US2516739A - Oil well derrick substructure - Google Patents

Description

y 1950 H. J. WOOLSLAYER E.TAL 2,516,739

on. WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1947 Helm-'2 J. Wamaansej Ceca. \/NKINS QWW r y 25, 1950 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL 2,516,739

011. WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE Filed Nov. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-She 2 HOMER J Woonsu; v52, 9

Ceca JENKINS.

their Patented July 25, 950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE on. WELL DERRICK SUBSTRUCTURE Homer J. Woolslayer and Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla, assignors to Lee C. Moore Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application. November 15, 1947, Serial No. 786,172

Claims'. 1. invention relates to oil well derrick substructures, and more particularly to the independent type which does not support a derrick.

When such a substructure is used, the derrick legs do not rest on it but extend down past the substructure to the ground. This allows the substructure to be-remove'd from within the derrick without taking down the derrick. In one form of independent substructure; all loads thereon are carried to corner posts by means of heav fabricated trusses, thereby eliminating most of'theinterior foundations which interfere with operations beneath the substructure. Nevertheless, due to the heavy loading on the substructure and the long spans supported only at the corners of. the substructure, the trusses. must be very heavy and their depth has to be: so. reat that either the. top of the substructure is abnormally high up inthe derrick or: the: trusses interfere with access to the wellhead located in acellar at the center; of the area bounded by the f'eetof the derrick.

It. is among theobjects of this invention to provide a. substructure for. use with a derrick that has-legs resting on the ground,lwhich is relatively low and inexpensive, which is strong enough for the loadsimposed upon it, and yet which does not encroach upon the head room desired beneath the. substructure;

In accordance with this invention an elevated base, supported above the ground by posts, is made only Wide enough to span the cellar that contains the. upper end or head. of awell. As is. customary, the cellar is spaced a considerable distance fromv thederrick. legs and. rest on the. ground around it. The" base. is strong enough to support all loads that may be imposed upon it, including. a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, but yet it is formed from relatively small and light weight beams because they span only short distances. Mounted on top of the base is a horizontal framework which projects from at least one side of the base inorder to form a support fora. floor or working platform having a consider ably greater area than the'top of thebase. The overhanging" portion of; the framework is supported from the base and posts and not directly from the ground; Preferably, the framework projects laterally in all directions from the'base, but overhangs one. side of the base a materially lesserdistance' than the opposite side; so that independently supported drawworks can be placed close to the side of the base". The framework is relatively light and need be supported only by the central base because it' does not carry heavy loads; The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of our substructure located in the bottom of a derrick; and Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken on the lines IIII and III-III, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the lower ends of the four legs i of a derrick are shown mounted on suitable foundations 2' on the ground at substantially equal distancesfrom the upper end of a well 3 that has been drilled by the derrick. The Well head opens into a rectangular cellar" which is dug into the ground and provided with heavy concrete walls 4. The cellar is made no larger than necessary and therefore is spaced a considerable distance from the derrick legs.

It is a feature of this invention that our substructure is-formed from two major parts, including a strong base 6 of minimum size supported above this cellar. This base is formed from a pair oiparallel lintel I-beams 'l extending along opposite sides-of the cellar and projecting a short distance beyond its ends. These side beams are connected by four short cross beams that are substantially no" longer than necessary to extend across the underlying cellar. That is, the width of the base is justgreat enough to insure that it will have good support by the ground or wall around the cellar. Two of the cross beams 8 are near the center of the side beams and are spaced apartthe proper distance for supporting the usual rotary table (not shown) disposed above the well. As shown in. Fig. 3 these cross beams preferably have the same depth: as the side beams. The other two cross beams 9 are located about half way between the center beams and the ends. of the side beams, and. do. not need to. be as deep as the other beams. because they do not carr as heavy a load.

The base is. supported above. the ground by means of four posts I I that engage it at the junction of" end beams 9 and the side beams. Each post isiormed from a short, heavy I-beam, and its upper end is notched, as shown in Fig. 2', to form steps on which the adjoining base beams rest. The base may be steadied by inclined braces l2" (Fig. 3)" extendingfrom the'lower portions of the legs up to the bottomsoithe' side beams.

The base 6 not only is strong enough to carry a rotary table and the casing suspended from it, but also the usual pipe setback (not shown). A support for thepipe setback is formed byl'aying cross members It acrossone end Ofth'e. base on both sides of the two underlying posts. The necessary strength is'obtained by the use-oflF-beams; instead of trusses, because the posts'are located supported by' the base.

the substructure is formed is a floor-supporting framework 15 laid on top of the base and supported solely by it. As shown in Fig. 1, this framework is formed from a plurality of spaced parallel long and short sills I6 extending across the base and connected at their ends to a pair of parallel side members 11 that are approximately as long as the width of the available area within the lower part of the derrick. The sills project from opposite sides of the base to increase the width of the working platform. When side memhers I! are longer than base beams l, the sills that connect the ends of the side members rest on brackets I8 attached to the ends of beams 1. One side member I? of the framework preferably is located the same distance from the well as are the end sills, and is braced by inclined braces !9 (Fig. 2) extending from the lower ends of the adjacent posts I i upward to the outer edge of the overhanging framework. However, it is preferred to locate the other side member considerably closer to the well by not having the sills project so far from that side of base 6. The reason for this is to permit drawworks (not shown to be mounted on an independent support close to the well, thereby making it unnecessary for the framework 1 to be strong enough to support the drawworks.

