Offshore drilling apparatus and methods
AssigneeDeltatek Oil Tools 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.
Claims25
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 and a lower portion;
- providing an articulated joint between the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongate support string, and
- rotating the elongate support string and transferring torque between the upper and lower portions of the elongate support string while maintaining the lower portion of the elongate support string in a substantially vertical orientation.
(canceled)
(canceled)
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, and
- an articulated joint between the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongate support string,
- whereby the articulated joint facilitates maintaining the lower portion of the elongate support string in a substantially vertical orientation.
24-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.