Pivotal Top Drive Unit for Mobile Land Rig Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile land rigs face inefficiencies in performing wellbore drilling and related activities due to the need for careful orientation of separate vehicles for drilling and pipe loading, which reduces operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile land rig design that integrates a top drive unit pivotally supported by a traveling carriage, allowing it to pivot between drilling and transfer positions, and incorporates a loader with a gripper to handle drilling tubulars directly on the same road vehicle as the drilling tower, eliminating the need for separate vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate vehicles are used for drilling and pipe loading, then each vehicle can be optimized for its specific function, but the operational efficiency decreases due to the need for careful orientation and coordination between multiple vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drilling tower and pipe loader onto a single mobile chassis, creating an integrated rig system. This merging eliminates the need for separate vehicles and their complex coordination, allowing the drill operator to simultaneously control both drilling operations and pipe loading/unloading functions from one platform, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining functional optimization
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate vehicles are deployed for drilling operations, then specialized functions are achieved, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated mobile rig system provides multi-functionality by incorporating both drilling capabilities and pipe handling capabilities on a single platform. The drill operator can perform drilling operations, load pipes, and unload pipes using the same vehicle system, eliminating the need for multiple specialized vehicles and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability for various drilling operations
3Stability of the object's composition
If the top drive unit is fixed in position, then the drilling operation is stable, but the ability to transfer between drilling and pipe receiving positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The top drive unit is made dynamically movable along the drilling tower via a traveling carriage system with vertical motion drive. This allows the top drive unit to be positioned at different heights and locations on the tower - stable during drilling operations and movable when transferring between drilling position and pipe receiving position, thereby achieving both drilling stability and position adaptability through dynamic reconfiguration
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile land rig is adapted to perform drilling and/or wellbore related activities. The mobile land rig includes a drilling tower, a loader and a top drive system including a pivotal top drive unit. The top drive system is provided with an actuator assembly adapted to cause the pivot motion of the top drive unit.