# US 2014/0151044 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Preforming Cementing Operations on Top Drive Rigs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151044 A1 - Document ID: US20140151044A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/161,795 - Filed: 2014-01-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-28 - Assignees: Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC - Applicants: Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC - Inventors: Ron D. Robichaux; James F. Giebeler; Juan Carlos E. Mondelli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151044A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/05: Cementing-heads, e.g. having provision for introducing cementing plugs - E21B 3/022: {Top drives} - E21B 17/05: Swivel joints - E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head is provided having a high tensile strength, as well as the ability to swivel or rotate about a central vertical axis. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be beneficially launched into said slurry flow at desired point(s) during the cementing process. The internal components of the cement head can be easily accessed using interrupted thread connections that can be quickly and easy connected and disconnected in the field without requiring specialized equipment. The cement head can be rigged up and remotely operated without requiring the lifting of personnel off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cement head comprising: a) a body member having an upper end defining at least one dog recess, a lower end and a bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, and a first box end threaded connector having interrupted threads at said upper end; b) a sub assembly having an upper end, a lower end, a bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, and a pin end threaded connector having interrupted threads disposed on said lower end, wherein said pin end connector is mated with said first box end threaded connector of said body member; c) a ring having a top, a bottom and at least one face dog, wherein said ring is slidably received on said sub assembly, and said at least one face dog is received within said at least one dog recess on said upper end of said body member; and d) a locking assembly for selectively securing said ring against said body member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cement head of claim 1, further comprising: a) at least one spline groove disposed on an external surface of said sub assembly and oriented substantially parallel to said bore of said sub assembly; and b) at least one spline tooth disposed on an inner surface of said ring and slidably received in said at least one spline groove. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cement head of claim 1, wherein said locking assembly comprises an eccentric cam rotatably connected to said sub assembly and disposed within a substantially rectangular aperture in said ring, wherein rotation of said eccentric cam applies axial force to said ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cement head of claim 1, further comprising at least one droppable object disposed within said body member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cement head of claim 4, wherein said at least one droppable object comprises a dart, plug or ball. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cement head of claim 1, wherein said cement head is connected to a casing running tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cement head of claim 1, further comprising at least one substantially transparent widow in said body member adapted to permit observation into said bore of said body member from outside said body member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cement head of claim 7, wherein said substantially transparent window is positioned adjacent to a droppable object disposed within said body member. ### Claim 9 A method of performing cementing operations comprising the steps of: a) connecting flow lines to a cement head at a rig floor, said cement head comprising: i) a body member having an upper end defining at least one dog recess, a lower end and a bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, and a first box end threaded connector having interrupted threads at said upper end; ii) a sub assembly having an upper end, a lower end, a bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, and a pin end threaded connector having interrupted threads disposed on said lower end, wherein said pin end connector is mated with said first box end threaded connector of said body member; iii) a ring having a top, a bottom and at least one face dog, wherein said ring is slidably received on said sub assembly, and said at least one face dog is received within said at least one dog recess on said upper end of said body member; and iv) a locking assembly for selectively securing said ring against said body member; b) lifting said cement head above said rig floor; c) pumping fluid through said cement head; d) lowering said cement head to said rig floor; e) disconnecting said sub assembly from said body member; f) re-connecting said sub assembly to said body member; and g) re-lifting said cement head above said rig floor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of pumping fluid through said cement head after re-lifting said cement head above said rig floor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said cement head further comprises: a) at least one spline groove disposed on an outer surface of said sub assembly and oriented substantially parallel to said bore of said sub assembly; and b) at least one spline tooth disposed on an inner surface of said ring and slidably received in said at least one spline groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said locking assembly comprises an eccentric cam rotatably connected to said sub assembly and disposed within a substantially rectangular aperture in said ring, wherein rotation of said eccentric cam applies axial force to said ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of launching at least one droppable object from said cement head. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one droppable object comprises a dart, plug or ball. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of loading a droppable object into said body member prior to re-connecting said sub assembly to said body member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said cement head comprises at least one substantially transparent widow in said body member adapted to permit observation into said bore of said body member from outside said body member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said substantially transparent window is positioned adjacent to a droppable object disposed within said body member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one sub assembly is connected to a casing running tool.