Abstract
A collapsible drilling rig substructure is transported to a drilling site while in a collapsed transportation configuration wherein a raisable floor of the substructure is in a lowered transportation position relative to a fixed drill floor such that an upper surface of the raisable floor is positioned at a first height level above a base of the substructure while an upper surface of the fixed drill floor is positioned at a second height level above the base that is greater than the first height level. The substructure is positioned adjacent to a wellbore location at the drilling site and reconfigured from the lowered transportation configuration to a raised operating configuration by raising the raisable floor to an operating position laterally adjacent to the fixed drill floor while maintaining a height level of the upper surface of the fixed drill floor at the second height level.
Claims
1. A method, comprising: transporting a collapsible drilling rig substructure to a drilling site while said collapsible drilling rig substructure is in a collapsed transportation configuration, wherein a raisable floor of said collapsible drilling rig substructure is in a lowered transportation position relative to a fixed drill floor of said collapsible drilling rig substructure such that an upper surface of said raisable floor is positioned at a first height level above a base of said collapsible drilling rig substructure while an upper surface of said fixed drill floor is positioned at a second height level above said base that is greater than said first height level; positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to a wellbore location at said drilling site so that a bearing pad support beam comprising said base is supporting said collapsible drilling rig substructure; performing a first reconfiguration operation to reconfigure said collapsible drilling rig substructure from said lowered transportation configuration to a raised operating configuration, wherein said first reconfiguration operation comprises raising said raisable floor from said lowered transportation position to an operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor while maintaining a height level of said upper surface of said fixed drill floor at said second height level above said base: and performing a second reconfiguration operation to reconfigure said collapsible drilling rig substructure from said raised operating configuration to a substructure movement configuration, wherein said second reconfiguration operation comprises raising said bearing pad support beam relative to said fixed drill floor and said raisable floor so that said bearing pad support beam is no longer supporting said collapsible drilling rig substructure while maintaining said raisable floor in said operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said wellbore location, positioning a drawworks on said raisable floor while said raisable floor is positioned in said lowered transportation position, wherein raising said raisable floor to said operating position adjacent to said fixed drill floor comprises raising said raisable floor with said drawworks positioned thereon.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after performing said first reconfiguration operation, performing a drilling operation on said wellbore location while said collapsible drilling rig substructure is in said raised operating configuration.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said wellbore location is a first wellbore location and said drilling operation is a first drilling operation, the method further comprising: after performing said first drilling operation on said first wellbore location, performing said second reconfiguration operation; moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure from above a wellhead at said first wellbore location while said collapsible drilling rig substructure is in said substructure movement configuration; positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to a second wellbore location; after positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said second wellbore location, performing a third reconfiguration operation to reconfigure said collapsible drilling rig substructure from said substructure movement configuration to said raised operating configuration; and performing a second drilling operation on said second wellbore location while said collapsible drilling rig substructure is in said raised operating configuration.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein performing said third reconfiguration operation comprises lowering said bearing pad support beam relative to said fixed drill floor and said raisable floor while maintaining said raisable floor with said drawworks positioned thereon in said operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure from above said wellhead at said first wellbore location comprises moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure laterally over wellhead equipment that is positioned on said wellhead while said raisable floor is in said operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure laterally over said wellhead equipment comprises moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure so that said wellhead equipment passes laterally through a cellar area of said collapsible drilling rig substructure and out of said cellar area through an open space defined by at least said raisable floor and said base.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing said drilling operation on said wellbore location comprises coupling a mast assembly structure to said collapsible drilling rig substructure and pivotably raising a drilling mast of said mast assembly structure above said collapsible drilling rig structure.
