Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 "LOW GROUND PRESSURE AND AMPHIBIOUS CORING SYSTEM"
2
3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
4 The invention relates to apparatus and methodology for obtaining
subterranean core samples, more particularly for drilling apparatus which
exert low
6 ground pressure and having synergistic adaptations related thereto.
7
8 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
9 Sensitive environments including wet terrain, such as muskeg and
swampy areas, are an impediment to drilling and coring operations as the
fragile
11 environment is easily damaged.
12 Accordingly, many such operations have been restricted to the winter
13 season when conventional equipment can be supported on frozen ground. The
14 usable window for a winter season in Alberta, Canada can be as small as
three
months before a thawing break-up approaching the spring season.
16
1
CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 Embodiments of the invention relate to low ground pressure or to
3 amphibious capable equipment for accessing sensitive environments year
around,
4 including after the winter thaw. The apparatus of the invention imposes less
than
one-half the pressure of the human foot and use of environmentally friendly
6 hydraulic fluids, in a substantially all-hydraulic rig, minimize risk.
7 Embodiments of the invention relate to equipment which can be
8 transported to the sensitive areas on conventional transports and within
restrictions
9 including weight and size. Accordingly, components of the equipment which
are
oversize when erected for operation, can be collapsed or pivoted to a low
profile,
11 such as for hauling on a low-boy trailer.
12 Embodiments of the invention further relate to equipment which can
13 adapt to uneven terrain, without extraneous leveling jacks or blocking. The
low-
14 ground profile or amphibious equipment includes an articulated platform
which can
be leveled relative to the equipment's mobile base.
16 In one broad aspect of the invention, an amphibious coring apparatus
17 is provided for operations on ground including wetlands comprising: a rig
deck; a
18 substructure supporting mobile, low ground pressure, wetland-engaging
ground
19 components; and an articulation interface between the rig deck and
substructure for
leveling the rig deck. The articulation interface can be stabilized with
lateral and
21 longitudinal bars.
22 The apparatus of the current invention enables drilling over wetlands in
23 all seasons. In a broad aspect a method is provided for drilling in
wetlands
2
CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 comprising: moving an amphibious, low ground pressure coring apparatus onto
the
2 wetlands supported on wetland-engaging ground components, and articulating a
rig
3 deck relative to the ground components for orienting a derrick for drilling.
4
6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention on
8 site and illustrating a transportable drilling/coring apparatus placed
adjacent a
9 transportable mud unit;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the transportable
11 drilling/coring apparatus with the plating of the deck removed for viewing
the
12 structures therebelow;
13 Figure 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the rig with the derrick
14 erected;
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the rig of Fig. 3;
16 Figure 5A is a front elevation of the derrick illustrating the top drive at
17 the rig deck;
18 Figure 5B is a perspective view of the derrick of Fig. 5A;
19 Figure 5CB is a close up perspective view of the rams and sheaves of
the derrick of Fig. 5A;
21 Figure 6 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the transportable
22 drilling/coring rig;
23 Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the rig of Fig. 6;
3
CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 Figure 8 is a front, underside and perspective view of a deck, the
2 articulation interface and the substructure having the pontoons removed for
3 improved viewing of the interface
4 Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of a deck, the articulation interface
and the substructure having the pontoons removed for improved viewing of the
6 interface;
7 Figure 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the pipe handler
8 showing a rack only on one side;
9 Figure 11 is an end view of the pipe handler of Fig. 9 illustrating racks
on either side of the pipe handler;
11 Figure 12 is a perspective view of the mud unit and deck with the
12 pontoons and tracks removed;
13 Figure 13 is a left side view of the mud unit of Fig. 12 illustrating the
14 articulation interface between the deck and the substructure;
Figure 14 is a front view of the transportable frame of Fig. 13,
16 Figure 15 is a perspective view of auxiliary transportable unit; and
17 Figure 16 is a rear view of the auxiliary transportable unit of Fig. 15.
18
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CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
2 In greater detail and with reference to Fig. 1, embodiments of an
3 apparatus for coring or drilling comprise a rig 10 that can work in wetlands
year
4 around. Typically the rig 10 is associated with other equipment such as at
least a
mud unit 100.
