Project Overview

In offshore drilling rigs, a finger board is a structural component located near the top of the derrick. It is used for storing and supporting the upper ends of drill pipe segments when they are not in use during drilling operations. It organizes and holds the upper ends of the pipe segments as they go in and out of the wellbore. It consists of a flat board or platform with a series of slots or ‘fingers’ resembling a comb, hence the name ‘finger board.’ When drill pipe segments are removed from the wellbore, a rig worker guides and secures them in the finger board to keep them upright and orderly. The finger board on the platform is located in the derrick, which is sometimes about 27 meters or more above the rig floor. There are automatic or semi-automatic finger boards that use hydraulic or pneumatic arms to handle and secure the pipes. In the project in question. the client requested a foldable finger board to allow room for the continued movement of additional drill pipe segments.

Client Requirements

• the client requested a foldable finger board to allow room for the continued movement of additional drill pipe segments.

Engineering Challenges

• Limited and irregular available space on the offshore structure

• Unknown load transfer paths during riser placement and storage

• Critical load cases during folding, storage, and idle conditions

• Safety considerations when the system is folded and unattended

• Hydraulic system reliability in offshore operating conditions