting the producing platform to the barge so that the parts may be quickly assembled and the derrick erected over the well site at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and cost. Further, the parts are constructed and arranged so that the drilling operation may take place in either shallow or deep water. If a well is discovered, then the producing plafiorrn is provided with means for permanently maintaining or leaving it at the drilling site and a new producing platform is attached to the barge. If, on the other hand, a well is not struck, the floating barge, drill rig and producing platform may be towed to a new drilling site.

, .Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and draw- Referring to the drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment the invention may assume:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a barge constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the barge and its associated parts in their floating position;

FIGURE 2 is a side detail view partly in section of FIGURE 1 and showing the barge and its associated parts in their drilling or operating positions;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

' FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along the line55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed plan view of a modified form of barge assembly.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a marine vessel such as a floating barge or the like having a working deck 11 and vertically disposed well openings 12 into which loosely fit supporting legs 13, preferably in the* form of hollow tubular member or caissons, with which are associated any suitable jack mechanism 14, such as the jack assembly embodied in the co-pending Pointer application, Serial No. 283,567, for firmly embedding the caissons in the submarine ground and for raising the barge 10 and its associated parts above the level of the water (FIG. 2).

of rails or skidways 16 mounted on the deck 11 and extending from the midship portion 17 of the barge to the end 18 thereof (FIG. 3). A producing platform or overwater well head support 19 is movably connected by hinge pins 20 to the end portion 18 of the barge 10, and; is provided with a plurality of openings 21, for receiving supporting columns or piles 22, and centrally aligned drilling openings 23 An elongated drilling substructure, i.e., a supporting-- member or base 25 preferably hollow or of boxlike coni struction, is provided with closed sides so as to form a I compartment 26 in which are mounted mud pumps 28 and engines 27 for driving drilling equipment and the pumps 28. Mud tanks 29 may also be positioned in the compartment 26. Mounted on the top of the member 25, at that end thereof nearer the barge end 18, is a draw works 30 and a rotary 31 both driven by the engines 27. A pipe rack 32 is also mounted on the top of the supporting member 25. To the outer end of the hollow supporting member 25 is pivotally connected a pipe handling platform 33 as at 34. The supporting member 25 has extending laterally from one side thereof, a pipe chute 35 (FIG. 3) provided with longitudinally spaced rollers 36 for conveying pipes 37 from the rack 32 outwardly to the pipe platform 33, which is also provided with a chute 35' arranged to register with the chute 35 when the platform 33 is in its horizontal position as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3. Thus, it will be seen that simple, ellicient, and compact means are provided for enabling the quick and efficient handling of the pipes during the drilling operation. A crane 38 may be provided for handling the pipes so as to transfer them from the rack 32 to the chute 35.

A derrick 39 is carried by the supporting member 25 over the rotary 31 and has its legs 40 secured to the top of the member in any suitable manner as at 41. Thus, the

top area of the substructure 25 beneath the derrick con-v stitutes a drilling table. The bottom 42 of the substructure 25 (FIG. 5), may be provided with pairs of spaced.

depending lugs 43 connected by bolts 44 to the member. The lugs 43' of each pair, have transversely aligned bear-' ing openings for receiving the axles 45 of a flanged rollerv necessary drilling equipment required to service one ormore producing platforms. Thus, it will be seen that the oil-shore drilling rig can with equal facility be used for drilling a new well or can be floated to an existing platform erected in any suitable manner so as to drill a new well, clean out an existing Well or drill an additional well on the same platform where a well has run dry, without interfering with the free movement of the floating barge. In order to position the substructure 25 in cantiever fashion beyond one end of the barge, the drilling equipment Patented Sept. 26, 1961 is s'o positioned on the substructure that the center of gravity of the latter, when in such position, is inboard of the barge.

In operation, the barge with the caissons 13 in their raised'position and the supporting member 25 moved to the midship portion 17 of th'ebarge, is' towed to the site. It will be noted that the producing'platform 19 and the pipe handling platform 33 are swung about their pivots so as to assume the stowed position shown in FIGURE 1, with the platform 33 resting against the derrick 39. When the barge reaches the site of operation, the caissons 13' are lowered so as to be firmly embedded in the marine ground by the jacks 14. The caissons 13 may be made up of sections connected to-' gather to suit the length required for the depth of the water where the drilling is to be done. is thenraised by the jacks 14 to the desired height above the water and locked in this position. The producing The barge 10 platform 19 is now lowered to its horizontalposition as shown in FIGURE 2, and the pipe handling platform 33 issimilarly swung outwardlyfso that the pipe chute 35' registers with the chute 35. The supporting member 25 and the derrick 39 are now moved over the producing piatform 19 (FIG; 3), until the center line of the rotary 31 registers with one of the drilling openings 23 located at the selected well station (FIG. 3), so that the drilling of a well can be started. The crane 38 is then brought into operation so as to feed pipes 37 from the rack 32 to the platform 33 through the chutes 35 and 35'; The

pipes are chuted to the platform 33 in order to facilitate handlingand to provide space for temporary stowage.

