Methods and systems for drilling auxiliary holes

• US 7,637,329 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoik, Randy Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro; Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US12/009,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 166/77.2, 166/77.51, 166/85.1, 166/85.5, 166/241.1, 175/52, 175/85, 175/162, 175/203, 173/141, 173/145, 173/146, 173/163, 173/164, 173/165
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 3/022 Top drives
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/005 with helical conveying means E21B7/201 takes precedence; augers E21B10/44; drilling rods or pipes with helical structure E21B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/026 having auxiliary platforms, e.g. for observation purposes

Abstract

Systems and methods for drilling auxiliary holes such as conductor holes, ratholes, and mouseholes useful in drilling operations. The systems and methods include the use of a portable drilling apparatus that is selectively mountable on a rig'"'"'s drill floor and is removable after an auxiliary hole has been drilled. A movable drive unit is pulled down by a cable system forcing the drive unit down and thereby facilitating drilling of the auxiliary hole.

Claims

1. A method for drilling an auxiliary hole useful in wellbore drilling operations, the method comprising connecting a support frame to and above a drill floor of a rig,

securing a mount structure to the support frame,

connecting a drive apparatus to the mount structure, the drive apparatus including a drive unit movable with respect to the mount structure,

connecting an auger apparatus to the drive unit, rotating the auger apparatus with the drive unit to drill an auxiliary hole,

drilling the auxiliary hole with the auger apparatus, the auxiliary hole spaced-apart from a location of a main wellbore,

removing the support frame, mount structure, drive apparatus, and auger apparatus from the rig upon completion of the auxiliary hole before drilling the main wellbore, and

installing main drilling equipment on the rig for drilling the main wellbore wherein the mount structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart mount structure holes and the drive apparatus includes a plurality of corresponding drive apparatus holes, and a pin being insertable through one of the mount structure holes and an adjacent drive apparatus hole to releasably pin the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure,

the method further comprising inserting the pin through a mount structure hole and an adjacent drive apparatus hole to hold the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure so that the drive apparatus is positioned for drilling the auxiliary hole at a desired angle in the earth.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting a primary cable to the drive unit, and pulling on the primary cable to force the drive unit and auger apparatus downwardly to facilitate drilling of the auxiliary hole.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the rig includes a primary winch for pulling the primary cable, the method further comprising pulling the primary cable with the primary winch.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the rig has a mast and cable guide apparatus on the mast, the method further comprising guiding the primary cable with the cable guide apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the cable guide apparatus is movably connected to the mast, the method further comprising moving the cable guide apparatus and the primary cable with respect to the mast.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive unit includes a housing and the mount structure has a pair of opposed rails, the housing mounted for movement on the pair of opposed rails, the method further comprising moving the housing on the pair of opposed rails of the mount structure to move the drive unit and the auger apparatus with respect to the rig.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary hole is one of a conductor hole, a rathole, and a mousehole.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising

following drilling down into the earth with the auger apparatus, raising the drive apparatus to add a drilling extension between the auger apparatus and the drive apparatus for further drilling into the earth.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the rig includes a secondary winch for winching a secondary cable, the secondary cable connected to the drive apparatus, the method further comprising raising the drive apparatus by winching in the secondary cable with the secondary winch.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising drilling the main wellbore.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive unit is not driven by pumped drilling fluid.

12. A method for drilling an auxiliary hole useful in wellbore drilling operations, the method comprising connecting a support frame to and above a drill floor of a rig,

securing a mount structure to the support frame,

connecting a drive apparatus to the mount structure, the drive apparatus including a drive unit movable with respect to the mount structure,

connecting an auger apparatus to the drive unit, wherein the mount structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart mount structure holes and the drive apparatus includes a plurality of corresponding drive apparatus holes, a pin being insertable through one of the mount structure holes and an adjacent drive apparatus hole to releasably pin the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure, the method comprising inserting the pin through a mount structure hole and an adjacent drive apparatus hole to hold the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure so that the drive apparatus is positioned for drilling the auxiliary hole at a desired angle in the earth,

rotating the auger apparatus with the drive unit to drill an auxiliary hole, connecting a cable to the drive unit,

pulling on the primary cable to force the drive unit and auger apparatus downwardly to facilitate drilling of the auxiliary hole, wherein the rig includes a primary winch for pulling the primary cable,

the method further comprising pulling the primary cable with the primary winch, wherein the auxiliary hole is one of a conductor hole, a rathole, and a mousehole, and,

drilling the auxiliary hole with the auger apparatus, the auxiliary hole spaced-apart from a location of a main wellbore, and removing the support frame, mount structure, drive apparatus, and auger apparatus from the rig upon completion of the auxiliary hole before drilling the main wellbore.

13. A system for drilling an auxiliary hole useful in wellbore drilling operations, the system comprising a support frame releasably connectable to and above a drill floor of a rig, a mount structure releasably secured to the support frame, a drive apparatus releasably connected to the mount structure,

the drive apparatus including a drive unit movable with respect to the mount structure, an auger apparatus releasably connected to the drive unit, the auger apparatus rotatable by the drive unit to drill an auxiliary hole spaced-apart from a location of a main wellbore,

and a primary cable connected to the drive unit so that pulling on the primary cable forces the drive unit and auger apparatus downwardly to facilitate drilling of the auxiliary hole,

the mount structure including a plurality of spaced-apart mount structure holes

and the drive apparatus including a plurality of corresponding drive apparatus holes, and a pin inserted through one of the mount structure holes,

and an adjacent drive apparatus hole releasably pinning the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure to hold the drive apparatus at a desired angle to the mount structure so that the drive apparatus is positioned for drilling the auxiliary hole at a desired angle in the earth.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a primary winch on the rig for pulling the primary cable.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising the drive unit including a housing, the mount structure having a pair of opposed rails, the housing mounted for movement on the pair of opposed rails so that moving the housing on the pair of opposed rails of the mount structure moves the drive unit and the auger with respect to the rig.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising raising apparatus connected to the rig for raising the drive apparatus to add a drilling extension between the auger apparatus and the drive apparatus for further drilling into the earth.