Simultaneous tubular handling system and method

A system for drilling, said system comprising:

• a drilling deck having a well center;
• a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;
• a primary tubular advancing station for advancing a first tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said well center;
• a stand arm disposed with said drilling structure for handling a second tubular;
• and
• a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said stand arm to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent to said stand arm, wherein said stand arm and said guided path arm are configured to operate during advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station.

A system for drilling, said system comprising:

• a drilling deck;
• a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;
• a primary tubular advancing station having a well center and disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;
• an auxiliary tubular handling station for handling a second tubular;
• said drilling deck having a preparation hole positioned with said auxiliary tubular handling station for receiving the second tubular;
• an auxiliary tubular handling device for positioning the second tubular in a substantially vertical position above said preparation hole;
• an auxiliary tubular racking station elevated above said auxiliary tubular handling station for holding the second tubular from said auxiliary tubular handling station, wherein the second tubular is received in said preparation hole, positioned in a substantially vertical position above said preparation hole or held in said auxiliary tubular racking station while the first tubular is independently and simultaneously advanced through said primary tubular advancing station to said well center;
• and
• a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said auxiliary tubular racking station and said well center;
• wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to directly position the second tubular with said auxiliary tubular racking station;
• and
• wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole wherein the tubulars are provided, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling the borehole through a well center in a drilling deck;
• (b) running at least a first tubular through said well center into a portion of the borehole;
• and
• (c) during at least a portion of the time that steps (a) and (b) are performed, (i) moving a second tubular to said auxiliary tubular handling station in a guided path that does not intersect said well center, and (ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, lowering a portion of the second tubular while in a substantially vertical position below said drilling deck, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b), and wherein step (c) being performed in a substantially vertical first plane.

A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole across a drilling deck, wherein the plurality of tubulars are provided, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;
• (b) running at least a first tubular from said primary tubular advancing station through said well center and into a portion of the borehole;
• and
• (c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular with a guided path arm in a guided path so as not to intersect said well center, and (ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, positioning a portion of the second tubular with said guided path arm in a preparation hole in the drilling deck, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b), and wherein the first tubular does not contact said guided path arm during steps (a) to (c).

A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole from a drilling deck, said method being performed, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;
• (b) moving a first tubular with said primary tubular advancing station to said well center in a substantially vertical first plane comprising said well center;
• and
• (c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular in a guided path in a substantially vertical second plane so as not to intersect said first plane;
• (ii) positioning a portion of the second tubular in a preparation hole substantially in said second plane in the drilling deck;
• and (iii) lifting the second tubular to an auxiliary tubular racking station, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b).

A system for drilling, said system comprising:

• a drilling deck having a well center;
• a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;
• a primary tubular advancing station for advancing a first tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said well center;
• a stand arm disposed with said drilling structure for connecting a second tubular with a third tubular while the second tubular is in a substantially vertical position, wherein said stand arm is configured to operate during said primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular to said well center and independently of said primary tubular advancing station;
• a first tubular racking station elevated above said drilling deck and adjacent to said stand arm for holding the second tubular from said stand arm;
• and
• a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said first tubular racking station and said well center, wherein said stand arm is configured to directly position the second tubular with said first tubular racking station.

A system for drilling, said system comprising:

• a drilling deck;
• a drilling structure disposed with said drilling deck;
• a primary tubular advancing station having a well center and disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;
• an auxiliary tubular handling station for handling a second tubular;
• an auxiliary tubular handling device for positioning the second tubular in a substantially vertical position;
• a first tubular racking station elevated above said auxiliary tubular handling station for holding the second tubular from said auxiliary tubular handling station, wherein the second tubular is positioned in a substantially vertical position above said drilling deck and held in said first tubular racking station while the first tubular is advanced through said primary tubular advancing station to said well center;
• and
• a bridge racker crane configured to move the second tubular between said first tubular racking station and said well center;
• wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device configured to directly position the second tubular with said first tubular racking station;
• and
• wherein said auxiliary tubular handling device operable independent of said bridge racker crane.

A method for moving a plurality of tubulars to a borehole from a drilling deck, said method being performed, at least partially, from a primary tubular advancing station and, at least partially, from an auxiliary tubular handling station, the method comprising:

• (a) drilling the borehole through a well center in the drilling deck;
• (b) moving a first tubular with said primary tubular advancing station to said well center;
• and
• (c) during at least a portion of the time for performing steps (a) and (b), (i) moving a second tubular so as not to intersect said well center;
• (ii) after the step of moving the second tubular, connecting the second tubular with a third tubular while the second tubular is in a substantially vertical position;
• (iii) lifting the connected second tubular and the third tubular to a tubular racking station elevated above said drilling deck with a stand arm;
• and (iv) after the step of lifting, hanging the connected second tubular and the third tubular with said tubular racking station directly from said stand arm, wherein step (c) is performed independently of and during at least a portion of the same time as steps (a) and (b);
• and wherein the first tubular does not contact said stand arm during steps (a) to (c).

A system for drilling, said system comprising:

• a drilling deck having a well center;
• a drilling structure positioned on the drilling deck for simultaneously supporting drilling operations and operations auxiliary to the drilling operations;
• a primary tubular advancing station disposed with said drilling structure for advancing a first tubular to said well center;
• an auxiliary tubular handling station disposed with said drilling structure for handling a second tubular simultaneously with said primary tubular advancing station advancing the first tubular;
• and
• a guided path horizontal to vertical arm positioned adjacent to said auxiliary tubular handling station to guide the second tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position above said auxiliary tubular handling station;
• wherein the first tubular does not contact said auxiliary tubular handling station and said guided path arm as the first tubular moves over said drilling deck and to said well center.