Method for well operations

A method for running a string of pipe into a wellbore having its mouth at the earth's surface, the wellbore extending downward at an angle slightly from the horizontal, and wherein the wellbore contains a quantity of drilling mud, the method including the steps of

• securing a template over the mouth of the wellbore,
• connecting to the template one end of a riser,
• connecting the other end of the riser to a mud return vessel, the riser arcing from the mud return vessel to the mouth of the wellbore so that the string can be inserted smoothly through the riser into the wellbore,
• filling the wellbore to a desired level with cement, the cement displacing a proportionate amount of the drilling mud upward,
• positioning one end of the string of pipe movably in the mud return vessel,
• connecting the other end of the string to a prime mover that is substantially aligned with the mud return vessel,
• sealing the end of the string to be inserted into the wellbore by means of a plug to insure that the space enclosed by the string remains empty during insertion of the string so that the insertion of the string displaces the cement upward in the wellbore,
• moving the string in the horizontal plane toward the mud return vessel by means of the prime mover thereby moving the string through the riser into the wellbore.