9. A method, comprising: positioning a raisable floor of a drilling rig substructure in a lowered transportation position relative to a fixed drill floor of said drilling rig substructure such that an upper surface of said raisable floor is positioned at a first height level above a base of said drilling rig substructure while an upper surface of said fixed drill floor is positioned at a second height level above said base that is greater than said first height level; positioning a drawworks on said raisable floor of said drilling rig substructure while said raisable floor is in said lowered transportation position; transporting said drilling rig substructure with said drawworks positioned on said raisable floor to a drilling site while said raisable floor is in said lowered transportation position; positioning said drilling rig substructure adjacent to a wellbore location at said drilling site so that a bearing pad support beam comprising said base is supporting said drilling rig substructure; raising said raisable floor with said drawworks positioned thereon from said lowered transportation position to an operating position adjacent to said fixed drill floor such that said upper surface of said raisable floor is at an operating height level above said base for performing drilling operations that is substantially the same as said second height level of said upper surface of said fixed drill floor; after raising said raisable floor, performing a drilling operation at said wellbore location; and after performing said drilling operation and while maintaining said raisable floor with said drawworks positioned thereon in said operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor, raising said bearing pad support beam relative to said fixed drill floor and said raisable floor so that said bearing pad support beam is no longer supporting said drilling rig substructure.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein raising said raisable floor of said drilling rig substructure to said operating position adjacent to said fixed drill floor comprises actuating a raising apparatus that is coupled to at least said raisable floor and said base.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: positioning a mast assembly structure adjacent to said drilling rig substructure, said mast assembly structure comprising a pivotably mounted drilling mast that is in a substantially horizontal orientation during said positioning of said mast assembly structure; assembling said mast assembly structure and said drilling rig substructure into a drilling rig assembly by removably coupling said mast assembly structure to said drilling rig substructure; pivotably rotating said drilling mast to a raised operating position above said fixed drill floor; and performing said drilling operation at said wellbore location with said drilling rig assembly.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after raising said bearing pad support beam, moving said drilling rig assembly from above a wellhead at said wellbore location.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein moving said drilling rig assembly from above said wellhead comprises moving said drilling rig substructure laterally over wellhead equipment that is positioned on said wellhead while said raisable floor is in said operating position adjacent to said fixed drill floor.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving said drilling rig substructure laterally over said wellhead equipment comprises moving said drilling rig substructure so that said wellhead equipment passes laterally through a cellar area of said drilling rig substructure and out of said cellar area through an open space defined by at least said raisable floor and said base.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein raising said bearing pad support beam relative to said fixed drill floor and said raisable floor comprises actuating said raising apparatus.
16. A method, comprising: positioning a collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to a first wellbore location of a pad drilling site, said collapsible drilling rig substructure comprising a base, a fixed drill floor, and a raisable floor that is raisable relative to said base and said fixed drill floor, wherein positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said first wellbore location comprises lowering a bearing pad support beam comprising said base into bearing contact with one of ground and a drilling mat adjacent to said first wellbore location so that said bearing pad support beam supports said collapsible drilling rig substructure; after positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said first wellbore location, raising said bearing pad support beam relative to each of said fixed drill floor, said raisable floor, and said one of said ground and said drilling mat so that said bearing pad support beam is no longer in contact with said one of said ground and said drilling mat and is no longer supporting said collapsible drilling rig substructure; and moving said collapsible drilling rig substructure away from said first wellbore location and positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to a second wellbore location of said pad drilling site.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein, prior to positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said first wellbore location, said raisable floor is in a lowered transportation position relative to said fixed drill floor such that an upper surface of said raisable floor is positioned at a first height level above said base while an upper surface of said fixed drill floor is positioned at a second height level above said base that is greater than said first height level, the method further comprising, after positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said first wellbore location and prior to raising said bearing pad support beam, raising said raisable floor from said lowered transportation position to an operating position laterally adjacent to said fixed drill floor while maintaining a height level of said upper surface of said fixed drill floor at said second height level above said base.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising, after positioning said collapsible drilling rig substructure adjacent to said first wellbore location and prior to raising said bearing pad support beam: positioning a mast assembly structure adjacent to said collapsible drilling rig substructure, wherein said mast assembly structure is supported by a trailer and comprises a drilling mast; assembling said mast assembly structure and said collapsible drilling rig substructure into a drilling rig assembly by removably coupling said mast assembly structure to said collapsible drilling rig substructure; and performing a drilling operation at said first wellbore location with said drilling rig assembly.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein, after raising said bearing pad support beam, said assembled drilling rig assembly are supported by said trailer.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising using said trailer to move said assembled drilling rig assembly away from said first wellbore location and to position said assembled drilling rig assembly adjacent to said second wellbore location.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The disclosure may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
