Horizontal Pipe Racking for Stable, Space-Saving Stand Building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Racking and making up pipe stands in a vertical orientation is cumbersome, poses stability risks, and consumes significant space on the drill floor.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system that includes a pipe rack, a horizontal stand building system, and a delivery system, allowing for the horizontal racking and making up of pipe stands, which are then delivered to the drill floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pipe stands are racked and made up in a vertical orientation on the drill floor, then they are ready for tripping operations, but the system consumes significant space and poses stability risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the pipe racking system from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. The pipe rack includes a horizontal support structure with pipes stored laterally, and the stand building system horizontally assembles pipe stands before delivery to the drill floor. This dimensional change eliminates the need for vertical stacking on the drill floor while maintaining operational readiness.
2Ease of operation
If pipe stands are racked and made up in a vertical orientation, then they are accessible for drilling operations, but the arrangement is cumbersome and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The system reorients pipe storage and assembly from vertical to horizontal dimensions. The horizontal pipe rack and stand building system provide a stable base on the ground level, eliminating the instability inherent in vertical stacking. The horizontal configuration distributes weight more effectively and reduces toppling risks while maintaining accessibility through the delivery system.
3Productivity
If vertical racking and stand building is performed on the drill floor, then pipes are readily available for use, but the process consumes excessive space and creates instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pipe storage and stand building functions from the drill floor environment. The horizontal pipe rack and stand building system are positioned separately from the drill floor operations, with only the necessary delivery mechanism interfacing with the drilling area. This separation frees up drill floor space while maintaining pipe availability through the delivery system.
4Area of stationary object
If horizontal racking and stand building is implemented, then drill floor space is freed up and stability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a horizontal pipe rack for storage, a horizontal stand building system for assembly, and a delivery system for transport. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently operated or maintained. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing the system into manageable, specialized components rather than a monolithic structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system may include a pipe rack and a horizontal stand building system arranged adjacent to the pipe rack and configured to receive tubulars from the pipe rack and construct pipe stands in a horizontal orientation. The system may also include a delivery system arranged adjacent the horizontal stand building system and opposite the pipe rack. The delivery system may be configured to receive horizontally arranged pipe stands from the horizontal stand building system and deliver them to a drill rig.