US2964117A - Combination storage and deadman apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1960 E; A. BENDER COMBINATION STORAGE AND DEADMAN APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w z f m w W E r" [L y E .9 W W, at M y f w J Mfl/m l\ ll fl/ Mg W. l III 7 'i m W 4 INVENTOR 232x211. fleflde/ BY//j M ATTORNEYJ Dec. 13, 1960 E. A. BENDER COMBINATION STORAGE AND DEADMAN APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Z/Wz'ZAZe/Ider; BYw M ATTORNEYS COMBINATION STORAGE, AND DEADMAN; APPARATUS Emil A. Bender, P.0. Box 52, Bakersfield, Calif. Filed Dec. 19, 1956, Ser. No. 629,374 Claims. (Cl. 175217) Thepresent invention relates generally to the well drilling art and is more particularly directed to certain novel apparatus which may be considered as a form of accessory having special utility in the drilling or servicing of wells by means of the so-called ro-tary method.

In order to supply the everincreasingdemands for additional gas, oil and petroleum products, the'exploration and discovery of new productive fields constitutes an integral and, in fact, a major part of the petroleum industry. Furthermore, as is well known to those skilled inthe-ar-t, many of the most productive fields are located in relatively remote regions which arehighly inaccessible by most means of transportation and can be reached only at considerable difiiculty and expense. Despitethe demand for the opening of new fields, therefore, the -economic factor of'cost involved in conducting a drilling operation at aremote location becomes of greatimportance,

As is also well understood by those skilled in the art, in the drilling of oil or gas wells by the rotary method which is the type most commonly employed at the present time, as the drilling progresses the pressure atthe bottom of the hole is controlled by means of a column of fluid known as drilling mud. This mud is circulated through the drill stem and tubing to the bottom of the well and flows upwardly through the annular space between the tubing md the casing carrying with it the cuttings produced by the drill bit. Actually the so-called mud is a carefully controlled solution or mixture comprising water to which has been added the proper proportion of various chemical ingredients of high specific gravity in order to produce a column of liquid of relatively high weight.

One further bit of background which is deemed desirable to a full understanding of the present invention also concerns the well known procedure followed in rotary drilling, particularly as it relates to certain operations carried on at or adjacent to the Well head. As the drilling progresses and the mud is circulated in the manner previously described by means of heavy duty, high pressure pumps, the drill string or innermost section of tubing is continuously rotated to effect the cutting action of the drill bit at its lower end and, as the hole deepens, additional lengths of tubing may be added or the entire drill string removed occasionally through operation of a power driven draw works and a traveling block suspended from the top of a drilling tower or mast which extends generally upwardly from the well head. The operation of the mud pumps, the draw works, and the rotary apparatus requires a source of power. Furthermore, by its very nature the operation is, in a sense, dirty so that it is desirable at all times to have readily available at the well head or on the drilling platform a source of clear water. It will thus be apparent that when a well is located at a relatively remote site as previously described, it becomes increasingly diflicult to furnish the various requirements of the drilling operat F Ice tion and in particular alarge and readily available source of clear water, a source of drilling mud which is re quired as the well deepens, and, finally, a large and readily available source of fuel to meet the various power requirements referred to above.

In the light of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus in the nature of an accessory for use in the rotary drilling ,of wells in relatively inaccessible field locations which combines in a novel manner the various necessary storage facilities for water, drilling mud and fuel.

Another highly important object of the presentinvem tion is to provide combination storage apparatus of the. type described which is so constructed as to serve/a dual function both for storage and as a deadmanfor the guy lines customarily employed to brace the drilling'tower or mast.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination storage and deadman apparatus of the type ,described which is both relatively inexpensive and easy to construct but which is, at the same time, highly rugged and may be easily transported and handled under rough field conditions. A

A further object of the invention isto provide a combination storage apparatus of the type described in which one of the storage compartments extends transversely between the side walls of another of the storage coma partments and serves to brace the latter.

Still anotherobject of the present. invention istto provide storage apparatus of the type described in which one of the bottom end braces is of tubular construction and serves both as a structural member. andas a minifold and drain for the usual service pump connecting the latter with the interior of one of the storage containers;

The foregoing as well as other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to one skilled in the art from a. consideration of the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures of drawing in which: i

Figure l is a largely schematic side elevational, view showing, to a vastly reduced scale and with many parts omitted, a typical arrangement of drilling apparatus in operative position adjacent a well and showing the combined storage and deadrnan apparatus of the present. in,- vention in its normal operating position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a preferred form, of combination storage and deadrnan apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2 partially broken away to show the interior construction; and

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now in somewhat greater detail to the various figures of drawing and in particular to Figure 1 thereof, there is illustrated a typical drilling rig in connection with which the combination storage and deadman apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be employed. As shown in this view in generally outline form, the drilling rig is seen to comprise a tower or mast designated g lerally by reference numeral lit comprising upper and lower sections 11 and 12, respectively, arranged telescopically. The lower section 12 is pivotally mounted at 13 upon a pedestal structure 14 which in turn is rigidly secured in any convenient manner upon the bed of a trailer 15. i

The drilling rig as shown in Figure 1 also includes the usual traveling block 16 and crown block assembly 17 operated by means of the fast line 18 and dead line 19. The usual racking platform 20 extends outwardly at one side of the drilling mast and is supported by means of cables 21. One or more stays 22 extends to a suitable anchor 23 mounted near the extreme end of the trailer bed and an intermediate point 24 adjacent the top of the lower derrick section 12.

The drilling rig shown in Figure 1 has been selected solely for the purpose of illustration and it will be understood that the principles of the present invention are not limited to such portable masts of the over center type. It will also be understood that, in practice, the rig of Figure 1 is transported upon the trailer 15 to the drilling site as represented by a typical drilling platform 25. The trailer 15 may also carry suitable pumps 26 and draw works 27 as well as other accessory items necessary to the drilling operation but forming, per se, no part of the present invention. The trailer 15 is, of course, pulled by a tractor 28 which is disconnected after the trailer 15 has been properly located adjacent the drilling platform 25, at which point suitable jacks may be employed to transfer the operating loads directly through supporting pedestals 29 and 30. After the trailer 15 has been properly located, the drilling mast 10 is elevated to working position by means of the lifting leg 31 which is locked in the position shown to form a rigid part of the tower structure. A mast of the type illustrated and described briefly herein is shown in considerably greater detail in my co-peuding application, Serial No. 502,105, filed April 18, 1955, for Portable {Trailer Mounted Derrick.

Still referring to Figure l, the improved combination storage and deadma-n apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, is shown in its normal operating position and is designated generally by reference numeral 32. It will be noted that the apparatus 32, which has been transported to the drilling site upon a separate truck or trailer, rests upon the ground at the left hand end or front end of the trailer 15 remote from the drilling platform 25 and is arranged closely adjacent to the trailer 15 transversely of the latter or with its longer, longitudinal dimension at substantially right angles to the trailer 15. Adjacent the top edges of the apparatus 32 there are provided eye bracket fittings 33 and, as shown, these eye bracket fittings are connected to the lower ends of the usual guy lines 34 which extend upwardly to elevated portions of the drilling mast or tower 10 and serve to brace the latter both during normal operation as well as against any unusual stresses produced by wind or other natural forces. The apparatus 32, to be hereinafter more fully described, is thus seen to serve as a deadmen for the guy lines 34.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, of the drawings, the improved storage and deadrnan apparatus of the present invention is seen to comprise a generally elongated, open top tank having rectangular side walls 35-36, end walls 37-38, and a bottom wall 39, all formed of sheet metal and secured together in any convenient manner as by welding, or the like, in a liquid tight manner. For structural reasons, the joined edges of the tank are also secured as by welding, or the like, within a supporting framework formed of structural steel of angle shape in cross-section. As shown in Figure 2, this framework includes top side beams 39-40 and top end beams 41--42. The frame also includes bottom side beams 43-44 as well as a pair of bottom end beams, one of which is shown in Figure 4 and desig nated by reference numeral 45, together with corner beams, two of the latter being shown in Figure 3 and designated by reference numerals 46 and 47. It will be understood that other structural shapes could be employed in place of the angle shapes as shown and that the entire assembly could be secured together in any suitable liquid tight manner other than by means of welding or mounted upon skids or the like for ease of handling.

