US 4,759,414 AGranted

Modular drilling machine and components thereof

AssigneeW-N Apache Corporation

InventorClyde A. Willis

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Abstract

A drilling machine includes a drilling substructure skid which defines two spaced parallel skid runners and a platform. The platform supports a draw works mounted on a draw works skid, and a pipe boom is mounted on a pipe boom skid sized to fit between the skid runners of the drilling substructure skid. The drilling substructure skid supports four legs which in turn support a drilling platform on which is mounted a lower mast section. The legs are pivotably mounted both at the platform and at the drilling substructure skid and a pair of platform cylinders are provided to raise and lower the drilling platform. A pair of rigid, fixed length struts extend diagonally between the platform and the substructure skid away from the platform such that the struts do not extend under the platform and obstruct access to the region under the platform. Preferably, the pipe boom skid mounts a pipe boom as well as a boom linkage, a motor, and a hydraulic pump adapted to power the pipe boom linkage. Preferably the substructure skid is formed in upper and lower skid portions, and leveling rams are provided to level the upper skid portion with respect to the lower skid portion. Mechanical position locks hold the upper skid in relative position over the lower skid.

Claims23

Dependent claims

In a modular earth drilling machine, the improvement comprising:

a first skid;
a pipe boom;
means for pivotably mounting the pipe boom to the first skid such that the pipe boom is movable between a raised position and a lowered position;
means, mounted on the first skid, for moving the pipe boom between the raised and the lowered positions;
means, mounted on the first skid, for powering the pipe boom moving means;
a second skid comprising a lower skid portion, an upper skid portion movably mounted with respect to the upper skid portion with respect to the lower skid portion such that the upper skid portion can be leveled after the lower skid portion has been located in place;
a drilling substructure pivotably mounted to the upper skid portion of the second skid such that the drilling substructure is movable between an upper position and a lower position, said drilling substructure defining a drill string axis when in the upper position;
means, mounted on the second skid, for moving the drilling substructure between the upper and lower positions;
a third skid;
a draw works mounted on the third skid, said draw works comprising a winch and means for driving the winch;
means for releasably securing the first skid fixedly in position with respect to the upper skid portion of the second skid such that the pipe boom is aligned properly with the drilling substructure to position a drilling tubular on the drill string axis when the pipe boom is in the raised position;
and
means for releasably securing the third skid fixedly in position with respect to the upper skid portion of the second skid such that the winch is aligned properly with the drilling substructure;
said first, second, and third skids forming three separate modules adapted for separate transport and for ready assembly;
said upper skid portion of the second skid providing a rigid support for the first and third skids and the drilling substructure.

12 more elements

A substructure skid for an earth drilling machine, said substructure skid comprising:

a lower skid portion;
an upper skid portion movably mounted with respect to the lower skid portion;
means for leveling the upper skid portion after the lower skid portion has been located in place;
each of said skid portions comprising a respective pair of skid runners extending parallel to one another so as to leave a space therebetween with the skid runners of the upper skid portion positioned to overlie the skid runners of the lower skid portion;
a drilling substructure comprising a drilling substructure platform and four load bearing legs, each pivotably mounted at one end to the drilling substructure platform and at the other end to the upper skid portion such that at least a respective one of the legs is mounted on each of the skid runners of the upper skid portion, said drilling substructure platform movable between an upper position and a lower position;
means, coupled to the drilling substructure platform, for moving the drilling substructure platform between the upper and lower positions;
means extending between the upper skid portion and the drilling substructure for bracing and holding the drilling substructure platform in the upper position;
means for securing a draw works assembly to the substructure skid;
said skid runners comprising means for securing a pipe boom skid rigidly in position between the skid runners of the upper skid portion in order to align the pipe boom skid with the drilling substructure.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.