Big assembly with movable rig floor units

Abstract

The invention relates to a rig assembly for use in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In an embodiment of the invention, a rig assembly ( 12 ) for a drill ship ( 10 ) is disclosed. The rig assembly ( 12 ) comprises a rig floor receiving area ( 14 ); a plurality of movable rig floor units ( 18, 20, 22 and 24 ), each rig floor unit ( 18, 20, 22 and 24 ) configured for location in the rig floor receiving area ( 14 ), to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly ( 12 ); and a transporter ( 26 ) configured to receive any one of the rig floor units ( 18, 20, 22 and 24 ), for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units ( 18, 20, 22 and 24 ) from a storage area ( 28 ) to the rig floor receiving area ( 14 ).

1 . A rig assembly comprising:
 a rig floor receiving area;   a plurality of movable rig floor units, each rig floor unit configured for location in the rig floor receiving area, to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly; and   a transporter configured to receive any one of the rig floor units, for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units from a storage area to the rig floor receiving area.   
   
   
       2 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is also for transporting a rig floor unit from the rig floor receiving area to the storage area. 
   
   
       3 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each rig floor unit is adapted for performing a different task. 
   
   
       4 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each rig floor unit carries different equipment suited to the particular task to be performed. 
   
   
       5 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage area comprises a plurality of rig floor storage locations, each configured to receive a respective rig floor unit. 
   
   
       6 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is movable along a path extending between the storage area and the rig floor receiving area, for transporting the rig floor units between the storage area and the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       7 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rig floor units are each configured to be releasably secured to the transporter. 
   
   
       8 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the rig floor units and the transporter comprise a locking assembly for securing the rig floor units relative to the transporter. 
   
   
       9 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is configured to be releasably secured within the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       10 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is configured to be secured to a support structure provided in the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       11 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the transporter and the support structure comprise a locking assembly for securing the transporter in the receiving area. 
   
   
       12 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rig floor units are each configured to be releasably secured within the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       13 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the rig floor units are each configured to be secured to a support structure provided in the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       14 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the rig floor units and the support structure comprise a locking assembly for securing the rig floor units in the receiving area. 
   
   
       15 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a transfer system for transferring the rig floor units between a storage location within the storage area and the transporter. 
   
   
       16 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transfer system comprises a translation device for translating the rig floor units between their storage locations and the transporter. 
   
   
       17 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transfer system comprises a lift for raising and/or lowering the rig floor units between a level of the storage locations and a level of the transporter. 
   
   
       18 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is shaped to straddle the rig floor units. 
   
   
       19 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the transporter is height adjustable for raising and lowering to a level of the unit storage locations. 
   
   
       20 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising tubing handling equipment coupled to and movable with the transporter. 
   
   
       21 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the handling equipment comprises a tubing handling device for picking up and supporting a length of tubing, and for transferring the tubing on to the transporter. 
   
   
       22 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is for transporting the selected rig floor unit to a location above a moonpool of a surface facility, for the deployment of equipment into the moonpool. 
   
   
       23 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rig floor receiving area is adapted to be provided on a frame extending overboard from a surface facility. 
   
   
       24 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rig floor units each comprise handling apparatus for handling equipment to be deployed from the rig floor. 
   
   
       25 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rig floor units are selected from the group comprising: a drill unit having a rotary drive for driving and rotating a string of tubing; a BOP unit for supporting a BOP; a coiled tubing injector unit for supporting a coiled tubing injector to be used for running coiled tubing; and a subsea shut-off device unit, for running a subsea shut-off device. 
   
   
       26 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rig floor units comprises an aperture through which equipment may be deployed. 
   
   
       27 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a support for supporting a load of a tubing string during changeover of rig floor units. 
   
   
       28 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter is configured to receive a plurality of selected rig floor units simultaneously. 
   
   
       29 . A rig assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transporter comprises a drive system for moving the transporter between the storage area and the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       30 . A rig comprising a rig assembly, the rig assembly comprising
 a rig floor receiving area;   a plurality of movable rig floor units, each rig floor unit configured for location in the rig floor receiving area, to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly; and   a transporter configured to receive any one of the rig floor units, for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units from a storage area to the rig floor receiving area.   
   
   
       31 . A vessel comprising a rig, the rig comprising a rig assembly, the rig assembly comprising
 a rig floor receiving area;   a plurality of movable rig floor units, each rig floor unit configured for location in the rig floor receiving area, to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly; and   a transporter configured to receive any one of the rig floor units, for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units from a storage area to the rig floor receiving area.   
   
   
       32 . A method of providing a rig floor of a rig assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of movable rig floor units, each rig floor unit configured for location in a rig floor receiving area of a rig assembly, the rig floor units located in a storage area on a rig;   selecting one of the rig floor units;   mounting the selected rig floor unit on a transporter configured to receive any one of the rig floor units;   transporting the selected rig floor unit from the storage area to the rig floor receiving area using the transporter; and   locating the selected rig floor unit in the rig floor receiving area, to thereby form a rig floor of the rig assembly.   
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of:
 returning the selected rig floor unit from the rig floor receiving area to the storage area using the transporter;   selecting an alternative rig floor unit;   mounting the alternative rig floor unit on the transporter;   transporting the alternative rig floor unit from the storage area to the rig floor receiving area using the transporter; and   locating the alternative rig floor unit in the rig floor receiving area, to thereby form an alternative rig floor of the rig assembly.   
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of
 performing an operation from the rig floor defined by the selected rig floor unit;   returning the unit to the storage area; and,   subsequent to locating the alternative unit in the receiving area, performing an operation from the alternative rig floor.   
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising securing the selected rig floor unit relative to the transporter, transporting the selected rig floor unit to the receiving area and then securing the transporter within the receiving area. 
   
   
       36 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising securing the selected rig floor unit within the receiving area and moving the transporter away from the receiving area. 
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising storing the rig floor units in respective storage locations within the storage area, and transferring the units from their storage locations on to the transporter using a transfer system. 
   
   
       38 . A movable rig floor unit, the rig floor unit configured for location in a rig floor receiving area of a rig assembly to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly, the rig floor unit further configured to be received in a transporter for transportation from a storage area to the rig floor receiving area. 
   
   
       39 . A rig floor transporter, the transporter configured to receive any one of a plurality of rig floor units, for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units from a storage area to a rig floor receiving area of a rig assembly.