DESCRIPTION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/215,260, filed September 8, 2015 and entitled "METHOD OF INTEGRATING DRILLING HOISTING SYSTEMS ON OFFSHORE DRILLING RIGS," the entire of content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to hoisting systems for use in oil and/or gas well operations, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods including hoisting systems that can be coupled together via a load sharing device such that the hoisting systems can cooperate to hoist and/or lower a well-related load, such as, for example, well-related equipment (e.g., a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, a lower marine riser package, and/or the like), a tubular (e.g., a riser, a drill pipe, a casing, and/or the like), and/or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] Oil and/or gas well operations, whether associated with drilling, completion, production, and/or abandonment, require the capability to hoist and/or lower heavy loads (e.g., well-related equipment, tubulars, and/or the like) from and/or to a well. As subsea wells are drilled in deeper waters, to deeper drilling depths, and into pay zones with higher temperatures and pressures, the capability to hoist and/or lower heavier loads (e.g., more robust equipment, additional tubulars, and/or the like) is needed. [0004] While individual hoisting systems can be designed that are capable of hoisting and/or lowering such heavier loads, such systems may be expensive, require significant time and/or cost to implement on existing oil rigs, and/or the like.

SUMMARY

[0005] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to combine hoisting capabilities of multiple hoisting systems via a load sharing device that can be coupled to each of the hoisting systems and to a well-related load, thereby providing for increased hoisting capabilities at a relatively small cost, and, if implemented on an existing oil rig, without requiring significant modifications to and/or replacement of existing hoisting systems.

[0006] Some embodiments of the present systems comprise first and second hoisting systems and a load sharing device configured to be coupled to each of the first and second hoisting systems such that, when a well-related load is coupled to the load sharing device, each of the first and second hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well- related load. In some systems, each of the first and second hoisting systems comprises a frame, a crown block coupled to the frame, a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line, and a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame, and the load sharing device is configured to be coupled to the travelling block of each of the first and second hoisting systems.

[0007] In some systems, the system is disposed on an oil rig having two or more well operation centers and the first and second hoisting systems are each associated with a respective one of the two or more well operation centers. In some systems, each of the two or more well operation centers comprises a rotary table and/or a top drive. In some systems, the oil rig comprises an offshore oil rig. [0008] In some systems, at least a portion of the load sharing device is rigid. In some systems, the load sharing device comprises a beam. In some systems, at least a portion of the load sharing device comprises a flexible tether.

[0009] In some systems, the well-related load comprises a tubular. In some systems, the tubular comprises a riser, a drill pipe, and/or a casing. In some systems, the well-related load comprises a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, and/or a lower marine riser package. Some systems comprise a top drive configured to be coupled between the load sharing device and the well-related load.

[0010] Some embodiments of the present methods of integrating hoisting systems on an oil rig comprise attaching a load sharing device to a well-related load and to two or more hoisting systems, each hoisting system being associated with a respective well operation center of an oil rig, wherein the attaching the load sharing device is performed such that each of the two or more hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load. In methods, at least one of the two or more hoisting systems comprises a frame, a crown block coupled to the frame, a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line, and a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame, and the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the travelling block of the at least one hoisting system. In some methods, each well operation center comprises a rotary table and/or a top drive.

[0011] In some methods, the oil rig comprises an offshore oil rig. Some methods comprise lowering the well-related load into the water. Some methods comprise hoisting the well-related load out of the water.

[0012] In some methods, at least a portion of the load sharing device is rigid. In some methods, the load sharing device comprises a beam. In some methods, at least a portion of the load sharing device comprises a flexible tether. [0013] In some methods, the well-related load comprises a tubular. In some methods, the tubular comprises a riser, a drill pipe, and/or a casing. In some methods, the well-related load comprises a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, and/or a lower marine riser package. In some methods, the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the well-related load via a top drive.

[0014] The term "coupled" is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically; two items that are "coupled" may be unitary with each other. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise. The term "substantially" is defined as largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified (and includes what is specified; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees and substantially parallel includes parallel), as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In any disclosed embodiment, the term "substantially" may be substituted with "within [a percentage] of what is specified, where the percentage includes .1, 1, 5, and 10 percent.

[0015] The phrase "and/or" means and or or. To illustrate, A, B, and/or C includes: A alone, B alone, C alone, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, or a combination of A, B, and C. In other words, "and/or" operates as an inclusive or.

