Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for displacing a top drive torque track

US5501286A · kind A · utility

98Cited by
26References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1994
Grant dateMar 26, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B19/084
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displacing the lower end of a torque track used to support a top drive drilling unit. The top drive drilling unit is suspended from the lower end of the torque track and then displaced in a first direction away from the location of the drill string. Sequentially, or concurrently, the lower end of the torque track and top drive unit are displaced in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction, resulting in the full displacement of the top drive unit and the lower end of the torque track sufficiently to enable the removal of multiple sections of drill pipe without interference by the torque track or the top drive drilling unit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.