Workover rig with reinforced mast

Abstract

A reinforced workover rig mast ( 40 ) is disclosed. A top section ( 60 ) of the mast ( 40 ) telescopes relative to a mid section ( 44 ), and includes a scoping cylinder area ( 72 ) for receiving a scoping cylinder ( 90 ) that may be used to extend and retract the top section ( 60 ). A number of external gussets ( 78 ) are located within this scoping cylinder area ( 72 ) to structurally reinforce the upper section ( 60 ). Other reinforcement features are incorporated by the mast ( 40 ) as well, including an increased width and depth, along with a reduced vertical spacing between adjacent cross supports ( 50 b, 66 b, 74 ).

1 . A workover rig mast, comprising:
 a first mast section comprising a frame, a pocket within said frame, and a plurality of gussets disposed within said pocket and attached to said frame.   
     
     
         2 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said first mast section defines an uppermost portion of said workover rig mast. 
     
     
         3 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said first mast section comprises a crown. 
     
     
         4 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , further comprising a second mast section, wherein said first mast section telescopes relative to said second mast section and extends to a higher elevation than said second mast section when in a deployed position versus a stowed position, wherein said second mast section comprises a width, a depth, and a length, wherein said second mast section is a three-sided structure in a cross-section taken perpendicularly to its said length, wherein said width of said second mast section is measured between opposing closed sides of said second mast section, and wherein said depth of said second mast section is measured between an open end of said second mast section and an opposing closed end of said second mast section. 
     
     
         5 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said width is at least about 8 feet. 
     
     
         6 . The workover rig mast of  claim 5 , wherein said depth is at least about 4 feet. 
     
     
         7 . The workover rig mast of  claim 6 , wherein said second mast section comprises a plurality of second cross support assemblies that are spaced along said length of said second mast section by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         8 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said depth is at least about 4 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said second mast section comprises a plurality of second cross support assemblies that are spaced along said length of said second mast section by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The workover rig mast of  claim 9 , wherein each said second cross support assembly is at least generally disposed within a plane that is orthogonal to said length of said second mast section. 
     
     
         11 . The workover rig mast of  claim 10 , wherein said second mast section further comprises a plurality of diagonal supports that at least generally extend between adjacent said pairs of said second cross support assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The workover rig mast of  claim 9 , wherein said first mast section comprises a plurality of first cross support assemblies that are spaced along a length of said first mast section by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         13 . The workover rig mast of  claim 12 , wherein each said first cross support assembly of said first mast section is at least generally disposed within a plane that is orthogonal to said length of said first mast section. 
     
     
         14 . The workover rig mast of  claim 13 , wherein said first mast section further comprises a plurality of diagonal supports that at least generally extend between adjacent said pairs of said first cross support assemblies. 
     
     
         15 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said second mast section comprises a plurality of second cross supports that define its said three-sided structure, wherein each said second cross support is at least generally disposed within a plane that is orthogonal to said length of said second mast section, and wherein a spacing of no more than about 5 feet exists between each adjacent pair of said second cross supports that are aligned in a dimension corresponding with said length of said second mast section. 
     
     
         16 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said second mast section comprises a plurality of second cross supports that are each disposed in a common orientation, wherein each adjacent pair of said second cross supports that are aligned and spaced in a dimension corresponding with said length of said second mast section are separated by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         17 . The workover rig mast of  claim 16 , wherein said first mast section comprises a plurality of first cross supports that are each disposed in a common orientation, wherein each adjacent pair of said first cross supports that are aligned and spaced in a dimension corresponding with a length of said first mast section are separated by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         18 . The workover rig mast of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of first cross supports and said plurality of second cross supports are each disposed in a common orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said second mast section comprises first, second, third, and fourth corner supports that each extend in a length dimension of said workover rig mast, wherein a separate reference plane extends between an outer surface of each adjacent pair of said first, second, third, and fourth corner supports, wherein said second mast section further comprises a plurality of cross supports, wherein each said cross support extends between and is attached to only a corresponding pair of said first, second, third, and fourth corner supports and furthermore fails to protrude beyond its corresponding said reference plane. 
     
     
         20 . The workover rig mast of  claim 4 , wherein said second mast section lacks any C-girts. 
     
     
         21 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said first mast section comprises a plurality of first cross supports that are each disposed in a common orientation, wherein each adjacent pair of said first cross supports that are aligned and spaced in a dimension corresponding with a length of said first mast section are separated by a distance of no more than about 5 feet. 
     
     
         22 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said workover rig mast has a length of at least about 95 feet and weighs no more than about 22,000 pounds. 
     
     
         23 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said workover rig mast weighs no more than about 210 pounds per linear foot along its length dimension. 
     
     
         24 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises ASTM 500 Grade C steel. 
     
     
         25 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , further comprising a scoping cylinder extending through said pocket and interconnected with said frame, wherein an extension of said scoping cylinder elevates said first mast section. 
     
     
         26 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein each said gusset is located in a corresponding corner of said frame within said deployment shaft pocket. 
     
     
         27 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein a length of said first mast section extends in a first dimension, wherein said plurality of gussets comprises a plurality of groups that are spaced along said first dimension, and wherein a length dimension of said gussets that are in a common said group are at least generally disposed within a common plane that is orthogonal to said first dimension. 
     
     
         28 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein a length of said first mast section extends in a first dimension, wherein each said gusset comprises first and second ends, wherein said first and second ends of a first plurality of said plurality of gussets are at least generally disposed in a common first plane that is orthogonal to said first dimension, and wherein said first and second ends of a second plurality of said plurality of gussets are at least generally disposed in a common second plane that is orthogonal to said first dimension and that is spaced from said first plane in said first dimension. 
     
     
         29 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises first, second, third, and fourth corner supports that each extend in a length dimension of said first mast section, wherein one end of each of said plurality of gussets is fixed to one of said first and second corner supports, and wherein an opposite end of each of said plurality of gussets is fixed to a corresponding one of a plurality of internally disposed cross members of said frame. 
     
     
         30 . The workover rig mast of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum length for each of said plurality of gussets is 20 inches. 
     
     
         31 . A workover rig mast, comprising:
 a first mast section comprising a frame, that in turn comprises:
 first, second, third, and fourth corner supports that each extend in a length dimension of said first mast section; and 
 a plurality of gussets, wherein one end of each of said plurality of gussets is fixed to one of said first and second corner supports, and wherein an opposite end of each of said plurality of gussets is fixed to a corresponding one of a plurality of internally disposed cross members of said frame; and 
   a second mast section, wherein said first mast section telescopes relative to said second mast section and extends to a higher elevation than said second mast section when in a deployed position versus a stowed position.