# US 9,518,429 B2 · Walking drilling rig > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,429 B2 - Document ID: US9518429B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/069,217 - Filed: 2013-10-31 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-31 - Assignees: Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. - Applicants: Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. - Inventors: Fred Fortson; David Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518429B2 ## CPC - E21B 15/003: {adapted to be moved on their substructure, e.g. with skidding means; adapted to drill a plurality of wells} - B62D 57/022: {consisting of members having both rotational and walking movements} - E21B 7/02: Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract An improved walking drilling rig is disclosed. The walking drilling rig includes a preassembled substructure that includes a first skid beam disposed parallel and spaced apart from a second skid beam. A plurality of crossbeams couple the first skid beam to the second skid beam, and a plurality of extendable legs are supported by the first and second skid beams. An elevatable drill floor is coupled to the plurality of extendable legs and includes a rotary table disposed between a pair of lateral platforms. Each lateral platform has a retracted position and an extended position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A walking drilling rig, comprising: a preassembled substructure comprising: a first skid beam disposed parallel and spaced apart from a second skid beam; a plurality of crossbeams coupling the first skid beam to the second skid beam; a plurality of legs supported by the first and second skid beams; an integrated hydraulic power unit; and an elevated drill floor coupled to the plurality of legs and comprising a rotary table disposed between a pair of lateral platforms, each lateral platform being hydraulically extendable from a retracted position to an extended position; a plurality of hydraulic walking shoes coupled to the preassembled substructure; a mudboat coupled to the preassembled substructure; a mast dolly supported by the mudboat and a mast supported by the elevated drill floor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The walking drilling rig of claim 1 wherein each hydraulic walking shoe is disposed proximate a leg of the plurality of legs, the integrated hydraulic power unit actuating the plurality of hydraulic walking shoes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The walking drilling rig of claim 2 wherein the plurality of walking shoes comprises four walking shoes, each walking shoe configured to be independently actuated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The walking drilling rig of claim 3 wherein each walking shoe is rotatable about a generally vertical axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The walking drilling rig of claim 1, further comprising a drawworks coupled to the preassembled substructure, and actuation of the hydraulic walking shoes enables movement of the walking drilling rig including the drawworks. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The walking drilling rig of claim 5 wherein the drawworks is supported by the plurality of crossbeams. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The walking drilling rig of claim 1 wherein the mast has a mast height of at least 140 feet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The walking drilling rig of claim 1 wherein a portion of the walking drilling rig is configured to walk over a four foot wellhead. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The walking drilling rig of claim 1, further comprising a driller's cabin coupled to the preassembled substructure and aligned with the elevated drill floor, and actuation of the hydraulic walking shoes enabling movement of the walking drilling rig including the driller's cabin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The walking drilling rig of claim 9 further comprising a base supporting at least one leg, the driller's cabin being supported by the at least one leg. ### Claim 11 A method of rigging up a walking drilling rig, comprising: providing a preassembled substructure comprising: a first skid beam disposed parallel and spaced apart from a second skid beam; a plurality of crossbeams coupling the first skid beam to the second skid beam; a plurality of legs supported by the first and second skid beams; an integrated hydraulic power unit; and a drill floor supported by the plurality of legs and comprising a rotary table disposed between a pair of lateral platforms; extending hydraulically the pair of lateral platforms from a retracted position to an extended position; elevating hydraulically the drill floor to a drilling height; coupling a mudboat to the preassembled substructure; receiving by the mudboat a mast dolly supporting a mast and raising the mast to be supported by the elevated drill floor using a pair of mast ramps. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling a plurality of hydraulic walking shoes to the preassembled substructure, each hydraulic walking shoe disposed proximate one of the plurality of legs and being actuated by the integrated hydraulic power unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: coupling drawworks to the preassembled substructure; and coupling a driller cabin to the elevated drill floor.