METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ISOLATING A ROTARY BUSHING FROM A DRILLING RIG FLOOR

METHODE ET APPAREIL POUR ISOLER UNE GAINE D'ENTRAINEMENT D'UN PLANCHER D'APPAREIL DE FORAGE

English Abstract

A method and apparatus for isolating a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor includes a collar having a top, a bottom, an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall defining an interior cavity. The collar is secured in position on a drilling rig floor encircling the rotary bushing. Objects are prevented from entering the path of the rotary bushing by the collar. Fluids splashing off the rotary bushing are substantially confined by the interior sidewall within the interior cavity of the collar.

French Abstract

Méthode et appareil pour isoler une gaine d'entraînement d'un plancher d'appareil de forage comportant un collet doté d'un couvercle, un fond, une paroi latérale extérieure et une paroi latérale intérieure définissant une cavité intérieure. Le collet est fixé en position sur un plancher d'appareil de forage encerclant la gaine d'entraînement. Les objets sont empêchés d'entrer la trajectoire de la gaine d'entraînement par le collet. Les liquides expulsés par la gaine d'entraînement sont substantiellement confinés par la paroi latérale intérieure dans la cavité intérieure du collet.

Claims

6
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. ~An apparatus for isolating a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor,
comprising:
a collar having a top, a bottom, an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall
defining an interior cavity;
the collar being adapted to surround a rotary bushing, such that objects are
prevented from entering the path of the rotary bushing by the exterior
sidewall of the collar
and fluid splashing off the rotary bushing is substantially confined by the
interior sidewall
within the interior cavity of the collar; and
means for securing the collar in position an a drilling rig floor.
2. ~The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the collar securing means is
a planar
flange projecting outwardly from the exterior sidewall immediately adjacent to
the bottom
of the collar, such that a non-slip matt resting upon the planar flange
secures the collar in
position.
3. ~The apparatus as defined in Claim 2, wherein the planar flange is divided
into a
plurality of segments,
4. ~The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the interior sidewall of the
collar is
angled inwardly into the interior cavity from the bottom toward the top.

7
5. ~An apparatus for isolating a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor,
comprising:
a collar having a top, a bottom, an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall
defining an interior cavity, the interior sidewall of the collar being angled
inwardly into the
interior cavity from the bottom toward the top;
the collar being adapted to surround a rotary bushing, such that objects are
prevented from entering the path of the rotary bushing by the exterior
sidewall of the collar
and fluid splashing off the rotary bushing is substantially confined by the
interior sidewall
within the interior cavity of the collar; and
a planar flange divided in to a plurality of segments projects outwardly from
the
exterior sidewall immediately adjacent to the bottom of the collar, such that
a non-slip
matt resting upon the planar flange secures the collar in position.

8
6. ~A method for isolating a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor,
comprising the
steps of:
firstly, providing a collar having a top, a bottom, an exterior sidewall and
an
interior sidewall defining an interior cavity; and
secondly, securing the collar on the drilling rig floor encircling a rotary
bushing,
such that objects are prevented from entering the path of the rotary bushing
by the exterior
sidewall of the collar and fluid splashing off the rotary bushing is
substantially confined by
the interior sidewall within the interior cavity of the collar.
7. ~The method as defined in Claim 6, having a non-slip matt covering the
drilling rig
floor, the collar having a planar flange projecting outwardly from the
exterior sidewall
immediately adjacent to the bottom of the collar, such that the non-slip matt
resting upon
the planar flange secures the collar in position on the drilling rig floor.

Description

213322
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Method and apparatus for isolating a rotary bushing from
a drilling rig floor
NAME OF INVENTOR:
Quinn Holtby
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus
for isolating a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The floor of a drilling rig has an opening in which is
positioned a rotary bushing. The rotary bushing is used to
rotate sections of pipe which form a drill string. The
sections of pipe are held in the rotary bushing by a plurality
of wedge-like members referred to as "slips". Each slip has
an outwardly projecting handle.
The rotary bushing presents a number of dangers. The
rotary bushing rotates at speeds which approach 80 rotations
per minute. Rig workers have been injured and, in some cases
killed, when struck by the handles of the slips as the rotary
bushing rotates or when hoses they were handling caught on the
handles of the slips. Another danger relates to spillage of
fluids. Every time a threaded connection is disconnected to
permit the separation of a section of pipe, fluids contained
within the section of pipe are released. Fluids strike the
rotary bushing and splash onto the adjacent drilling rig floor.
As drilling progresses, the drilling rig floor invariably

