Abstract:
A stable vertical lift structure that raises pre-assembled equipment with flexibility in the positioning in relation to the well head location. The invention includes pre-assembled drilling and well-head equipment, such as a blow-out preventer and a stripper assembly supported by a vertical support structure, all of which is transported to the drilling site on a trailer assembly. The pivot point for the pre-assembled equipment is placed on a rail transport mounted on the trailer assembly, and the pivot point is laterally pushed to a locking point on the rail assembly before the pre-assembled equipment is vertically raised to its vertical alignment near the well head. After being raised to its vertical alignment position, the pre-assembled equipment can be placed over the well head at the drilling site. By positioning the pre-assembled equipment using the rail transport, there is flexibility in positioning the trailer relative to the well head and the vertical alignment operation can be conducted with stability.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is related to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/998,775 filed on Oct. 15, 2007, and priority is claimed for this earlier filing under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The Provisional Patent Application is also incorporated by reference into this utility patent application. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A pivoted rail-based assembly and transport system of well-head equipment in the field of oil and gas exploration and drilling. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many present-day oil and gas exploration assemblies include equipment that is transported to the well head or drilling site. This equipment can include a blowout preventer, lubricator pipe, stripper assembly, and/or an injector head. A blowout preventer is sometimes called a “Christmas Tree,” and an injector head is sometimes called a “Crow&#39;s Nest.” Other equipment and derrick assemblies may also be assembled at the well head or drilling site, but the assembly process is usually conducted by having each piece of equipment lifted over other equipment by a crane prior to making the proper connections and attachments. This assembly process is very time consuming and labor intensive. 
     Single pivot oil derrick assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,003,598; 5,842,530; 4,290,495; 3,942,593; 3,136,394; 2,993,570, 2,829,741, 2,617,500 and 2,300,763. These assemblies erect the derrick structure to a vertical position using a single pivot point transport system. Single pivot transport assemblies require that the pivot point be extended to an end of the transport bed trailer, which increases the instability of the assembly apparatus during vertical alignment of the derrick assembly. These single pivot transport assemblies also reduce the ability to vertically aligned pre-assembled equipment, which must be assembled separately before or after the derrick assembly is raised to its vertical position. The pivot point being aligned with the end of the bed trailer also reduces the flexibility of the assembly structure by requiring that the end of the trailer be aligned with the well head at the drilling site. There is a need for a more stable vertical lift structure that raises pre-assembled equipment with increased flexibility in the positioning in relation to the well head location. 
     Some equipment assemblies are transported to the well head or drilling site on a flat-bed trailer, and vertically aligned using one or more hydraulic lift pistons or other lift devices. Such an assembly is shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2008/00669968 for slant drilling, US 2007/0209791, US 2007/0125551, US 2006/0260844 (platform raised), and US 2003/0098150, as well as the assemblies shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,357,616; 7,308,953; 7,306,055; 7,191,839; 7,111,689; 6,973,979; and 6,860,337. 
     These lift assemblies, however, often use the end of the trailer assembly as the pivot point for vertically raising the equipment, which increases the instability of the system during the vertical alignment process. Further, these lift assemblies often use a single pivot point for the vertical alignment process, which does not allow for increased flexibility for the positioning relative to the well head at the drilling site. Moreover, the lift assemblies do not appear to vertically align pre-assembled blowout preventers with other heavy equipment, which is quite difficult to vertically align based on the significant weight and elevated centers of gravity. There is a need for a more stable vertical lift structure that raises pre-assembled equipment with increased flexibility in the positioning in relation to the well head location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a more stable vertical lift structure that raises pre-assembled equipment with increased flexibility in the positioning in relation to the well head location. The invention includes pre-assembled drilling and well-head equipment, such as a blow-out preventer, a lubricator and a stripper, supported by a vertical support structure, all of which is transported to the drilling site on a trailer assembly. The pivot point for the pre-assembled equipment is placed on a rail transport mounted on the trailer assembly, and the pivot point is laterally pushed to a locking point on the rail assembly before the pre-assembled equipment is vertically raised to its vertical alignment near the well head. 
