US3734209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well drilling rod and casing assembling method
Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A mast extends vertically from the front of a truck, and supports a drive unit which operates to rotate a drill, to grasp a casing segment, and to simultaneously drive them into a well. Drill pipe segments each with a surrounding casing segment are carried in a storage rack located on the truck, from which they are selected and lifted by a transfer arm to a vertical ready station alongside the mast. In subsequent steps, the upper ends of the drill segment and the surrounding casing segment are attached to the drive unit, their lower ends attached to the drill pipe and casing segment in the well, and then driven downward. In addition to applying a downward feed on the drill string and casing, the drive unit vibrates the casing to speed its insertion into the well.
Inventors
- 👤 A Haisch
- 👤 R Perlewitz
- 👤 G Otto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:58
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/20; E21B19/00; E21B19/20; E21B7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting a casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical drilling position directly above the hole; retaining the drill segment in the drilling position by an upper mandible attached to a transfer arm and retaining the casing segment in the drilling position by a lower mandible also attached to the transfer arm; attaching the drill segment to a rotatable spindle in the drive unit; releasing the drill segment from the grasp of the upper mandible; grasping the casing segment by means of a chuck in the drive unit; releasing the casing segment from the grasp of the lower mandible; and rotating the drill segment by means of the drive unit to drill the hole, applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled, and vibrating the casing segment during its insertion into the hole.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting a casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical drilling position directly above the hole; retaining the drill segment in the drilling position by an upper mandible attached to a transfer arm and retaining the casing segment in the drilling position by a lower mandible also attached to the transfer arm; attaching the drill segment to a rotatable spindle in the drive unit; releasing the drill segment from the grasp of the upper mandible; grasping the casing segment by means of a chuck in the drive unit; releasing the casing segment from the grasp of the lower mandible; and rotating the drill segment by means of the drive unit to drill the hole, applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled, and vibrating the casing segment during its insertion into the hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower ends of the drill and casing segments attached to the drive unit are connected to the top ends of the drill string and casing in the hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the drill string in the hole protrudes above the casing and is retained in this position by a wrenching mechanism, and the connection to the drill string and casing in the hole includes the steps of: screwing the lower end of the drill segment into the top end of the retained drill string; releasing the drill string from the grasp of the wrenching mechanism; and welding the lower end of the casing segment to the top end of the casing in the hole.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting a casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical ready station; grasping the drill segment with an upper mandible; grasping the casing segment with a lower mandible; transferring the drill and casing segments from the ready station to a drilling position directly above the hole; connecting the drill segment and casing segment to a drive unit; releasing the drill and casing segments from the grasp of the upper and lower mandibles; and rotating the drill segment by means of the drive unit to drill the hole, and applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting a casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical ready station; grasping the drill segment with an upper mandible; grasping the casing segment with a lower mandible; transferring the drill and casing segments from the ready station to a drilling position directly above the hole; connecting the drill segment and casing segment to a drive unit; releasing the drill and casing segments from the grasp of the upper and lower mandibles; and rotating the drill segment by means of the drive unit to drill the hole, and applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the casing segment is vibrated by the drive unit during its insertion into the hole.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting A casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical drilling position directly above the hole; connecting the drill segment and casing segment to a drive unit; connecting the lower ends of the drill and casing segments to the top ends of the drill string and casing in the hole; rotating the drill string by means of a drive unit to drill the hole, and applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled; disconnecting the casing from the drive unit; grasping the drill string with a wrenching mechanism; and disconnecting the drill string from the drive unit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for drilling a hole and inserting A casing, comprising the steps of: transferring a drill segment with a surrounding casing segment from storage to a vertical drilling position directly above the hole; connecting the drill segment and casing segment to a drive unit; connecting the lower ends of the drill and casing segments to the top ends of the drill string and casing in the hole; rotating the drill string by means of a drive unit to drill the hole, and applying a downward feed force on the casing segment by means of the drive unit to insert it into the hole as the hole is being drilled; disconnecting the casing from the drive unit; grasping the drill string with a wrenching mechanism; and disconnecting the drill string from the drive unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 6 in which the drill string is raised a short distance to expose a portion thereof to said wrenching mechanism after the casing is disconnected from the drive unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as recited in claim 6 in which said drill string is removed from the hole one segment at a time by: connecting the drive unit to the drill string; hoisting the drill string to withdraw one drill segment from the surrounding casing; grasping the drill string with the wrenching mechanism; and disconnecting the said one drill segment from the drill string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 8 in which each disconnected drill segment is grasped by a mandible on a transfer arm, disconnected from the drive unit, and lowered to a storage area by the transfer arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3499293A
Cited
US3659661A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |