METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATION OPERATIONS ON EARTH
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for carrying out sounding operations on land and, in particular, to an apparatus and method which may use rolled tubing and articulated (threaded) tubing. The use of coiled tubing (CT) technology in drilling for oil and gas and maintenance has become more and more common in recent years. In CT technology, a continuous pipe wound on a reel is straightened and insulated in a well using a CT injector. CT technology can be used for drilling and maintenance, for example, completion of works. The advantages offered by the use of technology
CT, which include economy of time and cost are well known. When compared to articulated tubing technology where typically straight sections of 30-45 ft. Pipe are threadedly connected to one section at a time while drilling the borehole, CT technology allows for continuous pipeline deployment while drilling the well, significantly reducing the frequency with which the drilling must be suspended to allow additional sections of pipeline to be connected. This results in less connection time, and as a result, a cost efficiency
and time However, the adoption of CT technology for drilling has been less widespread than originally anticipated as a result of certain problems inherent in using CT in a drilling application. For example, because CT tends to be less strong than articulated piping for surface-level drilling, it is often necessary to drill a surface hole using the articulated piping, cement the casing in the surface pit, and then change to CT perforation. Additionally, when difficult deposits such as gravel are at the bottom of the drilling, it may be necessary to change from CT drilling to articulated pipe drilling until the drilling through the reservoir is complete, and then switching back to drilling. CT to continue drilling the well. Similarly, when it is necessary to perform drilling rod test to evaluate the conditions at the bottom of the bore, it may be necessary to change again from the CT borehole to the articulated borehole drilling and then again. Finally, a change back to articulated pipe operations is necessary to lay the casing in the drilled well. In short, in CT drilling operations it is usually necessary for the clients and the equipment to change again and again between a
CT drilling equipment and a conventional articulated piping rig, a process that results in significant downtime when one team goes out of the way, and the other equipment is put in place. Another disadvantage of CT drilling is the process that requires a lot of time to assemble a (bottom hole assembly (BHA) - the components at the end of the CT for drilling, testing and maintaining wells, etc.) , and connect the BHA to the end of the CT. Currently, this stage is carried out manually through the use of rotary tables and assembly / disassembly equipment. In some cases, higher impellers are used but the CT injector and the upper impeller must be separated from each other, that is, they can not be in line with the borehole. Not only does this process result in costly downtime, but it also presents safety hazards to workers as it requires handling heavy components manually. To address the above problems associated with the use of CT technology and to provide a selective and rapid change from the use of a CT injector to a higher impeller operation, certain so-called "universal" or "hybrid" equipment have been developed. Typical examples of universal equipment, that is, a machine that uses a single mast to perform both upper impeller and CT operations, the upper impeller and the CT injector that generally
they are operatively connected to the mast at all times, are shown in U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0206551; and US Patents Nos. 6,003,598 and 6,609,565. Thus, in the North American Publication 2004/0206551 is described a device adapted to carry out soil probing operations using both CT and / or articulated pipes, the CT injector and an upper impeller are mounted on the same mast, the injector CT can be moved selectively between a first position where the CT injector is in line with the equipment mast and therefore the ground probe and a second position where the CT injector is out of line with the mast and therefore So much sounding on the ground. In all the systems described in the aforementioned patents, the upper impeller and the CT injector are two separate units. Accordingly, as described in all the aforementioned patents, various techniques are described for selectively placing the CT injector or the top impeller over the center of the borehole depending on whether the CT operations are being carried out or the operations of articulated tubing are being carried out. Additionally, in all the systems described in the aforementioned patents, and as noted, the upper impeller and the CT injector are all the time operatively connected to the mast. exist
