# US 2014/0196948 A1 · Drilling rig > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196948 A1 - Document ID: US20140196948A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/772,709 - Filed: 2013-02-21 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S - Inventors: Michael KANNEGAARD; Allan McCOLL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196948A1 ## CPC - E21B 19/002: {specially adapted for underwater drilling (E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence)} - E21B 15/02: specially adapted for underwater drilling (E21B15/04 takes precedence) - E21B 19/143: {specially adapted for underwater drilling} - E21B 19/155: {Handling between horizontal and vertical position} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Disclosed herein are embodiments of an offshore drilling rig comprising a drill floor deck having a hole defining a first well centre. Embodiments of the drilling rig further comprise a first mast upwardly extending relative to the drill floor deck, and a first hoisting system supported by the first mast and configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through the first well centre. The first mast is located on a first side of the first well centre. Embodiments of the drilling rig further comprise first pipe handling equipment for presenting tubular equipment to the first hoisting system so as to allow the first hoisting system to hoist or lower the tubular equipment through the first well centre. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An offshore drilling rig comprising a drill floor deck having a hole defining a first well centre; a first mast upwardly extending relative to the drill floor deck, and a first hoisting system supported by the first mast and configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through the first well centre; wherein the first hoisting system is displaced from and located on a first side of the first well centre; first pipe handling equipment for moving tubular equipment to the first hoisting system so as to allow the first hoisting system to hoist or lower the tubular equipment through the first well centre. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the offshore drilling rig is a semi-submersible drilling rig. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the first pipe handling equipment defines a first pipe feeding path along which tubular equipment is moved towards the first well centre. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 3, wherein the first pipe feeding path extends substantially along a longitudinal direction defined within a plane of the drill floor deck by the first well centre and the first hoisting system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 3, or wherein the first pipe handling equipment comprises a first horizontal pipe handling equipment extending along the first pipe feeding path; and first vertical pipe handling equipment for handling at least vertically oriented tubular equipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 5, wherein the first well centre is positioned on the first pipe feeding path defined by the first horizontal pipe handling equipment; and wherein the first vertical pipe handling equipment is movable between at least a first position on the first pipe feeding path between the first horizontal pipe handling equipment and the first well centre and a second position transversely displaced relative to the first pipe feeding path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the drill floor deck comprises at least a first open drill floor deck area located adjacent the first mast other than any drill floor deck area configured for movement of tubular equipment or well-control equipment to the first well centre during normal drilling operation; and an access path connecting the open drill floor deck area with the first well centre. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 7, wherein the drilling rig is configured to perform movement of tubular equipment or well-control equipment to the first well centre along one or more pipe feeding paths during normal use which one or more pipe feeding path only crosses drill floor deck areas outside the first open drill floor deck area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 7, wherein the access path extends entirely outside the footprint of the first mast. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 7, wherein the access path is a straight access path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 7, wherein the first open drill floor deck area is located adjacent the first mast in a longitudinal direction defined within a plane of the drill floor deck by the first well centre and the first hoisting system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 7, wherein the first open drill floor deck area is located adjacent the first mast in a transverse direction normal to a longitudinal direction defined within a plane of the drill floor deck by the first well centre and the first hoisting system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, comprising a guard structure configured to prevent tubular equipment operated above the first well centre from falling onto the drill floor deck area in a direction away from the first mast. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 13, wherein the guard structure is elevated above the drill floor deck so as to provide an access path to the first well centre under the guard structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 13, wherein the guard structure is configured to be moved between different elevations above the drill floor deck. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 13, wherein the guard structure is operable to be moved between a closed position where it prevents tubular equipment operated above the first well centre from falling onto the drill floor deck area and an open position where it allows unobstructed access to the first well centre. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 13; wherein the guard structure extends between support structures located on respective sides of the first well centre. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, comprising a mounting structure for suspending suspendable auxiliary equipment from an elevated position above the drill floor deck, allowing the auxiliary equipment to be lowered or hoisted through the first well centre; wherein the mounting structure is movable between a lower position for rigging up auxiliary equipment to the mounting structure, and an elevated position allowing lowering or hoisting of auxiliary equipment suspended from the mounting structure through the first well centre. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 18, wherein the mounting structure extends between support structures located on respective sides of the first well centre. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the first mast and the first hoisting system are configured to allow tubular equipment to be moved towards the first well centre from the first side. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 20, wherein the first mast and the first hoisting system define an opening through which tubular equipment is movable towards the first well centre from the first side. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 21, wherein the first hoisting system is a hydraulic hoisting system comprising a plurality of cylinders extending upwardly relative to the drill floor deck, wherein the cylinders are arranged as at least two groups of cylinders that are laterally spaced apart from each other so as to form a gap between the two groups of cylinders through which gap tubular equipment is movable towards the first well centre from the first side. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the drilling rig further comprises a pipe storage structure positioned on a second side of the first well centre opposite the first side. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein the drilling rig further comprises a second well centre displaced from the first well centre; the positions of the first and second well centres together defining a transverse direction in the plane of the drill floor deck; a second mast upwardly extending relative to the drill floor deck, and a second hoisting system supported by the second mast and configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through the second well centre; wherein the first and second masts are arranged side by side in the transverse direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 24, further comprising second pipe handling equipment, wherein the first pipe handling equipment defines a first pipe feeding path, along which first pipe feeding path tubular equipment is moved towards the first well centre; and wherein the second pipe handling equipment defines a second pipe feeding path, along which tubular equipment is moved towards the second well centre. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 25, wherein the first and second pipe feeding paths extend substantially along a longitudinal direction normal to the transverse direction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 25, further comprising a pipe storage structure positioned longitudinally displaced from the first and second well centres on a second side of the first well centre opposite the first side and transversely positioned between the first and the second pipe feeding paths. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 25, wherein the drill floor deck comprises at least a first open drill floor deck area located adjacent to one of the first and second masts other than any drill floor deck area configured for movement of tubular equipment or well-control equipment to the first or second well centre during normal drilling operation; and an access path connecting the open drill floor deck area with the first and second well centres. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 28, wherein the first open drill floor deck area is located adjacent the first or second mast in the transverse direction; and wherein the access path is a straight access path extending from the first open drill floor deck area through the first and second well centres. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) An off-shore drilling rig according to claim 24, comprising respective open drill floor deck areas, one adjacent to each of the first and second masts, other than any drill floor deck area configured for movement of tubular equipment or well-control equipment to the first or second well centre during normal drilling operation; and respective access paths connecting the open drill floor deck areas with the first and second well centres. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 30, wherein each of the open drill floor deck areas comprises an access path extending outside the footprint of the first and second masts and along the transverse direction to the first and second well centres. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 31, wherein the drill floor deck comprises a connecting drill floor deck area connecting the first and second open drill floor deck areas. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 24, configured to allow drilling operations to be performed through each of the first and second well centres. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) An offshore drilling rig according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the drill floor deck is formed by a roof of an enclosure for accommodating mud mixing equipment and/or other operational equipment of the drilling rig.