Importance

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Abstract

A portable drilling apparatus 10 designed to be used in environmentally severe locations, such as the Arctic, includes provisions for heating various portions thereof, including a pipe shelter 14. The pipe shelter 14 is used to store, warm, and clean the drill pipe and/or casing prior to insertion in the well. Thus, to provide access for loading the drill pipe and/or casing into the pipe shelter 14, a significantly large opening must be provided. The large opening necessarily results in significant infiltration of arctic air and loss of heated air, thereby increasing the difficulty of maintaining the pipe shelter 14 at a comfortable working temperature. Accordingly, a high-speed spool or window-shade style door 38 is employed to seal the opening against large scale transfers of heated and cold air. Further, an indirect fired air-heater 90 having a capacity sufficient to maintain a positive pressure in the pipe shelter 14 is also used. The positive pressure within the pipe shelter 14 causes warm air to exit rapidly when the door 38 is opened, and thereby reduces the inflow of arctic air. Accordingly, the combination of the high-speed door 38 and positive pressure environment within the pipe shelter 14 combine to provide a relatively stable and comfortable temperature environment.

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First Claim