     After being raised to its vertical alignment position, the pre-assembled equipment can be placed over the well head at the drilling site, which reduces the time needed for assembly of the equipment. Further, by positioning the pre-assembled equipment using the rail transport, there is greater flexibility in positioning the trailer relative to the well head and the vertical alignment operation can be conducted with increased stability compared to known oil and gas exploration transport assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and features of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is side view of the trailer; 
         FIG. 2  is more detailed side view of the trailer; 
         FIG. 3  is the back view of the support structure; 
         FIG. 4  is the top view of the pre-assembled equipment and the support structure; 
         FIG. 5  is the top view of the rail assembly on the trailer bed; and, 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are a side view and front view, respectively, of the transfer cart positioned in the rail assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows the crane trailer  100  having the pre-assembled equipment  125  loaded thereon, where the pre-assembled equipment  125  includes a blowout preventer  150  and stripper assembly  170  attached to a support frame  160 . The crane trailer  100  has a hitch  127  for attachment to a tractor truck (not shown), a trailer bed  130  that runs the length of the trailer, and sets of wheels  135  at the end of the trailer for transport between drilling sites. Outriggers  140  are placed on the exterior quadrants of the crane trailer  100 , and these outriggers are extended and placed in a secured contact with the ground when the pre-assembled equipment is moved on the crane trailer  100  to provide stability during the positioning operations. A crane (not shown) is used to assist the horizontal movement of the transfer cart  180  along the rail assembly  175  or the vertical movement of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160 . 
     The blowout preventer  150  (or Christmas Tree) can include blowout preventer valves  150 A, a flow cross valve  150 B, and a combo blowout preventer  150 C for placement directly over the wellhead assembly at the drilling site. The test flange  150 D is provided as part of the upper platform of the cart  180  so the blowout preventer assembly  150  can be pressure tested in the vertical or horizontal position prior to requiring actual installation on the well-head. This is a unique time saving aspect of the invention. A stripper assembly  170  or an injector head (not shown) can be attached to the end of the pre-assembled equipment  125 . Put another way, a crows-nest box assembly called an “injector head” can be positioned and fastened to the top multistage pipes and a gooseneck (not shown) can also be positioned into the top of injector head  170 . The present invention is described based on the insertion of coiled tubing or wire lines into a well head for a downhole application in an oil or gas well, but other equipment and elongated work-pieces are contemplated to be covered by the present invention. 
     The support frame  160  is attached to one or more pieces of the pre-assembled equipment  125  to provide support during the transition and positioning process. The support frame  160  also possesses an attachment pin hole  161  for positioning of a hydraulic cylinder and piston (not shown). As will be shown more clearly in a later figure, the support frame  160  is composed of a frame having longitudinal members  181 , cross members  182 , and cross brackets  183  to provide support against collapse when forces are applied to the support frame  160  during horizontal and vertical movement. Brackets and other support frames may be located on the trailer bed  130  to support the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  during transport. 
     The crane trailer  100  has a rail assembly  175  longitudinally positioned along a bed portion  130 A of the trailer bed  130 . The rail assembly  175  is composed of two parallel rails  176  and  177  measuring approximately 8 to 20 feet, and allowing wheels  195  (not shown) on the lower platform  194  of the transfer cart  180  to roll longitudinally along a portion of the trailer bed  130 . The length of the rails  176  and  177  could be shorter, as low as 4 to 5 feet, or as long as 30 to 35 feet depending on length of the trailer and the individual needs of the user. Opposing wheels  195  on either side of cart  180  and the rails  177  and  176  are positioned approximately 20 to 45 inches away from each other. The positioning and width may also be adjusted depending on the user&#39;s needs or the weight placed on the transfer cart  180 . The transfer cart  180  or the support frame  160  can be moved laterally or vertically by a crane wench. These items may also be moved by a hydraulic piston positioned on the trailer bed  130 . The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 , which is pivotally mounted by a pivot eye joint  193  to the lower platform  194  of the trailer cart  180 . 
     The transfer cart  180  will be described in more detail in a later figure, but drop pin placement holders  190  on the transfer cart  180  allow the transfer cart  180  to be securely fastened to pin placements  190 A on the rails  176  and  177  of the transfer cart  180  at longitudinal positions A, B and C. Position A is the secured position for the transfer cart  180  during transport of the crane trailer  100  with the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  positioned in a substantially horizontal or tiled position, Position B is the secured position when the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  is transitioned between the substantially horizontal position to a vertical positioning (or vice versa), and Position C is the secured location where the vertically aligned pre-assembled equipment  125  is moved by a crane (not shown) between the rail assembly  175  on the trailer bed  130  and the wellhead. 
