Capture Basket Energy Absorbing Element for Dropped Pipe Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underdeck pipehandling machines on drill rigs face challenges in safely managing falling pipes due to high kinetic energy, leading to potential damage and structural design complexities, as existing energy absorbing systems are often bulky, costly, and incompatible with physical layouts.
Innovation Solution
A capture basket system with an elongated energy absorbing element, such as a wire, rope, or chain, connected to the drill rig structure, positioned below the underdeck pipehandling machine to absorb and redirect dropped object loads, reducing the energy absorption burden on the machine and allowing for a simpler, more flexible design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal energy absorbing system is integrated into the mousehole/pipe handling device, then the dropped object loads are absorbed, but the weight, cost, and physical size of the device increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorbing function is extracted from the underdeck pipehandling machine and transferred to a separate capture basket system suspended below the drill deck. This separates the dropped object protection function from the pipehandling function, allowing the machine to be designed for normal operating loads only, while the capture basket handles accidental load cases.
Solution Approach 2:
A capture basket system acts as an intermediary between the underdeck pipehandling machine and the drill deck structure. The basket includes energy absorbing means (elongated elements) that absorb dropped object loads, transferring these forces directly to the drill deck structure rather than through the pipehandling machine.
2Reliability
If an internal energy absorbing system is integrated into the mousehole/pipe handling device, then the dropped object loads are absorbed, but the device complexity and structural design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorbing function is extracted from the underdeck pipehandling machine and transferred to a separate capture basket system suspended below the drill deck. This separates the dropped object protection function from the pipehandling function, allowing the machine to be designed for normal operating loads only, while the capture basket handles accidental load cases.
Solution Approach 2:
A capture basket system acts as an intermediary between the underdeck pipehandling machine and the drill deck structure. The basket includes energy absorbing means (elongated elements) that absorb dropped object loads, transferring these forces directly to the drill deck structure rather than through the pipehandling machine.
3Force
If a long energy absorbing system is used to reduce deceleration force, then the force applied is reduced, but the physical space required conflicts with other equipment layout
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorbing elongated elements are arranged in a suspended configuration below the drill deck, utilizing the vertical dimension and available space underneath the deck structure. This allows sufficient deceleration distance to be achieved without interfering with the horizontal layout requirements for BOP and Xmas tree handling equipment.
4Weight of stationary object
If the capture basket system transfers loads directly to the drill rig structure, then the underdeck machine weight and size are reduced, but the supporting structure must be engineered for high loads
Solution Approach 1:
The drill deck supporting structure serves dual functions: it supports normal operating loads from pipehandling operations and also absorbs accidental dropped object loads through the capture basket system. The structure is already dimensioned for very high operating loads (slips, riser gimbal/spider, stand set-back area), so it can handle the accidental load case without requiring separate reinforcement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The capture basket system effectively absorbs and redirects dropped object loads, reducing the structural demands on the underdeck pipehandling machine, minimizing weight, cost, and size penalties, while allowing for improved layout flexibility and safety by transferring loads directly to the drill rig structure.
Implementation Method 1
energy absorbing means including an elongated element... The elongated element may be in the form of a wire, a rope, a chain or a tie rod
Implementation Method 2
The capture basket is to be positioned close to, but not in contact with the underside of the underdeck pipehandling machine. The basket is to be aligned with the vertical axis of the underdeck pipehandling machine, and will be arranged to hang in the required position by gravity acting on the non-vertical support wires.
Data Source
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AI summary
Summary A capture basket system (1) for use below an underdeck pipehandling machine (16) on a drill rig (8), where the capture basket system (1) includes a capture basket (2) that is designed to retain a falling object (30) such as a pipe, wherein the capture basket (2) is connected to a structure (6) of the drill rig (8) by means of energy absorbing means that includes an elongated element (4).