초록 ▼

A top drive well drilling unit which is connected to the upper end of a drill string to drive it rotatively in drilling a well and is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string along a guide structure, and which is provided with pipe handling mechanism beneath the drilling unit for making and b

A top drive well drilling unit which is connected to the upper end of a drill string to drive it rotatively in drilling a well and is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string along a guide structure, and which is provided with pipe handling mechanism beneath the drilling unit for making and breaking a threaded connection between the drilling unit and the string and including an elevator which can suspend a section of drill pipe or the entire string when disconnected from the drilling unit. The pipe handling mechanism is retained against rotation with the drill string during a drilling operation, but is constructed to allow rotation of the elevator and a suspended string relative to the drilling unit when the string is supported by the elevator without connection to the drilling unit, in order to allow the string to rotate as it is moved vertically by the elevator and thereby avoid damage to the side wall of the well which may occur if a string having stabilizers is pulled upwardly without such rotation. Desirably, a powered torque wrench of the pipe mechanism is also free to rotate with the elevator during such vertical movement of the string, and is provided with control and power supply connections which need not be disconnected during the rotation.

대표청구항 ▼

Well drilling apparatus comprising: a top drive unit to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string and includes a tubular member to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith about the axis of the string and a m

Well drilling apparatus comprising: a top drive unit to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string and includes a tubular member to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith about the axis of the string and a motor for power rotating said member and the connected string to drill a well; a pipe handler including a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said tubular member and an elevator adapted to suspend said string when it is detached from said member; and connecting means attaching said pipe handler to said top drive unit for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith, and actuable between a first condition in which the elevator and a suspended string are free to rotate relative to said top drive unit about said axis during vertical movement of the string and a second condition in which said connecting means retain said elevator and torque wrench against rotation about said axis with said tubular member and string as they turn to drill a well; said connecting means including two relatively rotatable elements which deliver power to said pipe handler to control its operation and which have coacting portions received adjacent one another constructed to transmit power directly therebetween in different relative rotary settings of said elements, in a relation allowing free rotation of the elevator and a suspended string relative to the top drive unit through an unlimited number of revolutions without interrupting the capability for transmission of control power to the pipe handler through said elements.