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US 12,428,918 B2Granted
Offshore drilling apparatus and methods
AssigneeExpro North Sea Limited
InventorsTristam Paul Horn, Stephen Edmund Bruce, Tyler Rhes Reynolds, David Michael Shand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An offshore method includes providing an elongate support string for extending between a mobile offshore drilling unit and a seabed location. The string has an upper portion and a lower portion, and an articulated joint is provided between the upper portion and the lower portion. The provision of the articulated joint maintains the lower portion of the elongate support string in a substantially vertical orientation and increases the safe operating radius of the mobile offshore drilling unit or increases the speed at which the unit may transit through the sea with objects suspended via the elongate support string.
Claims20
An offshore method comprising:
- providing an elongate support string for extending between a mobile offshore drilling unit and a seabed location, the string having an upper portion formed of first drill pipe sections and a lower portion formed of second drill pipe sections;
- providing an articulated joint arranged to allow the first drill pipe sections forming the upper portion and the second drill pipe sections forming the lower portion to pivot relative to one another and to transfer torque between the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongate support string;
- providing a tool for creating a bore hole on the lower portion of the elongate support string, the tool comprising at least one of a drill bit and a jetting arrangement;
- rotating and applying torque to the upper portion of the elongate support string and transferring torque through the articulated joint between the upper portion and lower portion of the elongate support string while allowing the second drill pipe sections forming the lower portion to pivot relative to the first drill pipe sections forming the upper portion, and maintaining the lower portion of the elongate support string in a substantially vertical orientation;
- and
- creating the bore hole that is substantially vertical and extends below the seabed.
3 more elements
An apparatus for use in offshore drilling operations comprising:
- an elongate support string for extending between a mobile offshore drilling unit and a seabed location, the string comprising a tubular drill string formed of multiple drill pipe sections, wherein the drill pipe sections includes first drill pipe sections and second drill pipe sections, and wherein the string has an upper portion formed of the first drill pipe sections and a lower portion formed of the second drill pipe sections, and with a bore-forming assembly mounted on a lower end of the lower portion;
- an articulated joint arranged to allow the first drill pipe sections forming the upper portion and the second drill pipe sections forming the lower portion of the elongate support string to pivot relative to one another and to allow a transfer of torque between the first drill pipe sections forming the upper portion and the second drill pipe sections forming the lower portion of the elongate support string;
- and
- a tool for creating a bore hole mounted on the lower portion of the elongate support string, the tool comprising at least one of a drill bit and a jetting arrangement;
- whereby the articulated joint facilitates maintaining the lower portion of the elongate support string in a substantially vertical orientation while transferring rotation and torque from the first drill pipe sections forming the upper portion of the elongate support string to the second drill pipe sections forming the lower portion of the elongate support string and creating the bore hole that is substantially vertical and extends below the seabed.
2 more elements
An apparatus for use in offshore drilling operations comprising:
- an elongate support string for extending between a mobile offshore drilling unit and a seabed location, the string comprising a tubular drill string formed of multiple drill pipe sections and having an upper portion and a lower portion, and with a bore-forming assembly mounted on a lower end of the lower portion;
- an articulated joint arranged to allow the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongate support string to pivot relative to one another and to allow a transfer of torque between the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongate support string;
- a bore-lining tubular releasably mounted on the lower portion of the elongate support string;
- and
- a tool for creating a bore hole to accommodate the bore-lining tubular, the tool being mounted on the lower portion of the elongate support string, and the tool comprising at least one of a drill bit and a jetting arrangement;
- whereby the articulated joint facilitates maintaining the lower portion of the elongate support string and the bore-lining tubular in a substantially vertical orientation while transferring rotation and torque from the upper portion of the elongate support string to the lower portion of the elongate support string and creating the bore hole that is substantially vertical and extends below the seabed to accommodate the bore-lining tubular in the substantially vertical orientation on release of the bore-lining tubular from the lower portion of the elongate support string.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.