Offshore Drilling Rig Auxiliary Equipment Mounting Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore drilling rigs face challenges in efficiently and safely operating auxiliary equipment, such as coiled tubing and logging-while-drilling tools, due to limited access and interference with primary drilling operations, leading to potential safety hazards and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mounting structure that allows suspendable auxiliary equipment to be raised to an elevated position above the drill floor deck, enabling safe and efficient lowering or hoisting through a well centre, while a protective barrier or curtain prevents equipment from falling onto adjacent areas, and the system allows for flexible positioning to minimize interference with primary operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auxiliary equipment is operated from the drill floor deck, then personnel can access and operate the equipment, but safety risks increase due to climbing at heights and potential dropped objects
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure transitions from a ground-level position to an elevated position above the drill floor deck, changing the vertical dimension of equipment placement. This elevation removes personnel from height-related safety risks while maintaining operational accessibility through remote control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary equipment is extracted from the drill floor deck environment and mounted separately on an elevated structure. This separation removes the equipment and personnel from the hazardous zone, eliminating safety risks associated with working at height and potential dropped objects onto the drill floor.
2Productivity
If auxiliary equipment is positioned close to the well centre, then operational efficiency improves, but interference with primary drilling operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning auxiliary equipment at an elevated level above the drill floor deck. This vertical separation allows auxiliary equipment to be positioned close to the well centre for operational efficiency while preventing interference with primary drilling operations through vertical layering of functional zones.
3Reliability
If a mounting structure is provided at an elevated position, then safety is improved by reducing personnel climbing, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides elevated positioning for safety, supports auxiliary equipment, and can potentially accommodate multiple types of suspendable equipment. This multi-functionality justifies the structural complexity by delivering comprehensive safety and operational benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An offshore drilling rig comprising a drill floor deck having a hole defining a first well center. The drilling rig may further include a first hoisting system configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through the first well center. The drilling rig may further include first pipe handling equipment for presenting tubular equipment to the first hoisting system so as to allow the first hoisting system to hoist or lower the tubular equipment through the first well center. The drilling rig may include a mounting structure, separate from the first hoisting system for suspending suspendable auxiliary equipment from an elevated position above the drill floor deck, allowing the auxiliary equipment to be lowered or hoisted through the first well center; wherein the mounting structure is movable between a lower position for rigging up auxiliary equipment to the mounting structure, and an elevated position allowing lowering or hoisting of auxiliary equipment suspended from the mounting structure through the first well center.