Catwalk fluid and ground protection recovery system

Abstract

A removable fluid capturing system adapted for installation onto a support structure/frame located under an oil rig catwalk, said fluid capturing system comprising: an elongated trough adapted for insertion under an aperture located on said catwalk; means to secure said trough to structure of the catwalk wherein, upon use, the system is capable of collected fluid seeping from removed pipes through said aperture and directing the fluid to a catchment basin located at a position proximate said second end of the trough. Also disclosed are methods using such system.

Claims

1. A removable fluid capturing system adapted for installation onto a support structure located under an oil rig catwalk, said fluid capturing system comprising: a catwalk having an aperture formed therein; removed pipes from said oil rig having fluid therein and said removed pipes placed on said catwalk; an elongated trough inserted under the aperture located on said catwalk, said trough having first and second ends; means to secure said trough to the catwalk; and wherein the system collects the fluid seeping from the removed pipes through said aperture and directs the fluid to a catchment basin located at a position proximate said second end of the elongated trough.

2. A method to reduce fluid spillage around an oil rig catwalk, said method comprising: providing a catwalk having an aperture formed therein; placing removed pipes from said oil rig having fluid therein on said catwalk; providing a removable fluid capturing system adapted for installation onto a support structure located under the catwalk, said fluid capturing system comprising: an elongated trough adapted for insertion under the aperture of said catwalk, said trough having first and second ends; and means to secure said trough to the structure of the catwalk; installing said system under the aperture located along the catwalk between the aperture and a wire pulling a skate; and wherein the system collects fluid seeping from the removed pipes through said aperture and thereafter directing the fluid to a reservoir located at a position proximate said second end of the trough.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of a catwalk used in conjunction with an oil rig during well drilling operations;

(3) FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the aperture in a catwalk used in conjunction with an oil rig during well drilling operations;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view from underneath a catwalk used in conjunction with an oil rig during well drilling operations;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view from underneath of a catwalk used in conjunction with an oil rig during well drilling operations showing the spillage of fluid onto the ground located directly underneath the longitudinal aperture in the catwalk;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on the support structure of a catwalk;

(9) FIG. 8 is a close-up front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on the support structure of a catwalk;

(10) FIG. 9 is a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the drain valve at the forefront.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) As illustrated in accompanying FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, oil rig catwalks are designed with a narrow trough with a 2″ gap built into the top that a “skate” travels along the length through the use of a cable pushing the drill pipe and other tubulars up to the drill floor. In doing so, any residual drilling fluids that are in the pipe leak through the top trough and onto the ground.

(15) According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 5, a removable fluid capturing system is designed to be positioned under the above-mentioned gap in the catwalk and hence catch all contaminated fluid seeping through this aperture from spilling onto the ground. The trough is approximately fifty feet long in order to run the entire length of the catwalk. It is built out of 14-gauge steel bent in a V-shape. It is 14 inches across the top has a two-inch flat bottom adapted to attach a drain fitting. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at a total height of six inches, it will fit under any catwalk with little to no modifications to any drilling or service rig in the industry. Again, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at one of the extremity of the trough a valve and two-inch hose is attached and the contaminated fluid drains into a holding tank. The accumulated fluid can then be removed by sucking out with the rigs existing vacuum unit for subsequent disposal.

(16) According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trough is attached along the length of the catwalk using turnbuckles attached to the trough and then on to cross beams under the catwalk. This results in never having to remove the trough unless necessary to effect repairs to the rig equipment.

(17) FIG. 6 is a front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dimensions are given in inches and thus, for a trough having 6 inches in height, the side walls have a length of 8.5 inches with a bottom wall of 2 inches.

(18) FIG. 7 is a side view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on the support structure of a catwalk. Preferably, the trough is to be secured to the structure at every 2 feet on both sides of the trough.

(19) FIG. 8 is a close-up front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on the support structure of a catwalk. The trough is secured to a mid-section cross-beam located within the structure of the catwalk. Many different means of securing the trough to the catwalk can be employed. Preferably, one would use adjustable securing means. Other means which can be employed are permanent securing means such as welding and other non-removable or difficult to remove means would fall under the understanding of permanent securing means.

(20) FIG. 9 is a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(21) FIG. 10 shows a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(22) FIG. 11 shows a close-up front view of the shape of the trough of a removable fluid capturing system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each one provides an advantage over the other, this could be in the installation, the manufacturing, the handling, the volume containment, etc. Ideally, one will select the trough most appropriate for the task based on the person's understanding of the needs and advantages of each trough shape.

(23) According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for a removable fluid capturing system adapted for installation onto the support structure/frame located under an oil rig catwalk, said fluid capturing system comprising: an elongated trough adapted for insertion under an aperture located on said catwalk; means to secure said trough to the structure of the catwalk, wherein, upon use, the system is capable of collected fluid seeping from removed pipes through said aperture and directing the fluid to a catchment basin located at a position proximate said second end of the trough.

(24) According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a removable fluid capturing system adapted for installation onto a support structure/frame located under an oil rig catwalk, said fluid capturing system comprising: an elongated trough adapted for insertion under an aperture located on said catwalk; means to secure said trough to the structure of the catwalk; wherein, upon use, the system is capable of collected fluid seeping from removed pipes through said aperture and directing the fluid to a catchment basin located at a position proximate said second end of the trough.

(25) FIG. 12 is a front view of a removable fluid capturing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the drain valve at the forefront. The system is positioned under the cable of the catwalk's skate. This allows the catwalk's skate freedom of displacement unencumbered by the presence of the system according to the present invention. The installation of this system was performed after the manufacturing of the catwalk. An advantage of the present invention is that the system can be retrofitted on most catwalks without much work (i.e. without spending a lot of time or money to effect modifications to install the system).

(26) While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts, once they have been made familiar with this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention in the appended claims.