Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
  • E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
  • E21B19/15—Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position
  • E21B19/155—Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for taking pipe elements from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, especially in connection with a derrick, preferably on a floating drilling platform.
• the invention also relates to a method for handling pipe elements .
• the pipe or the string is disassembled in lengths comprising three pipe elements, so-called “set-backs", which by means of a special pipe hand ⁇ ling equipment is stord vertically, for example in so-called “finger stores” provided in the vicinity of the derrick itself.
• the known system requires three different hoisting arrangement, a first hoisting arrangement for bringing the pipe elements from a basic level to a higher level, a second hoisting arrangement for bringing pipe elements from a hori ⁇ zontal to a vertical position, and a third hoisting arrange ⁇ ment for supporting the drilling string.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages involved in previously known pipe handling systems.
• a device of the type as stated in the preamble which according to the invention is character ⁇ ized in that it comprises an elongated unit which at its first end is rotatably attached to the hoisting arrangement of the derrick, and which at the second end is arranged displaceably along the working deck of the drilling plat ⁇ form, the unit comprising gripping means for holding pipe lengths which preferably are constituted by pre-assembled pipe elements.
• Such a device entails a series of advantages compared to previously known pipe handling systems.
• assembled pipe lengths might be brought direct to and from the drilling centre.
• the pipe lengths When being connected to the drilling string the pipe lengths are brought direct from a horizontal storage to a vertical position for being connec ⁇ ted to the drilling string, the elongated unit comprising gripping means and possibly a turning device for connecting pipe lengths to the drilling string.
• the gripping means pro ⁇ vided on the elongated unit, as well as the turning device also serve for disconnecting pipe lengths, which are com ⁇ prising up to for example three pipe elements, from the drilling string and the transport of the disconnected pipe lengths to the horizontal storage.
• the device according to the invention will also entail a time saving, since the handling operation itself follows the movements of the hoisting arrangement of the derrick, such that the device according to the invention will be ready for either giving away a pipe lengths if a drilling operation takes place, or be ready for receiving a pipe lengths if the pipe string is to be demounted, whilst the hoisting and drilling device is in its top position.
• the device according to the invention when the hoisting and drilling devices are in their lower posi ⁇ tion, will assume a horizontal position in which it during a drilling operation is ready for gripping another pipe lengths, whereas during a demounting of the drilling string can give away a pipe lengths for the horizontal storage thereof.
• Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a derrick struc ⁇ ture including a known vertical pipe storage and associated pipe handling equipment.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a pipe element handling device according to the present invention, illustrated in vertical position.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pipe element handling device of Fig. 2, illustrated in horizontal position beside a storage for horizontal accumulation of pipe elements.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a derrick structure, a system for handling pipe elements as known per se will be described, as well as vertical storage of such pipe elements.
• the derrick itself is generally designated by 1, the derrick comprising to parallel derrick components 3 and 4 which at the top are connected by means of a traverse 2 which together with the derrick components 3 and 4 defined a space 5 for accomodating a hydraulic hoisting device 6, which by means of for example hydraulic motors, transmission gears and toothed wheels can move along vertical toothed bars 10 mounted along the derrick components 3 and 4.
• the hoisting device 6 is arranged so as to be adapted to drilling equipment 11, the hoisting device also allowing for an idle displacement along the drilling string 15 which in this instance at its upper end is connected direct to the drilling machine 11, and which at the lower end is passed throught the well centre 12 adjacent a mousehole 13.
• reference numeral 20 designates a usual pipe hand ⁇ ling apparatus for handling and storing pipe lengths 21, such pipe lengths 21, which are assembled from three pipe elements 21a, 22b and 22c, being stored vertically in a storage means 22a, a so-called finger storage located rela ⁇ tively high up on the derrick 1, which contributes to giving the overall structure a high level point of gravity.
• the pi * pe handling apparatus 20 is thus adapted only to cope with vertically arranged pipe lengths, the pipe handling apparatus 20 comprising a rail runriing trolley 24 displace- able along rails 25, as well as an upper handling means 25a which can rotate about a vertical axis, and which is provi ⁇ ded with upper clamping means 26 and lower combined clamping and rotating means 27.
• the pipe handling apparatus 20 comprising a rail runriing trolley 24 displace- able along rails 25, as well as an upper handling means 25a which can rotate about a vertical axis, and which is provi ⁇ ded with upper clamping means 26 and lower combined clamping and rotating means 27.
• FIG. 2 and 3 which illustrate an embodi- ment of a pipe element handling device according to the present invention
• this handling means can substitute exist ⁇ ing vertical pipe storages and associated pipe handling equipment, for thereby achieving a simpler derrick struc- ture, a time saving as regards pipe handling, as well as a more stable platform if this constitutes a floating plat ⁇ form.
• the device according to the invention comprises an elongated unit which is generally disignated by 51, and which at its first end via a fork- shaped connection piece 52 is rotatably attached to the hoisting device 53 of the derrick, said hoisting arrangement possibly corresponding to the hoisting device 6 illustrated in connection with Fig. 1.