In order to allow the rotary table to rest on center beams 8, an open space or slot is formed in framework by extending a pair of parallel stringers 2| from one of the end sills inward across the adjacent end beam and the two center beams of the base. To do this it is necessary to divide some of the sills into short lengths extending from the stringers to the side members [7. The stringers are spaced apart the necessary distance and straddle the axis of the well. Their inner ends are located at or close to the innermost cross member I3 forming part of the pipe setback support. The slot is long enough to accommodate the rotary table skids.

By supporting framework 45 entirely from the base and posts, it becomes unnecessary to provide separate supporting members for the framework which, due to irregular or settling foundations, might be difficult or even ineffectual.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a. horizontal framework mounted on said base and entirely supported by it and projecting from at least one side of the base for supporting a floor.

2. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and entirely supported by it and projecting from opposite sides of the base for supporting a floor.

3. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework supported only by said base and projecting laterally in all directions therefrom for supporting a floor of considerably greater area than the top of said base.

4. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevatedbase that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and overhanging opposite sides of it for supporting a floor, said framework overhanging one of said sidesa materially lesser amount than the other side to permit independently supported drawworks to be placed close to said base.

5. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting laterally in all directions therefrom for supporting a floor, said framework projecting substantially uniform distances from the opposite ends of the base and projecting from one side of the base a materially lesser amount than from the other side to permit independently supported drawworks to be placed close ,to said one side of the base.

6. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting laterally in all directions therefrom for supporting a floor, the distances from the center of the base to the two ends and one side of said framework being substantially uniform and materially greater than the distance from said center to the remaining side of the framework.

7. A substructure.- for use with a derrick that has les resting on the ground. at, points around and considerably distant from acellarcontaining the head of a well, the substructure comprising anelevated base that "is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground. the base. being strong enough to support agpipe. setback and a rotary table with its casing load, a horizontal frame'workmounted on said base and projecting from at least one side of it for supporting a floor, and inclined braces connected to the outer edge of said projecting side of the framework and to the lower portions of the adjacent posts for bracing the overhanging portion of the framework.

8. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting from opposite sides of it for supporting a floor, said framework projecting from one of said sides a materially lesser amount than from the other side to accommodate independently supported drawworks close to said base, and inclined braces below said last-mentioned side of the framework extending from its outer portion to the lower portions of the adjacent posts.

.9. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing th head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting laterally in all directions therefrom for supporting a floor, said framework projecting substantially uniform distances from the opposite ends of the base and projecting from one side of the base a materially lesser amount than from the other side to accommodate independently supported drawworks close to said one side of the base, and brackets projecting from the ends of said base for bracing the overlying projecting portions of the framework.

10. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably-distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, cross members mounted on the base at one side of the well to form a pipe setback support, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting from at least one side of it for supporting a floor.

11. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base a-ndprojecting from lat leastwe side of it for supporting a floor, said framework including a series of parallelsi-llsex tending 'crossways of the base with horizontals'ide members connected to their ends 1 .12. A substructure for use-with a-der riek'that has legs resting on the ground at points amine and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head ofa we'll, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, and a horizontal framework mounted on said base and projecting from opposite sides of it for supporting a floor, said framework including a pair of side members parallel to the opposite sides of the base and connected at their ends by long sills, a pair of spaced parallel stringers straddling the axis of the well and extending toward one end of the framework to form an opening in the framework for receiving a rotary table, and a plurality of spaced parallel short sills extending from said stringers to said side members.

13. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a Well, the substructure comprising an elevated base that is only wide enough to span the cellar, posts supporting the base above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, cross members mounted on the end portion of the base at one side of the well to form a pipe setback support, a pair of spaced parallel stringers straddling the axis of the well and extending substantially from said cross members to a point beyond the opposite end of the base, a long sill extending across the outer ends of said stringers and. secured thereto, parallel side members connected at one end to the ends of said sill, another long sill connected to the opposite ends of said side members, a plurality of short sills extending from said stringers to said side members, and a plurality of long sills between said other long sill and the inner ends of the stringers and having their ends connected to said side members.

14. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base formed from a pair of parallel side beams connected by cross beams only long enough to span the cellar, four posts supporting the side beams above the ground, the base being strong enough to support a pipe setback and a rotary table with its casing load, a plurality of spaced parallel sills extending across and supported by said side beams and projecting from the outer sides thereof, and side members connecting the outer ends of the sills, whereby a framework is formed adapted to support a floor of greater area than the top of the base.

15. A substructure for use with a derrick that has legs resting on the ground at points around and considerably distant from a cellar containing the head of a well, the substructure comprising an elevated base formed from a pair of parallel side beams connected by cross beams only long enough to span the cellar, the upper surfaces of all of said beams lying in the same horizontal plane, two of said crOSs beams being located near the ends of the side beams, a secand pair r crossbeams being disposed near the REFERENCES CITED center of the side beams to support a rotary table, The following. references are of record in the four posts supporting the base at the junctions me this patent:

of the side beams and the outer cross beams,

and a. horizontal framework mounted on said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS side beams and projecting from at least one side Number Name Date of the base to support a floor. 2,086,650 Trout July 13, 1937 HOMER J. WOOLSLA 2,092,511 Henry Sept. '7, 1937 CECIL JENKINS. 2,232,268 Rawson Feb. 18, 1941

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