Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
  • E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
  • E21B19/15—Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Definitions

• the invention relates to a storage system for tubular structures stacked in layers.
• Oil drilling can be done onshore, using so-called Land Rigs, or offshore, using so-called Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU).
• the drilling tubulars (tubular structures) are stored on the side of the drilling tower, in a specific pipe storage area.
• various systems are available in order to pick up the tubulars from their storage position and deliver them to the drilling tower.
• the most common solution, especially for offshore drilling, is the use of a Crane with a tubular handling tool.
• the use of these kind of systems requires storing the drilling tubulars in "layers" with spacers between the layers. In this way, it will be possible for the tubular handling tool's fingers to slide under the pipes and have a secure grip.
• a first disadvantage of the above-presented storage of tubular structures is that the operations are slowed down by the various interruptions. Moreover, the need for personnel near the tubular structures being transported leads to serious safety hazards for said personnel.
• the invention relates to a storage system for tubular structures stacked in layers.
• the storage system comprises:
• a mechanical support configured to be placed on a deck or surface in an orientation extending away from the deck or surface
• Each spacer bar has at least a horizontal position in operational use for receiving the tubular structures on top of it.
• At least an upper one of the at least two spacer bars is pivotably mounted to the mechanical support for allowing rotation away from the deck or surface in operational use to enable delivery and pick up of tubular structures from a respective layer directly underneath the respective spacer bar by means of a tubular handling tool.
• the at least two spacer bars are mounted to the at least one mechanical support at different height from the deck or surface to allow the formation of layers of tubular structures spaced apart by the spacer bars.
• Each respective one of the at least two spacer bars is only mounted to the storage system by said mechanical support on a first end of said spacer bar near the mechanical support.
• tubular structures on said spacer bar are accessible by the tubular handling tool approaching from a direction parallel to the spacer bars near a second end, opposite to the first end, of the respective spacer bar.
• the storage system that is mechanical support and spacer bars
• the storage system is formed such that spaces defined in between the spacer bars (that receive the tubular structures) are also accessible from the side.
• the effects of the storage system in accordance with the invention are as follows. First of all, the inventor identified the need to make the drill floor unmanned in order to reduce safety hazards of personnel. The inventor also realized that forces from the tubular handling tool, such as the tubular handling tool, may be used in solving this problem.
• the invention provides for a mechanical support (for instance made of steel), which in opera- tional use is placed on and extends away from the deck or surface. To this mechanical support spacer bars, for instance made of steel, have been mounted. These spacer bars replace the wooden spacer bars of the prior art.
• At least the upper ones of these spacer bars are mounted in a pivotable manner In such a way that the spacer bars facilitate a horizontal position for receiving tubular structures thereon as well as the possibility to rotate or pivot upwards in operational use.
• the spacer bar that is lowest to the deck or surface does not need to be pivotably mounted, but this could be done.
• the pivotability of the spacer bars makes it literally possible that tubular structures underneath the pivotable spacer bar can be picked up by the tubular handling tool. This is preferably done after that the tubular structures that were lying on top of the pivotable spacer bar all have been removed, but this is not essential, because even if a few tubular structure are lying on the upper one, still one or more from the layer underneath may be picked up.
• the same pivotability of the spacer bars makes it possible to access the underlying layers with the tubular handling tool for storing said tubular structures. In other words, all manipulation and handling may be carried out by the tubular handling tool. Also, the structure of the storage system is such that the spaces in between the spacer bars are accessible from the side, which has specific advantageous in certain embodiments, as will be discussed later in this specification. Consequently, the invention has rendered it possible to have an unmanned pipe storage area at the drill rig.
• spacer bar refers to a spacer having any kind of shape, as long as it allows for enough distance between different layers in the stack of tubular structures.
• the at least upper one of the at least two spacer bars is mounted to the mechanical support via a hinge mechanism.
• a hinge mechanism constitutes a convenient way of providing that the spacer bars are pivotably mounted.
• the hinge mechanism comprises a rotation point and a hinge frame pivotably mounted to said rotation point, wherein the respective spacer bar is mounted to said hinge frame.
• This embodiment forms a robust solution for making a hinge.
• the hinge frame may be conveniently construct to rotate around the rotation point (being formed by a round axle for example).
• the hinge mechanism is configured for locking the respective spacer bar in a raised position when the respective spacer bar is lifted up to prevent that the respective spacer bar falls back to a horizontal position, it is convenient to be able to lock the position of the spacer bar in an upright or substantially upright position, such that the tubular handling tool may more easily access the tubular structures in the upper one of the filled layers.
• Different embodiments will be discussed in the detailed description of the figures.
• the hinge mechanism is configured for unlocking the respective spacer bar after that its position has been locked to allow the respective spacer bar to go back to its horizontal position. Once locked, this embodiment conveniently facilitates that the respective spacer bar may be unlocked again. Different embodiments will be discussed in the detailed description of the figures.
• the hinge mechanism further comprises a linear expandable lockable member pivotably mounted between the respective spacer bar and the mechanical support, wherein the lockable member is configured to effect said locking and unlocking of the respective spacer bar.
