Pivoting Bail Extensions for Drilling Rig Stabbing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bail extensions on top-drive-equipped drilling rigs have limited horizontal reach and complicate the stabbing process due to variable factors like top drive ear position, bail length, and accessory equipment, necessitating manual adjustments that are time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A bail extension system with pivotable and length-adjustable extensions that remain collinear with the bails, featuring a frame assembly and extension mount to ensure consistent reach and clearance, optionally including an extension yoke and casing guides for stability and alignment during operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If bail extensions are made longer to increase horizontal reach, then the reach is improved, but the stabbing process becomes more difficult and manual adjustments are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bail extension system incorporates a pivotable connection at the frame assembly that allows the extensions to dynamically adjust their orientation. This dynamic capability enables the extensions to pivot away from collinear alignment during horizontal movement to maximize reach, while automatically returning to collinear alignment during vertical stabbing operations, thus resolving the contradiction between extended reach and stabbing ease
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the bail extensions based on operational phase. During horizontal transport, the extensions pivot to an angled orientation for maximum reach. During vertical stabbing, they return to collinear orientation. This parameter change allows the same structure to optimize for both reach and stabbing ease at different times
2Length of stationary object
If bail extensions are made longer to provide necessary vertical clearance, then the clearance is improved, but the horizontal reach is limited by bail length
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves this contradiction by introducing angular orientation as an additional dimension. Instead of simply extending the bail length vertically, the system uses pivotable extensions that can project horizontally when angled. This allows the same extension structure to provide both vertical clearance (when vertical) and horizontal reach (when angled), effectively utilizing three-dimensional space
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bail extensions are used with variable factors like top drive ear position and accessory equipment, then the system is adaptable to different configurations, but manual adjustments are time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable bail extension system is self-adjusting based on operational conditions. During horizontal movement, the extensions automatically pivot away from collinear alignment to maximize reach. During vertical stabbing, they automatically return to collinear alignment. This self-service capability eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments while maintaining adaptability to different rig configurations
Data Source
AI summary
Bail extensions for drilling rig bails can be pivoted relative to the bails in a direction away from the well centerline, but remain collinear with the bails when the bails are deflected away from the well centerline by link tilts. The extensions are mounted to frames mounted to the bails' lower eyes, such that the bail extensions maintain a constant angular orientation relative to the frames. The frames include reaction plates that exert reaction forces on the bails when the bails are deflected from vertical by the link tilts, thus maintaining the bail extensions collinear with the bails. The bail extensions may be length-adjustable. An adjustable extension yoke may be mounted between the frames to adjust and maintain a selected spacing therebetween. An adjustable casing guide may be mounted between the bail extensions to facilitate stabbing of a casing joint carried by a pipe elevator suspended from the bail extensions.