Dual-Activity Mast for Simultaneous Drilling and Casing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional land-based mobile drilling rigs are limited by their drill floor size, preventing simultaneous drilling and casing operations due to the need for sequential tripping of drill strings and casing stands, which reduces efficiency and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-activity mast with dual racking boards and setbacks on both sides of the well center, allowing for simultaneous performance of drilling and casing operations, such as assembling or breaking down casing stands while tripping drill pipes, using automated racking systems to enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a standard mast with racking board is used on land-based mobile drilling rigs, then the rig structure is simple and compact, but simultaneous drilling and casing operations cannot be performed due to limited drill floor size
Solution Approach 1:
The mast is divided into multiple independent working zones: a first racking board for drill pipe stands, a second racking board for casing stands, and associated setbacks on opposite sides of the well center. This segmentation allows drill string tripping and casing operations to occur simultaneously without interference, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking multiple racking boards at different heights on the mast structure. The first and second racking boards are positioned at different vertical levels, enabling dual operations to occur simultaneously in the vertical space above the compact drill floor, thereby improving productivity without requiring additional horizontal space.
2Loss of time
If drill string tripping and casing operations are performed sequentially, then the equipment configuration remains simple, but operational time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dual racking board configuration allows casing stands to be assembled and prepared in advance on the second racking board while the drill string is being tripped on the first racking board. This preliminary preparation of casing stands eliminates waiting time during the transition between drilling and casing operations, directly reducing operational time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables continuous productive activity by allowing both drill string tripping and casing stand assembly to occur simultaneously and continuously on separate racking boards. This eliminates idle time and non-productive periods between operations, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating a land-based drilling rig apparatus include a dual-activity mast having a first fingerboard supported by the mast and disposed on a first side of the well center bore, and include a second fingerboard supported by the mast and disposed on a second side of the well center bore. The first and second fingerboards may permit simultaneous operations, such as tripping and casing stand assembly.