Articulated Drill String Cleaning Arm for Red Zone Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling operations on rigs are hazardous due to manual handling of heavy equipment, particularly in the red zone, where tasks such as assembling and maintaining drill strings are performed, leading to safety concerns and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus for drill strings is introduced, comprising a base, an arm with an articulated joint, a fluid flow conduit, and a motor. This apparatus allows for the automated cleaning of drill strings by pivoting the arm and spray nozzle to direct pressurized cleaning fluid onto the pipe sections as they are lifted, reducing manual intervention and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual handling of heavy equipment is used on the drill floor, then operational flexibility is maintained, but safety risks increase significantly in the red zone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling operations with an automated robotic system. The robotic arm with gripper mechanism automatically grasps, lifts, and positions drill pipe sections, eliminating the need for personnel to manually handle heavy equipment in the hazardous red zone area of the drill floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the robotic apparatus autonomously performs drilling equipment assembly and handling tasks. The robotic arm independently executes the sequence of grasping, lifting, rotating, and positioning drill pipes without requiring human operators to be present in the dangerous red zone area.
2Reliability
If automated cleaning apparatus is introduced, then safety is improved by reducing manual handling, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic apparatus is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform multiple drilling operations including grasping, lifting, rotating, positioning, and cleaning of drill pipes. This universal design consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into one integrated robotic system, managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a dynamic robotic arm with articulated joints and a controllable gripper that can adapt its configuration for different tasks. The arm can extend, retract, rotate, and position the cleaning apparatus at various locations, providing dynamic versatility that reduces the need for multiple fixed installations.
3Productivity
If manual assembly and maintenance tasks are performed in the red zone, then operational flexibility is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases due to safety protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated robotic manipulation. The robotic system executes assembly, disassembly, and cleaning tasks faster and more consistently than manual operations, improving productivity while eliminating the need for safety protocols that slow down manual work in the red zone.
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 cleaning apparatus improves operational efficiency and safety by reducing manual handling in hazardous areas, extending the operational lifetime of drill strings through effective debris removal, and enhancing the reliability of drilling rig processes.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurised fluid entering the fluid flow conduit can spray out of the spray nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a drill string. The cleaning apparatus includes a base, an arm, a fluid flow conduit, and a motor. The base supports the arm on a drill floor of a drilling rig. The arm has a first end which is mounted on the base, a second end at which a spray nozzle is arranged, and at least one articulated joint via which the arm, or a portion of the arm, can pivot relative to the base. The fluid flow conduit is connected to the spray nozzle so that a pressurized fluid entering the fluid flow conduit can spray out of the spray nozzle. The motor pivots the arm about the at least one articulated joint so as to alter an orientation of the spray nozzle relative to the base.