(2) FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a mast assembly structure of a representative prior art slant rig, wherein the mast assembly structure is positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(3) FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of a rig substructure of the prior art slant rig of FIG. 1A, wherein the rig substructure is positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(4) FIG. 1C is an end elevation view of the rig substructure of FIG. 1B;
(5) FIG. 1D is a side elevation view of the prior art slant rig of FIGS. 1A-1C, after full assembly of the rig substructure of FIGS. 1B and 1C to the mast assembly structure of FIG. 1A;
(6) FIG. 1E is a side elevation view of the prior art slant rig of FIGS. 1A-1D after erection of the drilling rig mast to an operating position;
(7) FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of a mast assembly structure and rig substructure of another representative prior art slant rig, wherein the mast assembly structure and rig substructure are positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(8) FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of a drawworks and drawworks box of the prior art slant rig of FIG. 2A, wherein the drawworks and drawworks box are positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(9) FIG. 2C is an end elevation view of the drawworks box of FIG. 2B;
(10) FIG. 2D is a side elevation view of the prior art slant rig of FIGS. 2A-2C, after full assembly of the drawworks and drawworks box of FIGS. 2B and 2C to the rig substructure of FIG. 2A, wherein the fully assembled slant rig is positioned for movement between adjacent wellbore locations;
(11) FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of a mast assembly structure of one embodiment of a mobile drilling rig disclosed herein, wherein the mast assembly structure is positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(12) FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a collapsible rig substructure of the present disclosure with a drawworks positioned thereon, wherein the collapsible rig substructure is positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(13) FIG. 3C is a side elevation view of a drawworks of the present disclosure positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(14) FIG. 3D is a side elevation view of an illustrative embodiment of the collapsible rig substructure disclosed herein positioned on a trailer for highway and/or road transportation;
(15) FIG. 3E is a close-up side elevation view of an illustrative collapsible rig substructure of the present disclosure;
(16) FIG. 3F is a close-up side elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure and drawworks of FIG. 3B, wherein the collapsible rig substructure is attached to the mast assembly structure of FIG. 3A;
(17) FIG. 3G is a close-up side elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure and drawworks of FIG. 3F, after the drawworks has been raised to an operating position;
(18) FIG. 3H is an overall side elevation view of an illustrative slant rig assembly with the collapsible rig substructure and drawworks of FIG. 3G, wherein the drilling rig mast is set at a substantially vertical orientation.
(19) FIG. 3I is an overall side elevation view of the slant rig assembly of FIG. 3H, wherein the drilling rig mast is set at an angled orientation;
(20) FIG. 3J is an end elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure of FIG. 3G;
(21) FIG. 3K is a side elevation view of one illustrative embodiment of a mobile drilling rig disclosed herein, after the bearing pad support beams of the collapsible rig substructure have been retracted to enable movement of the assembled mobile drilling rig between wellbore locations;
(22) FIG. 3L is a close-up side elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure and drawworks shown in FIG. 3K; and
(23) FIG. 3M is an end elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure of FIG. 3K, after the bearing pad support beams of the collapsible rig substructure have been lowered into contact with the drilling surface.
(24) While the subject matter disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(25) Various illustrative embodiments of the present subject matter are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
(26) The present subject matter will now be described with reference to the attached figures. Various systems, structures and devices are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and so as to not obscure the present disclosure with details that are well known to those skilled in the art. Nevertheless, the attached drawings are included to describe and explain illustrative examples of the present disclosure. The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.
(27) Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a collapsible drilling rig substructure that is adapted to lower at least a portion of the substructure when a drawworks is positioned thereon to a low transportation position for highway and/or road transportation to an oilfield drilling site. The collapsible rig substructure may be further adapted to raise at least a portion of the substructure with the drawworks positioned thereon to a high operating position after the substructure has been assembled with a drilling rig mast assembly structure so as to thereby facilitate drilling operations. Additionally, the collapsible rig substructure may also be adapted so that at least a portion of the substructure can be retracted after drilling operations have been completed and while the drawworks remain positioned in the high operating position, so as to enable movement of the fully assembled drilling rig between adjacent wellbore locations of a pad drilling site. Furthermore, the collapsible drilling rig substructure may be further adapted so that at least a portion of the substructure with the drawworks positioned thereon may be raised or lowered to an intermediate movement position while the collapsible rig substructure is either being transported on a highway and/or road to an oilfield drilling site, or being moved around within the oilfield drilling site between different wellbore locations.
(28) FIGS. 3A-3M, which depict various elements of an illustrative collapsible substructure of a mobile drilling rig of the present disclosure, are described in detail below, together with methods of assembling and moving the same.