• connection areas 54 rotatably connected to a trolley 56 equipped with wheels 57 for displacement along rails 58 provided on the working deck of the derrick.
• the elongated unit 51 comprises claw-like clamping means 59 for holding a pipe length 60 which preferably con ⁇ sists of pre-asse bled pipe elements, here designated by 60a, 60b and 60c.
• the elongated unit 51 is designed so as to be expanded or contracted as regards its extention, and comprises in this connection a hollow structural member 61, in which there is provided a second structural member 62 which by means of a hydraulic sylinder 63 can be displaced telescopically in relation to the hollow structural member 61.
• a combined clamping and rotating device 64 which in a first instance might serve for the screwing together of the indi ⁇ vidual pipe elements 60a, 60b and 60c to longer composed pipe lengths 60, or it might serve for the disconnection of the lower part of a drilling string when this is in the area of the well centre 65.
• the clamping means can be provided at various mutual distances, the elongated unit 51 might be adapted to various lengths of the composed pipe length, and the supporting point of the composed pipe length might be adapted optimally as regards avoiding bulging of pipe lengths during handling, and thereby unnecessary stresses on the pipe joints.
• connection piece 52 might at the first end of the elongated unit 51 be connected to the hoisting device 53 via splicing members 70a and 70b, said splicing members cotjiprising not illustrated means for adjusting the length of the splicing members 70a, 70b.
• the trolley 56 might apart from being equipped with wheels 57 for moving along the rails 58 from the position which is illustrated to the right of Fig. 3 and to a position to the left of Fig. 3 in which the trolly abut against a stopper 71, be provided with a second combined clamping and rotating device 72, said second clamping and rotating device 72 com ⁇ prising a claw means, the centre thereof registering with the well centre 65 when the elongated member 51 is in an erected or vertical position, as this appears from Fig. 2.
• the trolly 56 might comprise a hydraulic system, here indicated by the reference numeral 73, which positions the elongated unit 51 when this is in its vertical position.
• this hydraulic system 73 might be drive connected ' to the wheels 57 for bringing the trolley 56 to the end position to the left of Fig. 3, in which the clamping and rotating device 72 registers with the well centre 65, and for bringing the elongated unit 51 out from this position when the unit once again is to take its horizontal position.
• a storage device 80 for horizontal storage of further pipe lengths 60n the storage device being displaceably arranged towards and from the area of the rails 58 for the elongated unit 51, so as to facili ⁇ tates the bringing of the pipe length 60n to the position in which the clamping means 59 can be made to embrace a pipe length, or put away a pipe length.
• connection with the storage device 80 there might be provided a connecting system for the connection of individual pipe elements to the illustrated pipe length, a pipe length then preferably being composed of three pipe elements.
• a drilling string will by means of the hoisting device 53 be passed throught the well centre 65 and down into the ground, and during the lowering of the hoisting device 53 the elongated unit 51 will be passed from the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 2, to the horizon ⁇ tal position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the hoisting device 53 will be in its lower position.
• the elongated unit 51 will by means of the clamping means 59, 64 bring with it a pipe length 60, whereafter the hoisting device 53 in Fig. 3 will start its hoisting movement towards the position illustrated in Fig. 2.
• the upper portion thereof In the vertical position of the pipe length 60 the upper portion thereof will be connected direct to a drilling machine which is arranged on the hoisting device 53, such that the drilling machine can aid in bringing the lower portion of the pipe length 60 in rotatably engagement with the drilling string stub protruding from the well centre 65.
• the clamping and rotating device 72 arranged on the trolley 56.
• the combined clamping and rotating device 64 which is mounted on the elongated unit 1.
• clamping devices 59 are then open for releasing the pipe length 60 from the elongated unit 51, such that the latter, after the trolley 56 has been passed from its end position ' at the well centre 56 and towards right on Fig. 3, can obtain a more and more inclined posi ⁇ tion until it has been returned to the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 3 for clamping another pipe length.
• the elongated unit 51 can be designed in a plurality of various manners, compared to the one discussed above.
• the telescopic effect of the various structural parts including in the unit 51 can be effected by means of one or more hydraulic systems, such as to achieve an as optimal support as possible of the pipe lengths 60 during the handling thereof.
• the hollow structural member 61 can be arranged displaceably in relation to the second structural member 62, for thereby achieving a necessary elongation or contraction of the elongated unit 51 depending on whether the latter is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 2, or in the horizontal position shown on Fig. 3.
• the present pipe element handling device implies the advan ⁇ tages that in connection with especially floating platforms the previously known pipe handling devices as well as finger storages for vertical mounting of pipe lengths might be di ⁇ spensed with, involving the achievement of a low level point of gravity and greater stability in connection with these type of platforms. Besides, there are achieved less handling times and less risk for loosing pipes in the drilling hole. There is also achieved more continuous drilling, at the same time as most of the working operations take place on the working deck, i.e. on a low level relative to the derrick.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19888951

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (7)

Citations (6)

• 1986
  • 1986-06-03 NO NO862201A patent/NO159405C/no unknown
• 1987
  • 1987-05-29 EP EP19870903449 patent/EP0270594A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1987-05-29 WO PCT/NO1987/000041 patent/WO1987007674A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1988
  • 1988-02-02 DK DK051788A patent/DK51788A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (6)

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