X-y-z pipe racker for a drilling rig

Abstract

Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling rig, comprising:
 a rig floor having a well center;   a mast extending above the rig floor; and   a column racker device vertically disposed adjacent the mast and configured to grasp and carry a tubular adapted for drilling, the column racker device comprising:
 a vertically disposed support column including and extending between an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being attached to and supported by a construct at the drilling rig floor such that weight of the column racker device and weight of a tubular carried by the column racker device is supported at the construct at the drilling rig floor, 
 a rotation driver configured to rotate the support column relative to the drill floor and the mast, and 
 a stabilizing support structure extending from the mast to the upper portion of the column racker device, the stabilizing support structure being structurally arranged to allow movement of the support column in a direction toward and away from a well center and in a direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center. 
   
     
     
         2 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower drive structurally arranged to move the lower portion of the support column in the direction toward and away from the well center and in the direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling rig of  claim 2 , wherein the lower drive and the stabilizing support structure cooperate to maintain the support column in a substantially vertical orientation when moving in the direction toward and away from the well center and in the direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing support structure comprises at least one beam moveably supported by the mast and arranged to move relative to the mast to allow the movement of the support column. 
     
     
         5 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , further comprising a racking board supported by the mast, the stabilizing support structure being disposed above the fingerboard. 
     
     
         6 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , comprising a carriage connected to and vertically displaceable along the support column, the carriage comprising:
 a manipulator arm extending from the carriage; and   a gripper head carried by the manipulator arm, the gripper head arranged to selectively grasp a tubular, the manipulator arm being arranged to move the gripper head closer to or further away from the support column.   
     
     
         7 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein the gripper head is a first gripper head, the column racker device comprising a second gripper head vertically spaced from said gripper head when presenting a tubular stand to the well center. 
     
     
         8 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , comprising a carriage driver structurally arranged to move the carriage up or down along the support column. 
     
     
         9 . The drilling rig of  claim 8 , wherein the carriage driver is a hoist. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein the gripper head is a first gripper head, the drilling rig comprising a second gripper head supported by the column racker and aligned with the first gripper head during rotation of the support column. 
     
     
         11 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein the manipulator arm comprises a linkage arranged to move the gripper head from a tubular storage position to a position over well-center. 
     
     
         12 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein the manipulator arm is disposed to extend radially outward from the support column to move the gripper head closer to or further away from the support column. 
     
     
         13 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein the carriage is a first carriage, and further comprising a second carriage disposed lower on the column racker device than the first carriage, the second carriage comprising a second manipulator arm and a second gripper head for grasping a tubular in a cooperating relationship with the first carriage. 
     
     
         14 . A drilling arrangement for a drilling rig including a mast, comprising:
 a column racker device vertically disposable on the drilling rig adjacent the mast and being configured to grasp and carry a tubular adapted for well drilling, the column racker device comprising:   a support column having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being disposed to carry the weight of the support column and weight of a tubular carried by the column racker device;   a lower drive structurally interfacing with the lower portion of the support column and arranged to move the lower portion of the support column in a direction toward and away from a well center and in a direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center;   a rotation driver cooperatively connected to the support column and configured to rotate the support column between a first position and a second position; and   a top stabilizing structure disposed at the top portion of the support column and extending from the mast to the support column and structurally arranged to allow movement of the support column in the direction toward and away from the well center and in the direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center.   
     
     
         15 . The drilling arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the lower drive and the stabilizing support structure cooperate to maintain the support column in a substantially vertical orientation when moving in the direction toward and away from the well center and in the direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling arrangement of  claim 14 , further comprising a racking board supported by the mast, the stabilizing support structure being disposed above the fingerboard. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling arrangement of  claim 14 , comprising a carriage connected to and vertically displaceable along the support column, the carriage comprising:
 a manipulator arm extending from the carriage; and   a gripper head carried by the manipulator arm, the gripper head arranged to selectively grasp a tubular, the manipulator arm being arranged to move the gripper head closer to or further away from the support column.   
     
     
         18 . The drilling arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the gripper head is a first gripper head, the column racker device comprising a second gripper head vertically spaced from said gripper head when presenting a tubular stand to the well center. 
     
     
         19 . The drilling arrangement of  claim 17 , comprising a carriage driver structurally arranged to move the carriage up or down along the support column. 
     
     
         20 . The column racker device of  claim 17 , wherein the manipulator arm is disposed to extend radially outward from the support column to move the gripper head closer to or further away from the support column. 
     
     
         21 . The column racker device of  claim 17 , wherein the carriage is a first carriage, and further comprising a second carriage disposed lower on the column racker device than the first carriage, the second carriage comprising a second manipulator arm and a second gripper head for grasping a tubular in a cooperating relationship with the first carriage. 
     
     
         22 . A column racker device vertically disposed on a drilling rig and supported in a vertically extending position by a mast on the drilling rig and being configured to grasp and carry a tubular adapted for well drilling, the column racker device comprising:
 a support column having an upper portion and a lower portion and defining a longitudinal axis;   a base support at the lower portion of the support column and arranged to carry the weight of the support column and weight of a tubular carried by the column racker device, the base support being arranged to move the lower portion of the support column in a direction toward and away from a well center and in a direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center;   a top stabilizing structure disposed at the top portion of the support column and extending from the mast to the support column and structurally arranged to allow movement of the support column in the direction toward and away from the well center and in the direction transverse to the direction toward and away from the well center.   a rotation driver cooperatively connected with the support column to rotate the support column about the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;   a carriage connected to and vertically displaceable along the support column, the carriage being arranged to carry weight of a tubular to be manipulated by the column racker device;   a manipulator arm extending from and being pivotably connected to the carriage, the manipulator arm being pivotable relative to the carriage between a first position angled more closely parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second position more closely perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   a gripper head carried at end of the manipulator arm, the gripper head arranged to selectively grasp a tubular, the manipulator arm being arranged to move the gripper head closer to or further away from the support column when pivoting relative to the carriage.   
     
     
         23 . The column racker device of  claim 22 , comprising a lift system configured to raise and lower the carriage. 
     
     
         24 . The column racker device of  claim 22 , wherein the manipulator arm is a first manipulator arm and the gripper head is a first gripper head, the column racker device comprising a pivotable second manipulator arm extendable outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the support column, and also comprising a second gripper head vertically spaced from said gripper head when grasping a tubular stand. 
     
     
         25 . The column racker device of  claim 22 , wherein the manipulator arm is arranged to present a tubular to a desired position by extending the tubular radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the support column.