Segmented Telescopic Drilling Masts for High Power Agility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling units face challenges in maintaining agility while increasing operating power, as larger telescopic masts required for higher power levels become impractical and costly, especially in the oil drilling sector.
Innovation Solution
A drilling unit design featuring two parallel telescopic masts with hydraulic actuators and a control station for independent or simultaneous operation, supported by a central guide and cable device, allowing for increased power delivery without excessive size or cost, using a top drive with a cable and hydraulic system for moving drilling rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the telescopic mast is enlarged to increase power delivery, then the operating power increases, but the agility and ease of positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling system is divided into two separate telescopic masts instead of using one large mast. Each mast can be independently controlled by its own hydraulic actuator, allowing the system to deliver higher total power while maintaining the agility of individual smaller masts. The masts can operate independently or in coordination, providing both power and maneuverability.
2Power
If the telescopic mast is enlarged to increase power delivery, then the operating power increases, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing one extremely large and expensive telescopic mast, the system uses two smaller masts that are more economical to produce. The smaller size of each mast reduces material requirements, simplifies manufacturing processes, and lowers overall production costs while achieving the same or greater total power output through combined operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of two smaller, more affordable masts replaces the need for one expensive, large-scale mast. The smaller masts are more cost-effective to manufacture and can be replaced more easily if needed, reducing the financial risk and capital investment required for the drilling operation.
3Power
If the telescopic mast is enlarged to increase power delivery, then the operating power increases, but the complexity of the hydraulic device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into separate actuators for each mast, with each actuator managing a single mast's telescopic operations. This distribution of hydraulic functions simplifies the control logic and reduces the complexity of any single hydraulic circuit, while the overall system delivers increased power through coordinated operation of multiple independent units.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Drilling unit (1) provided with a top drive (10) which is mobile along a drilling axis (A) in order to move drilling rods, with two telescopic drilling masts (6) which are arranged facing each other, a cable device (30) and a hydraulic device (40) which co-operate with each other to move the top drive (10) along a support guide (5) which is parallel to the axis (A) and is arranged in an intermediate position in relation to the two drilling masts (6) for supporting and sliding the top drive (10) along the axis (A); a hydraulic actuator (41) for each drilling mast (6) being suitable for modifying a longitudinal length of the relative drilling mast (6) itself, and a control station (42) being suitable for controlling the actuation of each hydraulic actuator (41) either in contemporary or independent fashion.