US 7,624,831 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for moving in formation the modular components of a drilling rig from well to well

AssigneeHelmerich & Payne, Inc.

InventorsMelvin Alan Orr, Mark Trevithick, Christopher Alan Major, Robert Lee Stauder

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Abstract

A method and apparatus to move a modular drilling rig in formation wherein the drilling rig includes a plurality of self-propelled modules to facilitate the movement of the rig while all systems are intact and fully operational. The apparatus includes a plurality of wheel assemblies which are steerable to guide the modules during movement. The apparatus also includes a propulsion system for each of the modules to drive each of the modules during movement. A steering control and position feedback system is also provided for determining the relative position of each module with respect to the master module. This control and feedback system provides feedback to the steering control and feedback systems of other modules in order to move the modules in a formation.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A mobile drilling system which includes a plurality of modules capable of coordinated movement between well or other drilling sites, comprising:

(a) a plurality of drilling system modules positioned in a drilling formation with respect to each other during drilling of a first oil or gas well;
(b) each of said drilling system modules having wheel assemblies mounted therewith which are steerable in order to guide each of said modules during said movement from said initial well to subsequent drilling sites;
(c) each of said drilling system modules having a propulsion system mounted therewith in order to drive said wheel assemblies of each of said modules at directed velocities during said movement between said well or other drilling sites;
(d) each of said drilling system modules having a steering system in operative engagement with said propulsion system and said wheel assemblies of each of said modules such that each module has a propulsion and steering system for moving said module between said well or other drilling sites;
and,
(e) a position feedback system mounted with each drilling system module, each of said position feedback systems including sensors for detecting the relative position of each module with respect to the other modules during movement from said initial well to subsequent drilling sites, said feedback system of at least one of said modules providing feedback to said propulsion and/or steering systems of said other modules in order to adjust the position of said modules with respect to each other in order to substantially maintain the initial drilling formation of said drilling system modules during movement from said initial well to other drilling sites.

3 more elements

Mobile drilling system which includes a plurality of modules capable of coordinated movement between well or other drilling sites, comprising:

(a) first, second and third drilling system modules being in an initial spatial formation or arrangement for drilling a first well;
(b) each of said first, second and third drilling system modules having wheel assemblies mounted therewith which are steerable in order to guide said modules during said movement from said first well to other drilling sites;
(c) each of said first, second and third drilling system modules having a propulsion system mounted therewith in driving engagement with said wheel assemblies of said module in order to drive each of said modules during said movement from said first well to other drilling sites;
(d) each of said drilling system modules having a steering system in operative engagement with said propulsion system and said wheel assemblies of each of said modules such that each module has a separate propulsion and steering system for driving and steering each of said wheel assemblies on each module;
and,
(e) a position feedback system mounted with each drilling system module, each of said position feedback systems including sensors for detecting the relative position of each of said first, second, and third modules with respect to each other during movement, and providing feedback to each propulsion system and steering control system of each module in order to move said modules into another well site while maintaining said modules in substantially the formation of the modules while used for drilling at the initial well site.

3 more elements

A method for coordinating movement of a mobile drilling system between well or other drilling sites, which includes a plurality of modules comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of drilling system modules positioned in a drilling formation with respect to each other during drilling of a first oil or gas well;
(b) providing said drilling system modules with wheel assemblies;
(c) providing said drilling system modules with a propulsion system;
(d) providing said drilling system modules with a steering system to cooperate with said propulsion system and said wheel assemblies such that each module is moveable and steerable for moving said module between said well or other drilling sites;
and,
(e) providing a position feedback system with sensors for detecting the relative position of each module with respect to the other modules during movement from said initial well to subsequent drilling sites, providing feedback to said propulsion and/or steering systems of said other modules in order to adjust the position of said modules with respect to each other in order to substantially maintain the initial drilling formation of said drilling system modules during movement from said initial well to other drilling sites.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.