X163322
2
becomes contaminated with drilling fluid. The fluid
contamination makes the drilling rig floor very slippery and,
as such, presents a safety hazard for workers. The safety
hazard is addressed by placing matts, commonly known as "chimo
matts", on the drilling rig floor around the rotary bushing.
The chimo matts provide a non-slip surface, which has openings
to receive fluid. The chimo matts reduce, but can not
eliminate the slippage problem due primarily to the sheer
volume of drilling fluid which is splashed on the drilling rig
floor. The chimo matts would be a more effective solution if
the volume of fluid contamination of the drilling rig floor
could be reduced.
SiJI~ARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a method and apparatus for isolating
a rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided an apparatus for isolating a rotary bushing from a
drilling rig floor which includes a collar having a top, a
bottom, an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall defining
an interior cavity. Means is provided for securing the collar
in position on a drilling rig floor.
With the apparatus, as described above, the collar serves
to confine within the interior cavity any fluids that splash
onto the rotary bushing. It also prevents a persons foot or
a length of hose from passing into the path of the handles of
the slips as the rotary bushing rotates. The preferred means
for securing the collar in position includes a planar flange
projecting outwardly from the exterior sidewall immediately
adjacent to the bottom of the collar. With this construction
a non-slip matt may be positioned so it rests upon the planar
flange to secure the collar in the desired position on the
drilling rig floor. The planar flange is easier to place in

~1~3322
3
position under the non-slip matt when it is divided into a
plurality of segments. Fluid containment is improved when the
exterior sidewall of the collar is angled inwardly into the
interior cavity from the bottom toward the top.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method for isolating a rotary bushing from a
drilling rig floor. Firstly, provide a collar having a top,
a bottom, an exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall
defining an interior cavity. Secondly, secure the collar on
the drilling rig floor encircling a rotary bushing. The
exterior sidewalls prevent feet, hoses and other objects from
entering into the path of the rotary bushing. Fluid splashing
off the rotary bushing is substantially confined by the
interior sidewall within the interior cavity of the collar.
When a non-slip matt covers the drilling rig floor, the
preferred method includes having a planar flange projecting
outwardly from the exterior sidewall immediately adjacent to
the bottom of the collar. The non-slip matt rests upon the
planar flange to secure the collar in position on the drilling
rig floor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, in section, of an
apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention positioned on a drilling rig floor.
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated
in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

2163322
4
The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for isolating a
rotary bushing from a drilling rig floor generally identified
by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference
to FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 1, apparatus 10 includes a collar 12
having a top 14, a bottom 16, an exterior sidewall 18 and an
interior sidewall 20 defining an interior cavity 22. Exterior
sidewall 18 of collar 12 is angled inwardly into interior
cavity 22 from bottom 16 toward top 14. Referring to FIGURE
2, a planar flange 24 projects outwardly from exterior sidewall
18 immediately adjacent to bottom 16 of collar 12. Planar
flange 24 is divided into a plurality of tab-like segments 26.
For ease of transport and installation collar 12 is constructed
of two arcuate segments 28 and 30, which are secured together
by fasteners 32. It is preferred that an annular foam seal 33
be positioned within interior cavity 22 where interior sidewall
meets bottom 16, so as to prevent fluids from leaking under
collar 12 and onto the drilling rig floor.
The method of use of apparatus 10 will now be described
with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. Referring to FIGURE l, the
method is intended to isolate a rotary bushing 38 from a
drilling rig floor 34 to guard against injury and reduce fluid
contamination of drilling rig floor 34 by fluids 36. Collar
12 is positioned on drilling rig floor 34 encircling a rotary
bushing 38. It is standard practice for drilling rig floor 34
to be covered by a non-slip matt 40 which surrounds rotary
bushing 38. Collar 12 is secured in position by placing a
peripheral edge 42 of non-slip matt 40 onto planar flange 24.
By having planar flange 24 divided into a plurality of tab-like
segments, it is easier to tuck planar flange 24 under
peripheral edge 42 of non-slip matt 40. When in position
fluids 36 which splash onto rotary bushing 38 are substantially
confined by interior sidewall 18 within interior cavity 22 of
collar 12. The angling of interior sidewall 18 has been found
to provide more effective containment.

~~633~2
Collar 12 is light weight and can be installed by one
worker in less than a minute. It serves to isolate the rotary
bushing without restricting access for the purpose of servicing
and the like.
5
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing