US20120305316A1 - Earth drilling apparatus and method - Google Patents

Earth drilling apparatus and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20120305316A1
US20120305316A1 US13/447,493 US201213447493A US2012305316A1 US 20120305316 A1 US20120305316 A1 US 20120305316A1 US 201213447493 A US201213447493 A US 201213447493A US 2012305316 A1 US2012305316 A1 US 2012305316A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
casing
length
mast
top head
well casing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/447,493
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English (en)
Inventor
David Y. Sim
Brian David Brookover
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schramm Inc
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Schramm Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schramm Inc filed Critical Schramm Inc
Priority to US13/447,493 priority Critical patent/US20120305316A1/en
Priority to CA2775875A priority patent/CA2775875A1/en
Assigned to RBS CITIZENS, N.A. reassignment RBS CITIZENS, N.A. SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: SCHRAMM, INC.
Publication of US20120305316A1 publication Critical patent/US20120305316A1/en
Assigned to ENHANCED CREDIT SUPPORTED LOAN FUND, L.P. reassignment ENHANCED CREDIT SUPPORTED LOAN FUND, L.P. SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SCHRAMM INC.
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B15/00—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/08—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
    • E21B19/084—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods with flexible drawing means, e.g. cables
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/20—Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to earth drilling, and particularly to improvements by which insertion of well casing can be carried out more efficiently.
  • a water well is typically drilled by a portable drill rig having a mast.
  • the drill stem composed of one or more lengths of drill pipe, and having a cutting bit at one end, is rotated by a top head connected to the opposite end of the drill stem.
  • the top head is movable lengthwise along the mast, and descends with the drill stem as drilling proceeds.
  • the top head is disconnected from the drill stem, and moved upward toward the upper end of the mast.
  • Another length of drill pipe is then moved into place between, and connected to, the top head and the part of the drill stem extending upward from the bore hole, and drilling is resumed.
  • a well casing In well drilling, it is common practice to use well casing to prevent collapse of the walls of a borehole while drilling is taking place.
  • a well casing is typically composed of one or more lengths of pipe having a diameter greater than that of the drill pipe.
  • the bore hole is first drilled to the desired depth of the casing using a bit having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the casing.
  • the drill string is withdrawn from the bore hole.
  • drill pipe sections are removed from the drill string one section at a time until the drill string, including the bit, are removed from the hole.
  • the casing sections are introduced one section at a time through an opening in a drive table movable along the mast of the drill rig.
  • the first section of casing to be introduced is lowered down the open hole, supported by a plate lifting device hooked to a cable attached to a jib boom.
  • the lengths of casing can be brought into position above the table by means of pipe-handling arms, or alternatively by a cable connected to a jib boom. The lengths of casing can then be aligned with the bore hole by hand, while still attached to the cable.
  • Each length of casing is typically provided with a tab welded near its upper end for engagement with the table in order to prevent the casing from being dropped into the bore hole.
  • a next length of casing is attached to the casing already in place, usually by welding, but sometimes by engagement of threads on the casing sections.
  • the tab is cut off and the insertion of the casing is continued.
  • grout is introduced into the space surrounding the casing. Then, drilling is continued, using a bit having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the casing.
  • the conventional process is particularly time-consuming because it requires disassembly and removal of the drill string after the casing bore is drilled and reassembly of the drill string in order to continue drilling beyond the lower end of the casing. There is also a risk that the casing will be accidentally dropped into the casing bore necessitating retrieval, which can be difficult.
  • a first aspect of the invention is a method in which the introduction of casing is carried out simultaneously with drilling, thereby avoiding the time-consuming steps of removing the drill string from the casing bore before the casing is introduced, and reassembling the drill string for further drilling beyond the lower end of the casing.
  • drilling of a well is carried out using a drill rig comprising an elongated mast having upper and lower ends, a mast support, a top head for rotating a drill string, the top head being movable lengthwise along the mast, and a casing rotator connected to the mast.
  • the casing rotator includes a rotatable chuck for gripping and rotating a length of well casing.
  • the drilling process comprises the following sequence of steps. A length of drill pipe is connected to the top head. A length of well casing is then slid onto the length of drill pipe connected to the top head until the end of the length of drill pipe remote from the top head is exposed.
  • the length of drill pipe is then connected to the upper end of a drill string already in a bore hole, thereby lengthening the drill string.
  • the length of well casing is connected to the upper end of a well casing surrounding the drill string thereby lengthening the well casing.
