Central Elevator Pipe Storage Reducing Rig Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe handling systems require significant space on drilling rigs, particularly near the derrick, and are complex to design and implement, limiting their efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A system with a central elevator that selects and lifts pipes into multiple receiving chambers, reducing space requirements and simplifying the design, featuring a rotatable turret and a winch system for actuating the arm, along with safety devices to prevent damage from stuck components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If pipe storage racks are positioned close to the drilling derrick, then pipe transport time is reduced, but available space is insufficient and the centre of gravity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving chambers are arranged vertically in a column configuration rather than horizontally, allowing the system to utilize vertical space within the limited footprint near the derrick. This dimensional change enables sufficient storage capacity while maintaining close proximity to the drilling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a rotatable turret mechanism that dynamically repositions receiving chambers to different locations around the central elevator. This dynamic arrangement allows flexible space utilization and enables the system to adapt to the constrained space near the derrick while maintaining efficient pipe handling.
2Productivity
If multiple elevators are used for each receiving chamber, then pipe handling speed is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single central elevator serves multiple receiving chambers by combining with a rotatable turret mechanism. The elevator performs the lifting function for all chambers sequentially, while the turret provides positioning and selection capabilities. This multi-functional design achieves efficient pipe handling without requiring separate elevators for each chamber, thus reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the elevator function with a rotatable turret mechanism into a unified pipe handling system. The central elevator is combined with the turret's rotational capability to serve multiple receiving chambers, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate elevator systems into a single integrated unit.
3Reliability
If automated pipe handling equipment is increased, then safety is improved and personnel requirements are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates safety devices that automatically detect and respond to malfunction conditions without requiring human intervention. The safety mechanisms monitor the operation of the central elevator and rotatable turret, and can autonomously halt operations or prevent damage when stuck conditions are detected, thereby maintaining high safety standards while avoiding excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for storing and handling pipes between a pipe rack and a derrick includes pipe-receiving chambers that are positioned around a centre region, and an elevator for lifting and descending the pipes into the chambers. The elevator, located in the centre region in between the receiving chambers, is configured for selecting one of the receiving chambers and for lifting and descending a respective pipe into the selected chamber.