Rig Lighting Heat and Pollution Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting solutions for oil and gas well drilling/servicing rigs face challenges such as heat load issues, complexity in maintenance, and excessive light pollution due to high-intensity lights attached to the crown of the rig, which is crowded with equipment and difficult to replace.
Innovation Solution
Mounting lights below the lower deck of the crown, preferably 1-10 feet below the water table, and directing the lighting using reflectors, shrouds, or lenses to minimize light pollution and heat dissipation, with a focus on cool white LED lighting at 5200 K to optimize illumination within the wellsite area without affecting external areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high intensity lights are attached to the crown of the rig, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat load on the crown increases making it difficult for workers to maintain equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is extracted from the crown structure and relocated to the derrick/mast structure below the crown. This separation removes the heat-generating light sources from the crowded crown area, eliminating the heat load problem while preserving the illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces directional lighting elements (reflectors, lenses, or shrouds) as intermediaries between the light source and the environment. These components control light distribution to achieve proper illumination while directing heat away from the crown area.
2Illumination intensity
If high intensity lights are attached to the crown of the rig, then illumination intensity is improved, but light pollution in surrounding areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is designed with directional control features (reflectors, lenses, or shrouds) that create different light distribution characteristics in different directions. The light is concentrated and directed toward the wellsite area while being shielded from surrounding areas, achieving local quality control of illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Directional control elements serve as intermediaries that modify the light propagation. Reflectors bounce light in specific directions, lenses focus and direct light beams, and shrouds block light from escaping in unwanted directions, thereby controlling light pollution.
3Ease of manufacture
If lights are mounted on the crown of the rig, then ease of installation is improved, but device complexity increases due to crowding with sheaves, pulleys, cables, and peripheral equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is extracted from the crowded crown structure and relocated to the derrick/mast structure. This removes the conflict between lighting equipment and existing crown components (sheaves, pulleys, cables), reducing device complexity while maintaining installation accessibility.
4Illumination intensity
If lights are attached to the crown frame of the rig, then illumination is provided, but ease of repair worsens due to difficulty in replacing crown frame, water table, or sheaves
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is decoupled from the crown structure and mounted on the derrick/mast structure instead. This separation ensures that lighting installation and maintenance can proceed independently of crown frame, water table, or sheave replacements, significantly improving ease of repair.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides secure, long-term wellsite illumination that reduces light pollution and heat load, enhancing worker safety and operational efficiency while maintaining effective lighting for equipment maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the lights 20a, 20b, and 20c generally include a light emitting diode (LED) that provides a light wavelength typically associated with cool white light
Implementation Method 2
Cool white light typically has a temperature greater than about 4500° Kelvin and most preferably about 5200° Kelvin
Implementation Method 3
a reflector 42 is provided to further direct errant light rays towards the lens 46
Implementation Method 4
A shroud 44 is provided to block a portion of the light rays that would otherwise be emitted in an undesired direction
Implementation Method 5
The lens 46 redirects the light that reaches the lens 46 in the desired direction
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention utilizes a light module mounted at some distance below the crown of a rig to reduce the heat reaching the walkway. Additionally, the light module is constructed of a light source such as an LED, a reflector, a shroud, and a lens that together operate to constrain the emitted light to the rig site. Preferably the light source emits a cool blue white light of at least 4500° Kelvin and more preferably at 5200° Kelvin.