occasions when it may be desirable to have the convenience of only higher impeller operations without the added complication of a CT injector that is connected to the mast carrying the upper impeller. In addition, it may be desirable to have a system that can rapidly change between CT operations and upper impeller operations and where a single CT injector system can be selectively and operatively associated with equipment that carries only one upper impeller (the upper impeller) of such that the simple CT injector system can be transferred from a superior driving device to another superior driving equipment as dictated by convenience and necessity. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for conducting ground probing operations, eg, drilling. The method includes providing a CT system comprising a first carrier, a CT injector and a CT reel mounted on the first carrier and providing a second carrier, separate from the first carrier, a mast that is mounted on the second carrier, a upper impeller that is carried by the mast for longitudinal movement along the same. The method further includes providing an elevator and moving the CT injector with the elevator from the first carrier to a position whereby the CT injector is in line with the upper driver and can be suspended from one of the
mast or the upper impeller. In addition, the method includes suspending the CT injector from one of the mast or upper impeller and interconnecting the mast and the CT injector to prevent reactive movement of the CT injector relative to the mast. The method also comprises performing an operation in the borehole, the operation comprising feeding the CT from the bobbin through the CT injector into the borehole, at least a portion of the weight of the CT injector and so less a portion of the CT weight in the borehole is carried by the mast when transferred from the upper impeller. In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for carrying out ground probing operations is provided, the apparatus comprises a CT system comprising a first carrier, a CT injector and a CT reel carried in the first carrier. There is also a second carrier, separated from the first carrier. A mast is mounted on the second carrier and an upper impeller is carried by the mast for longitudinal movement along the same. There is an elevator for moving the CT injector from the first carrier to a position whereby the CT injector in line with the top driver is suspended from one of the mast or the top driver. A torque suppressor interconnects the mast and the CT injector to prevent reactive movement of the CT injector relative to the
mast BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a CT system for use in the present invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the CT system shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the CT system of Figure 1 adjacent to an upper drive assembly. Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the CT injector of the CT system of Figure 1 moving to a position in the upper drive equipment to perform the CT operations. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a side elevation view similar to Figure 4 but showing the CT injector moving from the position shown in Figure 4 to a position where upper impeller operations can be performed by the upper drive equipment. Figure 7 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a top drive with an elevator mounted thereon for moving a CT injector from a CT system. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but
which shows the elevator arms in the upper drive unit coupling the CT injector in the CT system. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the CT injector moved to a position in the upper drive equipment to perform the CT operations. Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the CT injector moving from the position shown in Figure 9 to a position where upper impeller operations can be performed by the upper drive equipment. Figure 11 is an enlarged elevation view showing a method for suspending the CT injector from the upper impeller. Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the CT injector positioned under the upper impeller before being suspended from the upper impeller. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of Figure 12 / and Figure 14 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 5 showing a technique for suspending the CT injector from the mast as opposed to the upper impeller. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a CT system indicated generally as 10 is shown. The CT system 10 comprises a trailer 12 which as shown is of the wheeled variety having a tongue 14 for
its attachment to a tractor or the like in such a way that the trailer 12 can move when desired. Cantilevered beams 12a and 12b provide stability to the trailer 12 when the trailer 12 is placed for use. Rotationally mounted in the support blocks 15 and 17 in the trailer 12 is a CT spool 14. The trailer 12 also includes a sub-platform 16 on which a CT injector rests generally shown as 18. As is well known, the CT injector 18 is associated with a goose guide or neck 20 which guides the CT 22 that is loose of the reel 14 of CT towards the CT injector 18. As shown, the CT 22 has been inserted into the CT injector 18. Also as shown, the guide 20 is comprised of two sections 20a and 20b which are secured together by a hinge 24. A piston / cylinder combination 20c interconnects the CT injector 18 and the guide section 20b for a purpose to be described later. Also pivotally mounted as in 27 and 29 in sub-platform 16 is a pair of booms 26 and 28, booms 26 and 28 are of a telescopic variety and, as shown, are comprised of three telescopic sections. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, connected between the carrier 12 and the booms 26 and 28 are the combinations 29 and 31 of piston / cylinder, respectively, which can be operated by a hydraulic system not shown but well known by those with experience in the technique.
