A method approximates and connects an off shore riser duct to a floating unit, includes installing a tubular coupling recipient on the floating unit at a riser coupling level, the coupling recipient having an annular side wall extending around a longitudinal axis. A pulling device is on the floating unit at a pulling device level above the riser coupling level. The pulling device pulls a line extended through the coupling recipient and connected to a pulling head at a riser duct upper end. The riser duct upper end is pulled into the coupling recipient, providing a locking mechanism to lock a coupling adapter against downward withdrawal. Extending the line along a curved deviating surface deviates the pulling direction. The curved deviating surface is formed by a deviating member connected to the coupling recipient at a distance from the longitudinal axis smaller than an annular side wall to longitudinal axis distance.

A method for mitigating the effects of cable wear in an active heave compensated hoisting system of an offshore vessel in a locked to bottom mode of operation is disclosed. The method comprises supporting an upper end of a string which is connected to a subsea well from a travelling block of the hoisting system, wherein the travelling block is suspended from a crown block via a cable. The method further comprises operating an active heave compensation system to control a drawworks of the hoisting system to pay in and out the cable to compensate for motion of the offshore vessel and maintain a target overpull in the string. The method further comprises adjusting a ballast system of the offshore vessel to vary the draft of the vessel, and controlling the drawworks in accordance with the variation in the draft of the vessel to cause a length of cable to slip through the hoisting system and maintain the target overpull in the string.

One or more images of a tubular being run into a well are captured. The one or more images can be captured by an image sensor. The tubular includes a first tubular section and a second tubular section connected together by a connection. An onsite edge gateway local to the image sensor is configured to perform various operations. Based on the captured one or more images, an elevation of the connection relative to a reference elevation of the well is determined. Based on the determined elevation, an operating condition is determined. It is determined whether the operating condition is included in an automation rule. In response to determining that the automation rule includes the operating condition, a signal is transmitted to drive a controllable device.

A multifunction manipulator includes a carriage; an articulated arm; a robotic apparatus; and a manipulation head. The robotic apparatus moves the manipulation head with at least three degrees of freedom. The manipulator moves the manipulation head with at least five degrees of freedom. The carriage includes a sliding block; a pulley-type hoisting device having a winch; an emergency braking system to prevent the carriage from moving due to malfunction of the hoisting system and to slide the carriage vertically. The articulated arm has a monolithic body constrained at a first end to the carriage, and at a second end to a first end of the robotic apparatus. The manipulation head connects to a second end of the robotic apparatus. The articulated arm includes first and second actuators. The articulated arm and robotic apparatus have electric actuators controlled independently by a control system of the manipulator.

Systems and methods for using high rate telemetry to improve drilling operations. A method may include performing drilling operations with a wired drill pipe (WDP) string in an oil and/or gas well. The drilling operations may include pumping drilling fluid to a mud motor of the WDP string through an internal passage of the WDP string and vertically moving the WDP string via a drawworks while controlling the drawworks to change speed of the WDP string based on downhole data received by wellsite surface equipment via electrical conductors integral to WDP of the WDP string. The received downhole data may include downhole pressure data that is generated downhole by a pressure sensor and is indicative of pressure of the drilling fluid in the internal passage.

Some embodiments may include a drilling rig comprising base structure; a hoisting device to raise drill pipe into a position in which the drill pipe is aligned with a bore axis of a well, the hoisting device connected to the base structure and including a hoisting cable and a mast, the mast having an operating side and a back side opposite the operating side, wherein the operating side of the mast is configured to accept the drill pipe; and a drawworks operatively connected to the mast via the hoisting cable, wherein the drawworks is closer to the operating side of the mast than to the back side of the mast. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

A method of manipulating a drum of a drawworks assembly includes removing a first plurality of fasteners releasably coupling a drum with a coupling assembly, removing a second plurality of fasteners releasably coupling the drum with a cradle assembly, and lifting the drum vertically from the drawworks assembly.

A reel assembly is provided. The reel assembly includes a housing, a drum core disposed within the housing, and a splitter flange separating the drum core into a first partition and a second partition. A first conduit is wound on the first partition of the drum core, and a second conduit is wound on the second partition of the drum core. A conduit handler system is utilized to make a connection or test a connection between the first conduit and the second conduit using actuating pistons to apply a compressive or an opposing tensile force on the connection.

An interlock between a drawworks and a blowout preventer includes a sensor for sensing a position of the blowout preventer. An interlock signal is generated by the sensor, and the interlock signal is reflective of the position of the blowout preventer. A lock operably connected to the drawworks receives the interlock signal and disables operation of the drawworks if the interlock signal meets a predetermined criterion. A method for operating a drill rig includes operating a drawworks to raise and lower a drill string and operating a blowout preventer. The method further includes sensing a position of the blowout preventer and generating an interlock signal that reflects the position of the blowout preventer. The method further includes comparing the interlock signal to a predetermined criterion and disabling the drawworks if the interlock signal meets the predetermined criterion.

Apparatus and methods for controlling release of torsional energy from a drill string having a lower portion that is stuck against a subterranean formation and a top end rotated by a top drive. The method may include decreasing a rotational speed set-point of the top drive, decreasing a torque set-point of the top drive, and/or decreasing flow rate of drilling mud being pumped downhole via the drill string, thereby decreasing torque output by a mud motor rotating a drill bit. The method may further include lifting the drill string to free the drill string. Decreasing the torque set-point of the top drive may comprise decreasing the torque set-point of the top drive to a minimum torque level that the top drive can output. Decreasing the rotational speed set-point of the top drive may comprise decreasing the rotational speed set-point of the top drive to zero.