Collapsible Drilling Rig Substructure for Pad Drilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile drilling rigs face inefficiencies during transportation and movement between drilling sites due to the need for cranes to assemble and disassemble the rig, and the rig's design restricts access for maintenance and movement between adjacent wellbores, especially in pad drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible drilling rig substructure that can be transported in a lowered position to minimize height restrictions, raised for operation, and reconfigured for movement between wellbores without disassembly, allowing the rig to be easily relocated and maintaining access for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the drilling rig is designed with a fixed substructure for operational stability, then structural strength is improved, but ease of transportation and relocation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling rig substructure is divided into multiple collapsible sections that can be segmented and reconfigured. The substructure includes collapsible walls and floors that can be folded or removed, allowing the rig to be disassembled into smaller components for transportation while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The substructure transitions from a static fixed design to a dynamic collapsible design. Hydraulic cylinders and mechanical linkages enable the substructure to change its configuration between operational and transportation states, allowing it to adapt its structural properties based on the operational context.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the drilling rig uses traditional fixed assembly for maintenance access, then structural stability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The substructure is segmented into removable walls, floors, and support elements. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access critical components by simply collapsing or removing specific sections, eliminating the need to disassemble the entire rig structure for maintenance purposes.
3Productivity
If the drilling rig is designed for pad drilling operations with fixed configuration, then operational efficiency is improved, but adaptability for movement between wellbores deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The substructure incorporates collapsible elements that can be quickly reconfigured to accommodate movement between adjacent wellbores during pad drilling operations. The collapsible walls and floors allow the rig to be repositioned without complete disassembly, maintaining operational efficiency while enabling adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If the drilling rig substructure is made collapsible for transportation, then ease of transportation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible substructure uses standardized segments and modular components that simplify the collapse and reconfiguration process. Each segment is designed with standardized connection points and collapse mechanisms, reducing the overall complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The substructure incorporates self-contained collapse and expansion mechanisms that can be operated by the rig crew without external assistance. Hydraulic cylinders and mechanical linkages are integrated into the substructure itself, allowing it to collapse and expand autonomously, reducing the need for complex external support systems.
Data Source
AI summary
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.