Telescoping Derrick

Abstract

A derrick is disclosed. The derrick has a bottom section and a bottom-mid section. The derrick further may include a top-mid section and a top section, wherein a crown is disposed atop the top section and a travelling block is operatively coupled to the crown. The bottom section is separable into two split sections and the two split sections are configured so as to be disposed around the top-mid section such that the two split sections encompass the top-mid section. A hydraulic cylinder and plate mechanism (“locking dog mechanism”) is disposed on bottom section, wherein the mechanism is configured to hold the top-mid section when actuated. The bottom-mid section is sized to be moved into a space defined within the bottom section after the top-mid section has been raised above the bottom section. When fully erected, the top section is affixed to and above the top-mid section, the top-mid section is affixed to and above the bottom-mid section, and the bottom-mid section is affixed to and above the bottom section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telescoping derrick comprising:
 a top section, the top section adapted to support a crown block;   one or more middle sections, at least one middle section adapted to couple to and support the top section, at least one middle section adapted to be moved into a space defined within the bottom section;   a bottom section, the bottom section adapted to support and couple to at least one of the one or more middle sections; and   at least one pulley coupled to at least one of the one or more middle sections, the pulley adapted to pass a scoping cable coupled to the bottom section, the scoping cable adapted to, when put under tension, raise the at least one of the one or more middle sections.   
     
     
         2 . The telescoping derrick of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom section is separable into two split sections and the two split sections are configured so as to be disposed around at least one middle section such that the two split sections encompass the at least one middle section. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom section further comprises doors, wherein the doors are configured to allow the bottom-mid section to be to be moved into a space defined within the bottom section. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the top section is tapered. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom section further comprises a bottom left strut and a bottom left strut and the top-mid section further comprises a top-mid left strut and a top-mid right strut, wherein the bottom left strut and the bottom left strut are longer than either the top-mid left strut or the top-mid right strut. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom section further comprises a plurality of top strut sections and the top-mid section further comprises a top-mid upper strut and a top-mid lower strut. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the doors are right triangles. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sets of locking mechanisms coupled to the bottom section and adapted to support at least one of the middle sections. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanisms comprise hydraulic cylinders positioned to extend and retract a plate, the plate positioned to support at least one of the middle sections when extended and allow movement of at least one of the middle sections when retracted. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a scoping cart, the scoping cart selectively coupleable to the one or more middle sections, the pulley coupled to the scoping cart. 
     
     
         11 . A method of erecting a telescoping derrick comprising:
 providing a bottom section, one or more middle sections, and a top section, the top section having a crown block positioned atop the top section and a travelling block operatively coupled to the crown block by a hoisting cable;   positioning the bottom section on a surface;   positioning one or more middle sections within the bottom section, one of the one or more middle sections defining a first middle section;   coupling the top section to the bottom section or the first middle section;   coupling the first middle section to at least one first pulley;   coupling a scoping cable between the travelling block and the bottom section, the scoping cable passing through the first pulley;   elevating the first middle section by raising the travelling block;   coupling the first middle section to the top section;   coupling the first middle section to the bottom section.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning a second middle section within the bottom section;   coupling the second middle section to at least one second pulley;   coupling a scoping cable between the travelling block and the bottom section, the scoping cable passing through the second pulley;   elevating the second middle section using the travelling block;   coupling the second middle section to the first middle section;   coupling the second middle section to the bottom section.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 elevating the second middle section coupled to the first middle section using the travelling block.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom section is separable into a first split section and a second split section, and the method further comprises:
 positioning a first split section of the bottom section on one side of the first middle section;   positioning a second split section of the bottom section on a second side of the first middle section;   coupling the first and second split sections of the bottom section such that the first middle section is within the bottom section.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom section includes at least one door, the door forming at least a portion of a sidewall of the bottom section, and the method further comprises:
 opening the at least one door of the bottom section;   positioning a middle section within the bottom section;   elevating the middle section; and   closing the at least one door.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the top section is coupled to the first middle section before the first middle section is positioned into the space defined by the two split sections. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the top section is positioned on the first middle section by a platform crane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 coupling the first middle section to the bottom section once the first middle section is elevated. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first middle section is coupled to the bottom section by a using a hydraulic cylinder and plate mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first middle section is coupled to the bottom section by a first hydraulic cylinder and plate mechanism, and the second middle section is coupled to the bottom section by a second hydraulic cylinder and plate mechanism, and the method further comprises decoupling the first middle section from the bottom section after the first middle section is coupled to the second middle section. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein placing the middle section within the bottom section is performed by rolling or sliding. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first pulley is coupled to a scoping cart, the scoping cart adapted to support the middle section. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein raising the travelling block comprises retracting, using a drawworks, a hoisting cable operatively coupled between the travelling block and the crown block.