6 The rig 10 is amphibious (including land, water, muskeg, big and
7 combinations thereof), comprising: a rig deck 11 and a substructure 12 which
8 supports ground-engaging, motive, ground components M like wheels or tracks.
9 The ground components M impose a low ground pressure on the supporting
wetland. In one embodiment, the ground components M of the substructure 12 can
11 comprise pontoons 13 fit with tracks 14 so that the rig 10 is both mobile
over soft
12 ground and can be amphibious. The tracks 14 can be driven with systems
similar to
13 skid-steer equipment. Suitable pontoons, tracks and drive systems can be
sourced
14 from Wetiand Equipment Company, Inc., Louisiana, USA.
As shown in the embodiment of Figs. 2 - 4, a rig deck-mounted diesel
16 engine 19 provides hydraulic power for driving the tracks 14. The tracks 14
can be
17 driven by one or more drives comprising hydraulic motors 21 and a
drivetrain (such
18 as gearboxes 22, chain and sprocket arrangements 23) which can be fit to
the
19 substructure 12 for driving the tracks 14. The diesel engine 19 also
provides
hydraulics generally for the rig 10 overall.
21 Drilling and coring operations utilize pipe 30 which, for most
22 operations, can be racked on the rig deck 11. Best seen in Figs. 1, 8 and
9, a pipe
23 racking system 32 enables pipe 30 to be loaded and unloaded at horizontal
racks 33
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1 supported on the rig deck 11. The rig 10 includes a driver's cab 34 and a
doghouse
2 35 housing coring/drilling controls.
3 With reference to Figs 5A-5C, a hydraulic top drive 42 is guided in a
4 dolly 43 up and down the derrick 40 for rotating pipe 30. Conventional
equipment is
provided, such as hydraulic lines and mud hoses 44 are not detailed. Further,
other
6 conventional equipment includes pipe handling such as iron roughneck and
power
7 tongs, hydraulic bails and elevators, power slips and automated tripping.
8 With reference also to Fig. 2, the top drive 42 is actuated up and down
9 the derrick 40 using one or more actuators, such as a pair of hydraulic rams
45.
Each ram 45 comprises a cylinder 46 secured to the deck 11 at a lower end and
11 stabilized laterally in the derrick at an upper end, at about one half the
height of the
12 derrick. Each ram 45 further comprises a rod 47 for extension from each
cylinder 46
13 and operable from about one half the height of the derrick to the top 48 of
the
14 derrick. Full range of motion of the top drive 42 from rig deck 11 to the
top 48 of the
derrick is accomplished with a cable (not shown), one end of which is fixed
such as
16 to the deck 11, extends over a sheave 49 fit to each rod 47, and the other
end being
17 secured to the top drive dolly 43. When the rod is fully retracted to the
cylinder 46,
18 the top drive is at the deck 11. As the rod 47 is extended, the cable
passes over the
19 sheave, doubling the displacement of the top drive 42 relative to the rod
47. The
top drive travels twice the lineal travel of the rod. Accordingly, extension
of rod of'/2
21 of the derrick, moves the top drive 42 from the deck 11 to the top 48 of
the derrick.
22 Lifting loads from the top drive 42 are directed to the rig deck 11 through
the rams
23 45 and avoid imposing vertical loads on the derrick 40, eliminating crown
loads and
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1 enabling a lightweight derrick design. The derrick 40 is fit with a hinge 44
(Fig. 1)
2 adjacent a deck end for pivoting from an upright, substantially vertical,
operational
3 position to a substantially horizontal and low shipping or transport
position.
4 Depending on the form of transport, the entire rig 10 including derrick 40
can be
transported between sites at or below road height restrictions for road
transport.
6 With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, typically a drilling derrick 40 is oriented
7 vertically or otherwise oriented for particular operations. The derrick 40
is supported
8 by the rig deck 11, the rig deck is supported on the substructure 12 and the
9 substructure is supported by the substructure's ground components M. Due to
uncertain wetland conditions, the orientation of the substructure 12 is less
likely to
11 be optimal for the derrick orientation. Accordingly, an articulation
interface 15 is
12 employed between the rig deck 11 and substructure 12 for orienting the rig
deck 11,
13 typically oriented to the horizontal for orienting the derrick 40
vertically thereon.
