US 6,719,062 B2 · CT drilling rig

Abstract

A drilling rig includes a tower, a stabilizer for lifting/lowering an injector and BOP stack, and a powered arm adapted to manipulate BHA segments. The tower includes a plurality of interlocking modules and is mounted on two perpendicularly aligned skids. The tower is also provided with an opening that enables the side loading of equipment. The preferred rig includes one module adapted to support a stabilizer that includes hydraulic lifts that can raise the injector and BOP stack off the wellhead. The stabilizer also accommodates the thermal expansion of the BOP stack by rising and lowering the stack during well servicing operations. The powered arm attaches to the tower and includes an articulated gripper for manipulating the bottom hole assembly segments. Preferably, the powered arm is controlled by a general-purpose computer that guides the powered arm through a predetermined sweep.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for conveying equipment from the base of a rig tower to the top of the tower, comprising:

a tower having a longitudinal axis;
a base affixed to the tower;
a beam having a first end pivotally connected to said base and a second end;
a first hydraulic member operatively engaging said beam and said base, said hydraulic member moving said beam from a first position to a second position when actuated;
and
a gripper pivotally connected to said beam second end, said gripper including a plurality of fingers having an open and closed position;
and
a hydraulic member associated with said fingers, said second hydraulic member moving said fingers between said open and closed positions.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

CT drilling rig

Life of this patent

CT drilling rig

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14