Well drilling apparatus and assembling and disassembling method

Abstract

A well drilling apparatus ( 2 ) and method associated therewith is able to shift between a first assembly operating configuration and a second use operating configuration. The apparatus ( 2 ) includes a sub-structure ( 21 ), which supports the apparatus ( 2 ), a mast ( 23 ), which is pivoted to the sub-structure ( 21 ), around which it rotates to shift between the assembly operating configuration, which is substantially horizontal, and the use operating configuration. A drill floor ( 22 ) is liftable and connected to the mast ( 23 ). An actuating device ( 3 ) allows the drilling apparatus ( 2 ) to shift between the two operating configurations. The actuating device ( 3 ) is hydraulic and directly connected to the mast ( 23 ). The drill floor ( 22 ) includes a first portion ( 22 a ), projects with respect to the mast ( 23 ), and a second portion ( 22 b ) constrained to and rotating with the mast ( 23 . A draw-works ( 58 ) is permanently installed on the sub-structure ( 21 ).

1 . Well drilling apparatus, which is able to shift between a first assembly operating configuration and a second use operating configuration;
 said apparatus comprising:
 a sub-structure, which lies on the ground and supports said apparatus, 
 a mast, which comprises pivoting points and fixing points pivoted to said sub-structure by said pivoting points, around which said mast rotates to shift between said assembly operating configuration, which is substantially horizontal, and said use operating configuration, which is substantially vertical; 
 a drill floor configured to be lifted and is connected to the mast; 
 an actuating device, for allowing the drilling apparatus to shift between said assembly operating configuration and said use operating configuration; 
 wherein the actuating device is a hydraulic device, which is directly connected to the mast; 
 the drill floor comprises a first portion, which is pivoted to said mast and projects with respect to said mast, and a second portion, which is constrained to said mast and rotates with the mast; 
 a draw-works is permanently installed on the sub-structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said mast is modular and comprises:
 a mast starter section, adapted to be constrained to the sub-structure;   a mast bottom section, which is constrained to said mast starter section and to which the first portion of said drill floor is pivoted and the second portion of said drill floor is constrained;   a mast strong back, to which the actuating device is connected, and   at least one further section, on which a top drive, which is constrained to said mast strong back, is fixed in a sliding manner.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said sub-structure comprises:
 at least two sub-bases, which are arranged parallel to one another and for supporting the apparatus;   at least two mast base sections, each of which is constrained to a sub-base and on which the mast is pivoted.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said draw-works is installed on said two sub-bases. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of the drill floor is kept parallel to the ground during the shift from one operating configuration to the other operating configuration and comprises a rotary table and a driller cabin. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mast comprises an intermediate section, which is constrained to said mast strong back, and an upper section, which is constrained to said intermediate section and on which there are already positioned: the top drive, a travelling block, a crown block and a powered drill line spooler. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the intermediate section comprises a first shoulder and a second shoulder, on which a back is hinged;
 said back, after having been arranged perpendicular to said second shoulder, is fixed to the first shoulder assuming the shape of a truncated cone with a “U”-shaped section.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper section has the shape of a truncated cone with a “U”-shaped section and comprises:
 two shoulders, which are hinged at one end to the top of the upper section, and 
 a back, which is interposed between said two shoulders; 
 
       said back is adapted to reduce its transverse extension in a telescopic manner. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating device comprises a pair of telescopic hydraulic raising cylinders, each of which is connected to the mast. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each cylinder is connected to an attachment housing comprised in the mast strong back. 
     
     
         11 . Assembling method for a drilling apparatus,
 said drilling apparatus comprises: a sub-structure, a mast, a drill floor, which is fixed to said mast, a draw-works, and an actuating device, for causing said apparatus to move between an assembly operating configuration and a use operating configuration;   the method comprising the following steps:
 positioning the sub-structure in the desired site; 
 assembling the drill floor; 
 pivoting the mast to said sub-structure in a substantially horizontal position; 
 fixing the actuating device, so as to allow the apparatus to be lifted; 
 lifting the apparatus, so as to cause the apparatus to shift from the assembly operating configuration to the use operating configuration; 
 fixing the apparatus in the use operating configuration 
   wherein:
 the step of lifting the apparatus is performed in a continuous manner, without interruptions during the shift from one operating configuration to the other; 
 during the step of lifting the apparatus, the mast and the drill floor are simultaneously lifted by a thrust, which is actuated by the actuating device, is of the hydraulic type, and is directly applied to the mast; 
 the draw works remains arranged on the sub-structure during the shift from one operating configuration of the apparatus to the other; 
 the drill floor comprises a first portion, which is pivoted to said mast and projects with respect to said mast, and a second portion, which is constrained to said mast and rotates with said mast. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein an assembling step for assembling the mast is provided, during which the different sections of the mast are prepared and assembled. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the assembling step comprises a moving sub-step for causing at least one portion of the mast to move by actuating stands to allow actuation of the following steps of the method. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein, during the moving sub-step, at least one section of the mast is lifted in a leveled manner at a predetermined height from the ground, at which said at least one section is kept parallel to the ground and, subsequently, translated along a longitudinal axis of the mast itself. 
     
     
         15 . Disassembling method for a drilling apparatus; said drilling apparatus comprising: a sub-structure, a mast, which is fixed to said sub-structure, a drill floor, which is fixed to said mast, and an actuating device, for causing said apparatus to move between a use operating configuration and an assembly operating configuration; said drill floor comprising a first portion, which is pivoted to said mast and projects with respect to said mast, and a second portion, which is constrained to said mast and rotates with said mast;
 said disassembling method comprises the following steps:
 releasing the apparatus from the use operating configuration; 
 lowering the drilling apparatus, so as to cause the drilling apparatus to shift from the use operating configuration to the assembly operating configuration; 
 releasing the actuating device to allow the apparatus to be removed; 
 releasing the mast from said sub-structure; 
 removing the sub-structure; 
   the step of lowering the apparatus is continuously performed without interruptions during the shift from one operating configuration to the other; during the step of lowering the mast, the mast and the drill floor are simultaneously lowered by said actuating device, which is hydraulic and is directly pivoted to the mast.