An offshore well drilling assembly includes a drilling facility or support
platform for location at sea. A drilling platform connects to the support
platform so the drilling platform is cantilevered from the support
platform. The drilling platform extends from the support platform, for
positioning over a subsea well. The well drilling assembly includes a
staging platform for use in loading and unloading of wellhead equipment.
The staging platform is mounted to the drilling platform. The staging
platform moves along a side of the drilling platform in directions toward
and away from the support platform to a distance over the sea. A method
of conveying wellhead equipment uses the staging platform for conveying
wellhead equipment between the support platform and a distance over the
sea by moving the staging platform along the drilling platform.