  • the drill string has a cutting bit at its lower end, and the well casing surrounding the drill string has a drive shoe at its lower end. Drilling of the well is carried out by rotating the drill string by means of the top head, and simultaneously rotating and lowering the well casing into the well by means of the casing rotator. The foregoing sequence of steps is repeated until the well casing is inserted to a desired depth.
  • drilling can be continued by connection of additional lengths of drill pipe to the drill string, and rotating the drill string by means of the top head.
  • the steps of rotating the drill string by means of the top head, and simultaneously rotating and lowering the well casing, are preferably carried out by rotating the drill string and well casing in opposite directions.
  • a second aspect of the invention is a drill rig construction which is better adapted to the above-described simultaneous drilling and casing introduction method.
  • the casing rotator is fixed to the mast, the mast is movable lengthwise relative to the mast support, and the well casing is lowered by repeatedly moving the mast lengthwise relative to the mast support, and relative to the top head.
  • a drill rig in accordance with this second aspect of the invention comprises an elongated mast, a mast support, a top head for rotating a drill string, the top head being movable lengthwise along the mast, and a casing rotator having a rotatable chuck for gripping and rotating a length of well casing.
  • the casing rotator is mounted at a fixed position along the length of the mast, and the mast is movable relative to the mast support along the mast's direction of elongation.
  • a well casing can be advanced into a well by simultaneous rotation of the chuck and lengthwise movement of the mast.
  • the well casing is advanced by gripping the casing with the chuck of the casing rotator, and rotating the casing while simultaneously lowering the mast.
  • the top head which rotates the drill string, is guided by the mast, but the mast and top head move independently along the direction of the length of the mast. Consequently, drilling can proceed continuously while the well casing is being advanced by up and down movement of the mast, being interrupted only for the insertion of additional lengths of drill pipe and additional lengths of well casing.
  • the casing rotator is located at a fixed position along the length of the mast ensures that it does not interfere with the movement of lengths of drill pipe and lengths of well casing into alignment with the drill string and casing, respectively already in place.
  • Traditional pipe handling equipment and techniques can therefore be used.
  • the top head can remain substantially at a constant position on the mast throughout the portion of each drilling cycle during which the mast is moving downward to advance the casing. Consequently, it becomes easier to control the advancing movement of the drill string and the casing.
  • FIGS. 1-8 are perspective views of a drill rig in accordance with the invention, showing successive stages of the process of introducing a length of well casing into a bore hole.
  • the drill rig comprises an elongated mast 20 mounted on a transporting vehicle 22 , in this case a track-driven vehicle.
  • a top head 24 for rotating a drill string is provided on the mast.
  • the top head is guided for movement lengthwise along the mast, and movable along the mast by chains (not shown) driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown).
  • the top head 24 is pivoted so that it can be tilted as shown in FIG. 1 to a condition such that a length 26 of drill pipe connected to the top head can be brought to a nearly horizontal condition when the top head is moved to a position near the lower end of the mast.
  • a length 28 of well casing can be slid onto the drill pipe as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the length of well casing can be drawn onto the length of drill pipe by a cable (not shown) having a hook that engages the end 30 of the casing.
  • the cable extends from a jib boom (not shown) on the mast and the casing is drawn onto the drill pipe by operation of a winch around which the cable is wound.
  • the top head When the upper end of the length of well casing is adjacent the top head, the top head is raised as shown in FIG. 3 , and the length of drill pipe and the surrounding length of well casing are gradually drawn upward and into a condition in which they are parallel to the mast as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the drill pipe and casing are both aligned with an opening in a table 32 , which is fixed to the mast 20 at or near the lowermost end of the mast, and a portion of the length 26 of drill pipe extends beyond the lower end of the length of casing.
  • a bit will be connected to the lower end of the length of drill pipe.
  • the diameter of the bit should be less than the inner diameter of the well casing so that the bit and drill string can be withdrawn when drilling is completed, or for replacement of the bit.
  • a collapsible bit having a diameter larger than the internal diameter of the casing can be used.
  • the casing will include a drive shoe, and because the casing will participate in drilling by enlarging the bore hole formed by the drill bit, the drive shoe will preferably have a circle of hardened cutting teeth surrounding its end opening.
  • the toothed drive shoe can be an integral part of the lowermost length of casing, or can be supplied as a short element for attachment to a standard length of casing.
  • the table 32 has a central opening in which a casing rotator 34 is situated.
  • the casing rotator comprises a set of jaws which can be made to contract by hydraulic actuators in order to grip a length of well casing, and which can be made to rotate by a hydraulic motor (not shown) in the table 32 .
  • the top head and casing rotator should rotate in opposite directions.
  • the top head should rotate clockwise (looking down) to maintain a tight connection between the threads of the top head and the uppermost length of pipe in the drill string, and between the connecting threads of the lengths of pipe in the drill string.