A frame comprising a collar 34 is secured to and the closure of the housing 36 of the CT injector 18. The collar 34 is provided with first and second ears 38 and 40 extending laterally and externally on opposite sides generally and diametrically of the collar 34. The feathers 26 and 28 are pivotally secured by means of connections 30 and 32 to the ears 38 and 40. , respectively. The collar 34 is also provided with a pair of support blocks 42 and 44 which serve to rotatably articulate a pair of fork members 46 and 48, respectively, the fork member 46 comprises a terminating arm 50 attached to a head portion. comprised of the first and second teeth 52 and 54 separated. Similarly, the fork member 48 comprises an arm 56 attached to a head portion comprised of members 58 and 60 of spaced teeth (see Figure 5). Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, a second carrier indicated generally at 70 is shown. As shown, the carrier 70 is comprised of an infrastructure that includes a platform 72 that is placed on a wellhead 74 of a borehole not shown Mounted on the platform 72 is a maneuvering rig 76 with a cable 78 extending upwardly to a crown block 80 mounted on a mast 82. In the embodiment shown, the mast 82 is comprised of first and second columns 84 and 86
separated. Extending longitudinally along and attached to the column 84 is the rail 88 while a rail 90 joins and extends longitudinally along the column 86. While the mast 82 is shown as being formed mainly by two columns, it will be understood that this is for purposes of simplicity only and that the mast 82 may take several structured forms. Movably mounted, for example, slidably for longitudinal movement along the mast 82 is an upper impeller 92, the upper impeller 92 slidably engages with the rails 88 and 90 and is moved by the cables 94 running from the 80 block of crown. The carrier 70 with the mast 82 is referred to herein as a top drive. As can be seen with reference to Figure 4, the CT injector 18 is in an operative position, that is, in a position to carry out CT operations in the borehole under the wellhead 74. To achieve this, and again with reference to Figure 1, the piston / cylinder combinations 29 and 31 are activated to move the feathers 26 and 28 towards the position shown in Figure 4. The feathers 26 and 28 as seen in FIG. above are of the telescopic variety so the sections of the feathers 26 and 28 by hydraulic or mechanical means well known to those skilled in the art,
they can extend towards the position shown in Figure 4. In this way, by virtue of the pivoting movement of the feathers 26 and 28 from the position shown in Figure 1 by means of piston / cylinder combinations 29 and 31 together with the extension of the telescopic sections of the pens 26 and 28, the CT injector 18 moves from the first carrier 12 to the second carrier 70 in an operative position. Also, the piston / cylinder combination 20c has been activated to move the section 20b of the guide 20 to the portion shown in Figure 4 such that a complete guidewire has been formed. It should be noted that while the second carrier 70 is shown as a fixed structure, it may comprise a structure with wheels and in this respect the word "carrier" is intended to include any support, platform, skate or any structure whether fixed, with wheels or self-propelled. As seen with particular reference to Figure 4, once the CT injector 18 is positioned as shown in Figure 4, ie, in such a way that the CT injector is in line with the upper driver 92 and the CT 22 that is emitted therefrom is substantially in line with the wellhead 74 and hence the well well below it, the wires 100 extending from the upper impeller 92 are connected to the CT injector 18 in such a manner that the CT 18 is now suspended from the upper impeller 92. In this position,
the CT injector 18 and the upper impeller 92 are substantially in line with each other as well as wellhead 74. It will also be appreciated that in this position, the upper impeller 92 effectively serves as an elevator for the CT injector 18 such that it can move longitudinally along the mast 82. For this purpose, once the CT injector 18 is has positioned as shown in Figure 4, so that essentially it is in line as the upper impeller 92 and the cables 100 are joined so that the CT 18 is now suspended from the upper impeller 92, the fork members 46 and 48 now they move from the position shown in Figure 1, ie, where they are substantially in parallel or at least longitudinally running from the CT injector 18 to the position shown in Figure 5 where they are now transverse to the long axis of the CT injector 18. and therefore transverse to the mast 82. When moved to this position, the rail 88 will be received between the teeth 52 and 54 while the rail 90 will be received between the teeth 58 and 60. This movement of the Forks 46 and 48 can be achieved mechanically, hydraulically or in fact manually if desired. It will now be noted that the CT injector 18 can now move longitudinally along the mast 82 by virtue of the engagement of the fork members 46 and 48 with the rails 88 and 90, respectively. It will also be understood that the
