Apparatus and method for rapid replacement of upper blowout preventers

A method for replacing a drill string component comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning a torque back-up structure so as to stabilize said drill string component;
• b) locking a drive shaft using a drive shaft brake in order to prevent rotary motion of said drive shaft;
• c) utilizing a torque wrench to simultaneously grip said torque back-up structure and said drill string component;
• d) utilizing said torque wrench to apply torque to said drill string component and to turn said drill string component relative to said drive shaft.

A method for replacing a drill string component comprising the steps:

• a) securing an RTBS onto a rotary table, directly below an upper IBOP, pipe handler and a TDS;
• b) activating an air amplifier in order to substantially lock a TDS drive shaft against rotational movement;
• c) lowering said TDS, pipe handler, and upper IBOP so as to stab said upper IBOP onto said RTBS;
• d) activating a torque wrench, comprising a torque tube and a lower gripping section, to rise up so that torque tube splines and slots engage upper IBOP splines and slots and so that said lower gripping section of said torque wrench grips said RTBS utilizing hydraulic pressure produced by a hydraulic pressure booster;
• e) breaking-out said upper IBOP from said drive shaft by rotating said torque tube utilizing said hydraulic pressure booster to provide hydraulic pressure and utilizing said RTBS and said substantially locked drive shaft as torque back-ups;
• f) raising said TDS and pipe handler to lift said upper IBOP off of said RTBS;
• g) placing a drive ring over said RTBS, said drive ring having drive pins, and swinging said torque wrench out of the way so as to allow lowering said upper IBOP so that said drive pins engage slot portions running along the outside of said upper IBOP;
• h) unlocking said drive shaft;
• i) activating said TDS to spin out said upper IBOP from said drive shaft;
• j) raising said TDS so as to leave said upper IBOP resting in said drive ring;
• k) removing said upper IBOP from said drive ring;
• l) placing a new upper IBOP into said drive ring so that slot portions running along the outside of said new upper IBOP engage said pins;
• m) lowering said TDS so as to bring said drive shaft into contact with said new upper IBOP;
• n) activating said TDS to spin said drive shaft into said new upper IBOP;
• o) raising said TDS and pipe handler to lift said new upper IBOP out of said drive ring;
• p) removing said drive ring from said RTBS;
• q) lowering said TDS, pipe handler, and new upper IBOP so as to stab said new upper IBOP onto said RTBS;
• r) activating said torque wrench to rise up so that said torque tube splines and slots engage new upper IBOP splines and slots and so that said lower gripping section of said torque wrench grips said RTBS utilizing hydraulic pressure produced by a hydraulic pressure booster;
• s) making-up said new upper IBOP to said drive shaft by rotating said torque tube utilizing said hydraulic pressure booster to provide hydraulic pressure and utilizing said RTBS and said substantially locked drive shaft as torque back-ups.