GB2106564A - Transportable telescopable drilling mast - Google Patents

Abstract

A transportable, high floor telescopable drilling mast 12 and support means 45 for supporting the drilling mast when in elevated position are supported on trailer means 11 during transport. Wire line storage reel means 35 are mounted on the trailer means 11 and dead line anchor means 46a are mounted on the support means 45. First ramp means 10 include mast support means 20 secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, as well as rotary table support means and setback support means 14 pivotally mounted on and transportable in reclined position on the first ramp means 10. The rotary table support means includes a downwardly extending member 27c for supporting the rotary table support means in elevated position relative to the first ramp means 10 when in reclined position on the ramp means. The downwardly extending member 27c is secured to the mast support means 20 on the ramp means when the rotary table support means and setback support 14 are in elevated position on the first ramp means, and means are provided to secure the support means 45 with the dead line anchor means thereon, between the elevated drilling mast and the first ramp means. Second ramp means 16 are provided for connecting with the first ramp means 10 and include means to support drawworks 55 thereon in position adjacent the elevated mast. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transportable telescopable drilling mast Various types and arrangements of telescoping, portable drilling mast arrangements have been provided and are in use at the present time.

In conducting drilling operations, the cable extending between the drawworks and the first sheave of the crown block is normally called the "fast line". This cable portion, because of its repeated up and down movement between the crown block and the drawworks drum during drilling operations generally subjects such cable portion to more wear than the cables extending between the crown block and travelling block.

Heretofore, a wire line storage reel has been located near the drilling mast or rig so that a new cable portion of desired length can be unwound therefrom and the dead line anchor released whereby the unwound cable can then be fed through the dead line anchor and pulled to position the new cable portion between the crown block and travelling block.

Simultaneously, the worn cable portion, or fast line is pulled off or unwound from the drawworks drum and cut off so that a different cable portion then functions as the fast line. The cut end of the cable on the drawworks drum is then secured to the drawworks drum, and the deadline anchor is resecured to the cable line adjacent the mast in a manner well known in the art.

The locating of the wire line storage reel at each drilling site consumes time, as does the removal thereof when the drilling operations are completed at each location. Also, substantial problems are encountered in trying to provide a mast and substructure arrangement which has substantial drilling capacity on the one hand, while enabling such large, heavy arrangement to be transported over normal roads without exceeding legal weight and height requirements.

The present invention preferably provides a transportable, high floor telescopable drilling mast and substructure arrangement therefor which overcomes the above and other objections.

The invention may also provide an arrangement wherein the wire line storage reel associated with a drilling mast remains fixed in position in relation to the drilling mast, both during transport and during drilling operations.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention preferably eliminates the necessity of locating a wire line storage reel adjacent a drilling rig at each drilling location and then removing the wire line storage reel which requires that it be relocated in position adjacent the drilling mast at another drilling location.

The invention preferably also provides a transportable, high floor telescopable drilling mast incorporating an arrangement whereby the wire line storage reel means, dead line anchor means, travelling block means and crown block means may all remain connected by cable means during transport thereof to eliminate the necessity of rigging down such cable arrangement at the conclusion of a drilling operation before moving the drilling mast to a new location. This, therefore, also eliminates the necessity of restringing the cable connections between such apparatus at each new drilling location.

A high floor, transportable and telescopable high floor drilling mast and substructure arrangement of substantial drilling capacity in accordance with the invention may be transported over normal roads within the legal load and legal height requirements. The substructure may also include first ramp means with mast support means secured to and extending upwardly therefrom; rotary table support means and setback support means pivotally mounted and transportable in reclined position on the first ramp means; and rotary table support means including a downwardly extending member for supporting the rotary table support means, in elevated position relative to the first ramp means when in reclined position on the ramp means and means to secure the downwardly extending member to the mast support means when the rotary table support means and setback support are in elevated position on the first ramp means.

A transportable substructure for a high floor, transportable, telescopable drilling mast may be constructed in accordance with the invention and arranged so that the height of the substructure may comply with the legal height and weight requirements for transport over normal roads, and which, if desired be changed to increase or decrease the height of such substructural arrangement with a minimum of effort at a drilling location.

A second ramp means may also be provided for connection with the first ramp means and for supporting a drawworks thereon adjacent the elevated drilling mast to provide power for conducting drilling operations.

