Rotation inhibiting apparatus

A system to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig, comprising:

• the drilling rig, comprising:
• a top drive having a vertical axis defined therethrough;
• and
• a tubular handling mechanism supported from a quill of the top drive;
• and
• a rotation inhibiting apparatus, comprising:
• a first member connected to a rotationally stationary component of the top drive;
• a second member connected to the first member and to the tubular handling mechanism;
• and
• a rotation adjustment system to adjust an orientation of at least one of the top drive and the tubular handling mechanism with respect to the drilling rig,
• wherein the first member is movable with respect to the second member in a direction along the vertical axis of the top drive, and
• wherein the first member and the second member are configured to remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about the vertical axis of the top drive.

An apparatus to inhibit rotation of a component connected to a top drive, comprising:

• a first member and a second member connected to each other;
• wherein the first member and the second member connect between a component of a drilling rig, the component of the drilling rig remaining rotationally stationary with respect to an axis of the top drive, and a component connected to a quill of the top drive,
• wherein a rotation adjustment system is configured to adjust orientation of at least one of the component of the drilling rig and the component connected to the quill of the top drive with respect to drilling rig,
• wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is configured to move vertically with respect to the drilling rig, and
• wherein the first member and the second member are configured to remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about the axis of the tubular running tool.

A method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• coupling a first member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to a first component of a drilling rig;
• coupling a second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a second component of the drilling rig, the second component configured to move vertically with respect to the first component and configured to rotate with respect to the first component;
• connecting the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to each other such that the first member is able to move vertically with respect to the second member within the drilling rig and the first member and the second member substantially inhibit rotation between each other;
• and
• adjusting, by a rotation adjustment system, an orientation of at least one of the first component and the second component with respect to the drilling rig.

A method to at least one of make-up and break-out a threaded connection with a string of tubular members, the method comprising:

• rotating a tubular member with respect to the string of tubular members with a tubular running tool;
• moving a first member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus with respect to a second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus along an axis of the tubular running tool, the rotation inhibiting apparatus being coupled between the tubular handling mechanism and a component of a drilling rig;
• and
• adjusting, by a rotation adjustment system, an orientation of the tubular handling mechanism with respect to a drilling rig.

An apparatus to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig, comprising:

• a member having a first end and a second end;
• the first end of the member connected to at least one bail ear of a top drive of the drilling rig;
• the second end of the member connected to a component rotationally connected to a quill of the top drive;
• and
• a rotation adjustment system to adjust an orientation of at least one of the top drive and the component rotationally connected to the quill of the top drive with respect to the drilling rig.

A method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• coupling a first end of a member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to at least one bail ear of a top drive of the drilling rig;
• coupling a second end of the member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a component rotationally coupled to a quill of the top drive of the drilling rig;
• and
• adjusting, by a rotation adjustment system, an orientation of at least one of the top drive and the component rotationally coupled to a quill of the top drive with respect to the drilling rig,
• wherein the quill is configured to rotate about a rotational axis of the top drive.

An apparatus to adjust orientation between components of a drilling rig, comprising:

• a member having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a rotational adjustment system;
• the first end of the member connected to a first component of the drilling rig;
• and
• the second end of the member connected to the rotation adjustment system, the rotational adjustment system connected to a second component of the drilling rig,
• wherein the rotation adjustment system adjusts an orientation of at least one of the first component and the second component with respect to the drilling rig.

A method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig, the method comprising:

• coupling a first end of a member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to a first component of the drilling rig;
• coupling a second end of the member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a rotation adjustment system;
• coupling the rotational adjustment system to a second component of the drilling rig;
• and
• adjusting, by the rotation adjustment system, an orientation of at least one of the first component and the second component with respect to the drilling rig.