Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drill method and apparatus
AssigneeTransocean Offshore Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Scott, Robert P. Herrmann, Donald R. Ray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-activity driliship, or the like, method and apparatus having a single derrick and multiple tubular activity stations within the derrick wherein primary drilling activity may be conducted from the derrick and simultaneously auxiliary drilling activity may be conducted from the same derrick to reduce the length of the primary drilling activity critical path.
Claims13
A multi-activity drilling assembly mounted above an opening of a drillship, semi-submersible, tension leg platform, jack-up platform, or offshore tower and being operable to be positioned above the surface of a body of water for supporting drilling operations through a drilling deck and into the bed of the body of water, said multi-activity drilling assembly including:
- a derrick positioned above the opening and extending above the drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations and operations auxiliary to drilling operations through the drilling deck;
- a first means connected to said derrick for advancing tubular members through the drilling deck and into the bed of the body of water;
- first means, connected to said derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the drilling deck by said first means for advancing;
- second means connected to said derrick for advancing tubular members through the drilling deck and into a body of water to the seabed;
- and
- second means, connected to said derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the drilling deck by said second means for advancing for conducting operations auxiliary to said drilling operations;
- and
- means positioned within said derrick for transferring tubular assemblies between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations and operations auxiliary to said drilling operations, wherein drilling activity can be conducted from said derrick by said first means for advancing and said first means for handling tubular members and auxiliary drilling activity can be simultaneously conducted from said derrick by said second means for advancing and said second means for handling tubular members.
A multi-activity drilling assembly operable to be supported from a position above the surface of a body of water for conducting drilling operations into the bed of the body of water, said multi-activity drilling assembly including:
- a drilling superstructure operable to be mounted upon a drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations for a well and operations auxiliary to drilling operations for the well;
- first means connected to said drilling superstructure for advancing tubular members into the bed of body of water;
- second means connected to said drilling superstructure for advancing tubular members simultaneously with said first means into the body of water to the seabed, and
- means positioned adjacent to said first and second means for advancing tubular members for transferring tubular assemblies between said first means for advancing tubular members and said second means for advancing tubular members to facilitate simultaneous drilling operations auxiliary to said drilling operations, wherein drilling activity can be conducted for the well from said drilling superstructure by said first means for advancing tubular members and auxiliary drilling activity can be simultaneously conducted for the well from said drilling superstructure by said second means for advancing tubular members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.