Boring or penetrating the earth – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-22
2002-07-02
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Boring or penetrating the earth
Processes
C175S170000, C175S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06412576
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for drilling into the subterranean, and to methods for modifying drilling equipment. In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for drilling for hydrocarbons, and to methods for modifying existing hydrocarbon drilling equipment. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to top drive drilling apparatus. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to an improved top drive having a passage through which may be passed drilling tubulars, and to methods of drilling utilizing such a top drive that allows for passage of drilling tubulars through the top drive without moving the top drive aside, thus providing for increased efficiency and safety in handling drilling tubulars. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of modifying existing drilling equipment to utilize such a top drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Until recent times, conventional well drilling systems most commonly utilized a rotary table drilling system requiring the use of a rotary table, kelly and kelly bushing.
In such conventional drilling systems, the drill pipe string, an assembly or “string” of drill pipe connected to the drill bit at one end, is rotated in the well bore by a kelly connected at the other end. The kelly is rotated by a rotary table.
In operation, once rotary table drilling has advanced one pipe length, drilling is halted, the pipe string is de-coupled from the kelly, another pipe length is added to the pipe string, the string is re-coupled to the kelly, and then drilling is resumed.
Thus, one limitation of rotary table drilling is that it only allows for drilling in increments of single pipe lengths (approximately 31 feet/9.4 meters).
The top drive drilling unit was developed to overcome this single pipe length limitation, and allows for drilling an entire stand of drill pipe, which consists of a multiple of single lengths of drill pipe connected together. Typically stands consists of three pipe lengths (approximately 93 feet/28.3 meters). Essentially, the top drive rotates the drill string from the top of the string as opposed to earlier methods of drilling with a rotary table and kelly at the rig floor.
While the concept of using a top drive unit, also referred to as overhead rotary drilling, derrick drillers, and overhead power swivels, on drilling rigs dates back to the 1920's, practical systems date only from the 1980's. Many of the early conventional top drive units suffer from an inability to efficiently handle drilling tubulars (pipe or tubing). Specifically, many conventional top drive units cannot easily or efficiently accommodate connection and disconnection of pipe lengths, and the moving and handling of stands of drill pipe.
It was in the 1980's that commercial top drive systems complete with pipe handler (breakout wrench, lift tilt, overdrill provisions and inside well control) were developed that overcame some of the previous limitations. These systems allowed for continuous drilling of stands of drill pipe, and for circulating and reaming the hole during the procedures of tripping in and tripping out.
However, when adding a new stand of drill pipe by use of many presently available conventional top drive systems, it is necessary for the top drive to break out of the drill string, and tilt out to align and stab the stand of drill pipe in the mouse hole. This “tilting out” causes the stand of drill pipe, to sway when the stand of pipe is lifted. The swaying movement is unsafe and can cause injury or damage if not controlled.
In a conventional tripping out cycle, an elevator attached to a top drive unit is lowered and attached to the top of the drill string. The drill string is raised up so that the stand of pipe to be broken out is above the rig floor and slips are set to secure the string. After a break out tool breaks out the stand of pipe, the top drive elevator must then hand off, or transfer, the stand of pipe to a derrick hand or a mechanical pipe handler for racking the stand in the derrick. There are many conventional techniques and methods for doing this step, yet these methods are generally awkward since the conventional top drive unit blocks access to the stand from above, thus not allowing supporting and lifting the stand from above. Due to the awkwardness of transferring the stand of pipe, this step can be dangerous and unsafe if the transfer is not carried out in a skillful and careful manner. Only after the drive elevator transfers the stand of drill pipe is the conventional top drive unit available to be lowered back down to the drill floor.
The art is crowded with patents relating to drilling of wells.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,524 issued Mar. 20, 1984, to Boyadjieff et al, discloses a well drilling apparatus designed to eliminate the need for a rotary table, kelly and kelly bushing, and includes a drilling unit which is shiftable between a drilling position in vertical alignment with a mousehole, and an inactive position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,596 issued May 22, 1984, to Boyadjieff, discloses a top drive well drilling system that includes pipe handling equipment that facilitates the making and breaking of connections to the drill string during the drilling cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,768 issued Jul. 10, 1984, to Boyadjieff, discloses a top drive well drilling system having a drilling unit shiftable to various positions, wherein the shifting movement is accomplished by means of a structure that guides the unit for movement along predetermined paths.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,077 issued Aug. 12, 1986, to Boyadjieff, discloses a top drive drilling system having a motor which is connected to the upper end of the drill string and moves upwardly and downwardly therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,796 issued Dec. 2, 1986, to Boyadjieff, discloses an apparatus comprising a stabbing guide and a back-up tool, wherein the apparatus can function in aligning an additional length of pipe with the upper end of the drill string and thereby facilitates the controlled stabbing of pipe length for addition into the top of a drill string.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,752 issued May 26, 1987, to Berry et al, discloses a top head drive well drilling apparatus with a wrench assembly and a stabbing guide, wherein the wrench assembly is mounted on the drive unit and the stabbing guide is mounted on the wrench assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,286 issued Mar. 26 1996, entitled to Berry, discloses and apparatus and method for displacing the lower end of a top drive torque track suspended from a derrick wherein a drive unit is disconnected from the drill string and suspended from the torque track. The top drive suspended from the torque track can then be moved away so as not to interfere with the addition or removal of drill string sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,296 issued May 26, 1998, to Richardson et al, discloses a portable top drive comprising a self-contained assembly of components necessary to quickly install and remove a torque guide and attendant top drive unit in a drilling rig mast.
In spite of the numerous modifications made in drilling apparatus, the current methods and apparatus for drilling and handling drill pipe are still awkward and many of the systems require that the top drive unit, or a portion thereof, tilt out for connecting to the next stand of drill pipe, as well as special methods or mechanisms for the top drive unit, or a portion thereof, to tilt out.
Due to the awkwardness and the manner in which drilling tubulars are handled there exists a need for a safer way to handle drilling tubulars when drilling and tripping.
Also, a significant amount of time is needed to handle stands of pipe when drilling and tripping. More efficient methods of handling drilling tubulars during drilling and tripping would also lower overall drilling costs.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for methods and apparatus for drilling the subterranean, and to methods and apparatus for modification of existing drilling equipment.
There
Gilbreth & Associates P.C.
Neuder William
LandOfFree
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