(29) FIG. 3A shows a drilling rig mast assembly structure 320 of an illustrative mobile drilling rig of the present disclosure, wherein the mast assembly structure 320 is positioned on a trailer 301. In some embodiments, the trailer 301 is adapted to be pulled by a truck 300 over a highway and/or road surface 305. The trailer 301 may be supported by a plurality of wheels 302, the quantity of which may vary depending on the size and/or weight of the mast assembly structure 320. Additionally, in certain embodiments, an intermediate trailer, or jeep, 303 with a plurality of wheels 304 may be positioned between the truck 300 and the trailer 301 when the weight of the mast assembly structure 320 and/or the maximum load capacity of the road 305 may dictate. The mast assembly structure 320 may include a drilling mast 310 that is pivotably mounted on a pinned connection 315, about which the drilling mast may be pivotably rotated to various different positions, depending on the specific operation.
(30) For example, during some operations, such as road transportation of the mast assembly structure 320 to or between oilfield drilling sites, the drilling mast 310 may be positioned in a substantially horizontal transportation orientation, as shown in FIG. 3A. Furthermore, the drilling mast 310 may be raised to an appropriate orientation in preparation for performing other operations, such as drilling operations and the like. For example, a mast raising apparatus 324 (see, FIGS. 3K and 3L), such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and the like, may be used to erect the drilling mast 310 to a desired operating positione.g., at an angled orientation, such as 45, relative to horizontal in the case of slant rig operations (see, FIG. 3I), or at a substantially vertical orientation (see, FIG. 3H)by pivotably rotating the mast 310 about the pinned connection 315. Additionally, the mast 310 may also be lowered to the substantially horizontal transportation orientation shown in FIG. 3A during movement of an assembled mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIGS. 3K and 3L) between various wellbore locations of a pad drilling site, as will be further described below.
(31) In some embodiments, the mast assembly structure 320 may also include lower connections 322a and upper connections 322b to which a collapsible rig substructure 360 (see, FIGS. 3B and 3D-3E) may be releasably coupled during the assembly of the mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIGS. 3H and 3I). Furthermore, in certain illustrative embodiments, the mast assembly structure 320 may include a plurality of support jacks 330 and/or similar structural support members that may be adapted to raise, level and/or support the trailer 301 during drilling operations (see, FIGS. 3F-3I).
(32) FIG. 3B shows an illustrative collapsible rig substructure 360 of the present disclosure positioned on a trailer 351, which may be pulled by a truck 350 over the highway and/or road surface 305. In certain embodiments, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may include, among other things, a raisable floor 363a and a fixed drill floor 363b, as well as a base 361 that is adapted to support the fully assembled mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIGS. 3G-3I) during drilling operations, and which may include one or more bearing pad support beams 361b. Furthermore, the upper surface of the fixed drill floor 363b may be positioned at an operating height 360h (see, FIGS. 3D-3E) above the base 361, and the height 360h may depend on the specific design parameters of the mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIGS. 3H and 3I). For example, in certain exemplary embodiments, the overall operating height 360h of the collapsible rig substructure 360 may be in the range of approximately 10-20 feet, whereas, in at least one representative embodiment, the height 360h may be around 13 feet. Furthermore, the overall operating height 360h may be as great as about 25 feet or more. Additionally, in some illustrative embodiments, a drawworks skid 370a may be positioned on the raisable floor 363a, and a drawworks 370 may be positioned on the drawworks skid 370a during transportation.
(33) As shown in FIG. 3B, the raisable floor 363a is depicted in a lowered transportation position, such that the upper surface of the raisable floor 363a is positioned at a height level that is above the bearing pad support beams 316b of the base 361 by a distance 361d and below the height level of the upper surface of the fixed drill floor 363b by a distance 363d (see, FIGS. 3D-3E). Additionally, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may be positioned on the trailer 351 in such a way that the bearing pad support beams 361b hang over the sides, and below the floor, of the trailer 351, thereby reducing a height 363h that the fixed drill floor 363b may be located above the floor level of the trailer 351. In this configuration, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may, therefore, be transported with the drawworks skid 370a and drawworks 370 positioned thereon over the highway 305 while minimizing, or even eliminating, the impact of any height clearance restrictions during transportation. As may be appreciated, the relative height level position of the upper surface of the raisable floor 363a with respect to the upper surface of the fixed drill floor 363b and the bearing pad support beams 361b (i.e., the relative distances 363d and 361d, respectively) when the raisable floor 363a is in the lowered transportation position may depend on several factors. For example, the distances 363d and 361d during road transportation of the collapsible rig substructure 360 may depend upon the weight of the drawworks 370 and drawworks skid 370a, the overall height 360h of the substructure 360, and the specific overhead clearance requirements for highway and/or road transportation, and the like. In certain embodiments, the distance 363d that the raisable floor 363a is positioned below the fixed drill floor 363b during road transportation may in the range of approximately 7-14 feet, whereas, in at least one representative embodiment, the distance 363d may be on the order of about 8-9 feet. Moreover, in some illustrative embodiments, the distance 363d may range up to approximately 17 feet or more.
