Slingshot Side Saddle Substructure for Drilling Rigs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Land-based drilling rigs face challenges in maneuvering around existing wellheads, as mast placement can interfere with equipment and drilling operations, complicating the process of traveling between locations and maintaining efficient drilling activities.
Innovation Solution
A land-based drilling rig design featuring hingedly coupled struts and substructures allows the drill floor to pivot between upright and lowered positions, with a V-door orientation and tank support structures, enabling efficient movement and reduced interference with existing wells, and includes a grasshopper for cabling and lines, facilitating rapid rig assembly and disassembly during skidding operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the drill floor is fixed in an upright position, then structural stability is improved, but mobility and ability to maneuver around existing wellheads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drill floor is designed with hinged connections to the lower boxes through struts, enabling it to pivot between an upright drilling position and a lowered travel position. This dynamic configuration allows the rig to adapt its structure based on operational requirements, providing both stability during drilling and mobility during relocation.
2Strength
If the mast is placed in a conventional position, then structural support is improved, but interference with existing wellheads and drilling operations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mast is positioned asymmetrically relative to the drill floor, specifically aligned with the V-door opening rather than centered. This asymmetric placement allows the mast to be structurally supported while clearing existing wellheads and avoiding interference with drilling operations in the conventional wellhead area.
3Ease of operation
If the rig structure is made compact for mobility, then ease of travel is improved, but equipment connections and operational functionality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rig structure is divided into modular segments including the drill floor, lower boxes, and tank support structures that can be independently positioned and connected. This segmentation allows the rig to be compact during travel while maintaining the capability to establish reliable equipment connections when deployed for drilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank support structures serve as intermediary elements that can be affixed to the substructure to provide stable mounting for tanks and mud process equipment during operations, while allowing the overall rig structure to remain mobile during travel between locations.
Data Source
AI summary
The drilling rig includes a first substructure and a second substructure. The second substructure is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first substructure and generally the same height as the first substructure. The drilling rig further includes a drill floor coupled to the first and second substructures, where the drill floor positioned substantially at the top of the first and second substructures.