Drilling rig structure installation and methods

A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising

• positioning a rig structure on a movement apparatus adjacent a support apparatus, the support apparatus being movably connected to a substructure of a drilling rig, the substructure supporting a drilling floor, said positioning effected by moving the movement apparatus on ground adjacent the substructure,
• moving the support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to the rig structure, the support apparatus having raising apparatus connected thereto, connecting the raising apparatus to the rig structure,
• raising the rig structure with the raising apparatus up to the drilling floor while substantially maintaining said rig structure in an operating orientation,
• wherein the rig structure is one of a house, a doghouse, a cabin, a driller cabin, and an electrical control house,
• wherein the support apparatus includes dual opposed support arms, each arm pivotably connected to a corresponding base connected to the drilling floor, the method further comprising
• positioning each of the dual opposed support arms at an angle relative to its respective base to facilitate positioning of the rig structure adjacent the drilling floor,
• removing the movement apparatus away from the drilling rig, and raising, with the substructure, the drilling floor with the rig structure thereon.

A system comprising:

• a substructure of a drilling rig, said substructure comprising a drilling floor,
• a rig structure that is adapted to be secured to the substructure, and
• a handling system that is adapted to secure said rig structure to said substructure, the handling system comprising:
• movement apparatus for initially supporting said rig structure and for moving on ground adjacent said substructure to position the rig structure with respect to said substructure
• support apparatus movably connected to the drilling floor for selectively supporting the rig structure, the support apparatus movable out of the way to facilitate positioning of the rig structure with respect to the drilling floor and the support apparatus movable adjacent the rig structure for connection thereto, and
• raising apparatus connected to the support apparatus, wherein the raising apparatus is adapted for selectively raising the rig structure with respect to the drilling floor while substantially maintaining said rig structure in an operating orientation.

A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• placing a rig structure on a movement apparatus;
• moving said movement apparatus on ground adjacent to a substructure of a drilling rig to position said rig structure adjacent to a support apparatus that is movably connected to said substructure, wherein said support apparatus has a raising apparatus comprising a linkage apparatus and a hydraulic cylinder apparatus connected thereto, wherein said support apparatus comprises dual opposed support arms that are each pivotably connected to a respective base, wherein each respective base is connected to a drilling floor supported by said substructure, wherein said hydraulic cylinder apparatus is interconnected between said dual opposed support arms and said linkage apparatus, and wherein positioning said rig structure further comprises positioning each of said dual opposed arms at an angle relative to said respective base so as to facilitate said positioning of said rig structure adjacent to said drilling floor;
• moving said support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to said rig structure;
• connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure, wherein connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure comprises connecting said linkage apparatus between said dual opposed support arms and said rig structure;
• and
• raising said rig structure with said raising apparatus, wherein raising said rig structure comprises raising said linkage apparatus by actuating said hydraulic cylinder apparatus, said rig structure being substantially maintained in an operating orientation while being raised.

A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• placing a rig structure on a movement apparatus;
• moving said movement apparatus on ground adjacent to a substructure of a drilling rig to position said rig structure adjacent to a support apparatus that is movably connected to said substructure, wherein said support apparatus has a raising apparatus comprising a hydraulic cylinder apparatus connected thereto, wherein said support apparatus comprises dual opposed support arms that are each pivotably connected to a respective base, wherein each respective base is connected to a drilling floor supported by said substructure, and wherein positioning said rig structure further comprises positioning each of said dual opposed arms at an angle relative to said respective base so as to facilitate said positioning of said rig structure adjacent to said drilling floor;
• moving said support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to said rig structure;
• connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure, wherein connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure comprises releasably interconnecting said dual opposed support arms and said rig structure with said hydraulic cylinder apparatus;
• and
• raising said rig structure with said raising apparatus, wherein raising said rig structure comprises contracting said hydraulic cylinder apparatus, said rig structure being substantially maintained in an operating orientation while being raised.

A method for installing a rig structure on a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• placing a rig structure on a movement apparatus;
• moving said movement apparatus on ground adjacent to a substructure of a drilling rig to position said rig structure adjacent to a support apparatus that is movably connected to said substructure, wherein said support apparatus has a raising apparatus comprising a hydraulic cylinder apparatus connected thereto;
• moving said support apparatus into a connecting orientation with respect to said rig structure;
• connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure, wherein connecting said raising apparatus to said rig structure comprises interconnecting said hydraulic cylinder apparatus between said support apparatus and said rig structure;
• contracting said interconnected hydraulic cylinder apparatus to move said rig structure toward said drilling floor;
• and
• raising said rig structure with said raising apparatus, said rig structure being substantially maintained in an operating orientation while being raised.