Well pipe connecting and disconnecting apparatus

Claim 2

A well tool comprising: two parallel tracks adapted to extend along a rig floor at opposite sides of a rotary table opening; a carriage having wheels engaging said tracks and movable therealong to guide the carriage for movement between a central position at the location of said rotary table opening, a mousehole position offset in one direction from said central position, and a retracted position offset in the opposite direction from said central position; motor means for driving at least one of said wheels to move the carriage between said three positions thereof; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; power means for moving said structure upwardly and downwardly relative to the carriage; a torque wrench carried by said structure for upward and downward movement therewith and for movement along said tracks with the carriage and adapted to apply torque to make or break threadedly connected pipe sections at said central and mousehole positions of the carriage; a spinner mounted to said structure above the torque wrench and for movement with the structure and upwardly and downwardly relative to it and the torque wrench; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers carried by said structure relative to the structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at said mousehole location.

Claim 3

The combination comprising a well tool as recited in claim 1, a well drilling rig floor, a rotary table in said floor, a mousehole, and means mounting said tracks on said floor at opposite sides of the rotary table and mousehole at locations guiding said carriage and its carried parts for movement between said central position in which the axis of the torque wrench and spinner are aligned with the rotary table axis, said mousehole position in which said axis is aligned with the mousehole, and said retracted position in which said axis of the torque wrench and spinner is offset from the rotary table at a side opposite that at which the mousehole is located.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use in a well drilling rig within which a string of pipe is rotatable about an axis to drill a well and which has a mousehole offset from said axis, comprising: a power driven unit operable to relatively rotate upper and lower threaded elements to connect or disconnect them; means mounting said unit for guided movement in opposite directions from a central first position of alignment with said axis, for connecting or disconnecting joints in the string, to a second position of alignment with the mousehole for engagement with a pipe section therein, and to a retracted position at a side of the axis essentially opposite that at which the mousehole is located; said mounting means including two parallel tracks extending along a floor of the rig at opposite sides of a rotary table opening, and a carriage mounting said unit and having wheels engaging said tracks and movable therealong to guide the carriage and unit for movement between said positions; motor means for driving at least one of said wheels to move the carriage and unit between said three positions; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; power means for moving said structure upwardly and downwardly relative to the carriage; said unit including a torque wrench carried by said structure for upward and downward movement therewith and for movement along said tracks with the carriage and adapted to apply torque to make or break threadedly connected pipe sections at said central and mousehole positions of the carriage, and a spinner mounted to said structure above the torque wrench and for movement with the structure and upwardly and downwardly relative to it and the torque wrench; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relative to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use in a well drilling rig within which a string of pipe is rotatable about an axis to drill a well and which has a mousehole offset from said axis, comprising: a power driven unit operable to relatively rotate upper and lower threaded elements to connect or disconnect them; means mounting said unit for guided movement in opposite directions from a central first position of alignment with said axis, for connecting or disconnecting joints in the string, to a second position of alignment with the mousehole for engagement with a pipe section therein, and to a retracted position at a side of the axis essentially opposite that at which the mousehole is located; said mounting means including two parallel tracks extending along a floor of the rig at opposite sides of a rotary table opening, and a carriage mounting said unit and having wheels engaging said tracks and movable therealong to guide the carriage and unit for movement between said positions; motor means for driving at least one of said wheels to move the carriage and unit between said three positions; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; power means for moving said structure upwardly and downwardly relative to the carriage; said unit including a torque wrench carried by said structure for upward and downward movement therewith and for movement along said tracks with the carriage and adapted to apply torque to make or break threadedly connected pipe sections at said central and mousehole positions of the carriage, and a spinner mounted to said structure above the torque wrench and for movement with the structure and upwardly and downwardly relative to it and the torque wrench; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relative to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.

Claim 6

Well apparatus comprising: a rig for drilling a well along a vertical axis and having a rig floor and an inclined mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis and operable to receive and hold a pipe section which is to be added to or has been removed from a string of pipe extending along said axis into the well; a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two spaced tracks extending along said rig floor; said carriage having means engaging said tracks and movable therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said vertical well axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said inclined mousehole, and a retracted third position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said vertical well axis; and means mounting said torque wrench and spinner for slight tilting movement relative to said carriage between a vertical condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed vertically at said central position and an inclined condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed at an angle to the true vertical in said mousehole position.

Claim 7

Well apparatus comprising: a rig for drilling a well along a vertical axis and having a rig floor and an inclined mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis and operable to receive and hold a pipe section which is to be added to or has been removed from a string of pipe extending along said axis into the well; a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two spaced tracks extending along said rig floor; said carriage having means engaging said tracks and movable therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said vertical well axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said inclined mousehole, and a retracted third position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said vertical well axis; and means mounting said torque wrench and spinner for slight tilting movement relative to said carriage between a vertical condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed vertically at said central position and an inclined condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed at an angle to the true vertical in said mousehole position.

Claim 8

Well apparatus as recited in claim 4, including means mounting said torque wrench and spinner to said carriage for upward and downward movement relative thereto.

Claim 9

Well apparatus as recited in claim 5, including means mounting said spinner for upward and downward movement relative to said torque wrench.