Thus, means are provided for preventing the pipes from being tied up or blocked in the chutes when being fed to the platform 19, during the drilling operation.

When a producing well comes in, the piles, caissons,

columns, or studs 22 are driven through the openings 21 into the ground by any suitable mechanism, and are permanently attached to the producing platform. After the drill rig 25 and its associated parts are moved back onto the barge, the necessary pumping machinery, if required, can then be mounted onthe producing platform and connected to the well. The hinged pins which pivotally connect the producing platform to the bar 10 are removed, so that the barge'is free to be, and is lowered into the water. The caissons 13 are then raised from engagement with the submarine ground by the jacks 14, so that the barge is now in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and ready to be moved to another drilling site. The producing platform 19, of course, is left in its stationary position for use in further production of the .well. A new producing platform is then pivotally connected to the barge so that it may be moved to a new location and the operation repeated. When the parts are in their stowed position (FIG. 1), the pipe platform 33 acts as a stop for the producing platform 19.

Thus, it will be seen that the barge 10 can be used re peatedly at a new drilling site by the addition of a new producing platform, if a well has been struck, or the same platform can be used if no well is brought in. Further, the substructure and its associated parts, are

constructed in such a manner that the entire unit can be moved either'forwardly or rearwardly by sliding it on the rails or skidways 16, or by some other efiicient method of guiding the rig to a desired position. The barge assembly can operate in shallow deep water and in either case the caissons 13 are moved or jacked down; into a firm bearing engagement with the. marine ground, and then the barge is raised above the water to the neces-' sary heightl Where non-uniform contour of submerged ground is encountered, the jack operation at each caisson 13 can be controlled separately so that an equal bearing is obtained at all caissons to insure proper leveling of the barge on its supporting structure. Moreover, the drill rig: can be reused at ditferent locations by adding new or 7 used producing platforms and replenishing supplies as required. Several wells canbe drilled whilethe bargeis 3,001,694 j p r e in one position and the barge may be removed from one site after drilling and used to service existing wells. It will be seen that when the substructure 25 and its associated parts are returned to the midship position on the barge, the pipe platform 33 can be swung about its pivot 34 to a stowed position and engage the adjacent side of the derrick. Similarly, the. producing platform 19 may be moved about its pivot 20 so as to overlap and engage the adjacent side of the now folded pipe platform 33 (FIG. 1). a

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE 6, the floating barge 10 may be substantially similar inconstructionto the barge previously referred to, and'include's the caissons 13 which extend through the Well openings 12 and are operable by suitable jack mechanism-s so as to be raised, lowered, or leveled. The substructure 25 may be'mova'ble along the rails 16 and supports a derrick in substantially the same manner-as previously described. The producing platform 47, however, is integrallycoupled or connected, as at 48, to the end of the barge 10, and is prcwided with guide openings 49 for receiving caissons, piles, or studs 50, which may be operated upon by suitable jack mechanisms similar to the jacks 14 previously described. In this modification,

the rails extend onto the'producing platform 47 which is also provided with the centrally disposed aligned well drill site, can easily be moved to an operating position over the producing platform 47 so as to be located over the desired point of drilling. The caissons 13 and 50, may then be lowered so as to be embedded in the submarine ground and the-barge may be raised above the water .to. provide a working platform. The caissons 13 W co-act with the caissons 50 to properly support the drill barge 10 and the producing platform 47 during the drilling operation. A derrick or the like carried by the supporting-member 25, is then positioned over producing- ,7 platform 47 so that the center line of the rotary is located over the selected well station.

After at producing Well comes in, the mobile substructure 25 which supports the derrick and drilling equipment', is moved back to its stowed position on the barge 10. The producing platform 47 is then uncoupled or the deck, bulkheads and shell, cut through at 48 to separatethe platform from the barge in order to leave the producing platform 47 at the drillingsite with the necessary pumping equipment mounted thereon, for continuing the operation of the Well. The barge 10 is then lowered into the wateriby operation of the jack mechanism 14 previously described, and, the caissons 13 raised so that the drill barge may be towed to a site where a new producing platform .47 maybe added by coupling or welding the platform to the end of the barge. V

, Thus, it. will be seen that an ofi-shore drilling rig assembly is provided for drilling a new well orfor cleaning.

out or servicing an existing well or drilling an additional well on the same platform. As an example, assumingthe barge is moved to drill a well through a producing platform 19, as shown in FIGURE 2, and another'well in the vicinity becomes plugged, the drilling'operation can be temporarily discontinued, and the derrick 39and-all other equipment moved clear of the producing platform 9 and the latter left at the drilling site. The barge 10 and its. equipment can then be lowered into the water and floated to the well to be cleaned out. On arrival at this location, the barge is raised out of the water on its sup-. porting legs and the well cleaned out. When the necessary servicing operationihas been completed, the barge can-be returned to its'original, site and proceed with the drillingthereat.

