Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for operating a drilling vessel adapted to run large diameters surface casing joints having a diameter of over 20 inch (51 cm) and a length of 30-50 feet (9-15 meters), and build a surface casing string. According to the invention three or more surface casing joints are interconnected into pre-assembled surface casing stands having a length of over 100 feet (30 meters). These surface casing stands are substantially horizontally stored and transferred by a casing stand handling system to a surface casing string handling capacity hoisting device, which subsequently lowers the surface casing string.
Abstract:
A top drive well drilling installation comprising a drilling tower, vertical rails supported by the drilling tower, a trolley guided along said one or more vertical rails, and a hoisting device for moving the trolley up and down. The installation further comprises a tubular stem which is to be connected to the upper end of a drill string for rotation therewith about an axis of the drill string, and a top drive unit including a motor adapted to rotate the tubular stem and thereby the connected drill string to drill a well, wherein the top drive unit is supported by the trolley. Furthermore an elevator is provided which is adapted to—in an operative position—suspend the drill string, e.g. during tripping, and an elevator support assembly is provided which is adapted to absorb the load of the suspended drill string and adapted to move the elevator between an operative position on the drill string axis and a retracted position. According to the present invention, the elevator support assembly is embodied as a direct drill string load bearing connection between the elevator and the trolley, independent from the top drive unit.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a modular drilling rig system comprising multiple components, which system is transfigurable between a transport mode and an operational mode, and comprises: a. a drilling rig mast which is positionable in a vertical orientation; b. a base structure adapted to be positioned on a surface near the well center to support the drilling rig mast thereon, wherein the base structure comprises two elongated members that are connected to each other by a cross beam; c. a displacement system to displace the drilling rig with respect to the surface in a horizontal direction; wherein the displacement system is configured to displace the two elongated members of the base structure together in order to displace the drilling rig, and is configured such that the two elongated members can be displaced with respect to each other when the two elongated members are not connected to each other.
Abstract:
A method for riser string handling on an offshore drilling vessel, the offshore drilling vessel including a multiple firing line hoist system, a riser tensioner system arranged in the second firing line, and a suspended riser transfer device. The method including the steps of lowering a riser string in the first firing line, and simultaneously assembling and preparing a riser tensioner system in the second firing line, wherein the riser hang-off assembly displaces the riser string, leaving the top end of the riser string exposed, from the first firing line to the second firing line to be connected to the riser tensioner system.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a vessel including a drilling installation for drilling a well, which installation comprises: —a drill floor surrounding a firing line; —a first drilling tower arranged on a deck of the vessel, comprising a frame with two elongated hollow casings, which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the frame, are rigidly connected to each other by connection elements, wherein the frame is positioned at a side of the drill floor, such that the longitudinal axis of the frame extends parallel to the firing line, and such that the longitudinal axis and the firing line are substantially aligned with each other in a width direction of the frame; —an additional tower support arranged between the deck of the vessel and an elevated position at the first drilling tower; —two storage devices for vertically storing drilling tubulars; —two pipe rackers, each pipe racker being associated with one of the two storage devices, and each pipe racker being configured to move drilling tubulars between the associated storage device and the firing line, wherein the two storage devices are positioned at opposite sides of the drill floor, such that the storage devices and the drill floor are aligned with each other in a thickness direction of the frame, and wherein the casings of the frame of the first drilling tower each support one of the two pipe rackers.
Abstract:
An offshore vessel capable of installing and removing a subsea well control device and a riser string includes a hoisting device having a travelling block for connecting a load. The travelling block is displaceable along a firing line which extends through a moonpool and a heave compensation system. The vessel further includes a working deck supported by the hull of the vessel which covers at least a portion of the moonpool to allow the assembly of a riser string. The working deck is provided with a riser string suspension device that allows to suspend a top end of a string of risers. A heave compensation connection system is adapted to connect the working deck to the travelling block, such that the hoisting device can move the working deck when the working deck is connected to the travelling block between a lowered riser assembly position and a raised heave compensated position.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a drilling vessel for drilling in the earth's surface, comprising a dual firing line and a suspension carriage to move strings of drilling tubulars between the two firing lines, wherein the suspension carriage is provided with a stationary first suspension device and a moveable second suspension device, so that the second suspension device only requires a relatively small sideways motion in order to pass a string of drilling tubulars present in a firing line and to allow the first suspension device to approach and engage said string of drilling tubulars. The invention further relates to a method for replacing a string of drilling tubulars for another string of drilling tubulars in which use is made of a drilling vessel according to the invention.
Abstract:
A semi-submersible crane vessel for use in assembling a wind turbine and for installation by means of a crane of the vessel of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation. At an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that is sunk into, or through, the hull, preferably a well that extends into, or through a support column of the hull, which well is configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine during an assembly step of the wind turbine. For example, the mast-receiving well has a depth of at least 15 meters, e.g. at least 30 meters, measured from the deck of the deckbox structure.
Abstract:
The first aspect of the present invention relates to an offshore drilling system and a method for performing subsea wellbore related activities involving a riser extending between the vessel and a subsea wellbore. The offshore drilling system comprising a drilling vessel with a floating hull, a drilling tower and a tubular string main hoisting device. A vertically mobile working deck with a rig floor slip device is positioned above the moonpool. A telescopic joint and a diverter are provided, wherein the inner barrel of the telescopic joint is secured to the diverter via a flexible joint. Furthermore an integrated heave compensation system is provided such that said travelling block and the mobile working deck move synchronously in heave compensation.
Abstract:
An offshore subsea wellbore activities system and method wherein use is made of a tower and a motion arm assembly with vertical drive adapted to move the motion arm along a vertical motion arm rail relative to the tower. Also use is made of a wellbore activities device comprising a riser tension frame having an upper frame section, a lower frame section provided with a riser attachment device adapted to attach a riser to said lower frame section so as to extend in a firing line, and a vertical riser load bearing structure, e.g. formed by struts. The wellbore activities device further comprises a coiled tubing injector, a wireline lubricator, and one or more pressure control devices associated with the coiled tubing injector and/or the wireline lubricator received by and individually movable within the riser tension frame. The wellbore activities device provides a lateral firing line access passage allowing to transfer an elongated wellbore tool or a wellbore tubular in vertical orientation thereof by means of the motion arm assembly in a substantially lateral motion between and a remote position outside of the riser tension frame and an operative position within the riser tension frame and aligned with the firing line.