Method and apparatus for drilling a group of subsea wells

Patent · Tue Jul 21 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6218941

Disher, B C; Tate, S H

A combination with a first well drilled into the floor of an offshore body of water is described having a first drill pipe protruding upwardly of a pipe guide for commencing a second well into the ocean floor at a predetermined distance and direction from the first well and comprising: a clamping head adapted for removable engagement with the first drill pipe and operable selectively rotatably adjusted or fastened on the drill pipe; a drill pipe sleeve guide having a skirt at the lower end for resting on the ocean floor, and defining a vertical opening for slidably registering a second drill pipe to position the latter for entry into the ocean floor at the predetermined distance from the first well; a spacer bar depending from the drill pipe sleeve guide and extending outwardly in a direction normal to the vertical opening; a spacer bar clamp including at least two clamp members which depend from a side of the clamping head and define a generally horizontal passage for slidably receiving the spacer bar. The spacer bar clamp is fixed to engage a segment of the spacer bar when the drill pipe sleeve is positioned the predetermined distance from the first well to establish the predetermined distance and direction.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4681173
• OSTI ID: 6218941
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
42 ENGINEERING
420206 -- Engineering-- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities-- (1980-1989)
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FASTENERS
MOTION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OIL WELLS
PIPES
POSITIONING
ROTATION
SEA BED
SPACERS
WELLS