Underwater drilling rig assembly and method of operating the underwater drilling rig assembly

Abstract

An underwater drilling rig assembly includes a hull anchored to a sea floor with at least one anchoring component. Also included is a rig assembly disposed on the hull. Further included is a mast unit of the rig assembly. Yet further included is a pipe handling unit configured to maneuver a drill pipe into operative communication with the mast unit. Also included is a drill bit assembly operatively coupled to the mast unit. Further included is a control unit positioned proximate the sea floor and in operative communication with a plurality of components of the underwater drilling rig assembly, the control unit operatively coupled to at least one surface vessel for remote control of the underwater drilling rig assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an underwater drilling rig assembly comprising:
 lowering a hull with a rig assembly disposed thereon to a water depth proximate the sea floor;   leveling the hull with a plurality of legs extending from the hull and supported by the sea floor; and   operatively coupling a control unit of the rig assembly to a surface vessel, the control unit in operative communication with a plurality of components of the underwater drilling rig assembly, the control unit configured to facilitate remote control of the underwater drilling rig assembly with the surface vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising anchoring the hull to the sea floor with a plurality of spud cans operatively coupled to an end of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ballasting the hull at a depth proximate the sea floor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising observing installation of the underwater drilling rig assembly with an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pumping fluid to a water surface with a pump of the control unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing power and fluid to the underwater drilling rig assembly through at least one line connected to the surface vessel and the control unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing a blowout preventer (BOP) proximate a wellhead. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drilling a hole in the sea floor with a drill bit assembly of the rig assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising installing a casing within the hole drilled with the drill bit assembly. 
     
     
         10 . An underwater drilling rig assembly comprising:
 a hull anchored to a sea floor with at least one anchoring component;   a rig assembly disposed on the hull;   a mast unit of the rig assembly;   a pipe handling unit configured to maneuver a drill pipe into operative communication with the mast unit;   a drill bit assembly operatively coupled to the mast unit; and   a control unit positioned proximate the sea floor and in operative communication with a plurality of components of the underwater drilling rig assembly, the control unit operatively coupled to at least one surface vessel for remote control of the underwater drilling rig assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the hull is configured to be ballasted proximate the sea floor. 
     
     
         12 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the hull comprises a plurality of legs extending therefrom, each of the legs configured to engage the sea floor to support the load of the underwater drilling rig assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchoring component comprises a plurality of spud cans configured to be at least partially embedded within the sea floor. 
     
     
         14 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is operatively coupled to the at least one surface vessel with at least one line. 
     
     
         15 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one line is a flow line configured to route fluid between the at least one surface vessel and the underwater drilling rig assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one line comprises an electrical cable for providing power to the plurality of components of the underwater drilling rig assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the underwater drilling rig assembly is configured to operate in an automated drilling mode. 
     
     
         18 . The underwater drilling rig assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the underwater drilling rig assembly is an unmanned assembly.