As best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the combination storage and deadrnan apparatus or tank, as designated generally by reference character 32, is divided into two liquid storage compartments of unequal capacity by means of a partition 48 which extends transversely between the side walls 35 and 36 within the tank and is secured to the side walls 35 and 36 as well as the tank bottom 39 in a liquid tight manner as by welding, or the like. The larger storage compartment 49 formed by the partition 48 within the tank 32 is preferably utilized for clear water storage while the smaller tank 50 is intended for use as a storage compartment for drilling mud which may be in the form of a relatively concentrated slurry. A pair of ladders 5152 is arranged with one ladder at each side of the partition 48 within the tank, the ladders being secured to the tank walls or surrounding framework in any convenient manner so as to provide access to the interior of the storage compartments 49 and 56 when the latter are empty.

Still referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a third liquid storage compartment 53 which is preferably of oval cross-section and is formed of sheet metal extending transversely between the side walls 35 and 36 of the tank 32 adjacent the top edges of the latter and at the approximate longitudinal center thereof. In the form of the device as illustrated in the drawings, the edges of the third compartment 53 are preferably welded or otherwise secured to the side walls 35 and 36 of the tank 32 in a liquid tight manner so that the side walls themselves also form the end walls of the third compartment 53. The compartment 53 thus serves to brace the entire tank structure and adds to the rigidity of the assembly. The storage compartment 53 is intended to serve as a container for some type of fuel such as diesel oil or gasoline and, to this end, is provided with a removable top or cover 54 together with an outlet connection 55 which may also include a conventional filter or trap arrangement 56.

At the left end of the tank 32, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is provided another ladder 57 mounted in any convenient manner on the exterior of the end wall 37 to provide access to the top edge of the tank. At this same end of the tank 32, the bottom side beams 43 and 44 extend beyond the end wall 37 and are connected by means of a tubular cross member 58. A floor or grille 59 is suitably secured between the tubular beam or member 58 and the end wall 37 and serves to support a conventional transfer pump 60 having an outlet or delivery line 61. The ends of the tubular member 58 are closed by means of removable plugs 62-63 which serve as drains for the water storage compartment 49, while the central portion of the tubular member 58 is connected by means of a shorter tube section 64 which extends through the end wall 37 into the interior of the compartment 49. It will be understood that the pump 60 is thus connected by means of the tubular members 58 and 64 to the water storage compartment 49 and that the tubular member 58 acts both as a structural supporting member and as a pump manifold and tank drain. Suitable braces 65 as shown in Figure 3 may be provided if desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a combination storage and deadrnan apparatus of relatively simple yet rugged construction which may be readily transported to remote field locations and which, when so located, serves both to provide the necessary storage for those materials constantly in demand while drilling operations are being conducted and also obviate the need for additional deadmen which otherwise would have to be anchored in the ground at additional labor and expense. Although a particular form of apparatus has been shown and described herein solely for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that numerous modifications, variations and changes may be made from the specific embodiments illustrated herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combination storage and deadman apparatus for use with a well drilling or servicing rig of the type in cluding an elongated tower extending generally upwardly from the well head but at a slight angle from true vertical during normal operation and having a plurality of guy lines extending from points adjacent the ground to elevated portions of said tower for steadying the latter comprising, an elongated, open-top tank having rectangular side, bottom and end walls secured together in liquid tight relationship, a partition mounted transversely within said tank and secured to the bottom and side walls of the latter at one side of the longitudinal center thereof in liquid tight relationship to form two liquid storage compartments of unequal capacity, a third liquid storage compartment of oval cross section extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the top of the latter at the longitudinal center thereof, said side walls forming the ends of said third compartment, a removable cover in the top of said third compartment, a pair of ladders attached to one of said side walls at opposite sides of said partition interiorly of said first two compartments, respectively, and eye bracket fittings secured to said tank adjacent the top edges of said end walls for connection with the lower ends of said guy lines.