[0016] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), and "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, an apparatus that "comprises," "has," or "includes" one or more elements possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a method that "comprises," "has," or "includes," one or more steps possesses those one or more steps, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps. [0017] Any embodiment of any of the apparatuses, systems, and methods can consist of or consist essentially of - rather than comprise/have/include - any of the described steps, elements, and/or features. Thus, in any of the claims, the term "consisting of or "consisting essentially of can be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open- ended linking verb.

[0018] The feature or features of one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, even though not described or illustrated, unless expressly prohibited by this disclosure or the nature of the embodiments.

[0019] Further, a device or system that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but it can also be configured in other ways than those specifically described.

[0020] Some details associated with the embodiments are described above, and others are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. For the sake of brevity and clarity, every feature of a given structure is not always labeled in every figure in which that structure appears. Identical reference numbers do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference number may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality, as may non-identical reference numbers.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic of one embodiment of the present systems, including first and second hoisting systems and a load sharing device.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic of a load sharing device that may be suitable for use with some embodiments of the present systems and/or methods. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment 10 of the present systems. System 10 can include two or more hoisting systems 14. Hoisting systems 14 can each include a frame 18 (e.g., a derrick), which may be unique to the hoisting system or shared by at least two of the hoisting systems. Each hoisting system 14 can include a crown block 22 coupled to frame 18 (e.g., such that the crown block is translationally fixed relative to the frame). Hoisting systems 14 can each include a travelling block 26 coupled to crown block 22 via a drill line 30 (e.g., a flexible wire rope) that is disposed around pulleys or sheaves of the travelling block and pulleys or sheaves of the crown block. Each hoisting system 14 can include a draw-works 34 coupled to drill line 30 such that actuation of the draw-works causes travelling block 26 to move relative to frame 18 (e.g., generally in a direction indicated by arrow 38). To illustrate, for a given hoisting system 14, a first end 30a of drill line 30 can be fixed relative to frame 18 and/or a structure (e.g., an oil rig 50) on which the frame is disposed, and a second end 30b of the drill line can be received by draw-works 34 such that, as the draw-works retracts the drill line, travelling block 26 moves closer to crown block 22 and upwardly relative to the frame, and, as the draw-works extends the drill line, the travelling block moves away from the crown block and downwardly relative to the frame. Hoisting systems 14 are provided by way of example, as, in other embodiments, a hoisting system (e.g., 14) can include any suitable hoisting system.

[0025] System 10 can be disposed on an oil rig 50. As used herein, "oil rig" includes, but is not limited to, a platform rig, a jack-up rig, a semi-submersible rig, a submersible rig, or a drill ship, whether used for drilling, completion, production, and/or abandonment of an oil and/or gas well. Rig 50 can include two or more well operation centers 54, each of which can be a location on the rig that is equipped to perform well operations such as, for example, connecting and disconnecting tubulars (e.g., using a pipe handling system, an iron roughneck, and/or the like), hoisting and lowering well-related loads (e.g., 66) (e.g., using a hoisting system 14), drilling (e.g., using a top drive 56, which can be connected to the hoisting system, such as to a travelling block 26 thereof, a rotary table 58, and/or the like), and/or the like. In some instances, each well operation center 54 can be configured such that well operations can be performed at the well operation center independently of other(s) of the well operation centers and/or while other well operations are being performed at other(s) of the well operation centers. For example, in system 10, each hoisting system 14 can be associated with a respective one of well operation centers 54, and the hoisting system can be used to hoist and/or lower a well-related load (e.g., out of and/or into water beneath rig 50) independently of other(s) of the hoisting systems and/or while other(s) of the hoisting systems are being used to hoist and/or lower other well-related load(s) (e.g., out of and/or into water beneath rig 50).

[0026] System 10 can be configured such that hoisting systems 14 (e.g., at least two of the hoisting systems, if there are more than two hoisting systems) can cooperate to hoist and/or lower a same well-related load (e.g., 66). Such a well-related load (e.g., 66) can comprise, for example, a tubular (e.g., a riser, a drill pipe, a casing, and/or the like), well-related equipment (e.g., a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, a lower marine riser package, and/or the like), and/or the like. More particularly, system 10 can include a load sharing device 78 that is configured to be coupled to each of hoisting systems 14 and to a well-related load (e.g., 66) such that each of the hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well related load, a force supplied by each of the hoisting systems can be used to hoist and/or lower the well-related load, and/or the like.

