GB1037278A - Method and drilling rig for continuously and automatically pulling-out and running-in a pipe string - Google Patents

Abstract

1,037,278. Wells; boring earth &c. DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINISTERUL INDUSTRIER PETROLULUI SI CHIMIEI OF RUMANIA. Dec. 24, 1963 [Dec. 28, 1962], No. 50814/63. Heading E1F. Well apparatus for running-in, or pulling, a pipe string comprises: a conveyer 13 for raising a pipe from, or lowering it to, a rack 11 to, or from, a horizontal position midway up the derrick; a trolley 16 at the position for moving one end of the pipe horizontally to, or from, the derrick; an upper lift 2 in the derrick adapted to raise, or lower, the other end of the pipe prior to lowering, or after raising, the string in the well; and a lower lift 7 having make and break mechanism 9 adapted to fix the pipe to, or unfix the pipe from, the string. At the beginning of a cycle for adding a pipe A 2 to a pipe A 3 already in the string which is being run in, both lifts descend and the pipe A 2 is in the midderrick position. While both lifts are descending the weight of the string is taken by slips 10 on the lower lift, an end of the pipe A 2 is gripped by jaws 21 on the trolley, and the conveyer starts to raise a pipe A 1 from the rack. As the upper lift comes to rest opposite the pipe A 2 an elevator 5 on a power swivel 4 carried by the upper lift grips the other end of the pipe A 2 , and the lower lift continues to descend. The upper lift rises rapidly and the lower lift descends, the pipes passing through the positions shown. At the top of the stroke of the upper lift the pipe A 2 is released from the jaws and the now vertical pipe is lowered by the descent of the upper lift on to the pipe A 3 . The lifts descend together and after the make and break device has joined the pipes A 2 , As the weight of the string is transferred to the elevator, swivel and upper lift. The upper lift continues to descend and the lower lift rises rapidly before descending until the top of the pipe A 2 is level with the pipe A 1 which has been raised by the conveyer to the mid-derrick position in readiness for a cycle to attach the pipe A 1 to the string. When the apparatus is used for pulling pipe a transfer unit 22 removes pipe from the horizontal midderrick position and places it on the conveyer. The elevator is replaced by a make-up unit when the rig is used for drilling.