Drill Floor Panel Storage

Abstract

A drilling rig includes a rig floor and a subfloor. The rig floor and subfloor are generally horizontal, with the subfloor positioned a selected distance below the rig floor. The subfloor extends at least partially below the rig floor. At least one access point is positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor. In some embodiments, the access point includes a hatch. The hatch is openable to allow access to the subfloor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling rig comprising:
 a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal;   a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; and   at least one access point positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.   
     
     
         2 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the access point comprises a hatch, the hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor comprises a tunnel extending horizontally, the tunnel positioned between the rig floor and the sub floor. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor. 
     
     
         5 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , further comprising a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, and the first subfloor includes at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor. 
     
     
         6 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the selected distance is between 3 and 6 feet. 
     
     
         7 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the selected distance is between 4 and 5 feet. 
     
     
         8 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the selected distance is greater than 5 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor further comprises at least one of a cable, tubing, or other piece of drilling rig equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor is positioned to allow for storage of rig equipment. 
     
     
         11 . A drilling rig comprising:
 a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal;   a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor;   at least one access hatch, the access hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor; and   an access ladder positioned between the subfloor and the rig floor positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor through the opened access hatch.   
     
     
         12 . The drilling rig of  claim 11 , further comprising a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, and the first subfloor includes at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor. 
     
     
         13 . A box on box drilling rig, the box on box drilling rig comprising:
 a plurality of sub boxes, the sub boxes being stacked to form the support structure of the box on box drilling rig;   a drilling rig platform, the drilling rig platform positioned atop the sub boxes, the drilling rig platform including:
 a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal; 
 a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; and 
 at least one access point positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor. 
   
     
     
         14 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , wherein the access point comprises a hatch, the hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor. 
     
     
         15 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor comprises a tunnel extending horizontally, the tunnel positioned between the rig floor and the sub floor. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the sub boxes further comprises a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, the first subfloor including at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling rig of  claim 17 , further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the first subfloor to the second subfloor.