fork members 46 and 48 can be releasably secured in the position shown in Figure 5 by mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art. While the fork members 46 and 48 are shown as being pivotally attached to the CT injector 18, it will be appreciated that the fork members may be in the form of a piston / cylinder or telescopic shape such that in the retracted position, the members of the fork can be out of engagement with the rails 88 and 90 but when in the extended position, the rails can be received between the teeth of the respective fork members. It will also be appreciated that other forms of coupling members may be employed to selectively and releasably provide an operative connection between the rails 88, 90 and the CT injector 18. This selectively releasable coupling of the CT injector 18 to the rails 88 and 90, together with the CT injector 18 which allows to move in a guided fashion along the mast 82, serves the important purpose of reducing any tendency of the injector 18 of CT that could have to pivot in the directions of the arrows A or B as a reaction to the forces applied to the CT 22 by the guide 20 when for example, the CT 22 was being injected into or retrieving from the borehole. Accordingly, the fork members 46 and 48 together with the rails 88 and 90
they serve as torque suppressors or reducers since they suppress, in fact they substantially prevent any pivotal movement of the CT injector 18 about an imaginary axis passing between the columns 84 and 86 that form the mast 82. Figures 4 and 5 represent the situation where the injector 18 CT has been moved to an operative position in the mast 82, ie, outside the carrier 12. Figure 3 represents the condition where the carrier 10 has been supported on the carrier 70 and before any movement of the CT injector 18 outside the carrier 10 and in the position shown in Figure 4. It will be seen in the view shown in Figure 3, the upper driver 92 can perform articulated pipe operations since the CT injector 18 is not it suspends from the upper impeller 92 and consequently does not interfere with the ability of the upper impeller to lay or release the articulated tubing from the borehole under the wellhead 74. Returning now to Figure 6, a condition is depicted where the CT injector 18 has moved from the position shown in Figure 4 to a position where the CT injector 18 has been separated from the upper driver 92. As seen, the CT injector 18 has moved laterally away from the mast 82 in such a way that it does not interfere with the operation of the upper driver 92 or its movement
longitudinally along the length of the rails 88, 90. In the position shown in Figure 6, once the operations using the upper impeller 92 have been completed, the upper impeller 92 can then move upwardly on the mast 82. , the CT injector 18 moves towards the position shown in Figure 4 and is again suspended by wires 100 from the upper impeller 92 and once again begins to perform the CT operations. Thus, it will be noted that the invention provides a fast way to convert from articulated pipe operations using the upper impeller 92 to CT operations using the CT injector 18 and vice versa. In addition, it will be appreciated that since the carrier 12 and the carrier 70 are separated from one another, prolonged upper impeller operations are contemplated, the CT system can be moved to another location to perform the CT operations using other superior drive equipment. Referring now to Figure 7, another embodiment of the present invention is shown where the lifter to move the CT injector out of its carrier and into an operative position in the mast carrying the upper impeller is mounted on the carrier for the mast instead of in the carrier for the CT. The CT injector system 100 as the CT injector system 10 comprises a carrier 102 which, as shown is in the form of a trailer with wheels
having a tongue 104 for attachment to a tractor or the like for transport. As in the case of the carrier 12, the carrier 102 is provided with cantilevered beams 108 and 110 to stabilize the carrier 102 when in position for use. A pair of support posts 112 and 114 extend upwardly from a platform 106 on the carrier 102 and form a rest or stand for a CT injector generally shown as 116. Largely, the CT injector 116 is similar to the injector 18 of CT. In this respect, although not shown, the CT injector 116 is provided with a frame that includes a collar such as the collar 34, a gooseneck or guide, a piston / cylinder arrangement such as the cylinder 20c, as well as fork members such as the fork members 46 and 48, all for the same purpose as described above with respect to the CT injector 18. Rotatingly articulated in the appropriate support blocks 118, of which only one is shown, is a reel 120 of CT 122, the CT 122 extends from the reel 120 to the CT injector 116. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the second carrier 130 is similar in many respects to the carrier 70 in that there is an infrastructure that includes a platform 132 on which it is mounted but no rigging is shown.
