US3825076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pile mounted drilling rig and method
Assignee: Brown and Root Inc
•
Filing: 1973-02-09
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body includes an elongate derrick operable to support drilling equipment and a deck fixed to the derrick at one end thereof. An elongate open ended sleeve for telescopingly receiving a pile is suspended from the deck. An apertured rig support, fixed to and generally aligned with the sleeve, is engageable with a pile received by the sleeve and provides freestanding support of the rig on the pile. A conduit communicates with the interior of the pile and projects through a sleeve aperture. The conduit provides an outlet for drilling fluid and impedes turning of the rig on the pile. A method for drilling in piles of an offshore structure entails supporting the rig in a freestanding manner on one pile, drilling a borehole at the pile base, and lifting the rig from the pile with lifting cables arranged in a sling arrangement. Thereafter the rig is supported on another pile and a borehole is drilled at the base thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 A Kolb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/12; E21B7/122; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02D; E02D17/00; E02D7/00; E21B15/00; E21B15/02; E21B7/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means generally in alignment with said derrick means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means generally in alignment with said derrick means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rig according to claim 1 wherein: said sleeve means includes annular stabilizing means supported internally of said sleeve means for stabilizing said rig on a pile received by said sleeve means against substantial lateral movement with respect to the pile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rig according to claim 1 wherein said apertured rig support means is located adjacent said deck means, and said sleeve mounting means comprises: brace means operable to transmit force to said deck means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A rig according to claim 3 wherein: said apertured rig support means is gusseted to said sleeve means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
163 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile; said sleeve means including a wall defining an aperture, the rig further including: conduit means communicable with the interior of a pile received by said sleeve means and projecting through said aperture defined by said sleeve means wall, said conduit means providing an outlet for drilling fluid and constituting torque resistant means for impending turning of said rig on a pile received by said sleeve means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile; said sleeve means including a wall defining an aperture, the rig further including: conduit means communicable with the interior of a pile received by said sleeve means and projecting through said aperture defined by said sleeve means wall, said conduit means providing an outlet for drilling fluid and constituting torque resistant means for impending turning of said rig on a pile received by said sleeve means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rig according to claim 5 wherein: said sleeve means includes annular stabilizing means supported internally of said sleeve means for stabilizing said rig on a pile received by said sleeve means against substantial lateral movement with respect to the pile.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile; said derrick means including means adjacent opposite ends thereof for receiving rig lifting cables in a sling arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, sleeve means for telescopingly receiving a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said deck means; and apertured rig support means, fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, for engaging a pile received by said sleeve means and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile; said derrick means including means adjacent opposite ends thereof for receiving rig lifting cables in a sling arrangement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: sUspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, with the sleeve means generally in alignment with the derrick means, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, and supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: sUspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, with the sleeve means generally in alignment with the derrick means, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, and supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement according to claim 8 including the step of: stabilizing the rig against substantial lateral movement with respect to the pile by annular shims supported internally of the sleeve means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, and impending turning of the rig on the pile with conduit means communicable with the interior of the pile and projecting through an aperture in the sleeve means, the conduit means also establishing an outlet for drilling fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, and impending turning of the rig on the pile with conduit means communicable with the interior of the pile and projecting through an aperture in the sleeve means, the conduit means also establishing an outlet for drilling fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement according to claim 10 including the step of: stabilizing the rig against substantial lateral movement with respect to the pile by annular shims supported internally of the sleeve means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, and including: supporting the rig, in a generally upright posture, by a cable sling comprised of rig lifting calbes extending between locations adjacent opposite ends of the derrick means, and lowering the slong supported rig, including the sleeve means, over the pile until the rig support means engages the pile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of the water body, the method utilizing a rig including a deck mounted, elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended sleeve means from the deck on which the derrick means is mounted, telescoping the sleeve means over the pile, supporting the rig on the pile received by the sleeve means in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with apertured rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with said sleeve means, and including: supporting the rig, in a generally upright posture, by a cable sling comprised of rig lifting calbes extending between locations adjacent opposite ends of the derrick means, and lowering the slong supported rig, including the sleeve means, over the pile until the rig support means engages the pile.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting generally upwardly from a submerged surface, the method utilizing a drilling rig including a derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection and the pile together; and supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, in a free standing manner, by engaging the pile with rig support means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting generally upwardly from a submerged surface, the method utilizing a drilling rig including a derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open ended tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection and the pile together; and supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, in a free standing manner, by engaging the pile with rig support means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: floating vessel means supporting power supply means, and a drilling rig including: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means powered by said power supply means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, tubular projection means for telescoping together with a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said rig; and rig support means, generally aligned with said tubular projection means, for engaging a pile and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile isolated from any wave action on said floating vessel means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface to a location above the surface of a water body, comprising: floating vessel means supporting power supply means, and a drilling rig including: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means powered by said power supply means; deck means fixed to said derrick means at one end thereof; elongate, open ended, tubular projection means for telescoping together with a pile; sleeve mounting means for suspending said sleeve means from said rig; and rig support means, generally aligned with said tubular projection means, for engaging a pile and providing freestanding support of said rig on the pile isolated from any wave action on said floating vessel means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a method of drilling in piles of an offshore structure, which piles project generally upwardly from a submerged surfaCe, the method utilizing a drilling rig including a derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection and one of the piles together; supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, in a free standing manner, by engaging the pile with rig support means; drilling a borehole at the base of the pile; lifting the rig from the pile; telescoping the tubular projection and another of the piles together; supporting the rig on the another pile, in a free standing manner, by engaging the another pile with the rig support means; and drilling a borehole at the base of the another pile.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a method of drilling in piles of an offshore structure, which piles project generally upwardly from a submerged surfaCe, the method utilizing a drilling rig including a derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending an open tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection and one of the piles together; supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, in a free standing manner, by engaging the pile with rig support means; drilling a borehole at the base of the pile; lifting the rig from the pile; telescoping the tubular projection and another of the piles together; supporting the rig on the another pile, in a free standing manner, by engaging the another pile with the rig support means; and drilling a borehole at the base of the another pile.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; a tubular projection operable to be telescoped together with the pile; means for suspending the tubular projection from the rig; and rig support means engageable with the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, for supporting the rig on the pile in a freestanding manner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rig for drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface, comprising: elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means; a tubular projection operable to be telescoped together with the pile; means for suspending the tubular projection from the rig; and rig support means engageable with the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection, for supporting the rig on the pile in a freestanding manner.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
A rig according to claim 16 including: conduit means communicable with the interior of a pile telescoped together with said tubular projection, said conduit means providing a passage for drilling fluid and constituting torque resistant means for impeding turning of the rig on a pile telescoped together with said tubular projection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rig according to claim 16 including: means adjacent opposite ends of said derrick means for receiving rig lifting cables in a sling arrangement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface, the method utilizing a rig including elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending a tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection together with the pile; and supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with the tubular projection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a method of drilling in a pile projecting from a submerged surface, the method utilizing a rig including elongate derrick means operable to support drilling means, the improvement comprising: suspending a tubular projection from the rig; telescoping the tubular projection together with the pile; and supporting the rig on the pile telescoped together with the tubular projection in a freestanding manner by engaging the pile with rig support means fixed to and generally aligned with the tubular projection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement according to claim 19 including the step of: impending turning of the rig on the pile with conduit means communicable with the interior of the pile, the conduit means also establishing a passage for drilling fluid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement according to claim 19 wherein the step of telescoping comprises: supporting the rig by a cable sling comprised of rig lifting cables extending between locations adjacent opposite ends of the derrick means, and lowering the sling supported rig, including the tubular projection, until the rig support means engages the pile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |