# US 2016/0258178 A1 · Mast transport skid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258178 A1 - Document ID: US20160258178A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/639,842 - Filed: 2015-03-05 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-05 - Assignees: Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC - Applicants: Patterson-Uti Drilling Company LLC - Inventors: Katherine J. Holst; Michael F. Jones; Tyson Andrew Springer; Kristopher Landon Murray Butler; Bradley James Schroeder; Christopher Medland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258178A1 ## CPC - E04H 12/345: {Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof (E04H12/347 takes precedence)} - E04H 12/182: {telescopic (locking of telescopic systems in general F16B7/10)} - E04H 12/187: {with hinged sections} - E21B 15/00: Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts - E21B 15/003: {adapted to be moved on their substructure, e.g. with skidding means; adapted to drill a plurality of wells} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A transportable unit has a skid with a pivot connector to pivotally attach to a first mast leg of a drill rig mast. The skid also has a support connector to attach to a second mast leg support of the drill rig mast and a substructure connector to attach to a substructure of a drill rig. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transportable unit, comprising: a mast transport skid; a drill rig mast pivotally attached to the mast transport skid; a cylinder with a first cylinder end attached to the mast transport skid and a second cylinder end attached to the drill rig mast; the mast transport skid having a pivot connector attached to a first mast leg of the drill rig mast; the mast transport skid also comprising a support connector to attach to a second mast leg support of the drill rig mast; and the mast transport skid also comprising a substructure connector to attach to a substructure of a drill rig. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transportable unit of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is a single stage cylinder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transportable unit of claim 1, wherein the pivot connector is elevated between 5.0 and 15.0 feet above a floor of the mast transport skid by a pivot support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transportable unit of claim 1, wherein the second mast leg support is connected to a second leg of the drill rig mast at a joint at a first support end when a second support end of the second mast leg support is rotated towards the drill rig mast. ### Claim 5 A transportable unit, comprising: a skid; the skid having a pivot connector to pivotally attach to a first mast leg of a drill rig mast; the skid also comprising a support connector to attach to a second mast leg support of the drill rig mast; and the skid also comprising a substructure connector to attach to a substructure of a drill rig. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The transportable unit of claim 5, wherein the skid also comprises a cylinder attachment to connect a first end of a cylinder, where a second end of the cylinder is connected to the drill rig mast. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The transportable unit of claim 5, further comprising a cylinder with a first cylinder end attached to the skid and a second cylinder end attached to the drill rig mast. ### Claim 8 A method of disassembling a drill rig, comprising: disconnecting a front mast leg support from a mast transport skid; lowering a mast section of the drill rig to align with the mast transport skid by retracting a cylinder connected to the mast section and the mast transport skid; and disconnecting the mast transport skid from a drill rig substructure to form a transportable unit that includes the mast transport skid, the cylinder, and the mast section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting a first end of the cylinder to the mast transport skid where a second end of the cylinder is already attached to the mast section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising moving a releasable end of the front mast leg support toward the mast section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein moving the releasable end of the front mast leg support toward the mast section occurs simultaneously with lowering the mast section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein moving the releasable end of the front mast leg support toward the mast section includes rotating the front mast leg support about a joint formed between the front mast leg support and a front leg of the mast section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein lowering the mast section includes pivoting a back leg of the mast section about a pivot connector elevated 5.0 to 15.0 feet above a floor of the mast transport skid with a pivot support. ### Claim 14 A method of assembling a drill rig, comprising: connecting a mast transport skid to a substructure where the mast transport skid forms a transportable unit with a mast cylinder and a mast section of the drill rig where a first end of the mast cylinder is attached to the mast transport skid and a second end of the mast cylinder is attached to the mast section; raising the mast section to be oriented in an upright position by extending the mast cylinder; and connecting a releasable end of a front mast leg support to the mast transport skid at a support connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising disconnecting the first end of the mast cylinder from the mast transport skid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising retracting the mast cylinder into the mast section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the releasable end of the front mast leg support to the support connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein moving the front mast leg support occurs simultaneously with raising the mast section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein moving the front mast leg support includes rotating the front mast leg support about a joint formed between the front mast leg support and a front leg of the mast section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein raising the mast section includes pivoting a back leg of the mast section about a pivot connector elevated 5.0 to 15.0 feet above a floor of the mast transport skid with a pivot support.