14 Accordingly, articulation interface, or leveling system, operative between
the deck
and the ground components M enables the unit to be operated on zero-ground
16 disturbance locations including off-level footing.
17 As shown in Figs. 6 - 9, the deck 11, whether it is for the rig 10 or mud
18 unit 100, is articulated upon the articulation interface 15, and actuable
to level the
19 deck 11, regardless of an uneven orientation of the substructure and ground
components (pontoons 13 and tracks 14 shown). Typically, the deck 11 is
21 supported above the substructure 12 upon a three or a four point
connection. As
22 shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the deck 11 can be pivoted on a three-point
articulation
23 interface 15, two points forward and one point rearward wherein one forward
point
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1 and one rearward point are elevation adjustable. At least two jacks are
required;
2 one for side-to-side and one for front-to-back adjustment. Three jacks 50
are
3 illustrated for connection to front pivots 51 and rear pivot 52. Two front
jacks 50f,50f
4 are located at two laterally spaced front pivots 51 d,51 d and 51 s,51 s, at
each of the
deck 11 and substructure 12 respectively, towards the front of the rig 10. One
6 substantial rear jack 50r and rear pivot 52d,52s, at each of the deck 11 and
7 substructure 12 respectively, is located towards the rear of the deck 11.
The front
8 pivots 51,51 are spaced forward of the rear pivot 52. The two front jacks
50f,50f
9 actuate at least side to side leveling and can participate in some front to
rear
adjustment. The rear jack 50r and the one or more front jacks 50f,50f can
actuate
11 front-to-back leveling. The rear and front pivots 51,52 are distributed
under the deck
12 11 for load distribution to the substructure 12.
13 A four point articulation interface comprises four points of connection,
14 two points forward and two points rearward, and at least forward point and
one
rearward point being elevation adjustable.
16 With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, a pair of lateral stabilizing bars 54 are
17 provided, one forward and one rearward, extending between the deck 11 and
the
18 substructure 12, to ensure the deck 11 stays aligned and stabilized side-to-
side over
19 the substructure 12. Similarly, at least one longitudinal bar 55 is
provided to ensure
the deck 11 stays aligned front-to-back over the substructure 12. The bars are
21 articulated at each connection, one end to the deck and another end at the
22 substructure. The bars are provided in embodiments in which the jacks 50
are
23 highly articulated and additional stabilization is desired.
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1 In embodiments having a pair of parallel, spaced tracked pontoons 13,
2 the pivots 51,52 and jacks 50f,50f,50r are fit between the tracked pontoons
13. The
3 jacks 50 can be articulated actuators such as hydraulic rams.
4 With reference to Figs. 10 and 11, an embodiment of the pipe racking
system 32 includes a pipe rack 33, which can include a pipe handler 60 and one
or
6 more tiers 63 for storing pipe 30, and multi-tiers 63 (five tiers
illustrated in Fig. 2, with
7 multi-tiers obscured by pipe 30). One exemplary, lowermost, tier 63 is shown
in Fig.
8 10. The pipe handler 60 can be automated for loading and unloading pipe 30
from
9 each tier 63. The pipe handler 60 is actuated to both elevate, to access
tiers 63, and
tip for loading and unloading pipe 30 to and from the selected tier of the
racks 63.
11 The pipe handler comprises a trough 67 and a conveyor 66 positioned under
the
12 trough 67 for directing pipe 30 therealong.
13 A conveyor 66 and pipe trough 67 is supported on height adjustable
14 trough supports 68 (one shown). Each trough support 68 is adjustable to
position
the trough 67 at each tier 60. Best seen in Fig. 11, each support 68 can be a
tubular
16 support 69 movably and axially actuable through a sleeve 70. The trough
supports
17 68 can be actuated using one or more hydraulic rams. The trough 67 is
pivotable
18 left and right for receiving and unloading pipe 30. The trough 67 has a
live bottom
19 trough for assisting with tripping pipe 30. When a pipe 30 is lowered by
the top drive
42, the conveyor 66 is actuated to direct a pipe end away from the derrick 40
and to
21 lie the pipe 30 down in the pipe handler trough 67 for subsequent tipping
and racking
22 in a tier 63.
