| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20130299189 | DRILLING RIG EMPLOYING PIVOTING DRILLING TOWER - An apparatus including a base, and a drilling tower pivotally coupled to the base to pivot the drilling tower between first and second pivot positions. The drilling tower includes a first portion, and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion to pivot the second portion between third and fourth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the first pivot position. According to another aspect, a method includes pivotally coupling a drilling tower to a base, which includes providing a first portion of the drilling tower, pivotally coupling a second portion of the drilling tower to the first portion of the drilling tower, and pivotally coupling the first portion of the drilling tower to the base. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130299190 | DRILLING RIG CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG RACKS AND INCLUDING PINIONS DRIVEN BY ELECTRIC MOTORS - According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130299244 | DRILLING RIG EMPLOYING TOP DRIVE - An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130302114 | DRILLING RIG EMPLOYING TUBULAR HANDLING DEVICE - A tubular handling device includes a first arm movable along, and pivotable about, a first axis, and a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, the first gripper being coupled to the first arm and rotatable, relative to the first arm, about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. According to another aspect, a method includes providing a first gripper; coupling a first arm to the first gripper, moving the first arm, pivoting the first arm, and rotating the first gripper, relative to the first arm. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, and a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, the tubular handling device including a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, and a first arm coupled to the first gripper. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130327543 | Drilling Rig Carriage Movable Along Racks and Including Pinions Driven by Electric Motors - According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20140259985 | SELF-ELEVATING MAST EMPLOYING ACTUATORS - A method includes accommodating a first mast section of a mast on a mast cart below a floor of a platform, the mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and elevating, using actuators located on the mast cart, the first mast section through an opening in the platform. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the platform using a plurality of holding locks located on the platform, accommodating a second mast section on the mast cart below the floor of the platform, and elevating the second mast section to the first mast section using the actuators. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, detaching the first mast section from the platform, elevating the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening using the actuators, and attaching the second mast section to the platform using the holding locks. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262518 | SELF-ELEVATING PLATFORM EMPLOYING ACTUATORS - A method including arranging a plurality of actuators into an operating position, arranging a first upper frame and a second upper frame proximate the actuators, attaching a support to the first upper frame and the second upper frame, wherein the support is located above the actuators, and extending the actuators to engage the support. The method also includes extending the actuators to raise the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a first position, arranging a first middle frame below the first upper frame and a second middle frame below the second upper frame, retracting the actuators to lower the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a second position, and attaching the first upper frame to the first middle frame and attaching the second upper frame to the second middle frame. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262519 | SELF-ELEVATING MAST EMPLOYING DRIVE CARRIAGE - A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262520 | SELF-ELEVATING MAST EMPLOYING DRAW WORKS - A method comprising attaching a first mast section to a support structure using a first plurality of fasteners located on the support structure, wherein a lower portion of the support structure is connected to and located above an opening in the platform comprising a platform floor, and wherein the first mast section has a line, a hook, and a pulley, with the line operably coupled to the pulley and connected to a hoist attached to the platform. The method also comprises lowering the hook, using the hoist, in a downward direction away from the pulley and through the opening, attaching the hook to a second mast section located below the platform floor, raising the hook and the second mast section, using the hoist, in an upward direction towards the pulley and through the opening, and connecting the first mast section to the second mast section. Additionally, the method comprises securing the first mast section and the second mast section with an overhead support located above the first mast section and connected to the first mast section, detaching the first mast section from the support structure, raising the first mast section and the second mast section away from the platform floor, using the overhead support, and attaching the second mast section to the first plurality of fasteners. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20150013994 | Bell Nipple Assembly Apparatus and Methods - An apparatus including a bell nipple assembly defining a first internal passage that includes two sections forming first and second internal passages that may be aligned by a flexible connector disposed between first and second flanges in one of the sections to at least partially adjust for an offset amount caused by longitudinal axis misalignment of the other section. Methods of adjusting for longitudinal axis offset between two misaligned components, such as of a bell nipple zone, are also encompassed. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150015009 | LIFT-EYE IN POCKET APPARATUS AND METHODS - An apparatus for shipping goods may include a strut, a first beam, a second beam, a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut, the first beam, and the second beam, and having an opening facing in the direction of the upper wall, and a lift-eye disposed within the lift-eye housing and configured to support the weight of the apparatus and to pivot from a stowed position within the lift-eye housing to a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the lift-eye housing. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150075813 | SELF-ELEVATING MAST EMPLOYING DRIVE CARRIAGE - A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the platform floor is a rig floor. | 03-19-2015 |
