DRILLING RIG EMPLOYING TOP DRIVE

• US 20130299244A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drilling International Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Gupta, Ashish, Bailey, Sean M., REDDY, Padria
• Granted Patent: US 9,790,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 15/00 Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/083 Cam, rack or like feed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/14 Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 3/022 Top drives

Abstract

An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a carriage movable along a drilling tower;

a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage;

at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions; and

a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the drilling tower arranged to extend longitudinally along a first axis;

wherein the top drive extends longitudinally in a parallel relation to the tower; and

wherein the pivot coupling between the top drive and the linking member permits the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the top drive is spaced from the drilling tower by first and second spacings when the linking member is in the first and second pivot positions, respectively, the first and second spacings extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis, the second spacing being greater than the first spacing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a platform to which the drilling tower is coupled; and

a first opening formed in the platform and adapted to be disposed above a wellbore, the first opening defining a third axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the first spacing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a second opening formed in the platform and adapted to receive a tubular member, the second opening defining a fourth axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the second spacing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the linking member comprises first and second members spaced in a parallel relation, the first and second members being pivotally coupled to the carriage at a first pivot connection, the first and second members being pivotally coupled to the top drive at a second pivot connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second pivot connection pivots about the first pivot connection when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one actuator comprises first and second actuators, the first actuator extending between the carriage and the first member, the second actuator extending between the carriage and the second member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the linking member further comprises a plurality of transversely-extending members, each of which extends between the first and second members.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second members is an arcuate member.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a drilling tower extending longitudinally along a first axis;

a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower;

a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the top drive is spaced from the drilling tower by first and second spacings when the linking member is in the first and second pivot positions, respectively, the first and second spacings extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis;

and

wherein the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a platform to which the drilling tower is coupled; and

a first opening formed in the platform and adapted to be disposed above a wellbore, the first opening defining a third axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the first spacing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a second opening formed in the platform and adapted to receive a tubular member, the second opening defining a fourth axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the second spacing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between the first and second pivot positions.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a base to which the drilling tower is pivotally coupled to pivot the drilling tower between third and fourth pivot positions;

wherein the drilling tower comprises;

a first portion; and

a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion to pivot the second portion between fifth and sixth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the third pivot position; and

wherein the top drive is movable along each of the first and second portions of the drilling tower when the second portion is in the sixth pivot position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a second linking member coupled to each of the carriage and the top drive to pivot between seventh and eighth pivot positions;

wherein the top drive defines a third axis that is parallel to the first axis;

wherein a first spacing is defined between the third axis and the first portion of the drilling tower when the second linking member is in the seventh pivot position;

wherein a second spacing is defined between the third axis and the first portion of the drilling tower when the other linking member is in the eighth pivot position; and

wherein the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, the tubular handling device comprising:

a first gripper to engage a first tubular member; and

a first arm coupled to the first gripper, the first arm defining;

a third axis that is parallel to the first axis and spaced therefrom in a first direction, the first arm being movable along, and pivotable about, the third axis; and

a fourth axis that is perpendicular to the third axis, the fourth axis being movable from the third axis in the first direction and movable to the third axis in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first gripper being rotatable, relative to the first arm, about the fourth axis.

19. A method, comprising:

providing a drilling tower extending longitudinally along a first axis;

coupling a carriage to the drilling tower;

pivotally coupling a linking member to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

pivotally coupling a top drive to the linking member so that the top drive extends longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the top drive is spaced from the drilling tower by first and second spacings when the linking member is in the first and second pivot positions, respectively, the first and second spacings extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis;

and

wherein the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

coupling the drilling tower to a platform;

wherein a first opening is formed in the platform and is adapted to be disposed above a wellbore, the first opening defining a third axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the first spacing.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein a second opening is formed in the platform and is adapted to receive a tubular member, the second opening defining a fourth axis that is spaced in a parallel relation from the first axis by the second spacing.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

extending at least one actuator between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between the first and second pivot positions.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the drilling tower comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled thereto;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

pivoting the drilling tower between third and fourth pivot positions;

pivoting the second portion between fifth and sixth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the third pivot position; and

moving the top drive along each of the first and second portions of the drilling tower when the second portion is in the sixth pivot position.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

pivotally coupling another linking member to each of the first portion and the top drive to pivot between seventh and eighth pivot positions;

wherein the top drive defines a third axis that is parallel to the first axis;

wherein a first spacing is defined between the third axis and the first portion of the drilling tower when the second linking member is in the seventh pivot position;

wherein a second spacing is defined between the third axis and the first portion of the drilling tower when the other linking member is in the eighth pivot position; and

wherein the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

employing a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, comprising;

providing a first gripper;

coupling a first arm to the first gripper, the first arm defining;

a second axis that is parallel to the first axis and spaced therefrom in a first direction, and

a third axis that is perpendicular to the second axis;

moving the first arm along the second axis;

pivoting the first arm about the second axis;

moving the third axis from the second axis in the first direction;

rotating the first gripper, relative to the first arm, about the third axis;

engaging a first tubular member with the first gripper; and

moving the third axis, the first gripper and the first tubular member towards the second axis in a second direction opposite the first direction.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein employing the tubular handling device further comprises:

providing a second gripper;

coupling a second arm to the second gripper, the second arm defining;

a fourth axis that is parallel to the first axis and spaced therefrom in the first direction, and

a fifth axis that is perpendicular to the fourth axis;

moving the second arm along the fourth axis;

pivoting the second arm about the fourth axis;

moving the fifth axis from the fourth axis in the first direction;

rotating the second gripper, relative to the second arm, about the fifth axis;

engaging a second tubular member with the second gripper; and

moving the fifth axis, the second gripper and the second tubular member towards the fourth axis in the second direction.