2. A combination storage and deadman apparatus for use with a well drilling or servicing rig of the type including an elongated tower extending generally upwardly from the well head but at a slight angle from true vertical during normal operation and having a plurality of guy lines extending from points adjacent the ground to elevated portions of said tower for steadying the latter comprising, an elongated, open-top tank having rectangular side, bottom and end walls secured together in liquid tight relationship, a partition mounted transversely within said tank and secured to the bottom and side walls of the latter at one side of the longitudinal center thereof in liquid tight relationship to form two liquid storage compartments of unequal capacity, a third liquid storage compartment of oval cross section extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the top of the latter at the longitudinal center thereof, said side walls forming the ends of said third compartment, a removable cover in the top of said third compartment, a tubular horizontal cross-brace member positioned adjacent one end and at the base of said apparatus, said brace being connected to the interior of one of said compartments and serving as a delivery manifold for said compartment, and eye bracket fittings secured to said tank adjacent the top edges of said end walls for connection with the lower ends of said guy lines.

3. A combination storage and deadman apparatus for use with a well drilling or servicing rig of the type including an elongated tower extending generally upwardly from the well head but at a slight angle from true vertical during normal operation and having a plurality of guy lines extending from points adjacent the ground to elevated portions of said tower for steadying the latter comprising, an elongated, open-top tank having rectangular side, bottom and end walls secured together in liquid tight relationship, a partition mounted transversely within said tank and secured to the bottom and side walls of the latter at one side of the longitudinal center thereof in liquid tight relationship to form two liquid storage compartments of unequal capacity, a third liquid storage compartment of oval cross section extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the top of the latter at the longitudinal center thereof, said side walls forming the ends of said third compartment, a removable cover in the top of said third compartment and eye bracket fittings secured to said tank adjacent the top edges of said end walls for connection with the lower ends of said guy lines.

4. A combination storage tank for use with a well drilling or servicing rig comprising pairs of rectangular side walls and end walls and a bottom wall secured together in liquid tight relationship, a partition mounted transversely within said tank and secured to said bottom and side walls at one side of the longitudinal center of said tank in liquid tight relationship therewith forming two liquid storage compartments of unequal capacity, a third liquid storage compartment of oval cross section extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the top of the latter at the longitudinal center thereof, said side walls forming the ends of said third compartment, a removable cover in the top of said third compartment and a pair of ladders attached to one of said side walls at opposite sides of said partition interiorly of said first two compartments, respectively.

5. A combination storage tank for use with a well drilling or servicing rig comprising pairs of rectangular side walls and end walls and a bottom wall secured together in liquid tight relationship, a partition mounted transversely within said tank and secured to said bottom and side walls in liquid tight relationship therewith forming two liquid storage compartments, a third liquid storage compartment of oval cross section extending transversely between said side walls adjacent the top of the latter at the longitudinal center thereof, said side walls forming the ends of said third compartment, and a removable cover in the top of said third compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 57,866 Church et al. Sept. 11, 1866 662,669 Davis Nov. 27, 1900 1,310,516 Xardell July 22, 1919 1,972,807 Waters Sept. 4, 1934 2,187,871 Voorhees Jan. 23, 1940 2,285,543 Thomas June 9, 1942 2,406,510 Pool Aug. 27, 1946 2,455,271 Raymond Nov. 30, 1948 2,537,219 Girton Jan. 9, 1951 2,539,663 Hague Jan. 30, 1951 2,783,027 Gilbert Feb. 26, 1957

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