maneuvers such as the maneuvering rig 76 as seen in Figure 4. The carrier 130 is placed on a wellhead 134 under which is a borehole not shown. Attached to the platform 132 or to any suitable structural member forming the infrastructure of the carrier 130, there is a pair of telescopic booms 134 of which only one is shown. The telescopic booms 136 are pivotally joined as in 138 to the platform 132 or, as seen, to a suitable structural member forming the carrier 130. Combinations 140 of piston / cylinder, of which only one is shown, are joined pivotally as at 142 to the infrastructure forming the carrier 130 and also joins pivotally as at 144 to the boom 136. Again, although not shown, it will be understood that there are two booms 136, of which both are attached to the carrier 130 in the form described above with respect to the boom 136. A pair of posts 113, of which only one is shown, are fixed to and extended externally from opposite sides of the CT injector 116. The posts 113 have non-circular ends, for example, flat parts for keys, distant from the CT injector 116. Carried away at the ends of the telescopic sections 136a of the plumes 136 that are further away from the pivotal connection points 138 are the selectively releasable keys 115 of which only one
sample. The keys 115 have a profile that matches the non-circular end profiles of the posts 113. The keys 115 may also be rotated relative to the sections 136a. Accordingly, when the keys 115 couple the posts 113, there is no relative movement between them. Additionally, the telescopic sections 136a of the booms 136 carry the piston / cylinder combinations 146 that are connected between the telescopic sections 136a and the keys 115. When the telescopic booms 136 move towards the position shown in Figure 8, the keys 115 the poles 113 are connected, this connects the telescopic booms 136 to the CT injector 116. Due to the position of the piston / cylinder combinations 146, this operatively connects the CT injector 116 to the piston / cylinder combinations 146. Since there is no relative rotation between the posts 113 and the keys 115, and the posts 113 are fixed to the CT injector 116, the movement of the piston of the cylinder combinations 146 will rotate the CT injector to the proper orientation once which has moved towards the mast 148 as shown in Figure 9. In this way, as shown in Figure 9, the cylinders 146 have been extended. In other words, due to the latching mechanism comprised of post 113 and keys 115 rotates to the CT injector 116 when the pistons of the cylinders 146 extend as shown in Figure 9, the
CT injector 116 can be properly aligned. The carrier 130 also includes a mast 148 which, as in the case of the mast 82 will generally comprise two separate columns 150 of which only one is shown. It will be understood that the mast 148, while shown as generally and vertically aligned in Figure 7 may be of the type where it can be moved from a vertical position to a horizontal position for transportation purposes, ie, when the carrier 130 is moving from a site to another site. In fact, this is generally the case with respect to both masts 82 and 148. Moved in a movable manner, for example slidably in the mast 148, is an upper impeller 152 which is suspended in the well known manner and as described in FIG. above with the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6 from a crown block assembly which in turn is attached to a maneuvering rig (not shown). The upper impeller comprised of the mast 148 is provided with rails or slide rails (not shown) attached to and running longitudinally along the columns 150, the rails or slide rails serve as a guide for the upper impeller 152 as they move longitudinally along the mast 148. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, it can be seen that the carrier 100 is reaching the carrier 130. In this position, it will be appreciated that the upper impeller 152 can
to be performing the operation of articulated tubing, for example, by removing and inserting the tubing from the borehole under the wellhead 134. It will also be appreciated, while not shown, that the carrier 130 as well as the carrier 70 may be provided with a rotary table or other apparatus well known to those skilled in the art to assist in the assembly and disassembly of the threaded, hinged connections. Returning now to Figure 8, it can be seen that the CT system 100 and more specifically the carrier 102 has been moved in such a way that it generally splices the carrier 130. Furthermore, it can be seen that the telescopic booms 136 have been raised by the cylinders 140. and extended in such a manner that the sections 136a of the telescopic booms 136 have placed the keys 115 in a position where they can hold the posts 113 of the CT injector 116. Returning now to Figure 9, it can be seen that the piston / cylinder combinations 140 have been extended to move the telescopic booms 136 toward the position shown in Figure 9, ie, such that the CT injector 116 is substantially now in line with the upper impeller 152 and placed between the columns forming the mast 148. In this regard, it will also be appreciated that the telescopic sections of the boom 136 have been extended to properly position the CT injector 116.
