Method and apparatus for transporting oil rig
AssigneeDoyon Drilling, Inc.
InventorsLloyd E. Andrews, Todd A. Driskill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oil rig capable of being at least partially disassembled to form at least two portions, such as a top half and bottom half, and an associated structure for transport. An oil rig top portion may be loaded onto a trailer for transport separate from a bottom portion. The trailer includes a bottom frame, a top frame, a structure operably associated with said bottom and top frames for moving said top and bottom frames away from and towards one another, and a moving means attached to at least said bottom frame to allow the trailer to be moved along the support surface. The trailer may be towed by a truck or other vehicle.
Claims23
A trailer for moving a part of an oil rig along a support surface, said trailer comprising:
- a bottom frame;
- a top frame;
- a structure operably associated with said bottom and top frames for moving said top and bottom frames away from and towards one another and further operative to temporarily fix the position of said top and bottom frames with respect to one another, the structure comprising at least one hydraulic piston;
- an alignment mechanism affixed to one of said top and bottom frame, the alignment mechanism operative to align said top frame with a top surface of said oil rig;
- an I-beam affixed to said top surface and operative to facilitate loading said part of said oil rig onto said trailer;
- and
- a moving means attached to at least said bottom frame to allow the trailer to be moved along the support surface.
A trailer for moving a part of an oil rig along a support surface, said trailer comprising:
- a bottom frame;
- a top frame;
- a structure operably associated with said bottom and top frames for moving said top and bottom frames away from and towards one another and further operative to temporarily fix the position of said top and bottom frames with respect to one another, the structure comprising at least one hydraulic piston;
- an alignment mechanism affixed to one of said top and bottom frame, the alignment mechanism operative to align said top frame with a top surface of said oil rig;
- said alignment mechanism comprising:
- an extension;
- a conical member extending from said extension;
- and
- a beam guide extending from said and
- a moving means attached to at least said bottom frame to allow the trailer to be moved along the support surface.
A trailer system for moving an oil rig mast having an interconnected base, body, and top, said trailer system comprising:
- a mast dolly for supporting said base of said oil rig mast;
- a mast support for supporting said top of said oil rig mast;
- a support connecting said mast support to said mast dolly;
- and
- the mast dolly comprises:
- a trailer upon which said base of said oil rig mast rests;
- a height-adjustable support framework operably connected to said trailer;
- a moving means attached to said support framework;
- and
- a retractable front support attached to said height-adjustable support.
A method of moving at least part of an oil rig, the oil rig comprising at least a substructure, a must and rig floor, said method comprising:
- moving at least said rig floor onto a trailer from said substructure;
- moving said trailer carrying at least said rig floor;
- moving said substructure separately from said trailer;
- moving said mast to a mast dolly;
- moving said trailer carrying said rig floor;
- and
- moving said mast dolly carrying said mast separately from said substructure and said trailer.
A method for transporting an oil rig, comprising:
- disassembling the oil rig to form a top portion comprising a rig floor and a mast and bottom portion comprising a substructure;
- transporting the top portion separately from the bottom portion;
- transporting said rig floor on a trailer;
- raising a top surface of said trailer to accept said rig floor;
- and
- prior to said step of transporting said rig floor on said trailer, lowering said top surface of said trailer.
A method for transporting an oil rig, comprising:
- disassembling the oil rig to form a top portion comprising a rig floor and a mast and bottom portion comprising a substructure;
- transporting the top portion separately from the bottom portion;
- transporting said rig floor on a trailer;
- disconnecting said mast from said rig floor;
- pivoting said mast about a kingpin by means of a draw works;
- loading said mast at least partially on a mast dolly;
- further loading said mast at least partially on a mast support;
- transporting said mast separately from said rig floor;
- attaching said trailer to a jeep with a gooseneck;
- attaching said jeep to a vehicle;
- and
- wherein said step of transporting said rig floor on a trailer comprises hauling said trailer with said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.