The present invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, of which; Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing in full line the relationship of the drilling mast, wire line storage reel, dead line anchor, rotary table support means, setback support means and drawworks in relation to an elevated mast for conducting drilling operations with the mast trailer transport represented by wheels illustrated in dotted-line position on the ramp.The mast is pinned to the substructure immediately prior to elevation and the travelling block is shown as remaining connected by cables to the crown block, while the cable between the cable reel and dead line anchor remains connected since the dead line anchor is carried on the same trailer as the cable reel and mast; Fig. 2 is a plan view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the arrangement of the first and second ramp means when positioned at a drilling location; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the first ramp means with mast support means secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom with the rotary table support means and setback support means in reclined, yet elevated, position on the first ramp means for transport; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the transport trailer for the telescoped mast with the wire line reel storage means mounted on such trailer;; Fig. 5 is a partial diagrammatic side view illustrating the relationship of the mast sections when telescoped on trailer means as well as the relationship of the travelling block on the mast transport trailer; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the mast transport trailer with the wire line storage reel means supported thereon.

Attention is first directed to Fig. 1 of the drawings wherein the various components of one embodiment of the present invention are illustrated in assembled relationship on a drilling location, with the centerline of the well bore to be drilled, being represented by the dotted line 8.

A first ramp means 10 is represented as resting on the earth's surface, illustrated at 9. Mobile trailer means, illustrated schematically and referred to generally at 11, provide transport means for the high floor, telescopable drilling mast illustrated in dotted line in extended relation and referred to generally by the numeral 12.

The mobile trailer means 11 is diagrammatically represented as having been moved on to the first ramp means 10 whereby the mast 12 may be pinned or connected, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, and then elevated to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings by cable means and a method well known to those skilled in the art The first ramp means 10, as better illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, has pivotally mounted thereon a structure forming a rotary table support means and setback support means, referred to generally at 14, which is constructed and arranged as will be described in greater detail hereinafter to enable the rotary table support means and setback support means, along with the first ramp means 10 on which they are supported, to be moved by trailer means over normal roads without exceeding weight or height restrictions or limitations.

Second ramp means, referred to generally by the numeral 16, is connected in end-to-end relationship with the first ramp means 10, as better illustrated in plan view in Fig. 2 at a drilling location by any suitable means as illustrated at 1 6a in Fig. 1. The second ramp means 16 is adapted to receive the second trailer means, illustrated in dotted line and referred to generally at 1 7 in Fig. 1, which transports and supports the drawworks 55. Means 1 8 pivotally connect the second ramp means 16 with the trailer means 17 whereby it may be elevated or moved to a desired position adjacent the elevated drilling mast 12.

The rotary table support and setback support means 14 includes longitudinally extending members referred to by the numeral 25. Each of the laterally spaced, longitudinally extending members 25 is connected by laterally extending beams 25a. The members 25 are connected to the ramp means 10 by means of the members or braces 26 and 27, connected between each side of the frame formed by members 25, 25a and the ramp means 10. One end 26a and 27a of each of the members 26 and 27, respectively, is pivotally connected by any suitable means to the first ramp means 10 while the upper end 26b of each of the members 26 and the upper end 27b of each of the members 27 is pivotally connected to each of the latterly spaced, longitudinally extending frame members 25, as shown in Fig. 3.

Secured adjacent one end 25b of each of the longitudinally extending, laterally spaced members 25 is a downwardly extending member 27c, the lower end 28 of which rests on the first ramp mean 10, as illustrated in Fig. 3, during transport of the first ramp means on trailer means (not shown) with the rotary table support means and setback support means thereon. This arrangement enables the rotary table support means and setback support means 14, as well as the first ramp means 10 which supports such arrangement, to be transported over normal roads without exceeding load and height restrictions.

Also, the arrangement enables the vertical height of the rotary table support means and setback tower means 14 to be readily changed, if desired, when the first ramp means is positioned at a drilling location as will be explained. A rotary table, illustrated at 27d, may be carried by the rotary table support 14 during transport, if desired.

