Flexible Pipe Guide for Drilling Rig Lateral Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling rigs face challenges in safely and efficiently handling tubular members, such as drill pipe, due to the manual and labor-intensive nature of adding or removing pipe sections, which can slow down drilling processes and pose risks to personnel and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A pipe handling system featuring a flexible pipe guide that engages and controls lateral movement of pipes between storage and well center positions, utilizing a lifting mechanism and rotatable support arms with offset axes of rotation, and an expandable guide that stabilizes pipes during transition from horizontal to vertical positions, ensuring safe and efficient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual handling methods using winches or lifting appliances are used, then the system complexity is low, but the productivity is reduced and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible pipe guide acts as an intermediary device between the pipe and the drilling rig structure. The guide engages the pipe during transfer and provides controlled lateral movement, mediating the interaction between manual handling and the rig structure, thereby improving safety and productivity without requiring complex automated handling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe guide utilizes a flexible member that can bend and conform to the pipe's position during transfer. This flexibility allows the guide to accommodate lateral movements and positioning variations while maintaining engagement with the pipe, enabling improved handling without rigid complex mechanisms
2Reliability
If automated pipe handling systems are implemented, then the productivity and safety improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pipe guide serves as a simple intermediary device that enhances safety by providing controlled lateral movement during pipe transfer. Rather than implementing complex automated handling systems, the guide mediates the transfer process, maintaining reliability while keeping the system relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe guide changes the physical parameters of the transfer process by providing lateral support and control. The flexible member's ability to bend and conform changes the mechanical interaction between the pipe and handling equipment, improving safety without requiring complex automated control systems
3Strength
If a rigid pipe guide is used, then the structural strength is high, but the adaptability to pipe positioning variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe guide employs a flexible member instead of a rigid structure. This flexible member can bend and conform to pipe positioning variations while still providing lateral support and control, maintaining adequate strength while significantly improving adaptability to different pipe positions during transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe handling system includes a lifting mechanism coupled to an upper end of a pipe above a free end of the pipe, and a guide system operable to engage the pipe and control lateral movement of the pipe as it is moved between a storage position and a well center position, the guide system including a pair of support members including extendable end portions and a flexible pipe guide coupled between the extendable end portions. In some embodiments, the guide system includes a pair of rotatable support arms having first pivot ends and second ends and an expandable pipe guide connecting the second ends.