(34) In some illustrative embodiments, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may also include lower connections 362a and upper connection 362b that are adapted to be releasably coupled to the respective connections 322a and 322b of the mast assembly structure 320 (see, FIG. 3A) during assembly of the mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIGS. 3H and 3I). Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the trailer 351 may be supported by a plurality of wheels 352, the quantity of which may vary depending on the size and/or weight of the collapsible rig substructure 360 and any ancillary equipment included therewith, such as the drawworks skid 370a and drawworks 370 noted above.
(35) FIGS. 3C-3D show an optional method for transporting the collapsible rig substructure 360 and the drawworks 370 in those instances where the combined weight of the substructure 360 and the drawworks 370 may exceed maximum road/highway weight limitations. As shown in FIG. 3C, the drawworks 370 may be positioned on the drawworks skid 370a, and both may thereafter be positioned on a trailer 351a and transported by a truck 350a over the highway 305 without the collapsible rig substructure 360. Similarly, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may be positioned on a trailer 351b and transported by a truck 350b over the highway 305 without the drawworks 370 and the drawworks skid 370a. Once the truck/trailer combinations 350a/351a and 350b/351b reach a designated pad drilling site, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may be off-loaded from the trailer 351b to drilling mats 380 (see, FIG. 3F). Thereafter, the drawworks skid 370a and drawworks 370 may be offloaded from the trailer 351a to the raisable floor 363a of the collapsible rig substructure 360 in a typical manner known in the art. For example, in certain embodiments, the floor of the trailer 351a may be substantially aligned with the raisable floor 363a, and the drawworks skid 370 may then be moved by dragging/sliding the skid 370 from the trailer 351a to the raisable floor 363a using tuggers and/or winches until the skid 370 has been moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 3F.
(36) FIG. 3E provides a close-up side elevation view of an illustrative embodiment of the collapsible rig substructure 360 disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 3E, the collapsible rig substructure 360 is supported by a base 361 that includes one or more bearing pad support beams 361b and includes a raisable floor 363a (shown in FIG. 3E in a substantially fully lowered transportation position) and a fixed drill floor 363b. The fixed drill floor 363b may be supported by a plurality of structural members 365 and 369 that connect the fixed drill floor 363b to the base 361. The collapsible rig substructure 360 may also include a raising apparatus that is operatively coupled to the raisable floor 363a, which is adapted to raise and lower the raisable floor 363a between the lowered transportation position (as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3B and 3D-3F) and a raised operating position (as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3G-3I). In some illustrative embodiments, the raising apparatus may include, for example, a raising device 364 and a plurality of pinned structural members, such as the pinned structural members 366a, 366b, and 367 shown in FIG. 3E. Depending on the overall design parameters of the collapsible rig substructure 360, the raising device 364 may be any suitable raising/lifting device known in the art, such as, for example, a telescoping hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder apparatus, a screw and/or gear mechanism, and the like. Furthermore, and depending on the desired lifting scheme, the raising device 364 may be pivotably connected at one end to the raisable floor 363a and pivotably connected at the other end to a bearing pad support beam 361b of the base 361. In other illustrative embodiments, the pinned structural members 366a and 366b may also be pivotably connected at one end to the raisable floor 363a and pivotably connected at the other end to a structural member 365. Additionally, the pinned structural member 367 may be pivotably connected at one end to a bearing pad support beam 361b and pivotably connected at the other end to a structural member 365. It should further be appreciated that, in at least some exemplary embodiments, the raising apparatus may include opposing pairs of raising devices 364 and opposing pairs of pinned structural members 366a, 336b and 367, e.g., wherein substantially similar members of the various pairs are positioned on opposite sides of the raisable substructure 360, as shown in FIGS. 3J and 3M.