  • the casing rotator should rotate in the opposite direction, i.e., counterclockwise, so that friction between the casing and the drill string does not accidentally cause disconnection of the drill string from the top head or disconnection of drill pipes from one another.
  • the cutting bit can be attached to the exposed lower end of the length 26 of drill pipe either before or after the casing is moved through the casing rotator by lowering of the top head along the mast.
  • the drill pipe and the length of casing are lowered through the casing rotator and the casing is held by casing clamps (not shown) underneath the casing rotator while the cable is disconnected from the lower end of the casing.
  • drilling and advancing of the casing can commence by simultaneously lowering the mast, rotating the drill pipe clockwise and rotating the casing counterclockwise.
  • FIG. 6 shows an early stage in the drilling operation, in which the mast is moving downward and approaching its lowermost position.
  • the jaws of the casing rotator are opened to release their grip on the casing, and the mast is raised so that the jaws can grip the length of casing at a higher position.
  • the top head is allowed to remain at a fixed height so that the bit remains at the bottom of the hole being drilled.
  • the jaws are again closed so that the casing rotator grips the casing, and simultaneous drilling and advancing movement of the casing are resumed and continued until the mast once again reaches its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 7 , whereupon the jaws are again opened, the mast is moved upward as shown in FIG. 8 , the jaws are reengaged with the casing, and drilling and advancing movement of the casing are continued.
  • first length of casing When the first length of casing is advanced to a position such that its upper end is a short distance above the upper side of the casing rotator and the mast is at or near its lowermost position, another length of drill pipe and another length of casing can be attached respectively to the first length of drill pipe and to the first length of casing.
  • a hydraulically operated holding fork is extended from the rotator housing, and aligned with flats on the drill pipe in order to grip the length of drill pipe in the hole and allow the top head to disconnect from the drill pipe.
  • a new length of drill pipe is then moved into place and attached to the top head.
  • the attachment of the new length of drill pipe can be carried out by moving the top head upward on the mast and bringing the new length of drill pipe from a storage rack or carousel into position underneath the top head using any of various known types of drill pipe handling equipment, for example the equipment described in International Patent Publication No. WO 98/55728, Published Dec. 10, 1998.
  • the new length of drill pipe is connected to the top head, and then connected by threads to first length of drill pipe.
  • the top head can then be lowered while the top head and the length of drill pipe connected to it are tilted, so that the drill pipe is brought to a near horizontal condition as in FIG. 1 .
  • a second length of casing can then be slid onto the drill pipe as in FIG.
  • the drill pipe and the surrounding length of casing can be drawn upward as in FIG. 3 to a condition in which they are parallel to the mast in FIG. 4 and aligned with the opening in the casing rotator.
  • the second length of drill pipe is attached to the first length of drill pipe by threads
  • the second length of casing is attached to the first length of casing either by welding, or by threads if threaded casing is used. Simultaneous drilling and advancing movement of the casing can then be resumed, following essentially the same procedure as described above and depicted in FIGS. 1-8 .
  • Additional lengths of drill pipe and casing can be inserted in the same manner in which the second lengths of drill pipe and casing are inserted.
  • the space surrounding the casing can be filled with grout, and drilling can be continued to a desired depth below the lower end of the casing by the addition of more lengths of drill pipe to the drill string.
  • the drill string When the well reaches the desired depth, the drill string is withdrawn.
  • the drill bit can be withdrawn through the casing, since its diameter is less than the internal diameter of the casing.
  • various kinds of collapsible bits such as an “underreaming” bit, can be used, in which case the diameter of the bit, while drilling is taking place can be greater than the internal diameter of the casing.
  • the well drilling process according to the invention is more efficient than conventional drilling because advancing movement of the casing and drilling are carried out simultaneously, obviating the time-consuming withdrawal of the drill string following the drilling of a casing bore and prior to the introduction of the well casing.
  • the process can also be carried out using casings without supporting tabs and eliminates the step of cutting the supporting tabs off the lengths of well casing.
  • the use of a drill rig in which the mast is movable lengthwise and the casing rotation table is fixed to the mast enables the simultaneous drilling and casing advancement to be carried out with still greater efficiency.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
US13/447,493 2011-05-31 2012-04-16 Earth drilling apparatus and method Abandoned US20120305316A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/447,493 US20120305316A1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-04-16 Earth drilling apparatus and method
CA2775875A CA2775875A1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-04-30 Earth drilling apparatus and method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161491487P 2011-05-31 2011-05-31
US13/447,493 US20120305316A1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-04-16 Earth drilling apparatus and method