       FIG. 2  shows a portion of the crane trailer  100  with the rail assembly  175  longitudinally positioned along a bed portion  130 A of the trailer bed  130 . The rail assembly  175  is composed of two parallel rails  176  and  177  that allow wheels  195  (not shown) on the lower platform  194  of the transfer cart  180  to roll longitudinally along a portion of the trailer bed  130 . The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 , which is pivotally mounted by a pivot eye joint  193  to the lower platform  194  of the trailer cart  180 . 
     As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 , the transfer cart  180  has drop pin placement holders  190  on the transfer cart  180  allow the transfer cart  180  to be securely fastened to pin placements  190 A on the rails  176  and  177  of the transfer cart  180  at longitudinal positions A, B and C. Position A is the secured position for the transfer cart  180  during transport of the crane trailer  100  with the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  positioned in a substantially horizontal or tiled position, where Position A is situated at one end of the rails  176  and  177 . Position B is the secured position when the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  is transitioned between the substantially horizontal position to a vertical positioning (or vice versa), which is approximately midway down rails  176  and  177 . Position B could be any position on the rail after the cart  180  travels approximately five feet away position A to accommodate the spacing needed for the vertical positioning of the support assembly  160 . Position C is the secured location where the vertically aligned pre-assembled equipment  125  is moved by a crane (not shown) between the rail assembly  175  on the trailer bed  130  and the wellhead, which is approximately 16-19 feet down the rails  176  and  177  on a twenty (20) foot rail length. These pin positions may change or be modified depending on the needs of the system and the situation encountered at the drilling site. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , pre-assembled combination of a blowout preventer (Christmas tree), lubricator pipe and stripper that is transported to a job site horizontally lying on the bed of a flat-bed trailer bed  100 . (e.g. eighteen wheeler trailer). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the blowout preventer  150  (or Christmas Tree) can include blowout preventer valves  150 A, a flow cross valve  150 B, and a combo blowout preventer  150 C for placement directly over the wellhead assembly at the drilling site. The test flange  150 D (not shown) is provided as part of the upper platform of the cart  180  so the blowout preventer assembly  150  can be pressure tested in the vertical or horizontal position prior to requiring actual installation on the well-head. This is a unique time saving aspect of the invention. A stripper assembly  170  or an injector head (not shown) can be attached to the end of the pre-assembled equipment  125 . 
       FIG. 3  also shows the support frame  160  which is attached to one or more pieces of the pre-assembled equipment  125  to provide support during the transition and positioning process. The support frame  160  also possesses an attachment pin hole  161  for positioning of a hydraulic cylinder and piston (not shown). The support frame  160  is composed of a frame having longitudinal members  181 , cross members  182 , and cross brackets  183  to provide support against collapse when forces are applied to the support frame  160  during horizontal and vertical movement. 
       FIG. 4  shows a portion of the crane trailer  100  with an end view of the support frame  160  and the pre-assembled equipment  125 . The support frame  160  is composed of a frame having longitudinal members  181 , cross members  182 , and cross brackets  183  (not shown) to provide support against collapse when forces are applied to the support frame  160  during horizontal and vertical movement. The support frame  160  which is attached to one or more pieces of the pre-assembled equipment  125  to provide support during the transition and positioning process. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the support frame  160  also possesses an attachment pin hole  161  for positioning of a hydraulic cylinder and piston (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 4 , the blowout preventer  150  (or Christmas Tree) can include blowout preventer valves  150 A (not shown), a flow cross valve  150 B, and a combo blowout preventer  150 C for placement directly over the wellhead assembly at the drilling site. The test flange  150 D (not shown) is provided as part of the upper platform of the cart  180  so the blowout preventer assembly  150  can be pressure tested in the vertical or horizontal position prior to requiring actual installation on the well-head. This is a unique time saving aspect of the invention. The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the crane trailer  100  has a rail assembly  175  longitudinally positioned along a bed portion  130 A of the trailer bed  130 . The rail assembly  175  is composed of two parallel rails  176  and  177  that allow wheels  195  on the lower platform  194  of the transfer cart  180  to roll longitudinally along a portion of the trailer bed  130 . The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 , which is pivotally mounted by a pivot eye joint  193  to the lower platform  194  of the trailer cart  180 . For the transfer cart  180 , drop pin placement holders  190  on the transfer cart  180  allow the transfer cart  180  to be securely fastened to pin placements  190 A on the rails  176  and  177  of the transfer cart  180  at longitudinal positions A, B and C. 