(37) In certain illustrative embodiments, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may also include a locking apparatus that is adapted to lock the raisable floor 363a in place after it has been raised to an operating position adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b. In some embodiments, the locking apparatus may include, for example, a positioning lug 368 that is fixedly attached to the raisable floor 363a, a pin plate 368p that is fixedly attached to the fixed drill floor 363b, and a locking pin (not shown) that is adapted to pin the positioning lug 368 to the pin plate 368p. Additionally, and depending on the required raising scheme and/or the specific design of the raising apparatus, the pinned structural members 366a and 366b may be adapted so that the raisable floor 363a is moved both vertically and laterally as the raising device 364 is actuated to lift the raisable floor 363a, and so that the raisable floor 363a may be positioned adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b. Furthermore, the positioning lug 368 and the pin plate 368p of the locking apparatus may also be sized and positioned so that once the raisable floor 363a has been raised to an operating position adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b as described above, a pin hole in the positioning lug 368 may be substantially aligned with a corresponding pin hole in the pin plate 368p. Thereafter, the raisable floor 363a may be locked in place in the raised operating position by installing the locking pin (not shown) in the substantially aligned pin holes. However, it should be appreciated that other suitably designed locking apparatuses may also be used to lock the raisable floor 363a in place adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b after the raisable floor 363a has been raised to its operating position.
(38) In other illustrative embodiments, the raising apparatus may be adapted so that the raisable floor 363a may be raised in a substantially vertical directione.g., without the lateral movement of the raisable floor 363a as described above. In such embodiments, structural members (not shown) other than the pinned structural members 366a and 366b described above may be used that are adapted to support the raisable floor 363a with the drawworks skid 370a and drawworks 370 positioned thereon (see, FIG. 3G) after the raisable floor 363a has been raised into position. Additional locking members (not shown) that may be adapted to maintain and/or hold the raisable floor 363a in the desired position, such as the positioning lug 368 and pin plate 368p, may also be included. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, additional raising devices (not shown), such as the raising devices 364, may also be used and appropriately located so as to maintain the raisable floor 363a in a substantially level condition while the raisable floor 363a is being raised.
(39) In at least some embodiments, the base 361 of the collapsible rig substructure 360 may also include a temporary and/or removable rig-up skid 361a, which may be adapted to temporarily support the raisable floor 363a during transportation over the highway and/or road 305, as well as during the fit-up and assembly of the collapsible rig substructure 360 to the mast assembly structure 320. In certain embodiments, the rig-up skid 361a may be removed after the raisable floor 363a has been raised to the raised operating position, as shown in FIG. 3G. Additionally, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may include lower connections 362a and upper connections 362b that may be adapted to facilitate the attachment of the collapsible rig substructure 360 to the mast assembly structure 320, as previously described.
(40) FIG. 3F is a close-up side elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure 360 with the drawworks 370 and drawworks skid 370a positioned thereon. Furthermore, a rear portion of the mast assembly structure 320 is shown in FIG. 3F for additional clarity. In certain embodiments, the collapsible rig substructure 360 may be attached to the mast assembly structure 320 by releasably coupling the upper and lower connections 362b/362a, respectively, on the collapsible rig substructure 360 to the corresponding upper and lower connections 322a/322b, respectively, on the mast assembly structure 320. Moreover, drilling mats 380 may be positioned on the ground 381 adjacent to a respective wellbore location, and the pad bearing support beams 361b may be in bearing contact with the drilling mats 380 so as to support the collapsible rig substructure 360. Additionally, the support jacks 330 may be lowered to contact the drilling mats 380 and thereafter used to raise the trailer 301 so that the wheels 302 are no longer in contact with the ground 381 and/or the drilling mats 380. As shown in FIG. 3F, the raisable floor 363a is still in the lowered transportation position, such that the height level of the upper surface of the drawworks skid 370a is a distance 370d below the height level of the upper surface of the raised drill floor 363b.
(41) FIG. 3G shows the illustrative collapsible rig substructure 360 and mast assembly structure 320 of FIG. 3F after the raising apparatus has been actuated so as to raise the raisable floor 363a up and into the raised operating position. As shown in the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 3G, the raising device 364 has been extended so as to lift the raisable floor 363a from the lowered transportation position by the distance 370d (see, FIG. 3F) so that the upper surface of the drawworks skid 370a is positioned substantially level with the upper surface of the fixed drill floor 363b. Furthermore, the pinned structural members 366a, 366b have been pivotably rotated so as to move the raisable floor 363a into its operating position adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b, and so that the respective holes in the positioning lug 368 and the pin plate 368p are properly aligned to accept a locking pin (not shown). As noted previously, it should be appreciated that other types of raising apparatuses may also be used to raise the raisable floor 363a to the raised operating position. Additionally, the temporary rig-up skid 361a (see, FIG. 3F) has also been removed.
