Methods and systems for raising and lowering a rig mast and substructure by remote control

Abstract

Systems for drilling operations, the systems including: a drilling rig with a base; a mast movably connected to the base of the drilling rig; a drawworks system for raising and lowering the mast; a drawworks control system for controlling the drawworks as it raises and lowers the mast; a remote control system for remotely controlling the drawworks control system so that the mast can be raised and lowered by personnel spaced apart from the drilling rig; and, in certain aspects, the rig including a substructure which can be raised, and lowered by remote control. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

1 . A system for drilling operations, the system comprising
 a drilling rig with a base,   a mast movably connected to the base of the drilling rig,   a drawworks system with cables for raising and lowering the mast, the cables connected to the mast,   a drawworks control system for controlling the drawworks as the mast is raised or lowered, and   a remote control system for remotely controlling the drawworks control system, the mast raisable and lowerable by a person spaced apart from the drilling rig using the remote control system.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising
 the rig including a substructure,   a floor on the substructure,   apparatus for raising and lowering the substructure, and   the remote control system for remotely controlling the apparatus for raising and lowering the substructure.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mast is pivotably connected to the base and is pivotable on the base to achieve a raised position. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drawworks system includes a brake system, the brake system remotely controllable using the remote control system. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the brake system includes an emergency park brake, an eddy current brake, and service brakes. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the brake system includes a cooling system, the cooling system remotely controllable by the remote control system. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the remote control system is battery powered by a battery. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the remote control system has ON/OFF apparatus for turning the drawworks on and off. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drawworks system includes a transmission and a motor and the transmission is remotely controllable by the remote control system. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the drawworks is operable in a forward mode and in a reverse mode and the remote control system controls mode selection. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the motor is controllable by the remote control system. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the drawworks system includes a motor, a brake system, and a transmission, the brake system including service brakes, and   the remote control system includes joystick apparatus for controlling the service brakes to control speed of movement of the mast during lowering and raising.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the remote control system includes a deadman switch on the joystick apparatus. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising
 display apparatus on the remote control system for displaying rig operational parameters.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drilling rig includes a rig system with an enable switch for selectively enabling the remote control system. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drilling rig includes hookload indicating apparatus in communication with the remote control system. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the drilling rig includes a brake system with a park brake and an air system for providing air to the park brake, and   pressure indicating apparatus in communication with the remote control system for indicating the system air pressure.   
   
   
       18 . A method for remotely controlling a mast raising or lowering operation, the mast movably connected to a base of a drilling rig, the drilling rig including a drawworks system with cables for raising and lowering the mast, the cables connected to the mast, a drawworks control system for controlling the drawworks as the mast is raised or lowered, the method comprising
 remotely controlling the drawworks control system with a remote control system, the mast raisable and lowerable by a person spaced apart from the drilling rig using the remote control system.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the remote control system is battery powered by a battery. 
   
   
       20 . A method of  claim 18   wherein the drawworks system includes a brake system, the brake system remotely controllable using the remote control system, the brake system including an emergency park brake, an eddy current brake, and service brakes, the remote control system including joystick apparatus for controlling the service brakes to control speed of movement of the mast during lowering and raising, the method further comprising   using the joystick apparatus to control the service brakes to control speed of movement of the mast during lowering and raising.