. spot-59:4

7 It will that the forms of the invention shown are merely illustrative and that such changes may bemade as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A working assembly for subaqueous drilling operations including: a floating barge; a producing platform; means for detachably connecting said platform to one side of said barge so that said platform may be moved to a horizontal position in alignment with said barge to constitute a longitudinal extension thereof; a supporting member movably mounted on said barge and arranged to be moved out over said producing platform and to continue to be supported on said barge without over balancing; drilling equipment including a derrick mounted on said supporting member adjacent one end thereof so as to be movable therewith for drilling downwardly through said platform; and means for supporting said barge and platform above the water at the well drilling site.

2. A working assembly for subaqueous drilling operations including: a floating barge; a producing platform fixed to said barge and extending outwardly from one side thereof, said barge having guide means thereon; a supporting member movably mounted on said guide means so as to be positionable on said producing platform; drilling equipment including a derrick on said supporting member and arranged to be moved onto said producing platform to drill downwardly therethrough, said barge and platform having vertical guide openings; supporting legs axially movable in said openings; and means for moving said legs relative to said barge and producing platform to raise and lower said legs relative to said platform and barge when the latter is a afloat and to raise and lower said barge and platform on said legs when the latter are engaged with the marine bottom, said producing platform being severable from said barge so as to be left at the drilling site. 1

3. A drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body having projecting horizontally from one side thereof a severable portion provided with a drilling opening; a plurality of generally upright elongated marine-bottomengageable members for supporting said body, including said portion, above water; means mounting each of said members on said body, including said portion, for substantially vertical relative movement therebetween; means mounted on said body, including said portion, for efiecting said movement; and a drilling substructure, including a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick, and means mounting said substructure on said body, including said portion, for horizontal translational movement between an operative position on said body portion for drilling a Well therethrough and an inoperative position on said body off of said portion.

4. A working assembly for sub-aqueous drilling operations including: a floating barge; means for supporting said barge above the water, an elongated drilling substructure horizontally movable on said barge; a derrick carried on one end of said substructure; drilling equipment for servicing one or more producing platforms carried on said substructure, and the center of gravity of said substructure and equipment carried thereon being located so that said substructure is movable to project the derrick end thereof in cantilever fashion outwardly beyond the peripheral outline of said barge, without overbalancing said substructure for drilling a well or for servicing an existing well.

5. A self-contained drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body mobile as a unit and carrying all equipment necessary to drill a well or service an existing well; means for at least partially supporting said body on the marine bottom with at least an upper portion of said body above water; an elongated drilling substructure carried on said body for horizontal translational movement; a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick, mounted on one end of said substructure, the center of gravity of the latter and the elements cairied thereby being located so that said: substructure can be moved between an inoperative ,position substantially inboard of the peripheral outline of said body and an operative position wherein saidend projects in cantilever fashion without over-balancing said substructure, and disposes said table, rotary, and derrick outboard of said outline for well drilling or servicing purposes.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the supporting means includes a plurality of marine-bottom-engageable legs mounted on the body for extension and retraction therebeneath and power-operated means for selectively effecting or restraining said extension or retraction.

7. The structure defined in claim 5 including: a mud tank; a mud pump; draw works; and an engine for driving said pump, draw works, and the rotary; said tank, pump, draw works, and engine being mounted on the substructure. v

8. Themethod of drilling a marine well, the steps comprising: floating to the drilling site a drilling barge carrying all necessary equipment to drill a well; at least partially-supporting the barge on the marine bottom with the working deck of the barge above water; supporting a producing platform outboard of and adjacent the barge; moving from an inoperative position on the barge to an operative position over the platform a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick while supporting the table, rotary, and derrick on the barge; drilling a well downwardly through the platform with the table, rotary, and derrick moving the table, rotary, and derrick back to their inoperative position; refloating the barge; and floating the barge away from the site leaving the platform in situ.

9. The method of servicing amarine well having a producing platform,'the steps comprising: floating to a position adjacent but entirely to one side of the platform a drilling barge carrying all necessary equipment to redrill or clean out a well; at least partially supporting the barge on the marine bottom'with its working deck above water and adjacent the platform; moving from an inoperative position on the barge to an operative position over the platform a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick while supporting the table, rotary, and derrick from the barge; redrilling or cleaning out the well with the table, rotary, and derrick; moving the table, rotary, and derrick back to their inoperative position; refloating the barge;. and floating the barge away from the well.