(42) Also as shown in FIG. 3G, the drilling mast 310 has been raised to a substantially vertical operating orientation for drilling operations at a first wellbore location of a respective pad drilling site. Additionally, stiff legs 321, which in certain embodiments may be made up of a lower section 321a that is pivotably attached to the trailer 301 and an upper section 321b that is fixedly attached to the lower section 321a, may be removably attached to the drilling mast 310, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3H and 3I. Furthermore, wellhead equipment 390, e.g., pressure-retaining wellhead equipment such as a Christmas tree and/or BOP and the like, may be positioned on a wellhead 390w and in the cellar 391 of the collapsible rig substructure 360, i.e., below the fixed drill floor 363b and the drilling mast 310.
(43) FIG. 3H shows an overall side elevation view of an illustrative mobile drilling rig 395, such as a slant rig and the like, after the drilling mast 310 of the rig 395 has been raised to a substantially vertical operating orientation. Furthermore, FIG. 3H also shows a collapsible rig substructure 360, such as the collapsible rig substructure 360 of FIGS. 3E-3G, which has been raised to an operating position, i.e., wherein the raisable floor 363a has been raised and moved to its operating position adjacent to the fixed drill floor 363b, and the upper surface of the drawworks skid 370a is substantially level with the upper surface of the fixed drill floor 363b. FIG. 3I illustrates the mobile drilling rig 395 of FIG. 3H, wherein the mast 310 has been positioned at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal, e.g., 45, for slant drilling operations. As shown in FIG. 3I, the stiff legs 321 have been have been pivotably rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3H and connected to the drilling mast 310 so as to support the mast 310 during the slant drilling operations.
(44) FIG. 3J is an end view of the illustrative collapsible rig substructure 360 of FIG. 3G, showing the wellhead equipment 390 positioned in the cellar 391 of the illustrative collapsible rig substructure 360. In FIG. 3J, the trailer 301 and mast assembly structure 320 have been removed for clarity, and so as to illustrate that the cellar 391 is substantially open on the back side of the collapsible rig substructure 360, i.e., opposite of the mast assembly structure 320 and trailer 301 (see, FIG. 3G). Therefore, unlike the substantially enclosed cellar 191 of the prior art slant rig 195 illustrated in FIG. 1E and described above, the substantially open cellar 391 of the presently disclosed collapsible rig substructure 360 is adapted to enable access to the wellhead equipment 390 for repair and/or maintenance during drilling operations without having to disassemble or remove any of the components of the substructure 360 and/or the mast assembly structure 320. Furthermore, the substantially open cellar 391 also enables the fully assembled mobile drilling rig 395 to be moved over the wellhead equipment 390i.e., while the wellhead equipment 390 is positioned on the wellhead 390wso that the mobile drilling rig 395 can be moved from the first wellbore location to a second wellbore location of the respective pad drilling site (see, FIG. 3K) where additional drilling activities may be performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 3K, after the drilling mast 310 has been lowered from a specified drilling positione.g., from a substantially vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 3H or from an angled orientation as shown in FIG. 3Ito a substantially horizontal position, the truck 300 may be used to move the trailer 301 and the mobile drilling rig 395 over the ground 381 of the pad drilling site. In certain illustrative embodiments, additional operations may also be performed so as to prepare the collapsible rig substructure 360 prior to movement of the mobile drilling rig 395 between wellbore locations, as will be described in further detail with respect to FIG. 3L below.
(45) FIG. 3L illustrates a close-up elevation view of the collapsible rig substructure 360 and mast assembly structure 320 of FIG. 3G after drilling activities have been completed at a first wellbore location and the assembled mobile drilling rig 395 has been moved to a second wellbore location, where additional drilling activities may be performed. As shown in FIG. 3L (see also, FIG. 3K), the drilling mast 310 has been lowered to a substantially horizontal position for movement over wellhead equipment 390 at the first wellbore location and between the first and second wellbore locations by disconnecting the stiff legs 321 (see, FIGS. 3H and 3I) from the mast 310 by actuating the raising apparatus 324 so as to pivotably rotate the mast 310 about the pinned connection 315.
