Top Drive Rail Sections for Mast Clearance and Pipe Handling

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling rig systems face challenges in efficiently clearing top drives from operational areas to allow for other operations without interference, as top drives often obstruct pipe handling and maintenance tasks.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing interchangeable rail sections and pivotable gates to position the top drive in a parked configuration outside the operational area, allowing for seamless transition between operating and parked states, enabling interference-free operations and easy maintenance access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the top drive is positioned in the operational area of the mast, then drilling operations can be performed, but pipe handling and maintenance operations are obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling operation efficiencyVSAvoidpipe handling accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rail system is divided into multiple sections that can be independently positioned. The first rail section can be moved to a first position for drilling operations, while the second rail section remains in a second position for pipe handling operations, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rail sections are made movable rather than fixed. Each rail section can be dynamically repositioned between different locations along the mast, enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on whether drilling operations or pipe handling operations are being performed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the top drive is cleared from the operational area, then pipe handling operations can proceed without interference, but drilling operations cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipe handling accessibilityVSAvoiddrilling operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail system is divided into multiple sections that can be independently positioned. The first rail section can be moved to a first position for drilling operations, while the second rail section remains in a second position for pipe handling operations, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rail system serves multiple functions by having different sections positioned at different locations. The same rail structure supports both drilling operations (when sections are in the first position) and pipe handling operations (when sections are in the second position), eliminating the need for separate dedicated structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a fixed rail system is used, then the structure is simple, but the top drive cannot be repositioned for different operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverail system structureVSAvoidtop drive positioning flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rail system is divided into multiple sections that can be independently positioned. The first rail section can be moved to a first position for drilling operations, while the second rail section remains in a second position for pipe handling operations, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rail sections are made movable rather than fixed. Each rail section can be dynamically repositioned between different locations along the mast, enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on whether drilling operations or pipe handling operations are being performed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11035183B2Devices, systems, and methods for top drive clearing

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 NAT OILWELL VARCO LP

AI summary

Systems and methods for clearing a top drive from an operational area of the mast such that operations may be performed along the rail without interference from the top drive. Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for arranging the top drive in a parked configuration outside of, or generally behind, the mast. A guide rail may be arranged within an operational area of a mast and may have a pair of interchangeable rail sections, each of which may be configured for arrangement in either an operating configuration, where the rail section may be positioned within the operational area of the mast to form part of the rail, or a parked configuration, where the rail section may be positioned outside of the operational area. Each interchangeable rail section may be pivotable about an axis and may be arranged on a pivotable gate of the mast.