US 12,241,316 B2
Methods and systems for earth drilling
Geir Lien, Hoevag (NO); and Petter Mydland, Kristiansand S (NO)
Assigned to MHWIRTH AS, Kristiansand (NO)
Filed by MHWIRTH AS, Kristiansand (NO)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/212,723.
Application 18/212,723 is a continuation of application No. 17/442,637, granted, now 11,725,469, previously published as PCT/NO2020/050088, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1904228 (GB), filed on Mar. 27, 2019; application No. 1913257 (GB), filed on Sep. 13, 2019; application No. 1914955 (GB), filed on Oct. 16, 2019; application No. 1915306 (GB), filed on Oct. 23, 2019; and application No. 1917797 (GB), filed on Dec. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0374871 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 17/00 (2006.01); B25J 5/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/02 (2006.01); E21B 19/15 (2006.01); E21B 19/16 (2006.01); F16L 1/06 (2006.01); F16L 57/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 19/16 (2013.01) [B25J 5/007 (2013.01); B25J 15/0028 (2013.01); B25J 15/0253 (2013.01); E21B 17/006 (2013.01); E21B 19/155 (2013.01); F16L 1/06 (2013.01); F16L 57/005 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of washing a drill string having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of pipe sections which are joined end to end, and a bottom hole assembly which is arranged at a lowermost end of a lowest of the plurality of pipe sections, the method comprising:
providing a cleaning apparatus comprising,
a base,
an arm, the base being configured to support the arm on a drill floor of a drilling rig, the arm comprising a first end which is mounted on the base, a second end at which a spray nozzle is arranged, and at least one articulated joint via which the arm, or a portion of the arm, can pivot relative to the base,
a fluid flow conduit which is connected to the spray nozzle so that a pressurized fluid entering the fluid flow conduit can spray out of the spray nozzle, and
at least one motor which is configured to pivot the arm about the at least one articulated joint so as to alter an orientation of the spray nozzle relative to the base;
using an elevator to lift the drill string through an aperture in the drill floor;
using the elevator to suspend the bottom hole assembly above the drill floor; and
using the cleaning apparatus with the base on top of the drill floor to spray a cleaning fluid as the pressurized fluid onto the bottom hole assembly,
wherein,
the at least one motor is operated so as to move the spray nozzle relative to the drill floor in order to direct the cleaning fluid onto a plurality of areas of the bottom hole assembly.