Portable drilling mast structure

Abstract

A portable drilling mast structure comprising a lower drilling mast having a lower end pivotally coupled to a base. A hinge is coupled to an upper end of the lower drilling mast and a lower end of an upper drilling mast. The drilling mast structure has a first position wherein the lower drilling mast is parallel to the base and the upper drilling mast is disposed between the lower drilling mast and the base. The drilling mast structure has a second position wherein the lower drilling mast is perpendicular to the base and the upper drilling mast is aligned with the lower drilling mast.

1 . A portable drilling mast structure comprising: 
 a lower drilling mast having a lower end pivotally coupled to a base;    a hinge coupled to an upper end of said lower drilling mast; and    an upper drilling mast having a lower end coupled to said hinge, wherein the drilling mast structure has a first position wherein said lower drilling mast is parallel to the base and said upper drilling mast is disposed between said lower drilling mast and said base, and a second position wherein said lower drilling mast is perpendicular to said base and said upper drilling mast is aligned with said lower drilling mast.    
   
   
       2 . The portable drilling mast structure of  claim 1  further comprising a latch that fixably couples said upper drilling mast to said lower drilling mast when the drilling mast structure is in the first position.  
   
   
       3 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled between said lower drilling mast and the base, wherein extension of said hydraulic cylinder pivots said lower drilling mast relative to the base.  
   
   
       4 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 3  wherein said base is a portable trailer.  
   
   
       5 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 4  further comprising a hydraulic power unit mounted on the trailer, wherein said hydraulic power unit provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       6 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a drawworks coupled to the base;    a sheave mounted to the upper end of said upper drilling mast; and    a cable extending from said drawworks and over said sheave.    
   
   
       7 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 6  further comprising a top drive coupled to said cable.  
   
   
       8 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 6  further comprising an iron roughneck disposed within said lower drilling mast.  
   
   
       9 . The portable drilling mast system of  claim 1  further comprising a support structure coupled to said lower drilling mast and the base when said lower drilling mast is perpendicular to the base.  
   
   
       10 . A portable drilling rig comprising: 
 a base;    a folding drilling mast comprising a lower drilling mast pivotally coupled to said base and an upper drilling mast coupled to the lower drilling mast by a hinge, wherein the folding drilling mast has a first position wherein said lower drilling mast is parallel to the base and said upper drilling mast is disposed between said lower drilling mast and said base, and a second position wherein said lower drilling mast is perpendicular to said base and said upper drilling mast is aligned with said lower drilling mast;    a drawworks coupled to the base;    a sheave mounted to the upper end of said upper drilling mast;    a cable extending from said drawworks and over said sheave; and    a top drive disposed within said folding drilling mast and coupled to said cable.    
   
   
       11 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 10  further comprising a latch that fixably couples said upper drilling mast to said lower drilling mast when the drilling mast structure is in the first position.  
   
   
       12 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 10  further comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled between said lower drilling mast and the base, wherein extension of said hydraulic cylinder pivots said lower drilling mast relative to the base.  
   
   
       13 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 12  wherein said base is a portable trailer.  
   
   
       14 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 13  further comprising a hydraulic power unit mounted on the trailer, wherein said hydraulic power unit provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       15 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 10  further comprising an iron roughneck disposed within said lower drilling mast.  
   
   
       16 . The portable drilling rig of  claim 10  further comprising a support structure coupled to said lower drilling mast and the base when said lower drilling mast is perpendicular to the base.  
   
   
       17 . A method for erecting a drilling mast comprising: 
 pivotally coupling a lower drilling mast to a base, wherein an upper drilling mast is coupled to the lower drilling mast by a hinge, wherein the lower drilling mast is parallel to the base and the upper drilling mast is disposed between the lower drilling mast and the base;    connecting the upper drilling mast to the lower drilling mast so as to prevent rotation about the hinge    pivoting the upper drilling mast and the lower drilling mast to an elevated position;    disconnecting the upper drilling mast from the lower drilling mast so as to allow rotation about the hinge;    pivoting the lower drilling mast toward horizontal such the upper drilling mast rotates about the hinge until the upper drilling mast is aligned with the lower drilling mast in a horizontal position;    connecting the upper drilling mast to the lower drilling mast so as to prevent rotation about the hinge; and    pivoting the aligned upper and lower drilling masts to a vertical position.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising fixably coupling the lower drilling mast to the base once the aligned upper and lower drilling masts are in the vertical position.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the upper and lower drilling masts are pivoted relative to the base by a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the base and the lower drilling mast.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a latch fixably couples the upper drilling mast to the lower drilling mast so as to prevent rotation about the hinge.