Pipe handling device

A slant-type drilling rig assembly for drilling boreholes having an inclined axis comprising:

• base means;
• drilling mast means mounted on the base means for arcuate movement in a vertical plane and having a crown block, a travelling block, and guide means for the travelling block;
• drilling mast positioning means connected to the base means and operable to position the drilling mast means in any of a plurality of inclined positions in the vertical plane;
• drawworks mounted on the base means and operably connected with the crown block and the travelling block to raise and lower the travelling block with respect to the drilling mast means;
• a generally vertical conduit storage means having a plurality of storage locations, being mounted on the base means in the vertical plane and operable to store conduit sections in a generally vertical posture;
• frame means having a generally horizontal structure, being pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the conduit storage means for arcuate movement between the conduit storage means and the drilling mast means;
• conduit holding means having grappling means freely suspended therebelow, being attached to the generally horizontal structure, and being operable to engage an upper portion of a conduit section during transfer thereof between the conduit storage means and the drilling mast means;
• control station means being freely suspended below the generally horizontal structure for motion with respect thereto and being operable to support an operator for the frame means.

A slant-type drilling rig assembly for drilling inclined boreholes comprising:

• base means;
• drilling mast means mounted on the base means for arcuate movement in a vertical plane and having a crown block, a travelling block, and guide means for the travelling block;
• drilling mast positioning means connected to the base means and operable to position the drilling mast means in any of a plurality of inclined positions in the vertical plane;
• drawworks mounted on the base means and operably connected with the crown block and the travelling block for raising and lowering the travelling block;
• generally vertical pipe storage structure having a plurality of storage locations and a bottom portion connected to the base means, being disposed in the vertical plane and operable to store pipe sections in a generally vertical posture;
• and
• pipe transfer means for moving pipe sections between the pipe storage structure and the drilling mast means including
• a generally horizontal structure disposed generally perpendicularly with respect to the vertical plane,
• a carriage guide endwise supported by the horizontal structure and generally perpendicular to the vertical plane,
• a carriage slidably mounted on the carriage guide and having a universal joint suspended therebelow,
• fluid pressure actuated means connected to the horizontal structure and the carriage and operable to move the carriage,
• an elevator,
• fluid pressure actuated means connected at one end to the universal joint, carrying the elevator at the other end and being operable to raise and lower the elevator,
• a control station suspended below the horizontal structure and operable to support an operator,
• a pair of support columns, each column having one end pivotally mounted to a corresponding side of the pipe storage structure for arcuate movement in a plane parallel to the vertical plane, having the other end attached to a corresponding end of the horizontal structure, and having a length exceeding the height of the pipe storage structure such that vertical clearance exists between the top of the pipe storage structure and the bottom of the control station, and
• fluid pressure means connected to the pipe storage structure and one of the support columns for moving the support columns between a position adjacent the pipe storage structure and another position adjacent the drilling mast means.

A method of transferring conduit sections between an inclined drilling mast and a generally vertical conduit storage means comprising:

• positioning a grappling means of a transfer means in proximate relation with an upper end portion of a conduit section to be transferred;
• gripping the upper end portion of conduit section with the grappling means;
• raising the conduit section such that vertical clearance is attained between the lower end portion thereof and a first support;
• allowing the grappling means to hang freely below the transfer means;
• pivotally swinging the transfer means with the grappling means and an operator control station suspended therefrom between the drilling mast and the pipe storage structure;
• lowering the grappling means until the lower end portion of the pipe section engages a second support;
• and
• releasing the grappling means from the upper end portion of the conduit section.

A method of transferring conduit sections between an inclined drilling mast and a generally vertical pipe storage means requiring one operator, comprising:

• providing a transfer means from which an operator control station and a grappling means are freely suspended;
• positioning the grappling means in proximate relation to the upper end portion of a conduit section to be transferred;
• gripping the upper end portion with the grappling means;
• raising the conduit section such that vertical clearance is attained between the lower end portion thereof and a first support;
• pivotally swinging the transfer means with the grappling means and the operator control station between the drilling mast and the pipe storage means;
• lowering the grappling means until the lower end portion of the conduit section engages a second support;
• and
• releasing the upper end portion of the conduit section.