A suitable mobile transport or trailer means for the telescopable, high floor drilling mast is schematically and diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In Fig. 6, a top schematic plan view of one suitable form of mobile trailer or transport means 11 is illustrated, while Fig. 4 is a schematic end view of the trailer 11 with a drilling mast schematically illustrated thereon. As shown, a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending members 1 a are provided, which are interconnected by any suitable lateral bracing to form a longitudinally extending main frame, referred to generally at 11 b, to form a trailer means. Suitable means, as diagrammatically illustrated at 11 g, connect with the frame 1 b to mount the wheels 1 h for transport of the trailer frame with the mast 12 thereon in collapsed position, along with the wire line reel 35 and the travelling block 50 connected by cables represented at 55' with the crown block 50a, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. A projecting surface portion 1 c is provided at one end of the trailer means, which is pivotally connected as represented at 1 d to the main frame 1 b, such portion also being illustrated in Fig. 5 and providing a support for transport of the travelling block represented generally at 50 along with the telescoped mast.The longitudinally extending frame members 11 a are provided with longitudinally spaced, laterally extending projections 11 e, which receive and support the front legs 1 2a of the drilling mast 12 when the mast 12 is in the telescoped position for transport, as better seen in Figs. 4 and 5. Suitable support means 1 are provided adjacent one end of the longitudinal frame 11 b for rotatably supporting the wire line storage reel 35 thereon.

In Fig. 5, the trailer means 11 is illustrated in side diagrammatic view with the telescoped mast 12 and travelling block 50 supported thereon.

The upper section of portion 13 of the telescoping mast 12 is illustrated as being telescopically received within the lower mast portion referred to generally at 1 2b. Also, the travelling block, represented diagrammatically at 50, is supported on the trailer frame portion 1 c during transport of the telescoped mast 12 so that it may remain connected with the crown block 50a by cable means diagrammatically illustrated by dotted line 55' in Fig. 1. As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4, the mast 12 includes the longitudinally extending and spaced front legs 1 2a with side brace members 1 2c extending between each front leg 1 2a and the back legs or vertically extending members 1 2d.Similarly, suitable brace members 1 2e extend between the back legs 1 2d, which bracing is formed in any suitable manner so that the cross section of the drilling mast is in a generally C shape, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, with the open-face of the C facing downwardly when the mast 12 is in a telescoped, reclined position on the trailer means 11 for transport. Thus, when mast 12 is reclined, or on trailer 11, rear legs 1 2d are elevated in relation to front legs 12a.

Also carried on the first trailer means 11 during transport of the telescoped drilling mast 12 is additional support means or member referred to generally at 45 in Fig. 1, which support means is a portion of the commonly referred to "A"-frame arrangement for elevating and supporting the drilling mast 12 in elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Mounted on the support means 45 is the dead line anchor referred to at 46a, to which is secured the end of the line extending from the wire line support reel 35, such cable being referred to at 46b in Fig. 1.

The drawworks is illustrated generally by the numeral 55 in Fig. 1, as supported on the trailer 1 7 on which it is mounted. Also the drilling mast 12 is shown in dotted line in Fig. 1 as having been lifted off the trailer means 11 and pinned at 1 2i in reclined position on top of mast support 20 on ramp means 10. The mast 12 and trailer 17 with drawworks 55 thereon are then moved to their full line elevated positions, illustrated in Fig. 1, by cable means and arrangements well known in the art. In some instances, the drawworks and trailer 1 7 are not elevated. In such case, the trailer 1 7 is moved on ramp 16 adjacent the elevated mast 12 and rotary table and setback tower means 14.A drive connection of a well known form extends between the drawworks and rotary table 27d for rotation of the rotary table. Also, an arrangement well known in the art as a catworks is provided for control of the drilling operations by the driller.

After the mast 12 has been moved to elevated position, the support means 45 that is pinned at its lower end, as illustrated at 47, is secured as illustrated at 48 to support the mast 12. The rotary table support means, rotary table 27d and setback support means, referred to generally at 14, are also elevated by means well known in the art and when elevated the lower end of member 27c is secured to the upper end of 20 by suitable well-known connecting means. As previously noted, the foot of the upright mast 12 is secured by suitable connecting means, as illustrated at 112i, to the upper end of member 20 to enable the drilling mast to be elevated to its full line upright position shown in Fig. 1.

Should it be desired to provide a working floor area of greater or lesser height than would be permissible with the length of the member 27c and the member 20, the length of member 27c may be altered by replacing it with another member after the ramp means 10 has been located at a drilling site. Also, the members 26 and 27 may be changed so as to equal the total length of members 27c and 20 when connected together. This would then elevate the working floor of the high floor mast to accommodate a blowout preventer stack of desired extent.

Similarly, the longitudinal extent of the members 18 supporting the trailer means 17 and drawworks 55 could be extended so that when the trailer means 17 and drawworks 55 are moved to an elevated position adjacent the mast 12 it would provide a continuous working floor area of the same level.

