Top drive system
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsKarsten Heidecke, Joseph Ross Rials, Raleigh Fisher, Delaney Michael Olstad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a top drive system includes a quill; a motor operable to rotate the quill; a gripper operable to engage a joint of casing; a connector bi-directionally rotationally coupled to the quill and the gripper and longitudinally coupled to the gripper; and a compensator longitudinally coupled to the quill and the connector. The compensator is operable to allow relative longitudinal movement between the connector and the quill.
Claims37
A top drive system, comprising:
- a quill;
- a motor operable to rotate the quill;
- a gripper operable to engage a joint of casing;
- and
- a connector bi-directionally rotationally coupled to the quill and the gripper and longitudinally coupled to the gripper;
- a compensator longitudinally coupled to the quill and the connector, the compensator operable to allow relative longitudinal movement between the connector and the quill.
A method of using a top drive, comprising:
- injecting drilling fluid through a quill of the top drive and into a drill string disposed in a wellbore, wherein the drill string is connected to a first adapter with a threaded connection and the first adapter is bidrectionally rotationally coupled to the quill;
- rotating a drill bit connected to a lower end of the drill string, thereby drilling the wellbore;
- operating an actuator thereby releasing the first adaptor from the quill;
- engaging a second adaptor with the quill, wherein a casing gripper is bidrectionally rotationally and longitudinally coupled to the second adapter;
- and
- operating the actuator, thereby bidrectionally rotationally coupling the quill and the second adapter.
A method of making up a joint or stand of casing with a casing string using a top drive, comprising:
- engaging the joint or stand of casing with a casing gripper of the top drive, wherein the casing gripper is bidrectionally rotationally coupled to a quill of the top drive;
- rotating the joint or stand of casing relative casing string using the casing gripper, thereby making up the joint or stand of casing with the casing string, wherein the casing gripper is longitudinally coupled to a compensator and the compensator allows longitudinal movement of the gripper relative to a quill of the top drive during makeup;
- and
- longitudinally coupling the casing gripper to the quill or a motor of the top drive;
- and
- lowering the joint or stand of casing into a wellbore.
A top drive system, comprising:
- a quill having a bore formed therethrough;
- a motor operable to rotate the quill;
- a gripper operable to engage a joint of casing;
- and
- a connector rotationally coupled to the quill and the gripper and longitudinally coupled to the gripper and having a bore formed therethrough;
- a seal engaging the connector and the quill, thereby isolating fluid communication between the quill and connector bores;
- and
- a first conduit extending along the quill to the connector and a second conduit extending from the connector to the gripper, wherein the connector connects the two conduits.
A method of using a top drive, comprising:
- injecting drilling fluid through a quill of the top drive and into a drill string disposed in a wellbore, wherein:
- the drill string is connected to a first adapter with a threaded connection, and
- a control line extending along the drill string is in communication with a control line extending along the quill via the first adapter;
- rotating a drill bit connected to a lower end of the drill string, thereby drilling the wellbore;
- releasing the first adapter from the quill;
- and
- connecting a second adapter to the quill, wherein a casing gripper is connected to the second adapter and a control line of the casing gripper is in communication with the quill control line via the second adapter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.