As in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6, when the CT injector 116 has been placed on the mast 148 as shown in Figure 9 and suspended from the upper impeller 152 by cables 153, the members Forks or the like such as the fork members 46 and 48 can couple the rails (not shown) in the columns forming the mast 148, and the CT injector 116 can be suspended from the top driver 152. In this way, and as shown in Figure 9, the CT injector 116 is in the position to perform the CT operations by injecting the CT 122 through the wellhead 134 into the borehole thereunder. In the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 9, the elevators, for example, telescopic booms 26, 28 of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and telescopic booms 136 of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, are observed as connected to the injectors. 18 and 116 of CT when the CT injector is placed over the well heads, for example, 74 and 134, respectively. In the embodiments described in the foregoing, it will be appreciated that at least a portion, usually the entire weight of the CT injectors 8 and 116 as well as at least a portion, usually the entire weight of the CT in the borehole is it is carrying the masts 82 and 148, respectively, as transferred through the upper impellers 92 and 152, respectively. Of this
In this way, the telescopic booms can be disconnected from the CT injectors and away from the masts if desired. However, since it is rarely necessary, if ever, to move the CT injectors longitudinally along the masts when performing CT operations, the CT injectors may remain connected to the telescopic booms. It should also be noted that the telescopic booms can be used, together with the upper impeller cables to a certain degree, to place the CT injectors in the desired longitudinal positions on the masts. In any case, Figure 9 represents a position where the CT injector 116 is in a position to inject or remove the CT 122 into or out of the borehole under the probe head 134. Returning now to Figure 10, a condition is shown where the CT injector 116 by appropriate, relative movement of the telescopic booms 136 and the piston / cylinder combinations 140 have been moved from an operative position, i.e., where the injector CT can inject the CT 122 as shown in Figure 9, to a laterally offset position of the mast 148. This allows the upper impeller 152 to perform articulated pipe operations without any interference from the CT injector 116. It will be understood that by using the method and apparatus of the present invention and when the probing operations in
If the ground includes drilling, the CT can be connected to an assembly at the bottom of the borehole (BHA) which may comprise an auger, an engine at the bottom of the bore or other steering device, drill collars, sensors, etc. The use of assemblies located at the bottom of the bore in CT drilling operations is well known to those skilled in the art. While the lifter has been described in the foregoing together with the use of telescopic booms in at least one of the carriers, it is apparent that both carriers can be equipped with telescopic booms or other lifting devices that can move the CT tubing injector out of the first carrier and into an operative or standby position relative to the upper drive equipment. It will also be appreciated that when the pens are used, they do not need to be telescopic, that is, they could be a unitary elongated member of a desired length such that when the CT injector moved into the operative position, it would be properly placed in the mast for CT operations. Although not shown, it is well known that CT injectors are commonly used with lubricators, particularly if site completion or other operations are being carried out and the well is under pressure. In this case, the well head can customarily include a control valve and other typical equipment.