(46) In certain exemplary embodiments, after the drilling mast 310 has been lowered as described above, the bearing pad support beams 361b of the base 361 may then be retracted by unpinning a lower end 367p of the pinned structural members 367 from the bearing pad support beams 361b and actuating the raising device 364 so as to lift the bearing pad support beams 361b away from the drilling mats 380. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the structural members 369 (see, FIGS. 3E and 3G) may be adapted so that they can removed from the collapsible rig substructure 360, thereby enabling the bearing pad support beams 361b to be raised. In other embodiments, the structural members 369 may be adapted so that they can be unpinned at an upper end thereof from the structural members 365, and so that the structural members 369 may collapsibly slide into the structural members 365 as the raising device 364 is actuated. It should be appreciated, however, that other means may also be used to facilitate the retraction of the bearing pad support beams 361b prior to moving the assembled mobile drilling rig 395 between wellbore locations of a given pad drilling site. Thereafter, the truck 300 may be positioned under and hitched to the trailer 301 (see, FIG. 3K), and the support jacks 330 may be retracted until the trailer 301 is lowered and the wheels 302 contact the drilling mats 380 and/or the ground 381, thereby enabling the mobile drilling rig 395 to be moved.
(47) FIG. 3M illustrates an end view of the collapsible rig substructure 360 and mast assembly structure 320 of FIG. 3L wherein the assembled mobile drilling rig 395 (see, FIG. 3K) has been positioned at the second wellbore location of the respective pad drilling site, and the bearing pad support beams 361b have been lowered so as to once again be put into bearing contact the drilling mats 380. For clarity, the mast assembly structure 320 has been removed from FIG. 3M so as to illustrate the substantially open cellar 391 of the collapsible rig substructure 360, which enables the mobile drilling rig 395 to be moved into position at the second wellbore location. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that wellhead equipment, such as the wellhead equipment 390 shown in FIG. 3J, may already be positioned above a wellhead 390w at the second wellbore location. However, the substantially open cellar 391 of the collapsible rig substructure 360 readily facilitates movement of the mobile drilling rig 395 over any wellhead equipment at the second wellbore location and into position for drilling operations. Thereafter, the drilling mast 310 of the mobile drilling rig 395 may be raised into an appropriate position for wellbore drilling operations, as illustrated in FIG. 3H (i.e., with the mast 310 in a substantially vertical orientation) or FIG. 3I (i.e., with the mast 310 in an angled orientation relative to horizontal for slant drilling).
(48) As may be required by the specific circumstances surrounding the movement of the presently disclosed collapsible rig substructure 360 between different wellbore locations of a respective pad drilling site, it may be necessary to position the raisable floor 363a in an intermediate movement position that is between the lowered transportation position illustrated in FIG. 3F and the raised operating position shown in FIGS. 3G and 3L. For example, depending on the weight of the drawworks 370 and the position of the drawworks 370 relative to the center of gravity (CG) of the assembled mobile drilling rig 395 during movement around a pad drilling site, it may sometimes be necessary to lower the raisable floor 363a and the drawworks 370 positioned thereon so as to ensure the overall stability of the rig 395 while it is being moved. Accordingly, as the overall height of the wellhead equipment 390 may permit, the raisable floor 363a may be adapted to be lowered to an intermediate movement position below the raised operating position and above the lowered transportation position while still providing a substantially open cellar 391 that is adequately sized to facilitate movement of the assembled mobile drilling rig 395 between wellbore locations. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that when the collapsible rig substructure 360 is configured substantially as illustrated in FIG. 3E, a temporary pinned structural member (not shown) of appropriate size and length that is adapted to maintain the raisable floor 363a in the intermediate movement position below the raised operating position may be installed with appropriately sized locking pins (not shown) between the positioning lug 368 and the pin plate 368p, so as to lock the raisable floor 363a in the intermediate movement position.
(49) It should be further appreciated that the raisable floor 363a of the collapsible rig substructure 360 may also be positioned in an intermediate movement position as described above during highway and/or road transportation of the collapsible rig substructure 360, as may depend on the overall size and weight parameters of the collapsible rig substructure 360 and the drawworks 370, as well as the various restrictions and permitting requirements that may be imposed during equipment transportation.
(50) As a result, the subject matter of the present disclosure provides details of various aspects of a collapsible rig substructure of a mobile drilling rig that can be lowered to a lowered transportation position for transportation over highways and/or roads to an oilfield drilling site. In certain embodiments, a drawworks may be positioned on the collapsible rig substructure while the substructure is in a lowered transportation position, so that the drawworks can be simultaneously transported with the collapsible rig substructure to the drilling site. Additionally, embodiments of the collapsible rig substructure disclosed herein may also be attached to a mast assembly structure of the mobile drilling rig, and a raisable floor of the collapsible rig substructure may be raised to a raised operating position with a drawworks positioned thereon. Furthermore, in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the collapsible rig substructure may be retracted while the raisable floor is in a raised operating position so as to enable movement of the assembled mobile drilling rig between various wellbore locations of a respective pad drilling site.
(51) The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. For example, the method steps set forth above may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
