Equipment transport assembly for drilling operations and method of transporting equipment

Abstract

An equipment transport assembly for drilling operations includes at least one drilling operation component. Also included is a module structure including an interior region dimensioned to receive the at least one drilling operation component therein, wherein the module structure is configured to be loaded with the at least one drilling operation component at a location for transport to a remote underwater drilling site. Further included is at least one laser located proximate the underwater drilling site and configured to detect the size and position of the module structure and the at least one drilling operation component. Yet further included is a robot located at the underwater drilling site and configured to unload the at least one drilling operation component from the module structure and maneuver the at least one drilling operation component to be operatively coupled to an underwater drilling rig.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transporting equipment for drilling operations comprising:
 loading at least one drilling operation component into a module structure;   transporting the module structure from a location to a remote drilling site;   detecting a size and a position of the module structure and the at least one drilling operation component with at least one laser located proximate the remote drilling site; and   maneuvering the at least one drilling operation component with a robot from the module structure into operative coupling with a drilling rig.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein loading the at least one drilling operation component comprises loading a plurality of components into a plurality of compartments of the module structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locking the at least one drilling operation component with a locking element to restrain movement of the at least one drilling operation component within the module structure during transport. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drilling operation component comprises tubular components to be used within a hole at the remote drilling site. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote drilling site is an underwater drilling rig assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote drilling site is an onshore drilling site. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting size a positional data detected with the laser to the robot. 
     
     
         8 . An equipment transport assembly for drilling operations comprising:
 at least one drilling operation component;   a module structure including an interior region dimensioned to receive the at least one drilling operation component therein, wherein the module structure is configured to be loaded with the at least one drilling operation component at a remote location for transport to an underwater drilling site;   at least one laser located proximate the underwater drilling site and configured to detect the size and position of the module structure and the at least one drilling operation component; and   a robot located at the underwater drilling site and configured to unload the at least one drilling operation component from the module structure and maneuver the at least one drilling operation component to be operatively coupled to an underwater drilling rig.   
     
     
         9 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one drilling operation component comprises a plurality of components and the module structure comprises a plurality of compartments configured to receive at least one of the plurality of components. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of components comprises equipment to be used within a hole at the underwater drilling site. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one locking element configured to secure the at least one drilling operation component in a fixed position within the interior region of the module structure during transport from the remote location to the underwater drilling site. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one laser is in operative communication with the robot. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the robot is configured to receive size and positional data for the module structure and the at least one drilling component. 
     
     
         14 . An equipment transport assembly for drilling operations comprising:
 a plurality of drilling operation components;   a module structure having a plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of compartments sized to receive one of the plurality of drilling operation components, wherein the module structure is configured to be loaded with the plurality of drilling operation components at a remote location for transport to a drilling site; and   at least one locking element disposed in each of the plurality of compartments to secure the plurality of drilling operation components in a fixed position within the plurality of compartments during transport from the remote location to the drilling site.   
     
     
         15 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the drilling site is an underwater drilling site comprising an underwater drilling rig. 
     
     
         16 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the drilling site is an onshore drilling site. 
     
     
         17 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of drilling operation components comprises equipment to be used within a hole at the drilling site. 
     
     
         18 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one laser located proximate the drilling site and configured to detect the size and position of the module structure and the plurality of drilling operation components; and   a robot located at the drilling site and configured to unload the plurality of drilling operation components from the module structure and maneuver the plurality of drilling operation components to be operatively coupled to a drilling rig.   
     
     
         19 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one laser is in operative communication with the robot. 
     
     
         20 . The equipment transport assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the robot is configured to receive size and positional data for the module structure and the plurality of drilling components.