ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLING AND RACKING DRILL PIPE IN A DERRICK

摘要

For handling and racking drill pipe in a derrick (1), a storage rack (4) for vertical storage of the stands of pipe in the derrick is proposed. The rack (4) comprises a storage platform (20) and one or more finger boards (21, 22) spaced apart a distance above the storage platform (20). Racking equipment (6, 7) is also placed in the derrick for transporting the stands of pipe between the line of drilling (2) and the rack (4). The rack has a fixed access opening (31, 32) at a fixed location in the derrick, and the fingers and intermediate grooves for receiving the stands of pipe on the finger boards (21, 22) are movable to and from a position in which one groove is in alignment with the fixed access opening to the rack. The racking equipment (6, 7) can thus be given distinct and defined movements. In a preferred embodiment, the rack (4) is a carousel, with the finger boards (20, 21, 22) mounted on a rotatable, vertical, central column (17) within the derrick. Fixed annular arms (28, 29) hold around the bundle of pipe racked in the carousel and there is a gap at the perimeter (31, 32) of the respective rings that forms the access opening to the rack.