Patent Publication Number: US-6666287-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for enclosing an oil drilling rig

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enclosing an oil drilling rig 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When drill pipe is tripped from an oil well, the exterior of the drill pipe is covered with oil and the interior of the pipe invariably contains drilling fluid. Environmental regulations relating to the operation of drilling rigs are becoming increasingly strict regarding oil contamination. Some geographical areas in which oil drilling takes place are know for their strong prevailing winds. In such locations, the strong winds tend to blow oil from the drilling rig onto the surrounding environment. For the comfort and safety of the rig hands and the protection of the environment, it has become the practise in the industry to cover an area of a drilling rig working with tarps in a geographical area with strong prevailing winds. The tarps are secured in position by ropes. The installation of the tarps is a time consuming process which takes between 10 and 14 hours, as the rig hands must climb the drilling rig in order to tie the tarps into place with ropes. It is also a dangerous procedure, as there is always a danger of the rig hands falling; especially when the prevailing winds are blowing as they try to climb the drilling rig and unfurl tarps. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is required is a quicker and safer method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. A first step involves providing a base and a flexible sheet-form covering having a first edge and second edge. A second step involves securing the base to the oil drilling rig and securing the first edge of the covering around a perimeter of the base. A third step involves securing the second edge of the covering to the drilling rig in spaced relation to the base, thereby maintaining the covering in a substantially taut condition forming a tubular enclosure. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a combination which includes an oil drilling rig and a base secured to the oil drilling rig. A flexible sheet-form covering is provided having a first edge and second edge. The first edge of the covering is secured around a perimeter of the base. The second edge of the covering is secured to the drilling rig in spaced relation to the base. This maintains the covering in a substantially taut condition and forms a tubular enclosure. 
     By following the teachings of the present invention, the drilling rig can rapidly be enclosed in a safe and efficient manner. The base is secured in position, the first edge of the covering is attached to the base, the second edge of the covering is then raised and secured in spaced position to the base to maintain the covering in a taut condition forming the tubular enclosure. 
     Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, it is preferred that the base be circular and the frame be annular. This results in the covering forming a tubular enclosure which is cylindrical. The cylindrical configuration is viewed as being a structure better able to withstand strong prevailing winds. 
     Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, it is preferred that the covering have an access opening. This facilitates ease of ingress and egress by personnel to the area enclosed. 
     Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, it is preferred that the base includes an oil containment basin and that the invention form part of an more comprehensive oil containment and environmental protection system. 
     Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the invention, as described above, it is preferred that the second edge of the covering be secured to a substantially planar peripheral frame. This facilitates the rapid deployment of the covering, as the frame can be suspended by cables from the drilling rig to maintain the covering in a taut condition. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, in section, of a portion of a drilling rig enclosed with an apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the covering secured to the base in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the covering secured to the frame in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the second edge of the covering being raised to form the tubular enclosure in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, installed on an oil drilling rig in accordance with the teachings of the preferred method of enclosing an oil drilling rig. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred method of enclosing an area of an oil drilling rig will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6. 
     Structure and Relationship of Parts: 
     Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated an enclosed area of a drilling rig, generally referenced by numeral  10 , which includes a circular base  12  and a flexible sheet-form covering  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, base  12  is an oil containment basin which is secured to a drilling rig  16  by suspending it by cables  18  at a position approximately 8 feet below a platform  20  of drilling rig  16 . Circular base  12  has a central opening  22  to accommodate a drill pipe  24  that extends vertically through enclosed area  10 . Clamps  26  are used to secure circular base  12  to drill pipe  24 . 
     Flexible sheet-form covering  14  has a first edge  28  and second edge  30 . In the illustrated embodiment flexible sheet-form covering  14  includes a lower portion  32  and an upper portion  34 , although it will be appreciated that flexible sheet-form cover  14  could be of a single portion, or could be include more than two portions. First edge  28  of covering  14  is secured around a perimeter circumference of base  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, second edge  30  of covering  14  is secured around a perimeter circumference of a circular frame  36 . Frame  36  is suspended by cables  38  from platform  20  of drilling rig  16  to maintain frame  36  in spaced relation to base  12  with covering  14  in a substantially taut cylindrical configuration. It will be appreciated that cables  38  could be secured directly to second edge  30  of covering  14  without the use of frame  36  and still maintain covering  14  in a substantially taut cylindrical configuration. 
     Covering  14  also has an access opening  40  in lower portion  32  thereby facilitating ease of ingress and egress by personnel. 
     Operation: 
     The use and operation of covering  14  for enclosing an area  10  of oil drilling rig  16  will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6. Referring to FIG. 2, base  12 , frame  36 , and covering  14  as described above, are provided for enclosing area  10  of oil drilling rig  16 . Lower portion  32  and upper portion  34  of covering  14  are secured together by threading a first cable  42  through eyelets  44  located on lower portion  32  and upper portion  34 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, once secured together to form covering  14 , first edge  28  of covering  14  is secured around a perimeter of base  12 . A second cable  46  can be used to secure first edge  28  around perimeter of base  12  as shown in the illustrated embodiment, although it will be appreciated that other methods such as the use of carabineers can also be employed to secure first edge  28  to base  12 . Referring to FIG. 4, second edge  30  of covering  14  is secured around a perimeter of frame  36  by a third cable  48 , although it will be appreciated that other methods such as the use of carabineers can be used. In the illustrated embodiment, frame  36  has a circumference which is selectively adjustable so that the circumference can be increased or decreased to suit drilling rig  16 . As frame  36  is adjusted, covering  14  can be also be adjusted to accommodate changes in the circumference of frame  36  by arranging folds  50  in upper portion  34  in covering  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, base  12  is then secured to drilling rig  16  by suspending it by cables  18  at a position approximately 8 feet below platform  20  of drilling rig  16 . Base  12  is also secured to pipe  24  by clamps  26 . Referring to FIG. 5, frame  36  is lifted by cables  38  until covering  14  becomes substantially taut. If frame  36  is not used, then second edge  30  of covering  14  is secured to cables  38  and lifted until covering  14  becomes substantially taut. Referring to FIG. 6, cables  38  are then secured to platform to maintain frame  36  in spaced relation to base  12  with covering  14  in a substantially taut condition. If frame  36  is not used, then cables  38  are used to secure second edge  30  of covering  14  in spaced relation to base  12  with covering  14  in a substantially taut condition. In the illustrated embodiment, access opening  40  in covering  14  includes a zipper  52  which can be unzipped to allow personnel to enter and exit. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, once installed, covering  14  forms part of a method of enclosing area  10 . Covering  14  works in conjunction with base  12  to contain oil so as to prevent oil from contaminating area  10  and the environment surrounding drilling rig  16 . Furthermore, covering  14  is able to withstand strong prevailing winds that can otherwise carry oil from area  10  to surrounding environment. 
     In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. 
     It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.