Telescoping Ramp Assembly for Safe Pipe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of long strings of oil well pipe is hazardous due to the heavy weight and difficulty in moving pipe joints from a horizontal position to a vertical position over the drilling rig, posing a significant risk during borehole-forming and completion operations.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a support structure with an elongate indentation and a ramp assembly of telescoping assemblies, indexers, kickers, and actuators to safely guide and move tubular members between the drilling rig floor and a pipe rack, utilizing a skate mechanism and wedge ramp for efficient positioning and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pipe joints are moved manually from horizontal position to vertical position, then operational flexibility is maintained, but safety risk increases due to heavy weight and difficulty in moving pipe
Solution Approach 1:
A ramp assembly with telescoping assemblies serves as an intermediary structure between the pipe rack and rig floor. The ramp includes guide surfaces that direct pipe movement and reduce friction, making it easier and safer to transfer heavy pipe joints from horizontal to vertical positions without direct manual handling
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp assembly incorporates telescoping assemblies that can extend and retract dynamically. This allows the ramp length and position to be adjusted based on operational needs, enabling safe pipe handling while maintaining operational flexibility and adaptability to different rig configurations
2Adaptability or versatility
If telescoping assemblies are used in the ramp, then adaptability to different heights is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping assemblies use a nested tube structure where smaller diameter tubes are inserted into larger diameter tubes. This nested configuration allows multiple height positions to be achieved within a compact structure, providing variable height capability while minimizing the overall space required and reducing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp assembly is divided into multiple telescoping sections that can independently extend and retract. Each section contributes to the overall height adjustment capability, allowing the system to achieve complex height variations through simple, modular segments rather than a single complex mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for moving a tubular member to and from an elevated drilling rig floor. A support structure has an elongate indentation in its upper surface. A ramp assembly comprises telescoping assemblies having nested tubular elements extendable between retracted and deployed positions, thus forming a guide extending from the elongate indentation towards the drilling rig floor. Indexers may urge the tubular member towards or away from the elongate indentation. Kickers may urge the tubular member into or out of the elongate indentation, and may be operable via actuators which also operate the indexers.