• This embodiment forms a first main variant of a hinge mechanism for providing a lockable and unlockable spacer bar.
• the hinge mechanism further comprises a pin-ratchet system, wherein the pin-ratchet system is configured to effect said locking and unlocking of the respective spacer bar.
• This embodiment forms a second main variant of a hinge mechanism for providing a lockable and unlockable spacer bar.
• each spacer bar is provided with a protruding part at a distal end, wherein the protruding part is configured for preventing tubular structures to fall off said spacer bars.
• the protruding part may be provided as a separate part that is mounted on the spacer bar or it may be provided as an integrated part. Alternatively, it could be formed by simply making a bend in the distal end of the spacer bar.
• the distal end is formed with a tilted surface and configured such that, when a tubular structure is pressed against the tilted surface in the axial direction of the spacer bar, the respective spacer bar is lifted up.
• This embodiment is particularly advantageous when combined with embodiments that do not have locking and unlocking of the spacer bars.
• said at least two spacer bars extend only from one side of the mechanical support. This forms a first main variant of the invention, i.e. wherein all spacer bars are mounted at one side and may pivot or rotate in the same direction. Consequently, the spaces in between said spacers bars are accessible from the side opposite to the mechanical support.
• spacer bars extend from two opposite sides of the mechanical support.
• An embodiment of the storage system of the invention further comprises a further mechanical support similar to and spaced apart from the mechanical support. It is possible to carry out the invention with a single mechanical support having either wide or U-shaped spacer bars. However, the invention also facilitates that the mechanical construction is just repeated such that each tubular structure is suspended on at least two points spaced apart from each other. In practise it may be between two and four mechanical supports, but any other number is also possible.
• FIG. 1 a-1 c show a prior art solution for storing tubular structures
• Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a pipe storage system in accordance with the
• Fig. 3 shows a front view of the storage system of Fig. 2;
• Figs. 4-10 show different stages of a method of using the storage system of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 1 1 shows a first embodiment of a hinge mechanism to be used in the invention
• Fig. 12 shows a second embodiment of a hinge mechanism to be used in the invention
• Figs. 13-14 illustrates a third embodiment of a hinge mechanism to be used in the invention
• Figs. 15-16 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a hinge mechanism to be used in the invention.
• Figs. 17- 8 illustrate a method of using the embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16.
• Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a pipe storage system 300 (referred to as a storage system for tubular structures in the claim) in accordance with the invention.
• the storage system 300 is placed on a deck or surface 50, for example of a rig (not shown).
• a third layer 203 of tubular structures 200 Next to a first layer 201 and a second layer 202 of tubular structures, there is visible a third layer 203 of tubular structures 200.
• the storage system 300 in this example facilitates up to 6 layers of tubular structures 200.
• the invention is not limited to any specific number of layers.
• the invention is useful for two or more layers to be stored.
• the storage system 300 comprises a first mechanical support 310-1 and a second mechanical support 310-2, here in the form of vertical poles, which may be made of steel for example.
• Each mechanical support 310-1 , 310-2 is provided with a plurality of spacer bars 320 (for example made of steel).
• Fig. 3 shows a front view of the storage system of Fig. 2.
• the upper spacer bars 320 are pivotably mounted to the respective mechanical support 310 via re- spective hinge mechanisms 330.
• the bottom spacer bar 321 is fixedly mounted to the mechanical support 310. It must be noted that the bottom spacer bar 321 could also be made pivotable, which could then be used to make the storage system 300 more compact for storage, when it is not used for storage tubular structures. In Fig. 3, however, the bottom spacer bar 321 may be used to form a stiff frame together with the mechanical support 310 such that the storage system can stand on the deck or surface 50 without tipping over.
• Fig. 3 further illustrates respective protruding parts 325 at respective distal ends 320e of said spacer bars 320, 321 , which serve to prevent the tubular structures to fall off said spacer bars 320, 321 .
• the invention is not limited to using two mechanical supports, because the storage system 300 could be built with either one or with more than two mechanical supports. What is essential is that each tubular structure is support in a stable manner, either by two or more separate spacer bars 320, or by a U-shaped single spacer bar (not shown). The latter could theoretically be mounted to a single mechanical support. Nevertheless, it is advantageous to support the tubular structures 200 at two locations at a specific distance from each other, for instance at 25% and 75% of the length of the tubular structures 200. Another advantage of using two support points is that the tubular handling tool 100 (i.e. tubular handling tool) may grip the tubular structures 200 right in the middle and right in between said mechanical supports.
• the tubular handling tool 100 i.e. tubular handling tool
• tubular handling tool as tubular handling tool 100, but this is not essential to the invention.
• tubular han- dling tool handles only one tubular structure 00 at the time. This is not essential, the tubular handling tool might also handle two, three or more tubular structures at the time, depending on the diameter.
• the tubular handling tool 100 has pulled the target tubular structure 200-1 up against the upper spacer bars 320-6 (the 6 th spacer bar counted from the bottom) lifting it up as illustrated.
• the tubular handling tool 100 has picked a target tubular structure 200-1 from another location in order to store it in the storage system 300.