[0027] In system 10, at least a portion of load sharing device 78 is rigid and can comprise a beam 82 (e.g., having an I-, H-, T- and/or the like cross-section). In some embodiments, at least a portion of a load sharing device (e.g., 78) is flexible and can comprise a tether (e.g., 86), such as, for example, a section of wire rope (FIG. 2). Such a tether (e.g., 86) can extend between hoisting systems (e.g., 14) to which the tether is coupled. In other embodiments, a load sharing device (e.g., 78) can comprise any suitable structure that is capable of transmitting forces between a well-related load (e.g., 66) and at least two hoisting systems (e.g., 14). Such load sharing devices (e.g., 78) can comprise any suitable material, such as, for example, steel.

[0028] Load sharing device 78 can be coupled to each hoisting system 14 (e.g., travelling block 26 thereof) in any suitable fashion, such as, for example, via hook(s), lug(s), eyelet(s), fastener(s) (e.g., bolt(s), nut(s), pin(s), and/or the like), and/or the like. Similarly, a well- related load (e.g., 66) can be coupled to load sharing device 78 in any suitable fashion, including, for example, those listed above, via a pipe elevator, a hoisting plug, a hoisting cap, a lift ring, a pipe clamp, a top drive (e.g., 56), and/or the like. In some embodiments, a connection between a well-related load (e.g., 66) and a load sharing device (e.g., 78) and/or a connection between the load sharing device and a hoisting system (e.g., 14) can include one or more swiveling, pivoting, rotating, sliding, and/or the like joints (e.g., to facilitate desirable load distribution between hoisting systems 14), one or more shock absorbers, and/or the like.

[0029] In these ways and others, hoisting capacities of hoisting systems 14 can be integrated, providing system 10 with the capacity to hoist and lower well-related loads (e.g., 66) that might exceed the hoisting capacity of a single one of the hoisting systems. In systems (e.g., 10) in which each hoisting system (e.g., 14) is associated with a respective well operation center (e.g., 54), such functionality can allow multiple well operation centers to cooperate in performing a same well operation.

[0030] Some embodiments of the present methods of integrating hoisting systems on an oil rig comprise attaching a load sharing device (e.g., 78) to a well-related load (e.g., 66) and to two or more hoisting systems (e.g., 14), each hoisting system being associated with a respective well operation center (e.g., 54) of an oil rig (e.g., 50), wherein the attaching the load sharing device is performed such that each of the two or more hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load. In some methods, each well operation center comprises a rotary table (e.g., 58) and/or a top drive (e.g., 56).

[0031] In some methods, at least one of the two or more hoisting systems comprises a frame (e.g., 18), a crown block (e.g., 22) coupled to the frame, a travelling block (e.g., 26) coupled to the crown block via a drill line (e.g., 30), and a draw-works (e.g., 34) coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame, and the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the travelling block of the at least one hoisting system.

[0032] In some methods, the oil rig comprises an offshore oil rig. Some methods comprise lowering the well-related load into the water. Some methods comprise hoisting the well-related load out of the water.

[0033] In some methods, at least a portion of the load sharing device is rigid. In some methods, the load sharing device comprises a beam (e.g., 82). In some methods, at least a portion of the load sharing device comprises a flexible tether (e.g., 86).

[0034] In some methods, the well-related load comprises a tubular. In some methods, the tubular comprises a riser, a drill pipe, and/or a casing. In some methods, the well-related load comprises a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, and/or a lower marine riser package. In some methods, the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the well-related load via a top drive.

[0035] The above specification and examples provide a complete description of the structure and use of illustrative embodiments. Although certain embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of this invention. As such, the various illustrative embodiments of the methods and systems are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, they include all modifications and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims, and embodiments other than the one shown may include some or all of the features of the depicted embodiment. For example, elements may be omitted or combined as a unitary structure, and/or connections may be substituted. Further, where appropriate, aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples having comparable or different properties and/or functions, and addressing the same or different problems. Similarly, it will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments.

[0036] The claims are not intended to include, and should not be interpreted to include, means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase(s) "means for" or "step for," respectively.