Pivoted Rail System for Stable Wellhead Equipment Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oil and gas exploration assemblies face instability and reduced flexibility during vertical alignment of pre-assembled equipment at the well head, leading to time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly processes due to reliance on single pivot point transport systems.
Innovation Solution
A pivoted rail-based assembly system that allows pre-assembled equipment, such as blowout preventers and strippers, to be transported on a trailer with a rail-mounted pivot point, enabling lateral positioning and secure locking for stable vertical alignment near the well head, reducing the need for crane-based assembly and enhancing positioning flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pivot point transport system is used to vertically align equipment at the well head, then the assembly process can be simplified, but the stability of the assembly apparatus during vertical alignment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single pivot point is segmented into multiple pivot points distributed along the transport bed trailer. This allows the equipment to be supported at multiple locations during vertical alignment, increasing stability while maintaining the simplified transport system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot points are positioned at different longitudinal locations along the transport bed trailer, adding a spatial dimension to the pivot configuration. This multi-point distribution along the length of the trailer provides stability during vertical alignment while keeping the system relatively simple.
2Ease of operation
If the pivot point is extended to the end of the transport bed trailer to simplify alignment, then the alignment process is simplified, but the flexibility of positioning relative to the well head is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed end-point pivot to a dynamic multi-point pivot system that can be positioned at different longitudinal locations along the trailer. This allows the pivot configuration to adapt to different well head positions and equipment sizes, providing both ease of operation and positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple pivot points serve multiple functions: they provide stable support during vertical alignment, enable flexible positioning relative to the well head, and can accommodate different equipment sizes and configurations. This universal approach replaces the single-function end-point pivot.
3Productivity
If pre-assembled equipment is vertically aligned using a single pivot point, then the assembly time is reduced, but the ability to vertically align pre-assembled equipment with significant weight and elevated centers of gravity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single pivot point is divided into multiple pivot points distributed along the transport bed trailer. This segmentation provides distributed support that can handle the weight and elevated center of gravity of pre-assembled equipment, maintaining assembly speed while improving reliability for heavy equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple pivot points are pre-positioned along the transport bed trailer to provide optimal support during the vertical alignment of heavy equipment. This preliminary configuration ensures that when heavy equipment needs to be aligned, the stable multi-point support is already in place, enabling quick and reliable assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A stable vertical lift structure that raises pre-assembled equipment with flexibility in the positioning in relation to the well head location. The invention includes pre-assembled drilling and well-head equipment, such as a blow-out preventer and a stripper assembly supported by a vertical support structure, all of which is transported to the drilling site on a trailer assembly. The pivot point for the pre-assembled equipment is placed on a rail transport mounted on the trailer assembly, and the pivot point is laterally pushed to a locking point on the rail assembly before the pre-assembled equipment is vertically raised to its vertical alignment near the well head. After being raised to its vertical alignment position, the pre-assembled equipment can be placed over the well head at the drilling site. By positioning the pre-assembled equipment using the rail transport, there is flexibility in positioning the trailer relative to the well head and the vertical alignment operation can be conducted with stability.