Systems and methods including integrated hoisting systems

Abstract

This disclosure includes systems and methods for hoisting and/or lowering oil and/or gas well-related loads. Some systems include first and second hoisting systems and a load sharing device configured to be coupled to each hoisting system such that, when a well-related load is coupled to the load sharing device, each hoisting system supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load. In some systems, each hoisting system includes a frame, a crown block coupled to the frame, a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line, and a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame, and the load sharing device is configured to be coupled to the travelling block of each hoisting system. In some systems, each hoisting system is associated with a respective well operation center of an oil rig.

1 . A system for hoisting and/or lowering an oil and/or gas well-related load, the system comprising:
 first and second hoisting systems, each having:
 a frame; 
 a crown block coupled to the frame; 
 a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line; and 
 a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame; and 
   a load sharing device configured to be coupled to the travelling block of each of the first and second hoisting systems such that, when a well-related load is coupled to the load sharing device, each of the first and second hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system is disposed on an oil rig having two or more well operation centers; and   the first and second hoisting systems are each associated with a respective one of the two or more well operation centers.   
     
     
         3 . A system for hoisting and/or lowering an oil and/or gas well-related load, the system comprising:
 an oil rig having two or more well operation centers;   first and second hoisting systems disposed on the oil rig, each hoisting system associated with a respective one of the two or more well operation centers;   a load sharing device configured to be coupled to each of the first and second hoisting systems such that, when a well-related load is coupled to the load sharing device, each of the first and second hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each of the first and second hoisting systems comprises:
 a frame; 
 a crown block coupled to the frame; 
 a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line; and 
 a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame; and 
   the load sharing device is configured to be coupled to the travelling block of each of the first and second hoisting systems.   
     
     
         5 . The system of any of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the oil rig comprises an offshore oil rig. 
     
     
         6 . The system of any of  claims 2 - 5 , wherein each of the two or more well operation centers comprises a rotary table and/or a top drive. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein at least a portion of the load sharing device is rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the load sharing device comprises a beam. 
     
     
         9 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein at least a portion of the load sharing device comprises a flexible tether. 
     
     
         10 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 9 , wherein the well-related load comprises a tubular. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the tubular comprises a riser, a drill pipe, and/or a casing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 11 , wherein the well-related load comprises a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, and/or a lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         13 . The system of any of  claims 1 - 12 , comprising a top drive configured to be coupled between the load sharing device and the well-related load. 
     
     
         14 . A method of integrating hoisting systems on an oil rig, the method comprising:
 attaching a load sharing device to a well-related load and to two or more hoisting systems, each hoisting system being associated with a respective well operation center of an oil rig;   wherein the attaching the load sharing device is performed such that each of the two or more hoisting systems supports a portion of the weight of the well-related load.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 at least one of the two or more hoisting systems comprises:
 a frame; 
 a crown block coupled to the frame; 
 a travelling block coupled to the crown block via a drill line; and 
 a draw-works coupled to the drill line such that actuation of the draw-works moves the travelling block relative to the frame; and 
   the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the travelling block of the at least one hoisting system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the oil rig comprises an offshore oil rig. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 16 , wherein each well operation center comprises a rotary table and/or a top drive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising lowering the well-related load into the water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising hoisting the well-related load out of the water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein at least a portion of the load sharing device is rigid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the load sharing device comprises a beam. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein at least a portion of the load sharing device comprises a flexible tether. 
     
     
         23 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 22 , wherein the well-related load comprises a tubular. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the tubular comprises a riser, a drill pipe, and/or a casing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 24 , wherein the well-related load comprises a blowout preventer, a diverter, a blowout preventer stack, and/or a lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any of  claims 14 - 25 , wherein the attaching the load sharing device comprises attaching the load sharing device to the well-related load via a top drive.