RCD Head Pipe Installer Horizontal Removal Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and removal of pipes in rotating control device (RCD) heads on rig drilling equipment are time-consuming and hazardous due to the need for vertical maneuvering in a limited work area, posing safety risks to rig crew members.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for installing and removing pipes from RCD heads horizontally, using a body section to secure the RCD head and a scoping section to push or pull the pipe into or out of the RCD head, eliminating the need for vertical lifting and reducing the risk of accidents by allowing operations to be performed in a safer, larger work area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If pipes are vertically installed on and removed from the RCD head on the rig floor, then the installation and removal processes can be completed using traditional methods, but the processes are time-consuming and dangerous to the rig crew due to the limited work area and difficulty to maneuver heavy items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the installation and removal operation from vertical to horizontal dimension. The RCD head is positioned horizontally on the rig floor, and pipes are installed or removed horizontally by pushing or pulling them through the RCD head's bore, eliminating the need for vertical lifting and maneuvering in the limited vertical space above the rig floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (a pushing/pulling tool or derrick) that facilitates the horizontal movement of pipes through the RCD head. This intermediary mechanism allows the heavy pipes to be moved horizontally without direct manual handling, reducing the risk of injury to rig crew while maintaining operational efficiency.
2Productivity
If heavy RCD head and heavy pipe are vertically lifted up to install the pipe on the RCD or remove the pipe from the RCD, then the installation and removal can be completed, but the processes are dangerous and time-consuming due to the limited work area on the rig floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates vertical lifting operations by transitioning to horizontal pipe installation and removal. The RCD head is oriented horizontally, allowing pipes to be pushed or pulled through its bore in the horizontal plane, thereby avoiding the safety hazards associated with vertical lifting of heavy items in the constrained rig floor environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pipe installation and removal operation from the vertical space above the rig floor and relocates it to the horizontal plane on the rig floor. This extraction of the operation from the hazardous vertical zone eliminates the need for rig crew to work in the dangerous area where heavy items are typically maneuvered vertically.
3Ease of operation
If multiple steps are taken to install or remove the RCD head on the pipe due to the very limited work area on the rig floor, then the installation and removal can be completed, but there is an increased risk of injury when a RCD or pipe slips during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the number of operational steps by performing both installation and removal in a single horizontal motion. The RCD head is positioned horizontally with adequate clearance, allowing pipes to be pushed or pulled through in one continuous action, eliminating multiple positioning and adjustment steps that increase the risk of slipping and injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary positioning of the RCD head in a horizontal orientation with sufficient clearance before pipe installation or removal begins. This preliminary setup ensures that the entire operation can be completed in one smooth motion without requiring intermediate adjustments, thereby reducing the risk of accidents during the process.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for installing a pipe into a rotating control device (RCD) head and for removing a pipe out from a RCD head are described. The device includes a body section for receiving and securing a RCD head placed thereon; and a scoping section configured to secure a first end of the pipe, and to push the first end of the pipe into a bore of the RCD head or to pull the first end of the pipe out from bore of the RCD head. The body section is configured to be substantially stationary when the scoping section pushes the first end of the pipe into the bore of the RCD head, or when the scoping section pulls the first end of the pipe out from the bore of the RCD head.