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US20120305316A1 true US20120305316A1 (en) 2012-12-06

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US13/447,493 Abandoned US20120305316A1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-04-16 Earth drilling apparatus and method

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US (1) US20120305316A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN202850873U (zh)
AU (1) AU2012202406A1 (zh)
CA (1) CA2775875A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE538718C2 (sv) 2013-08-02 2016-10-25 Atlas Copco Rock Drills Ab Anordning för hantering av borrsträngskomponenter vid en bergborrigg och bergborrigg
CN105386723A (zh) * 2015-12-18 2016-03-09 黄朝阳 长螺旋桅杆可旋转式钻机
EP3719246B1 (de) * 2019-04-03 2024-05-29 BAUER Maschinen GmbH Verfahren zum erstellen einer bohrung im boden und bohrgerät hierfür

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2948514A (en) * 1955-05-17 1960-08-09 Gebhard J Long Rotary earth drilling apparatus and method

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2948514A (en) * 1955-05-17 1960-08-09 Gebhard J Long Rotary earth drilling apparatus and method

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CN202850873U (zh) 2013-04-03
AU2012202406A1 (en) 2012-12-20
CA2775875A1 (en) 2012-11-30

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AS Assignment

Owner name: RBS CITIZENS, N.A., MASSACHUSETTS

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:SCHRAMM, INC.;REEL/FRAME:028469/0198

Effective date: 20120629

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION

AS Assignment

Owner name: ENHANCED CREDIT SUPPORTED LOAN FUND, L.P., NEW YOR

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SCHRAMM INC.;REEL/FRAME:038490/0278

Effective date: 20160505