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1 With reference to Figs. 12 and 15 respectively, the rig 10 of Fig. 1 is
2 typically accompanied by the mud unit 100 (Fig. 12) for drilling operations
and can
3 further include an auxiliary unit 200 (Fig. 15). Similarly, the mud unit
100, and even
4 the auxiliary unit 200, can also be articulated for leveling purposes.
With reference to Figs. 12-14, an embodiment of the mud unit 100 also
6 comprises a working deck 11 for support on a substructure 12 (typically
7 interchangeable with the substructure of the rig 10. The working deck 11
typically
8 supports a mud pump, mud tank, mix hopper, shaker, degasser and auxiliary
9 equipment including hydraulic power pack and air compressor. As shown in
Fig. 14,
an articulation interface 15 can be similarly provided as described for the
rig 10
11 including rear pivot 52 and front pivots 51,51.
12 Suitable equipment and capacities possible include 1.7M3 Gardner
13 Denver pump at 1000 psi, Mission 5 by 6 centrifugal pumps for precharge,
mixing
14 and mud roll, a Derrick 313M shaker, and a 20m3 tank according to Alberta
Energy
Utility Board (EUB) regulations. Sensors monitor tank level, pumps and alarms.
16 The substructure can be convertible so that the pontoons and tracks
17 can be swapped out for a substructure supporting large footprint tires and
suitable
18 drives (not shown).
19 As shown in Fig. 11, an embodiment of the rig 10 and mud unit 100 are
setup on location for conducting operations. The units are ideal for shallow
core
21 drilling in the order of 300m and support services and scaled-up rigs are
22 contemplated to core drill to depths of 700m.
CA 02633961 2008-05-28
1 The rig 10 has a low ground impact and is suitable for environmentally
2 sensitive areas. Applicant believes that the rig footprint is about'/2 of
the footprint of
3 other similar coring rigs. One embodiment of the rig is 38 feet by 44 feet.
4 Accordingly, the rig has a small location size requirement and can fit on
smaller
resource leases while still meeting other drilling regulations. Despite units
weighing
6 in the order of 110,000 pounds, the ground pressure is about 2 to 4 psi and
will not
7 compact muskeg. Further, using other arrangements of rig 10 and mud units
100,
8 such as those being arranged end to end, coring can be performed off lease,
on
9 access roadways or on lease roads. As shown, with a derrick 40 fit with a
pair of 6"
rams 45, the rig can implement a Range II derrick capable performance of
50,000
11 pound pull and a 20,000 pound push and typical coring depths of 300m or so
for oil
12 sands deposits in Northern Alberta, Canada. Other capacities including
Range III
13 are contemplated. Auxiliary capability includes 12,000 pound working winch
and a
14 3,500 core winch.
Having reference to Figs. 13 and 14, an embodiment of an auxiliary
16 unit 200 comprises an amphibious drive base with a deck 11 having water and
17 vacuum capability with a picker for a variety of lifting duties. One such
auxiliary unit
18 can transport pipe, cores and equipment and store 15m3 of water and a 15m3
19 vacuum tank 201.
A suitable vacuum tank 201 is a Rebel 15m3 tank meeting TC-412 tank
21 specifications and fit with a Hibon VTB820 blower. The water tank can be
fit with a
22 Bowie pump. Further, the auxiliary unit can be fit with a steam system for
cleaning
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1 duties such as rig-cleaning. A suitable crane or picker 202 could include a
Hiab
2 166B-3CL Knuckle-boom picker.
3 The rig 10, mud unit 100 and auxiliary unit 200 can be transported by
4 road on low-boy trailers and then self-powered on their drive bases to the
coring/drilling location, including amphibious and muskeg locations. It is
also
6 contemplated that the decks of the units are separable from the drive bases
for
7 separate shipping by truck and trailers.
12
