Patent ID: 6976540
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for handling tubular body sections at a drilling site comprising: a drill platform having a derrick extending upwards therefrom, the drill platform and derrick defining a drill area; a first hoist connected to an upper part of the derrick for passing a tubular body through a drilling opening defined in the drill platform; at least one storage area being arranged within the drill area for storing a plurality of tubular lengths, each of the tubular lengths comprising at least two releasably interconnected tubular body sections; at least one preparation opening extending through the drill platform at a location spaced from the drilling opening and from the at least one storage area; a torquing tool for rotatably interconnecting tubular bodies at the at least one preparation opening to form tubular lengths: a first pipehandling device for transporting tubular bodies and tubular lengths from outside the drill area to the at least one preparation opening and a tubular exchange point; and a second pipehandling device for transporting tubular lengths between the at least one storage area, the tubular exchange point, and the first hoist; where the first and second pipehandling devices are disposed to allow the direct exchange of tubular lengths therebetween at the tubular exchange point.