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  Drilling rig floor drainage systemRelated Patent Categories: Wells, Above Ground Apparatus, Fluid Catcher Around Pipe CouplingThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070044955. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of drainage systems for drilling rigs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for collecting fluids, such as drilling fluid, spilled onto the drilling rig floor when sections of drilling pipe are removed from the drill string. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Generally, drilling rigs have a pit, or area of ground beneath the rig, surrounding the drill pipe, which terminates in a wellhead. When sections of drilling pipe are removed or "tripped out" from the drill string during drilling operations, the column of drilling fluid contained in the pipe section spills onto the drilling rig floor. These fluids spill over the edges of the drilling rig floor and fall into the pit. The spilled fluids are not only a safety hazard for the workers on the rig site, they can be an environmental hazard depending on the composition of the fluids themselves. For this reason, drainage systems are needed on drilling rigs to collect drilling fluid spilled onto the rig floor to improve the safety of the rig floor for the workers and to collect the fluids before they reach the ground so that they can be recycled or properly disposed of. [0003] It is, therefore, desirable to have a drainage system that can safely and efficiently collect drilling fluid that is spilled during the drilling and servicing of a well. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a drainage system that is provided for use on a drilling rig and is capable of collecting drilling fluid spilled during drilling and servicing processes. When the drainage system is assembled and in position around the drill pipe, drilling fluid waste may drain through a grid floor into a collection trough underneath, and may then be then guided away from the rig for recycling or proper disposal. This system may help to ensure the safety of those walking on the grid floor by preventing slipping on the spilled drilling fluid, and may prevent contamination of the soil surrounding the drill rig resulting from spilled drilling fluid. [0005] One embodiment of the present invention involves a drilling floor surface that forms at least a portion of the drilling rig floor. The drilling floor surface can be of any suitable shape but is, in one embodiment, rectangular. A plurality of openings are disposed about the drilling floor surface that allow fluids to drain through. Located underneath the drilling floor surface is a trough to collect fluids that drain through the openings. The trough guides the fluids to an outlet aperture. The openings may be located anywhere on the drilling floor surface but can, for example, be disposed at least partially about the perimeter of the drilling floor surface. Accordingly, the trough is located underneath the openings. The trough slopes downwardly towards the outlet aperture so that fluids will naturally flow towards the outlet aperture due to gravity. [0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drilling floor surface, the trough and the outlet aperture are components of a structure or module that may be removably mounted on a drilling rig. The module consists of a top panel comprising the drilling floor surface and a substructure comprising a bottom surface and four sidewalls extending between the top panel and the bottom surface to form a six-sided structure. In this embodiment, the outlet aperture extends through a sidewall of the module to connect to an external drainage pipe, hose or trough to guide the fluids away from the drilling rig floor. [0007] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a safe and efficient drainage system for drilling rigs in the oil industry. [0008] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide effective removal of drilling fluid from a drilling rig, thereby preventing contamination of the soil beneath the drilling rig. [0009] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a safer environment for oil rig workers working on the drilling rig floor. [0010] Broadly stated, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a drainage system for draining fluids from a drilling rig floor of a drilling rig, comprising a substantially horizontal drilling floor surface defining at least a portion of said drilling rig floor; a trough disposed underneath said drilling floor surface; a plurality of drainage openings disposed on said drilling floor surface, said openings located above said trough whereby fluids on said drilling floor surface are able to drain through said openings into said trough; and an outlet aperture operatively attached to said trough, the combination of said trough and said aperture adapted to guide said fluids away from said drilling rig floor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view depicting a module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is an isometric exploded view depicting the module of FIG. 1. [0013] FIG. 3 is an isometric view depicting the module of FIG. 1 wherein the top panel of the module is removed. [0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the module of FIG. 1 mounted on a drilling rig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0015] One embodiment of a module in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. Referring to FIG. 1, module 50 comprises a top panel 10 mounted on substructure 20. Top panel 10 is secured to substructure 20 with bolts passing through boltholes 18 and comprises opening 22 to allow rotary table 24 to pass through. Top panel 10 further comprises drainage slots 14 placed around its perimeter. [0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, substructure 20 is shown having rotary table 24 and slots 32. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that module 50 does not require rotary table 24 such as when a top-drive unit (not shown) is used to operate the drill string which passes through opening 22. Slots 32 provide an opening that lead to a guide track (not shown) for a robotic roughneck (not shown) that travels to and from rotary table 24 along slots 32. Located about at least a portion of the perimeter of substructure 20 is trough 28. Trough 28 can be positioned within substructure 20 such that trough 28 lies underneath drainage slots 14. Trough 28 can slope downwardly from one end of substructure 20 to an opposite end to intersect with outlet aperture 26. Outlet aperture 26 can extend through a sidewall of substructure 20 to connect with a drain pipe, hose or trough (not shown) which, in turn, leads to a collection pit or vessel (not shown). It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that trough 28 can slope downwardly towards either the front or the rear of module 50. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, trough 28 slopes towards the rotary table end of module 50 to connect with outlet aperture 26. [0017] Referring to FIG. 4, module 50 is shown mounted on drilling rig 40 such that top panel 10 is flush with drilling rig floor 30. In operation, drilling fluid draining from sections of pipe tripped out of the drill string spill on module 50 and drain through drainage slots 14 to trough 28. Trough 28 guides the fluid towards outlet aperture 26 where the fluid is then guided to a collection pit or vessel where the fluid can be recycled or properly disposed of. [0018] Although embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow. Continue reading... Full patent description for Drilling rig floor drainage system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Drilling rig floor drainage system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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