Drilling of wells with top drive unit

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means including means for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly relative to said element between an active position in which portions of said torque wrench and said element interfit to retain said element against rotation relative to said portion of the torque wrench and a released position permitting such rotation.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly 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 element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith, a housing retained against rotation with said element, and motor means for power rotating said element and a connected string relative to said housing;
• a powered torque wrench beneath said housing and including two sections for applying torque in opposite directions to said rotary element and an upper section of the drill string respectively and power means for relatively turning said two sections of the torque wrench to break a threaded connection between said rotary element and the drill string;
• a mounting structure connected to said housing and retained thereby against rotation and projecting downwardly therefrom and carrying said torque wrench while maintaining it against rotation with said rotary element;
• said last mentioned structure including a piston and cylinder mechanism for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly relative to said housing;
• said element and one of said sections of the torque wrench having splines movable between interfitting and non-interfitting positions by said upward and downward movement of the torque wrench;
• the other section of said torque wrench having gripping means actuable into and out of gripping engagement with an upper section of the drill string;
• said element having an upwardly facing shoulder structure;
• a carrier part disposed about said element above said shoulder structure and movable between a lower position of support by said shoulder structure, a second higher position, and a third still higher position near said housing;
• torque arrester structures connected at their upper ends to said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom through passages in said carrier part in a relation retaining the carrier part against rotation with said element and guiding the carrier part for upward and downward movement between said three positions thereof;
• said torque arrester structures containing springs yieldingly urging said carrier part upwardly from said lower first position to said second position;
• suspension links connected to said carrier part and extending downwardly therefrom past said torque wrench;
• and
• an elevator suspended by said links beneath the torque wrench and movable upwardly and downwardly with the carrier part.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspensing said torque wrench and said elevator and a section of the drill string carried by the elevator from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to enable movement of said torque wrench and elevator vertically relative to one another.

A pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means driving a rotary stem for turning the drill string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be connected to the upper end of the drill string and turn it and adapted to be connected to and be driven by said stem of the top drive assembly;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means including means for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly relative to said element between an active position in which portions of said torque wrench and said element interfit to retain said element against rotation relative to said portion of the torque wrench and a released position permitting such rotation.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly 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 element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith, a housing retained against rotation with said element, and motor means for power rotating said element and a connected string relative to said housing;
• a powered torque wrench beneath said housing and including two sections for applying torque in opposite directions to said rotary element and an upper section of the drill string respectively and power means for relatively turning said two sections of the torque wrench to break a threaded connection between said rotary element and the drill string;
• a mounting structure connected to said housing and retained thereby against rotation and projecting downwardly therefrom and carrying said torque wrench while maintaining it against rotation with said rotary element;
• said last mentioned structure including a piston and cylinder mechanism for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly relative to said housing;
• said element and one of said sections of the torque wrench having splines movable between interfitting and non-interfitting positions by said upward and downward movement of the torque wrench;
• the other section of said torque wrench having gripping means actuable into and out of gripping engagement with an upper section of the drill string;
• said element having an upwardly facing shoulder structure;
• a carrier part disposed about said element above said shoulder structure and movable between a lower position of support by said shoulder structure, a second higher position, and a third still higher position near said housing;
• torque arrester structures connected at their upper ends to said housing and projecting downwardly therefrom through passages in said carrier part in a relation retaining the carrier part against rotation with said element and guiding the carrier part for upward and downward movement between said three positions thereof;
• said torque arrester structures containing springs yieldingly urging said carrier part upwardly from said lower first position to said second position;
• suspension links connected to said carrier part and extending downwardly therefrom past said torque wrench;
• an elevator suspended by said links beneath the torque wrench and movable upwardly and downwardly with the carrier part;
• an elongated flexible member connected at opposite ends thereof to said carrier part and extending upwardly therefrom and having an actuating portion;
• and
• a structure engageable by said actuating portion of said elongated flexible member when said top drive assembly and said torque wrench are lowered to a predetermined position and acting to block further downward movement of said actuating portion of the elongated element in a relation causing it to exert upward force on said carrier part and retract the carrier part and elevator upwardly relative to said housing to said third position of the carrier part.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string to drill a well;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said torque wrench against rotation with said element and the drill string as said element and string are rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said torque wrench and said element having portions which are relatively movable between active positions interfitting to prevent relative rotation between a section of the torque wrench and said element and inactive positions freeing said element for powered rotation relative to the torque wrench during drilling.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string to drill a well;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said torque wrench against rotation with said element and the drill string as said element and string are rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said element having a splined portion, and said torque wrench including a splined portion movable axially relative to said element between a position of interfitting engagement with said splined portion of said element to prevent rotation of said element relative to the torque wrench and a retracted position in which said two splined portions are not in interfitting relation and permit rotation of said element relative to the torque wrench during drilling.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string to drill a well;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said torque wrench against rotation with said element and the drill string as said element and string are rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said element having a splined portion, and said torque wrench having a first section with a splined portion movable into and out of interfitting relation with respect to said splined portion of said element, a second section adapted to grip the drill string and powered means for turning said sections relative to one another;
• said connecting means including a power unit for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly between an active position in which said splined portions are in interfitting engagement to prevent rotation of said element relative to said first section of the torque wrench and an inactive position moving said splined portions out of engagement to permit rotation of said element during drilling of a well.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means mounting said elevator for upward and downward movement relative to said torque wrench;
• an elongated flexible element connected to said elevator;
• and
• a stop member positioned to automatically actuate said elongated element for pulling said elevator upwardly relative to and toward said torque wrench upon movement of said top drive assembly and torque wrench downwardly to a predetermined position.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation thereiwth and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means mounting said elevator for movement upwardly and downwardly relative to said torque wrench and said top drive assembly between a lower position in which the elevator is suspended by an enlargement on said rotary element, a second and higher position in which said element is rotatable relative to the elevator, and an upper retracted position higher than said second position;
• said connecting means including means yieldingly urging said elevator upwardly from said first position to said second position.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means including a support shoulder structure carried by said element, a carrier part disposed about said element above said shoulder structure and from which said elevator is suspended and which is movable upwardly and downwardly between a lower position of support by said shoulder structure and an upper position in which said elevator is retracted upwardly relative to and toward said torque wrench.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means including a support shoulder structure carried by said element, a carrier part disposed about said element above said shoulder structure and from which said elevator is suspended and which is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said element;
• said top drive assembly having a non-rotating section;
• said connecting means including torque arrester structures projecting downwardly from said non-rotating section of the top drive assembly and retained thereby against rotation and projecting through guideways in said carrier part in a relation guiding said carrier part for upward and downward movement relative to said element between a lower position of support by said shoulder structure, a higher position spaced above the shoulder structure, and a still higher third position in which said elevator is retracted upwardly toward said torque wrench, said torque arrester structures including springs yieldingly urging said carrier part upwardly to said second position.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• and
• means automatically responsive to movement of said top drive drilling assembly and torque wrench to a predetermined lower position to retract said elevator upwardly relative to and toward the torque wrench.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said torque wrench against rotation with said element and the drill string as said element and string are rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said torque wrench and said element having portions which are relatively movable between active positions interfitting to prevent relative rotation between a section of the torque wrench and said element and inactive positions freeing said element for powered rotation relative to the torque wrench during drilling.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said torque wrench against rotation with said element and the drill string as said element and string are rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said element having a splined portion, and said torque wrench having a first section with a splined portion movable into and out of interfitting relation with respect to said splined portion of said element, a second section adapted to grip the drill string, and powered means for turning said sections relative to one another;
• said connecting means including a power unit for actuating said torque wrench upwardly and downwardly between an active position in which said splined portions are in interfitting egnagement to prevent rotation of said element relative to said first section of the torque wrench and an inactive position moving said splined portions out of engagement to permit rotation of said element during drilling of a well.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means mounting said elevator for movement upwardly and downwardly relative to said torque wrench and said top drive assembly between a lower position in which the elevator is suspended by a shoulder on said rotary element, a second and higher position in which said element is rotatable relative to the elevator, and an upper retracted position higher than said second position, said connecting means including means yieldingly urging said elevator upwardly from said first position to said second position.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to retain said elevator against rotation with said element and a drill string connected thereto as said element and drill string are power rotated by said motor means to drill a well;
• said connecting means including a support shoulder structure carried by said element, and a carrier part disposed about said element above said shoulder structure and from which said elevator is suspended and which is movable upwardly and downwardly between a lower position of support by said shoulder structure and an upper position in which said elevator is retracted upwardly relative to and toward said torque wrench.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means being constructed to enable downward movement of said torque wrench relative to and toward said elevator to bring the torque wrench and elevator closer vertically together in lower positions thereof;
• an elonaged flexible member movable upwardly and downwardly with said top drive assembly and operable to pull said elevator upwardly relative to the top drive assembly;
• and
• a structure engageable by a portion of said elongated flexible member when the top drive assembly is lowered to a predetermined position and acting to block further downward movement of said portion of said flexible member in a relation causing the latter to retract the elevator upwardly relative to and toward said torque wrench.

Well drilling apparatus comprising:

• a top drive assembly to be received at the upper end of a drill string and which is movable upwardly and downwardly with the string;
• said assembly including an element to be connected to the upper end of the string for rotation therewith, a body which does not turn with said element, and motor means for power rotating said element and the connected string relative to said body;
• a powered torque wrench at the lower end of said assembly operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator at the lower end of said assembly and beneath said torque wrench and adapted to engage a section of said drill string beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means attaching said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means including a structure which is attached to said body of the top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and which is retained by said body against rotation with said element and which extends downwardly past said torque wrench to said elevator and retains the elevator against rotation.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes a non-rotating body structure carrying motor means for turning the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto,
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator adapted to engage a section of said drill string at a location beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• and
• means automatically responsive to movement of said top drive drilling assembly and torque wrench to a predetermined lower position to retract said elevator upwardly relative to and toward the torque wrench.

A well pipe handler for use with a top drive well drilling assembly which is movable upwardly and downwardly with and drives a drill string and which includes motor means for turning the string, and a body which does not rotate with the string, said pipe handler comprising:

• an element adapted to be driven rotatively by said motor means relative to said body and to be connected to the upper end of the string to transmit rotation thereto;
• a powered torque wrench operable to apply torque in opposite directions to said string and said element;
• an elevator beneath said torque wrench and adapted to engage a section of said drill string beneath the torque wrench and suspend said section for movement by the elevator;
• and
• connecting means adapted to attach said torque wrench and said elevator to said top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and in a relation suspending said elevator and a section of the drill string carried thereby from said top drive assembly;
• said connecting means including a structure which is adapted to be attached to said body of the top drive assembly for movement upwardly and downwardly therewith and to be retained by said body against rotation with said element and which extends downwardly past said torque wrench to said elevator and retains the elevator against rotation.