• the tubular handling tool hits the target tubular structure 200-1 against the third spacer bars 320-3 as illustrated.
• the third spacer bars 320-3 are pushed backwards as illustrated by the arrows d. This will unlock the respective hinge mechanisms, allowing the respective spacer bars 320-3 to move back to their horizontal position. This process may be guided by the tubular handling tool 100 and the target tubular structure 200-1. In the stage of Fig. 10, the third spacer bars 320-3 have been brought back to their horizontal position and the target tubular structure 200-1 has been laid on top of them, as illustrated.
• Fig. 1 1 shows a first embodiment of a hinge mechanism 330-1 to be used in the invention.
• This embodiment provides for locking and unlocking of the position of the spacer bar 320.
• the core of the hinge mechanism 330-1 is a rotation point 331 , which is here in the form of an axle, around which a circular hinge frame 332 is pivotably mounted, i.e. the circular hinge frame 332 can freely rotate around the rotation point 331.
• the spacer bar 320 is mounted to the hinge frame 332 as illustrated.
• the locking and unlocking functionality in this embodiment is arranged through a iockable member 340, which is on one end pivot- ably connected to the hinge frame 332 via a first pivotable connection 341 as illustrated.
• a first magnet 352-1 is mounted on the mechanical support 310 as illustrated for keeping the position of the locking pin 351 in its position as shown in the figure. While the hinge frame 332 is rotate clockwise, the ratchets 350 will push the locking pin outward until they passed the locking pin 351 and then the first magnet 352-1 will pull the locking pin 351 back into its original position. It is clear from Fig. 12 that the hinge mechanism 330-2 locks, holds its position at various intermediate positions as well. This effect may be advantageous, but not essential to the invention. This means that one ratchet may be enough to provide for a locking effect.
• Fig. 12 further illustrates a first actuator 353 in the form of an arm that is mounted on the hinge frame 332.
• Fig. 12 further illustrates a second actuator 354 in the form of a protrusion on the hinge frame 332.
• the first actuator 353 functions as an end stop actuator and the second actuator 354 as a release actuator. This may be understood as follows. When the hinge frame 332 rotates clockwise (when the spacer arm 320 is moved up), the locking pin 351 will in effect move towards a position just behind the last ratchet 354 on the left. This complies with the upright locking position of the spacer arm 320.
• Unlocking of the hinge mechanism 330-2 is achieved by moving the spacer arm 320 a little bit further up such that the second (release) actuator 354 pushes the locking pin 351 away from the hinge frame 331. Consequently the second magnet 352-2 will eventually lock the locking pin 351 in its second position, wherein the hinge mechanism 330-2 is released, i.e. can freely rotate.
• the spacer bar 320 may now rotate back to its horizontal position such that the first (end stop) actuator 353 hits the locking 351 and pushes it back to its original position against the ratchets, which position will be locked by the first magnet 352-1.
• Figs. 13-14 illustrates a third embodiment of a hinge mechanism 330-3 to be used in the invention.
• This embodiment provides for locking and unlocking of the position of the spacer bar 320.
• the core of the hinge mechanism 330-3 is also a rotation point 331 , which is here in the form of an axle, around which a circular hinge frame 332 is pivotably mounted, i.e. the circular hinge frame 332 can freely rotate around the rotation point 331.
• the spacer bar 320 is mounted to the hinge frame 332 as illustrated.
• the locking and unlocking functionality in this embodiment is arranged through the implementation of an electromagnetic device 360 mounted on the mechanical support 310.
• the electromagnetic device 360 cooperates with a metal plate 361 (or any other type of material, which can be magnetized) mounted on the spacer bar 320.
• Fig. 13 the spacer bar 320 is oriented in its upright position, wherein the metal plate 361 touches the electromagnetic device 360 for locking said hinge mechanism 330-3.
• the advantage of taking an electromagnetic device 360 is that it can be switched off to unlock the hinge mechanism 330-3.
• FIG. 15 further illustrates that the protruding elements 325 are formed different than in Fig. 3, namely they are formed such that they define a tilted surface 326 at the respective distal ends 320e of the spacer bars 320.
• the purpose of these tilted surfaces 326 is explained with reference to Figs. 17 and 18.
• Figs. 17-18 illustrate a method of using the embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16.
• the tubular handling tool 100 has gripped three target tubular structures 200-1 with its fingers as illustrated, but it may also be a different number of tubular structures 200.
• the first two layers 201 , 202 of the storage system 300 have been filled with tubular structures 200 and the target tubular structures 200-1 are to be placed in the third layer 203.
• the fourth spacer bar 320-4 will move a bit up (in accordance with the small vertical arrows) creating more space for the tubular handling tool 100 to move the target tubular structures deeper in to the storage system 300.
• the tubuiars are placed in the respective rows from the left to the right as shown in the figure, and they are taken out of the respective rows from the right to the left.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

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Citations (7)

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• 2016
  • 2016-06-22 EP EP16175698.6A patent/EP3260651A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2017
  • 2017-06-21 WO PCT/NO2017/050164 patent/WO2017222391A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (7)

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