Method and apparatus for a horizontal pipe handling system on a self-elevating jack-up drilling unit
US6609573B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B19/143
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A pipe handling system is designed for use on an offshore structure, particularly an offshore structure provided with a cantilevered drill floor. The pipe handling system allows to handle significantly longer sections of tubulars, up to 100 feet, if necessary. The pipe handling system transports the pipes from a horizontal pipe rack adjacent to a drill floor to a vertical orientation in a set-back area of the drill floor where the drill string or casing is made up for lowering down hole. The cantilevered drill floor allows to save valuable platform space, while not significantly increasing the cost of the drilling rig. The pipe handling system, while increasing the length of handled tubulars, reduces the number of joints for making of a drill string, thereby significantly reducing the cost of pipe handling operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.