10. A working assembly for subaqueous drilling operations including: a barge, a producing platform; hinge pins detachably connecting said platform to one side of said barge so that said platform may be swung from an upright to a horizontal position to constitute a longitudinal extension of said barge; a drilling substructure mounted on said barge for horizontal movement thereon to project over said platform without overbalancing, when said platform is in its horizontal position; and drilling.

equipment, including a derrick, mounted on said substructure for drilling downwardly through said platform when said substructure projects over said platform.

11. In combination, an over-water well head support, an over-water marine structure adjacent said well head support, a movable drilling substructure on said marine structure for bridging said marine structure and said well head support; means for moving said substructure on said marine structure to a position wherein one end of said substructure overhangs said marine structure and overlies said well head support; and components mounted on said substructure constituting a well drilling-servicing rig, said components being distributed on said substructure so that the weight of said substructure and components on said overhanging portion of said substructure is counterbalanced by the weight of said substructure and components overlying said marine structure, whereby said well head support is relieved of the weight of said overhanging portion of said substructure.

12. A self-contained drilling barge comprising: a bony- '2 ant body mobile .as a unit and carrying an equipment necessary to drill a well or service an existing wall; means forrat least partially supporting said body on the vmarine,

bottom with at least an upper portion of saidibody above water; an elongated drilling substructure mounting at one end thereof a drilling table, a rotary, and 1a derrick, said substructure being carried on said body, for horizontal translational movement between an inoperativeposition substantially inboard of the peripheral outline of said body and an operative position wherein said end projects in cantilever fashion Without overbalancing said substructure, and disposes said table, rotary,,and derrick outboard of said outline for well drilling or servicing purposes; and a producing platform, having at least one drilling opening extending theretbrough, detachably connected to and mounted on said body for movement between an inoperativetposition substantially inboard of said outline and an operative horizontal drilling position outboard of said outline and below said substructure for movement of the latter to position said table, rotary, and derrick over said platform for drilling downwardlly through said opening. V

13. A self-contained drilling barge compri ing: a buoyant body mobile as a unit and carrying all equipment necessary to drill a well or service an existing well; means for at least partially supporting said body on the marine bottom with at least an upper portion of said body above water; an elongated drilling substructure mounting at one end thereof a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick, said substructure being carried on said body for horiaontal translational movement between an inoperative position substantially inboard of the peripheral outline of said body and an operative position wherein said end projects in cantilever fashion without overbalancing said substructure, and disposes said table, rot y, and derrick outboard of said outline for well drilling or servicing purposes; a producing platform, having at least one drilling opening extending therethrough, detacha'bly connected to and. mounted on said body for. movement between an inoperative position substantially inboard of said outline and an operative horizontal drilling position outboard of said outline and below said substructure for movement of the latter to position said table, rotary, and derrick over said platform for drilling downwardly through said opening; and a plurality of marine-bottom-engageable legs securable to said platform for supporting the latter independently of said body when detached therefrom.

14. A drilling apparatus comprising: a buoyant body having a platform-like working deck; means carried by said body for selectively floating the latter or at least partially supporting the same on the marine bottom with said deck above water; an elongated drilling substructure carrying at one end thereof a rotary and a drilling derrick, said one end of said substructure extendingouo board of therperipheral. outline of said body witb said rotary and derrick operative positioned over the location to bedrilled and the other end of said substructure disposed inboard of said outline, the center of gravity of said substructure andthe elements carried thereby being in board of said outline; and means mountingsaid elongated substructure on said body for horizontal translational movement between said outboard operative position and an inoperative position substantially entirely inboard of said peripheral outline. t

15. A self-contained drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body mobile as a unit having a working deck and carrying all equipment necessary to drill ,a well or service an existing well; means for at least partially supporting said body on the marine bottom with said deck above water; drilling mechanisms including a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick; and means for carrying and moving said mechanisms as a unit on said deckgfrom an inoperative position substantially inboard of the peripheral outline of said body to an operative positiomand for sup porting said units in said operative position, wherein said units are outboard of said outline and overhang an edge of said body forwell drilling or servicing purposes.

16. A self-contained drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body mobile as a unit having a working deck and carrying all equipment necessary-to drill a well or service an existing well; means for at least partially supporting said body on the marine bottom with said deck above water; drilling mechanisms including a drilling table, a rotary, and a derrick on said body and movable as a unit from asubstanti-ally inboard-inoperative stowed position to an operative position wherein said mechanisms are substantiallyoutboard of said body; and overhang an edge thereof for well drilling and servicing purposes; and cantilever means for supportingsaid -mech-. anisms at least partly from said body in said operative position. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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