Suitable jack means 60 support trailer 1 7 on ramp 10 if it is not to be elevated, or when it is to be elevated, the jack means 60 supports the trailer until it is elevated. Also, suitable outriggers 65 are pivotally carried by first ramp means 10 and pivot outwardly and down to engage the earth's surface after ramp 10 has been positioned adjacent the drilling location. They may be partially disconnected from ramp means 10 and moved to a nonprojecting position during transport of the ramp 10 on a dolly or trailer as shown in Fig. 3.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement so that it is not necessary to locate the storage reel 35 adjacent the mast at each location, and then remove it and relocate the storage line reel adjacent the mast at each location.

The present invention overcomes this problem since the wire line reel storage 35 remains mounted on the mobile trailer means 11 on which the drilling mast 12 is transported. The trailer means 11 remains on first ramp means 10 adjacent mast 1 2 during drilling and thus the storage reel 35 is adjacent the mast 12 during transport and during drilling operations. The wire line reel is not removed from the dolly or trailer means 11 on which the mast 12 is transported, and thus it remains adjacent the drilling mast 12, as does the support 45 on which the dead line anchor 46a is carried.This eliminates the necessity of disconnecting the line 46b extending between the reel 35 and dead line anchor 46a, and also eliminates the necessity of locating a storage reel near the drilling mast at each drilling location and then removing it and relocating it at another drilling location adjacent the drilling mast.

When it is desired to move the drilling mast to another location, it is merely necessary to unwind the drum on the drawworks 55 so that the end of the cable extending from the drawworks 55 to the crown block may be disconnected from the drawworks drum. This cable is then coiled and placed on the reclined mast 12 during transport.

Since the support member 45 is carried on the trailer means 11 with the mast 12 during transport, the cable 46b extending between the dead line anchor 46a and the cable reel means 35 also remains intact.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrated and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. A transportable, telescopable drilling mast arrangement, wherein the telescopable drilling mast, a wire line storage reel and additional support means to support the drilling mast in elevated position are supported on the same mobile trailer means during transport of the drilling mast and during drilling operations.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, including, first ramp means for positioning the mobile trailer means at a desired drilling location, mast support means secured to and extending upwardly from said first ramp means, rotary table support means and setback support means pivotally mounted and transportable in reclined position on said first ramp means, means to secure the drilling mast in elevated position on said mast support means, and means to secure the additional support means with said dead line anchor means thereon between the elevated drilling mast and the mobile trailer means.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, wherein rotary table means are supported on said rotary table support means.

4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said rotary table support means and setback support means includes a downwardly extending member for supporting said rotary table support means and setback support means in elevated position relative to said first ramp means when in reclined position on said ramp means, and means to secure said downwardly extending member to said mast support means on said ramp means when said rotary table means and setback support means are in elevated position on said first ramp means.

5. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 4 including, second trailer means having drawworks thereon, and second ramp means for connecting to said first ramp means and for supporting said second trailer means.

6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 including means pivotally connecting said second trailer means and second ramp means whereby said second trailer means and drawworks may be elevated to a position adjacent the elevated drilling mast.

7. A transportable, telescopable drilling mast and substructure arrangement comprising, first ramp means, mast support means secured to and extending upwardly from said first ramp means, rotary table support means and setback support means pivotally mounted and transportable in reclined position on said first ramp means, mobile trailer means, telescoping mast means supported on said mobile trailer means, wire line storage reel means supported on said mobile trailer means, additional support means mounted on said first ramp means for supporting said mast means when in elevated position, and dead line anchor means mounted on said additional support means.

8. The arrangement of Claim 7, wherein said rotary table support means includes a downwardly extending member for supporting said rotary table support means and setback support in elevated position relative to said first ramp means when in reclined position on said ramp means, and means to secure said downwardly extending member to said mast support means when said rotary table support means and setback support means are in elevated position on said first ramp means.

9. A transportable, high capacity telescopable drilling mast and substructure arrangement which can be transported on mobile trailer means comprising, first ramp means for positioning the mobile trailer means at a desired location, mast support means secured to and extending upwardly from said first ramp means, and rotary table support means and setback support means pivotally mounted and transportable in reclined position on said first ramp means.

1 0. The arrangement of Claim 9 including, means to secure the additional support means with said dead line anchor means thereon between the elevated drilling mast and the mobile trailer means, and additional support means for securing between the elevated drilling mast and the mobile trailer means.

11. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.