Flow line installation device for drilling rigs

Abstract

A pipe installation device for a drilling rig includes a frame that is pivotably coupled to an elevated rig floor of the drilling rig, a saddle coupled to the frame and configured to grip a pipe, and a driver coupled to the frame and the elevated rig floor of the drilling rig. The driver is configured to cause the frame to pivot from a first configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation to a second configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially horizontal orientation for connection to a well device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe installation device for a drilling rig, comprising:
 a frame that is pivotably coupled to an elevated rig floor of the drilling rig;   a saddle coupled to the frame and configured to grip a pipe; and   a driver coupled to the frame and the elevated rig floor of the drilling rig, wherein the driver is configured to cause the frame to pivot from a first configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation to a second configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially horizontal orientation for connection to a well device.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe comprises a mud flow line configured to communicate with a mud tank when the pipe is in the substantially horizontal orientation, and wherein the well device comprises a rotating control device. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the frame is in the first configuration, the saddle is positioned on a first side of the elevated rig floor, and wherein the pipe in the substantially horizontal orientation is positioned at least partially beneath the elevated rig floor. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises an extensible hydraulic cylinder, the frame being configured to pivot by extending the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pipe slide that is extendably coupled to the pipe, wherein the pipe slide is configured to extend to connect together the well device and the pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to slide or roll relative to the elevated floor, so as to translate the pipe in an at least partially horizontal direction toward or away from the well device. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe installation device of  claim 6 , further comprising a support arm pivotally coupled to the elevated rig floor and to the pipe, wherein the frame comprises a carriage that is constrained to horizontal movement and is coupled to the driver, wherein the driver is configured to retract to rotate the pipe, the support arm, and the frame relative to the rig floor. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe installation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second driver configured to move the saddle relative to the rig floor, so as to move the pipe in the substantially horizontal orientation toward the well device. 
     
     
         9 . A method for installing a pipe on a drilling rig, comprising:
 securing the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation in a saddle coupled to a rig floor via a frame;   pivoting the frame relative to the rig floor so as to rotate the pipe to a substantially horizontal orientation; and   coupling the pipe in the substantially horizontal orientation to a well device, such that the pipe is configured to communicate fluid to or from the well device while the pipe is in the substantially horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the well device comprises a rotating control device, and wherein the pipe comprises a mud flow line that extends from the rotating control device to a mud tank. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the pipe in the substantially vertical orientation in the saddle comprises lifting the pipe using a lifting device, and then lowering the pipe in the substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein securing the pipe in the saddle further comprises landing a collar of the pipe onto a connection of a saddle, wherein the collar is positioned such that a lower end of the pipe is elevated from a ground, and the lower end of the pipe does not contact the well device when the pipe is rotated to the substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein pivoting the frame comprises energizing a driver coupled to the rig floor and to the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the driver comprises a hydraulic cylinder, wherein energizing the driver extends the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising moving the pipe in a substantially horizontal direction, toward the well device, after securing the pipe in the saddle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the pipe in the substantially horizontal direction comprises energizing a second driver coupled to the saddle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising moving the pipe in a substantially horizontal direction toward the well device while rotating the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the pipe in the substantially horizontal direction while rotating the frame comprises moving the frame in a linear direction by retracting a driver coupled to a rolling carriage of the frame, wherein retracting the driver causes the frame and a support arm pivotably coupled to the rig floor and the pipe to pivot about respective pivot points. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein coupling the pipe to the well device comprises extending a pipe slide from a lower end of the pipe to the well device, or from the well device to the lower end of the pipe. 
     
     
         20 . A drilling rig, comprising:
 an elevated rig floor;   a well device positioned at least partially below the rig floor and proximal to a first side of the rig floor;   a mud tank positioned at least partially below the rig floor and proximal to a second side of the rig floor;   a flow line extending in a substantially horizontal orientation from the well device to the mud tank; and   an installation device comprising:
 a frame that is pivotably coupled to the elevated rig floor; 
 a saddle coupled to the frame and configured to receive and grip a pipe; and 
 a driver coupled to the frame and the elevated rig floor of the drilling rig, wherein the driver is configured to cause the frame to pivot from a first configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the pipe in a substantially vertical orientation to a second configuration in which the saddle is configured to support the flow line in the substantially horizontal orientation.