     Position A is the secured position for the transfer cart  180  during transport of the crane trailer  100  with the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  positioned in a substantially horizontal or tiled position, Position B is the secured position when the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  is transitioned between the substantially horizontal position to a vertical positioning (or vice versa), and Position C is the secured location where the vertically aligned pre-assembled equipment  125  is moved by a crane (not shown) between the rail assembly  175  on the trailer bed  130  and the wellhead. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the upper platform  191  and the lower platform  194  of the transfer cart  180  to roll longitudinally along a portion of the trailer bed  130 . The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 , which is pivotally mounted by a pivot eye joint  193  to the lower platform  194  of the trailer cart  180 . Preferably, the lower platform  194  is approximately 17 inches long and 24 inches wide, with pivot eye joints being of the type produced by Hub City Industrialine Bearing Units, Type E Tapered Roller Bearing Units, either Model EPB2 or EPB4. For the transfer cart  180 , drop pin placement holders  190  on the transfer cart  180  allow the transfer cart  180  to be securely fastened to pin placements  190 A on the rails  176  and  177  of the transfer cart  180  at various longitudinal positions. Position A is the secured position for the transfer cart  180  during transport of the crane trailer  100  with the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  positioned in a substantially horizontal or tiled position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the crane trailer  100  has a rail assembly  175  longitudinally positioned along a bed portion  130 A of the trailer bed  130 . The rail assembly  175  is composed of two parallel rails  176  and  177  that allow wheels  195  on the lower platform  194  of the transfer cart  180  to roll longitudinally along a portion of the trailer bed  130 . The end of the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  rest in a secured position on the upper platform  191  of the trailer cart  180 , which is pivotally mounted by a pivot eye joint  193  to the lower platform  194  of the trailer cart  180 . The wheels  195  have a flat profile, but guide wheels can be placed on the upper surface of the rails  176  and  177  and these guide wheels can roll along an angled iron track. These guide wheels can help maintain the exact alignment of the cart and frame relative to the railing. 
     For the transfer cart  180 , drop pin placement holders  190  on the transfer cart  180  allow the transfer cart  180  to be securely fastened to pin placements  190 A on the rails  176  and  177  of the transfer cart  180  at longitudinal positions A, B and C. Position A is the secured position for the transfer cart  180  during transport of the crane trailer  100  with the pre-assembled equipment  125  and support frame  160  positioned in a substantially horizontal or tiled position. Pin holes  201  and  202  allow the upper and lower platforms of the transfer cart  180  to be secured when the pre-assembled equipment  125  and the support frame  160  are vertically positioned. 
     The present invention allows the pre-assemble equipment  125  and support  160  to be vertically tilted upward and placed over the well head at the job site for subsequent use to insert coiled tubing, wire lines, or other elongated work pieces into a well head for a downhole application. Once vertically aligned and assembled with the gooseneck and injector head, the assembly is lifted off the trailer bed in its vertical alignment by the crane and set on top of the well head, where it is fastened thereto. The coiled tubing is run through the goose neck, into the injector head, down the pre-assembled stripper, lubricator pipe, and blow-out preventer, and then down into the well-head. The tilt up operation uses a crane assembly and the pivot point on the trailer bed to pull the upper part of the assembly into the air and tilt the pre-assembled devices into a vertical alignment using a pivot point on the trailer. 
     As known in the prior art, combined elements would normally be transported separately to the job site and assembled separately over the well head, which is an all-day job of 8-16 hours. By transporting theses devices in a pre-assembled arrangement and tilting the pre-assembled combination into vertical alignment at the job site, many hours of work time are saved. The assembly time at the job site is substantially reduced, which can result in increased safety, decreased work stoppages, and reduced accidents. 
     The present invention possesses several novel aspects, which include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) transporting the pre-assembled blow-out preventer, lubricator pipe and stripper on flat bed trailer (horizontally aligned) to the job site, (2) the vertical alignment of these pre-assembled elements using a moveable track, pivot assembly on the trailer bed, and one or more hydraulic pistons on the trailer bed (in combination with an overhead crane or by itself), (3) placing the vertically aligned assembly on top of the well-head with the crane, and (4) reversing the process after the job is completed. One could also use non-hydraulic piston assembly, such as a chain hoist or wench. Other minor modifications are within the scope of the invention.