Patent ID: 6068069
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B63B,E21B

Abstract:
A drillship having a bow, a stern and an intermediate moon pool between the bow and stern and being fitted to conduct offshore drilling operations through the moon pool and into the bed of a body of water, said drillship including:a unitary derrick having four sides joined at their edges and having a central opening within the derrick, said unitary derrick being positioned upon the drillship and extending above the moon pool for simultaneously supporting drilling operations for a wellhole and operations auxiliary to drilling operations for the wellhole through the moon pool;a first means within and connected to said unitary derrick for advancing tubular members through the moon pool, to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water;first means, within and connected to said unitary derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the moon pool by said first means for advancing;a second means within and connected to said unitary derrick for advancing tubular members through the moon pool to the seabed and into the bed of the body of water; andsecond means, within and connected to said unitary derrick, for handling tubular members as said tubular members are advanced through the moon pool by said second means for advancing for conducting operations for the wellhole extending to the seabed auxiliary to said drilling operations for the wellhole, wherein said drilling activity can be conducted from said unitary derrick by said first or second means for advancing and said first or second means for handling tubular members and auxiliary drilling activity can be simultaneously conducted from said unitary derrick by the other of said first or second means for advancing and the other of said first or second means for handling tubular members.