wellhead. The lift does not need to include pens or other lifting devices mounted on any carrier. In fact, the carrier may comprise a separate crane, for example, a boom crane, which can be used to lift the CT injector out of the first carrier and move towards its operative or quasi-operative position with respect to the upper drive equipment. While in the modalities discussed in the above, the CT injector has been described as being suspended from the upper impeller, it will be appreciated that, instead of being suspended from the upper impeller, the CT injector can be suspended from the mast, such that the weight of the CT injector and any CT injected into the borehole is transferred directly to the mast instead of being transferred through the top impeller to the mast. The suspension of the CT injector from the mast can be achieved by any number of techniques that will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, with reference to Figure 14, an assembly for suspending the CT injector from the mast is shown. It will be noted that the assembly shown in Figure 14 is substantially like that shown in Figure 5. However, in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the teeth 58a and 60a have adjustment holes which in turn
they are in register with a hole through the rail 90 in such a way that a pin 91 can be received through the adjustment holes in the teeth 58, 60 and in the rail 90. Similarly, a pin 89 is received in the adjustment holes in the teeth 52a, 54a and the rail 88. It will be appreciated that the pins can be inserted mechanically or manually, or inserted using a hydraulic system, etc. Additionally, the provision could be made to provide receptacles on rails 88 and 90 that would be engaged by manually or hydraulically activated bars that would move from a first position out of engagement with the diameters on rails 88 and 90 to a second position where they would extend laterally and externally of the CT injector 18 and would be received in the diameters in the rails 88 and 90. It will also be understood that preferably the bars and the diameters can be non-circular in such a way that any torsional movement of the CT injector 18 As described in the above, it would be avoided. In this way, it will be appreciated that many techniques can be used to suspend the CT injector from the mast as opposed to suspending it from the upper impeller. In the modalities described in the above, and when the CT injector was suspended from the upper impeller, the cables were used to run between the upper impeller and the CT injector and which suspended the
CT injector from the upper impeller. A more convenient technique for suspending the CT injector from the upper impeller is shown in Figures 11-13. For purposes of the following description, it is assumed that the CT injector is the CT injector 116 as represented, for example, in Figure 7. Returning then to Figure 11, the CT injector 116 is shown as being placed in the mast 148, that is, in line with the upper impeller 152. Attached to the lower part of the upper impeller 152 is a pair of separate clamps 200, of which only one is shown. The clamps 200 have adjustment holes through which a shaft 204 extends. Pivotally suspended from the shaft 204 is a pair of sunchos 206 of which only is shown. Attached to the lower end of the suns 206 is a lifter 208 of a type well known to those skilled in the art. Also pivotally attached to the upper impeller 152 at 212 is a piston / cylinder combination 210. The piston / cylinder combination also joins pivotally to the sunchos 206 as in 214. Attached to the top of the CT 116 are separate uprights 216 and 218. A transverse bar 220 is connected between the uprights 216 and 218. Attached to and extending upwardly of the transverse bar 220 is a shank 222 suspending on the part
top of which a knob 224 is attached. Knob 224 as seen in Figure 13 has a larger lateral dimension than shank 222. It will be appreciated that the shank 222, the knob 224, the crossbar 220 and the uprights 216 and 218 form a generally rigid structure which also rigidly attaches to the CT injector 116. The elevator 208 is of the jaw bucket variety having two articulated halves that can be opened and closed manually or hydraulically. In Figure 11, lifter 208 is shown as being closed around suspending stem 222 such that knob 224 extends over elevator 208. In this regard, it will be noted that when elevator 208 closes around suspending rod 222, it can support the CT injector 116. It should be noted that the elevator 208 is of the conventional type typically used to hold drill pipe or collar pipe outside the door V to form an articulated pipe train. In any case, with the elevator 208 closed as shown in Figure 11, the CT injector 116 is now suspended from the upper impeller 152 by the suns 206. Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but shows the elevator 208 uncoupled from shank 222 suspensor. In that regard, it will be noted that the piston / cylinder combination 210 has been extended to move the sunchos
206 and therefore the elevator 208 out of engagement with the suspender rod 222. In this position, the elevator 208 may be in the open position. To couple the shank 222, the piston / cylinder combination 210 is now retracted as shown in Figure 11 which moves the suns 206 and therefore the elevator 208 in engagement with the shank 222. The description and examples above illustrate selected embodiments of the present invention. In view thereof, variations and modifications will be suggested to one of skill in the art, of which all are in the spirit and scope of this invention.