Triple Activity Drilling System with Offline Stand-Building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling operations at deep water sites are inefficient due to the limitations of dual hoisting systems, which require stopping auxiliary well activities for stand-building operations, thereby increasing the time required to complete drilling tasks.
Innovation Solution
A triple activity system is introduced on a drillship, featuring a main well, an auxiliary well, and an offline casing and drill pipe stand-building facility, with horizontally traveling platforms to supply tubular members continuously to each activity center, allowing simultaneous independent operations at three separate locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dual hoisting system with two well centres is used, then each well centre can be equipped with its own tubular feeding system, but stand-building operations are limited to one feeder platform on each side, requiring auxiliary well activities to stop, which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The drill floor is divided into three independent activity centres: first activity centre with main well, second activity centre with auxiliary well, and third activity centre with offline stand-building facility. Each centre can operate independently and simultaneously, allowing stand-building operations to proceed while drilling activities continue at other centres, thereby eliminating non-productive time and improving overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The stand-building facility is positioned offline from the traditional dual well centre arrangement, creating a third spatial dimension for operations. This offline facility receives tubular members through a separate delivery assembly, enabling parallel operations without interfering with the main and auxiliary well drilling activities
2Productivity
If horizontally travelling platforms are provided to each activity centre, then continuous and smooth supply of tubular members is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontally travelling platforms and delivery assemblies are designed as multi-functional systems that serve multiple activity centres. The same type of platform structure and delivery mechanism is reused across different centres, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous supply capability to each centre
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontally travelling platforms act as intermediary transport systems between storage areas and activity centres. These platforms provide a smooth transition and continuous supply of tubular members, mediating between the static storage locations and the dynamic drilling operations, thereby ensuring uninterrupted material flow without requiring complex direct lifting mechanisms at each centre
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to a drilling rig or a drill ship having a first activity centre with a main well, a second activity centre with an auxiliary well and a third activity centre with offline casing and drill pipe stand-building capabilities. The offline casing and drill pipe stand-building facility is a standalone feature and can be located in the forward or aft side of a drilling rig or drill ship depending on the choice of the builder or operator.