Self-Elevating Drill Floor Using Drawworks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transportable drilling rigs require auxiliary equipment like cranes and hydraulic systems for rapid erection and disassembly, leading to increased costs and complex, time-consuming processes, especially in remote locations where wellsites frequently change.
Innovation Solution
A transportable drilling rig design that elevates the drill floor using the rig's traveling block and drawworks, eliminating the need for hydraulic systems and auxiliary hoisting equipment, with a linear vertical path for elevation and optional use of a worm gear drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If auxiliary equipment like cranes and hydraulic systems are used for drill floor elevation, then the rig can be rapidly erected and disassembled, but the costs increase and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rig system uses its own traveling block and drawworks to elevate the drill floor, eliminating the need for external auxiliary equipment. The drawworks winds cables attached to the drill floor, allowing the system to perform its own erection operations without external cranes or hydraulic systems, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining rapid assembly capability
Solution Approach 2:
The traveling block and drawworks, originally designed for hoisting drill pipe, are also used to elevate the drill floor during rig erection. This multi-functional use of existing components eliminates the need for dedicated elevation equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining productivity
2Loss of time
If auxiliary equipment like cranes and hydraulic systems are used for drill floor elevation, then the rig can be rapidly erected and disassembled, but leasing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By using the rig's own drawworks to elevate the drill floor, the system eliminates the need to lease external cranes and hydraulic equipment. The drawworks winds cables attached to the drill floor, performing the elevation function internally, thereby reducing equipment leasing costs while maintaining rapid rig setup capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the traveling block and drawworks for multiple purposes during rig erection - first for mast assembly, then for drill floor elevation. This recovery and reuse of equipment functions eliminates the need for additional leased equipment, reducing overall costs
3Device complexity
If the drill floor is elevated using the traveling block and drawworks, then auxiliary equipment is eliminated, but the elevation path must be linear and vertical
Solution Approach 1:
The drill floor is elevated vertically along a linear path using the drawworks cable system, maintaining constant gravitational potential alignment. This vertical elevation path simplifies the mechanics by avoiding lateral movements, allowing the drawworks to directly wind cables and lift the floor without complex lateral guidance mechanisms
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rig designs are used, then auxiliary equipment is required for drill floor placement, but transportability to remote locations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rig system performs its own drill floor elevation using the traveling block and drawworks, eliminating the need to transport external cranes and hydraulic equipment to remote locations. The system uses its own resources to complete the erection process, greatly enhancing transportability while reducing equipment complexity
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
Enables rapid and cost-effective rig setup and teardown without auxiliary equipment, reducing leasing costs and operational time, while maintaining rig stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The drawworks is actuated to wind cable from the cable drum, thereby elevating the drill floor to an intended service elevation
Implementation Method 2
An arrangement of pulleys (sheaves) called a crown block is mounted to the top of the rig mast. Wire-rope cable is fed from the cable drum up to the crown block and threaded over the various sheaves in the crown block
Implementation Method 3
In alternative embodiments, a worm gear drive mechanism can be used to elevate the drill floor
Data Source
AI summary
A transportable drilling rig having a self-elevating drill floor includes a base structure comprising multiple base towers that can be transported to a wellsite and positioned around an intended wellbore location. A horizontal base frame is installed between lower regions of the towers to form a stable rig base structure, and a drill floor can then be constructed over the base frame and between the base towers. A suitable rig mast can then be erected on the drill floor. Floor-lifting cables are anchored to upper regions of the base towers and disposable around corresponding sheave assemblies associated with the drill floor. The free ends of the floor-lifting cables can be engaged by the traveling block in the rig mast, whereupon the rig's drawworks can be actuated to elevate the drill floor and mast as required and then locked to the base towers.