Claim 10

Well apparatus as recited in claim 4, including power driven means for moving said carriage and said torque wrench and spinner between said three positions thereof.

Claim 11

Well apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said rig includes a rotary table and said tracks extend along opposite sides of the rotary table.

Claim 12

Well apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said first mentioned means include wheels on said carriage adapted to engage and roll along said tracks.

Claim 13

Well apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which said first mentioned means include wheels on said carriage adapted to engage and roll along said tracks, there being a motor for driving at least one of said wheels to move said carriage and said torque wrench and spinner between said positions thereof.

Claim 14

For use in a rig for drilling a well along a vertical axis and having a rig floor and an inclined mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis, apparatus comprising: a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two threadedly connected pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two tracks adapted to extend along the rig floor in spaced relation; said carriage having means adapted to engage said tracks and move therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said vertical well axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrnech and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said inclined mousehole, and a retracted third position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said vertical well axis; and means mounting said torque wrench and spinner for slight tilting movement relative to said carriage between a vertical condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed vertically at said central position and an inclined condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed at an angle to the true vertical in said mousehole position.

Claim 15

For use in a rig for drilling a well along a vertical axis and having a rig floor and an inclined mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis, apparatus comprising: a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two threadedly connected pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two tracks adapted to extend along the rig floor in spaced relation; said carriage having means adapted to engage said tracks and move therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said vertical well axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrnech and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said inclined mousehole, and a retracted third position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said vertical well axis; and means mounting said torque wrench and spinner for slight tilting movement relative to said carriage between a vertical condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed vertically at said central position and an inclined condition for engaging and turning pipes disposed at an angle to the true vertical in said mousehole position.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, including means mounting said torque wrench and spinner to said carriage for upward and downward movement relative thereto, and means mounting said spinner for upward and downward movement relative to said torque wrench.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said first mentioned means include wheels on the carriage engaging said tracks and movable therealong to guide the carriage for movement between said positions, said apparatus including motor means for driving at least one of said wheels to move the carriage and unit between said three positions, vertical guides carried by said carriage, a mounting structure having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage, and power means for moving said structure upwardly and downwardly relative to the carriage.

Claim 18

For use in a rig for drilling a well along an axis and having a rig floor and a mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis, apparatus comprising: a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two threadedly connected pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two tracks adapted to extend along the rig floor in spaced relation; said carriage having means adapted to engage said tracks and move therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said mousehole, and a retracted position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said axis; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure carrying said wrench and spinner and having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relativve to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.

Claim 19

For use in a rig for drilling a well along an axis and having a rig floor and a mousehole offset in a first direction from said axis, apparatus comprising: a movable carriage; a torque wrench mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to apply torque to make or break a joint between two threadedly connected pipe sections; a spinner mounted to said carriage for movement therewith and adapted to spin one pipe section relative to another; two tracks adapted to extend along the rig floor in spaced relation; said carriage having means adapted to engage said tracks and move therealong in a relation guiding the carriage for movement between a central position in which said torque wrench and spinner are aligned with said axis to connect and disconnect pipe at said axis, a mousehole position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in said first direction from the axis and aligned with said mousehole, and a retracted position in which said torque wrench and spinner are offset in the opposite direction from said axis; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure carrying said wrench and spinner and having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relativve to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.

Claim 20

Well apparatus comprising: a rig for drilling a well along an axis and having a mousehole at a location offset in a predetermined direction from said axis for holding a section of pipe which is to be added to or has been removed from a string of pipe extending along the axis; a unit including a power driven spinner operable to relatively rotate upper and lower threaded pipe sections to connect or disconnect them and including a torque wrench for exerting a greater torque to make or break a joint; means mounting said unit for movement in two essentially opposite directions from a central first position of alignment with said axis, for connecting or disconnecting two sections of said string, to a second position of alignment with said mousehole for engagement with a pipe section therein and to a retracted third position at a side of the axis essentially opposite that at which the mousehole is located; said means including a carriage movable in said opposite directions from said central position; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure carrying said wrench and spinner and having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relative to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.

Claim 21

Well apparatus comprising: a rig for drilling a well along an axis and having a mousehole at a location offset in a predetermined direction from said axis for holding a section of pipe which is to be added to or has been removed from a string of pipe extending along the axis; a unit including a power driven spinner operable to relatively rotate upper and lower threaded pipe sections to connect or disconnect them and including a torque wrench for exerting a greater torque to make or break a joint; means mounting said unit for movement in two essentially opposite directions from a central first position of alignment with said axis, for connecting or disconnecting two sections of said string, to a second position of alignment with said mousehole for engagement with a pipe section therein and to a retracted third position at a side of the axis essentially opposite that at which the mousehole is located; said means including a carriage movable in said opposite directions from said central position; vertical guides carried by said carriage; a mounting structure carrying said wrench and spinner and having rollers engaging said vertical guides and adapted to roll therealong to guide said structure for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage; and power actuated means for moving at least one of said rollers relative to said structure in a direction pivoting the structure and carried torque wrench and spinner about the axis of another of said rollers carried by the structure and between a position in which an axis of the torque wrench and spinner is disposed directly vertically and a position in which said axis is disposed at a slight angle relative to the true vertical for engaging a pipe section at the location of said mousehole.