Drill pipe connecting and disconnecting apparatus

Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe comprising,

• a base fixed for no movement relative to a drilling rig floor, said base having a supporting frame spaced outwardly about a well axis in the drilling rig floor,
• a remotely controlled lifting mechanism coupled to said base which translates vertically parallel to said well axis,
• a remotely controlled powered wrench assembly having a wrench frame carried by said lifting mechanism and positioned to surround said well axis, including
• a lower wrench carried by said wrench frame and arranged and designed for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section along said well axis, and
• an upper wrench carried by said wrench frame and arranged and designed for spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with said box coupling and designed and arranged for gripping and torquing said pin coupling for make-up torquing or break out torquing to said box coupling, whereby said wrench frame of said powered wrench assembly has no horizontal movement along said drilling rig floor while said base remains fixed during drill pipe section connecting and disconnecting operations.

Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe comprising,

• a base fixed for no movement relative to a drilling rig floor, said base having a supportive frame spaced outwardly about a well opening at the drilling rig floor, said well opening having a generally vertical well axis,
• a lifting mechanism coupled to said base which is arranged and designed to move vertically parallel to said well axis,
• a powered wrench assembly carried by said lifting mechanism including a lower wrench arranged and designed for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section at said well opening and an upper wrench arranged and designed for spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with said box coupling and designed and arranged for gripping and torquing said pin coupling for make-up torquing or break-out torquing, and
• a manipulator carried by said powered wrench assembly and having a remotely controlled manipulator arm which pivots between a side of said powered wrench assembly and said well axis.

Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe comprising,

• a base fixed for no movement relative to a drilling rig floor, said base having a supportive frame spaced outwardly about a well opening at the drilling rig floor, said well opening having a generally vertical well axis,
• a lifting mechanism coupled to said base which is arranged and designed to move vertically parallel to said well axis,
• a powered wrench assembly carried by said lifting mechanism including a lower wrench arranged and designed for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section at said well opening and an upper wrench arranged and designed for spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with said box coupling and designed and arranged for gripping and torquing said pin coupling for make-up torquing or break-out torquing, wherein
• said base includes supporting feet which contact said drilling rig floor and are designed and arranged to be substantially stationary with respect to said drilling rig floor during drilling rig operations.