Patent Abstract:
A spreader beam includes a first spreader beam section, where the first spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the first substructure and a second spreader beam section, where the second spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the second substructure. The first and second spreader beam sections are positioned to, in an extended position, selectively couple to each other.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 61/763,790, filed Feb. 12, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to support structures, and particularly to rig support structures for use in oil drilling rigs 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Box-on-box style land-based drilling rigs are made up of multiple stacked girder-framed box substructure. Swing-up or self-elevating style land-based drilling rigs are made up of a top, girder-frame box coupled, by pivoting elevator legs, to a bottom, girder-frame box substructure. Typically, hardware known as spreader beams may be used to, for example keep parallel box substructures in relative alignment along, for example, each side of a wellbore or well-center. Conventional spreader beams are pinned in place, and either require complete removal or allow only horizontal rotation. Land-based drilling rigs may be skidded from location to location to drill multiple wells within the same well site. In certain situations, it is necessary to skid the drilling rig across an already drilled well for which there is a well-head in place. In these situations, the spreader beams must be removed completely to allow the rig to traverse any such obstructions. Once the rig has been skidded, the spreader beams may be replaced. Spreader beams may be located near the ground, in some cases within three feet of ground level. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A spreader beam for coupling between a first and a second parallel substructure is disclosed. The spreader beam includes a first spreader beam section, where the first spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the first substructure, and a second spreader beam section, where the second spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the second substructure. The first and second spreader beam sections are positioned to, in an extended position, selectively couple to each other. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure also provides for a method. The method may include positioning a drilling rig at a first position in a wellsite. The drilling rig may include a first and a second parallel substructure; a spreader beam positioned to couple between the first and second parallel substructures. The spreader beam may include: a first spreader beam section, the first spreader beam section pivotably coupled to the first substructure; a second spreader beam section, the second spreader beam section pivotably coupled to the second substructure; the first and second spreader beam sections positioned to, in an extended position, selectively couple to each other. The method may further include decoupling the first and second spreader beam sections; pivoting the first and second spreader beam sections to a retracted position; moving the drilling rig to a second position. 
         [0006]    The present disclosure also provides for a spreader beam for coupling between a first and a second parallel substructure of a drilling rig. The spreader beam may include a first spreader beam section. The first spreader beam section may be pivotably coupled to the first substructure. The first spreader beam section may be pivotable in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. The first spreader beam section may include a first spreader beam subsection and a second spreader beam subsection, the first and second spreader beam sections being slidingly coupled such that by extending the second spreader beam subsection past the first spreader beam subsection, the length of the spreader beam section is increased. The spreader beam may also include a second spreader beam section. The second spreader beam section may be pivotably coupled to the second substructure, the second spreader beam section may be pivotable in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. The first and second spreader beam sections may be positioned to, in an extended position, selectively couple to each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1   a  is an end view of a section of a box-on-box drilling rig consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1   b  is a plan view a section of a box-on-box drilling rig consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1   a  depicts box-on-box rig  20 . Box-on-box rig  20  may include two parallel substructures  10 . Substructures  10  may be maintained a selected distance from each other by means of one or more spreader beams  30 . In one embodiment, spreader beam  30  includes spreader beam sections  1 . Each spreader beam section  1  is attached to a corresponding substructure  10  at a corresponding spreader beam joint  4 . In normal operation, spreader beam sections  1  may be joined by center spreader beam coupler  50 . 
         [0012]    During a skidding operation, box-on-box rig  20  may need to traverse an obstruction, such as a wellhead, which is straddled by substructures  10  as box-on-box rig  20  skids thereover. When skidding past an obstruction taller than the distance between ground level and spreader beams  30 , spreader beams  30  may interfere with the obstruction and prevent box-on-box rig  20  from traversing the obstruction. In some embodiments, spreader beam sections  1  may be decoupled at spreader beam coupler  50 . In some embodiments, each spreader beam section  1  may be pivotably coupled to a corresponding substructure  10 , thus allowing spreader beam section  1  to pivot out of the way once decoupled at spreader beam coupler  50 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , spreader beam sections  1  may pivot upward and downward at spreader beam joints  4 . In some embodiments, spreader beam sections  1  may instead be positioned to pivot horizontally about spreader beam joints  4 . In some embodiments, spreader beam joints  4  may be universal joints which may be used to allow spreader beam sections  1  to pivot both upward and downward, as well as horizontally. Once spreader beam sections  1  are decoupled and temporarily pivoted out of the way, box-on-box rig  20  may continue to skid over the obstruction. Once the obstruction is cleared, spreader beam sections  1  may be recoupled spreader beam coupler  50 . In some embodiments, a locking mechanism may be included on one or more of substructure  10  or spreader beam section  1 , allowing spreader beam sections  1  to be retained against substructure  10  to, for example, prevent them from freely moving during the skidding operation or during transportation. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each spreader beam section  1  may include two or more sections positioned to, for example, telescope and increase the length of spreader beam section  1 . By reducing in length, spreader beams  1  may, for example in a situation in which the distance between substructures  10  is greater than one half the distance between spreader beam  30  and ground level, allow spreader beams  1  to be secured to substructures  10  in the downward position without, for example, dragging on the ground as box-on-box rig  20  is skidded. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, such as that depicted in  FIG. 1   b , spreader beam  30  may be reinforced by one or more k-braces  40 . K-braces  40  may provide support to spreader beams  30  and, for example, increase the rigidity of substructures  10 . When skidding past an obstruction greater than the distance between ground level and K-braces  40  and spreader beams  30 , K-beams  40  may be configured to be removed by, for example, unbolting or unpinning. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, K-braces  40  may be pivotably coupled to substructures  10  by K-brace joints  2 . In some embodiments, K-brace joints  2  may allow for the pivoting of K-braces in a horizontal axis or a vertical axis. In some embodiments, K-brace joints  2  may be adapted to allow for the pivoting of K-braces  40  in both horizontal and vertical directions. In some embodiments, K-braces  40  may be coupled to spreader beam segments  1 . In some embodiments, K-braces  40  may be positioned to pivot upward or downward as spreader beam segments  1  pivot upward or downward. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism may be included on one or more of substructure  10  or K-braces  40 , allowing K-braces  40  to be retained against substructure  10  to, for example, prevent them from freely moving during the skidding operation. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, spreader beams  30  and/or K-braces  40  may be located within 5 feet of the ground level. In some embodiments, spreader beams  30  and/or K-braces  40  may be located at least 6 feet above ground level. In other embodiments, K-braces  40  and/or spreader beams  30  may be located between about 5-8 feet above ground level. In some embodiments, K-braces  40  and/or spreader beams  30  may be located about 7 feet above ground level. By locating K-braces  40  and spreader beams  30  higher above ground level, obstructions such as well-heads may be skidded over without removal or reconfiguration of spreader beams  30  and K-braces  40 . 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, K-braces  40  may be at an angle of between about 20° and 75° to spreader beams  30 . In some embodiments, K-braces  40  may be at an angle of between about 30° and 60° to spreader beams  30 . In some embodiments, K-braces  40  may be at an angle about 45° to spreader beams  30 . 
         [0017]    The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Such features may be replaced by any one of numerous equivalent alternatives, only some of which are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4