Continuous Drilling Rig With Fluid Chamber Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling techniques require stopping pipe string rotation and drilling fluid circulation when joining new drill pipe sections, leading to time loss, increased risk of pipe string sticking, and pressure variations that can result in undesirable fluid exchange between the borehole and formation.
Innovation Solution
A drilling rig system with two vertically displaceable drilling machines, one for continuous pipe string rotation and fluid supply, and another for suspending and rotating the pipe string, allowing continuous rotation and fluid circulation by using a rotary table and power tong within a fluid chamber with pressure seals and stop valves to manage pipe string extensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pipe string sections are joined by stopping rotation and circulation, then pipe string can be extended, but drilling operation time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling system is divided into two independent drilling machines: a first drilling machine for main drilling operations and a second drilling machine with rotary table and power tong for pipe string rotation and fluid circulation. This segmentation allows one machine to continue drilling while the other handles pipe joining operations, eliminating the need to stop the entire drilling operation for pipe extensions.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid chamber with pressure seals acts as an intermediary system between the two drilling machines and the pipe string. The fluid chamber maintains continuous fluid circulation through pressure seals that allow controlled fluid passage while enabling mechanical connections, thus mediating between the need for continuous drilling and the requirements of pipe joining operations.
2Productivity
If pipe string rotation is stopped for joining new sections, then pipe string can be extended, but risk of pipe string sticking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second drilling machine with rotary table and power tong maintains continuous pipe string rotation independently of the first drilling machine's operations. This continuous rotation prevents cuttings from settling and reduces friction against the formation wall, eliminating the sticking risk that would otherwise occur during pipe joining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the drilling function (first drilling machine) from the pipe string rotation function (second drilling machine), the system can maintain continuous rotation of the pipe string while the first machine handles drilling operations. This functional segmentation ensures that pipe rotation continues uninterrupted during pipe extensions.
3Productivity
If drilling fluid circulation is stopped for pipe joining, then pipe string can be extended, but pressure variations occur causing fluid exchange between borehole and formation
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid chamber with pressure seals maintains continuous drilling fluid circulation through the pipe string during all operations. The pressure seals allow the system to maintain fluid pressure and circulation continuity while enabling mechanical connections, thus preventing pressure variations that would cause unwanted fluid exchange between the borehole and formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid chamber acts as an intermediary that maintains continuous fluid circulation while accommodating mechanical connections. The pressure seals in the fluid chamber allow controlled fluid passage and pressure maintenance during pipe joining operations, preventing the pressure variations that would otherwise occur with traditional stopping methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a device for a drilling rig for forming of a bore hole (6) in a subterranean structure (63), wherein the drilling rig comprises a first, top driven drilling machine (1) arranged vertically displaceable along a guide track (21), where a second drilling machine (3) is arranged between the first drilling machine (1) and the bore hole (6) vertically displaceable along a guide track (41) and provided with a rotary table (31) arranged to be able to take the weight of a pipe string (5), a rotary drive unit (32) arranged for continuous rotation of the pipe string (5), a fluid chamber (34) arranged to in a fluid communicating way to be able to connect a pipe string end portion (51) with a drilling liquid plant (7), as the fluid chamber (34) is provided with pipe string ports (341, 343) comprising means (342, 344, 345) arranged to in a fluid sealing way to be able to close the pipe string ports (341, 343), and a power tong (33) arranged for continuous rotation of an element (12, 52) connected to the pipe string (5), as the power tong (33) is arranged in the fluid chamber (34). Also described is a method for drilling with continuous tool rotation and continuous drilling liquid supply.