PORTABLE DRILLING RIG APPARATUS AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

1 . A portable drilling rig apparatus comprising:

a rig floor having a pedestal structure thereon;

the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point and a lower attachment point;

wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be rotated to a vertical position about the lower pivot point;

a mast structure having a mast pivot point at a lower end of the mast structure;

wherein the mast pivot point is configured to be pinned to an upper pivot point of the pedestal structure.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to pivot the mast structure about the mast pivot point to erect the mast structure.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one end of the at least one hydraulic cylinder is configured to be removably attachable at multiple locations on the rig floor.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rig floor is hydraulically actuated to be elevated to a specified height.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the mast structure further comprising at least one mast leg configured to secure the mast structure in a vertical position.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mast structure further comprises telescoping mast sections.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a latch configured to restrict movement between an inner mast section and an outer mast section of the mast structure.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the telescoping mast sections are hydraulically extended.

9 . A method to assemble a portable drilling rig, the method comprising:

providing a pedestal structure on a rig floor;

the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point, a lower attachment point, and an upper pivot point;

aligning a mast structure and the pedestal structure;

pinning a mast pivot point located at a lower end of the mast structure to the upper pivot point of the pedestal structure;

pivoting the pedestal structure from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position;

moving the mast structure in a horizontal direction toward a center of the rig floor;

securing the lower attachment point of the pedestal structure to a corresponding attachment point on the rig floor;

erecting the mast structure from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position about a pivot point between the mast structure and the pedestal structure;

securing the mast structure in a vertical position.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising elevating the rig floor to a specified height.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising extending a mast leg from the mast structure to the rig floor to secure the mast structure in a vertical position.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein erecting the mast structure comprises extending at least one hydraulic cylinder attached to the mast structure and the rig floor.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising extending multiple telescoping mast sections of the mast structure to a final height.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising latching the multiple telescoping mast sections to prevent relative movement.

15 . A method to assemble a portable drilling rig, the method comprising:

attaching a mast structure to a pedestal structure on a rig floor; and

pivoting the pedestal structure from a horizontal position to a vertical position about a lower pivot point and securing the pedestal structure to the rig floor.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising erecting the mast structure to a vertical position about a pivot point of the pedestal structure.

17 . An apparatus to restrict axial movement between an inner mast section and an outer mast section, the apparatus comprising:

a latch mechanism pivotably connected to the inner mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism is configured to move between a collapsed position and an extended position;

a first cutout formed in an outer surface of the inner mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism sits flush with the outer surface of the inner mast section when the latch mechanism is in the collapsed position;

a second cutout formed in an inner surface of the outer mast section;

wherein the latch mechanism is configured to be extended radially and engage the second cutout in the inner surface of the outer mast section.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the latch mechanism into the extended position.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a cable to move the latch between the collapsed position and the extended position.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the latch mechanism is configured to provide a path for load forces from the inner mast section to be transmitted to the outer mast section.