GB945408A - Apparatus for drilling oil wells - Google Patents

Abstract

945,408. Boring earth &c. J. V. O'NEILL. July 3, 1961 [July 11, 1960; Aug. 26, 1960], No. 23996/61. Heading E1F. Well boring apparatus comprises a derrick 16 having a vertically movable drilling head 52, a drill pipe storage 20, 22, adjacent the derrick, a pre-use area 38 where pipe lengths are transverse to the borehole axis, means 28 for moving pipe lengths from the storage to the area, and transfer mechanism 40 for swinging pipe lengths from the station into vertical alignment with the borehole. The derrick and the pipe bin walls 20, 22 constituting the storage are pivotally mounted on a trailer 12, the arrangement permitting the derrick to lie horizontally on the trailer with the walls folded along the derrick sides. As shown the apparatus is set out for drilling. The pipe lengths which are stored in stacks between dividers 24 are removed from the bins by the carriages 28 having grippers 34. When a carriage is on a track extension 33 its pipe length is lowered into the pipe checking and treating area 38. A pipe length is transferred from the area to an upright position at the top of the drill string by the arm 40 pivoted at 42. The sequence of pipe length movement from bin to string is reversible. The upper end of the string is connected to the rotary socket 62 of the drill head which is moved vertically by hydraulic rams 60. The rams are supplied with fluid from an accumulator (not shown) which is connected to pumps driven by diesel engines 136. During the addition or removal of a pipe length to the string the rest of the string is supported by slips 70. Vertically movable above the slips is a tool joint breaking and making device 76 comprising steadying jaws 78, jaws 82 adapted to grip the lower part of a joint, and rotary jaws 80 adapted to grip the upper part of a joint. Beneath the slips and slidable into engagement with a blowout preventer 118 is a string seal 96 having a mud discharge branch 98. The preventer has slidable plates 114 adapted to engage the string, slidable plates 120 adapted to engage each other, and jaws 126 adapted to grip and support the string when the upper length of pipe is unscrewed to remove the seal. Specification 898,390 is referred to.