US 4,899,832 A · Modular well drilling apparatus and methods

Abstract

A highly automated well drilling apparatus that is transportable in modular units to a well site where the units are rapidly assembled into an integrated operational assembly. The apparatus includes a drilling unit and two raising units that are locked to the respective opposite sides thereof. After base structures on the raising units are lowered to the ground to provide a support, the towers of the raising units and the mast of the drilling unit are simultaneously elevated to the vertical. The same raising units then are employed to erect pipe supply frames that are connected to the front of each tower. The drilling unit includes a top rotary drive, an automated power tong, and a pipe handling system that are remotely operated from a control center. Power supply, mud return, mud supply and mud pump units also are located in a unique array adjacent the drilling unit to provide an integrated and efficient drilling system.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A modular unitized well drilling apparatus having a plurality of separately transportable and connectable units adapted for transport from one location to a second well sit location and comprising:

a separately transportable drilling unit including an elongated mast adapted to be pivoted from a horizontal transport position to a vertical drilling position, said mast carrying a top drive unit for imparting rotary motion to a drill pipe;
separately transportable first and second raising units adapted to be positioned on the respective opposite sides of said drilling unit and to be removably connected thereto, each of said raising units including a tower that is adapted to be pivoted from a horizontal to a vertical position;
means for removably connecting the tower of each raising unit to said drilling unit at said well site location;
base means on each of said raising units adapted to be lowered into engagement with the ground to provide a support;
and means on said base means for simultaneously pivoting said towers of said raising units and said separate drilling unit after connection to said raising units to the vertical position from the horizontal position to permit rapid assembly of said well drilling apparatus at a well site.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular well drilling apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Modular well drilling apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16