An improved system and method for bracing, transporting, assembling, and disassembly of drilling equipment at oil and gas land-based well sites. The system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with telescoping tension link(s), linking pins, and vertical hydraulic cylinders. These linking pins are set after raising the substructure and secure the telescoping tension link, support arms, and support bracing in place to maintain the integrity of the substructure. Alternatively the system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with screw jacks and a means of stabilization during substructure raising. The substructure bracing reduces the overall length, reduces the upper and lower box spans, and balances the raising loads, subsequently lowering the transport weight of the side box such that a commercial walking system may be integrated into the side box and remain there during transport while maximizing the operating drill floor height while minimizing the transport height.

An improved system and method for bracing, transporting, assembling, and disassembly of drilling equipment at oil and gas land-based well sites. The system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with telescoping tension link(s), linking pins, and vertical hydraulic cylinders. These linking pins are set after raising the substructure and secure the telescoping tension link, support arms, and support bracing in place to maintain the integrity of the substructure. Alternatively the system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with screw jacks and a means of stabilization during substructure raising. The substructure bracing reduces the overall length, reduces the upper and lower box spans, and balances the raising loads, subsequently lowering the transport weight of the side box such that a commercial walking system may be integrated into the side box and remain there during transport while maximizing the operating drill floor height while minimizing the transport height.

The Invention relates to an underground drilling rig (10) and a method for its erection, wherein the method, in a special embodiment, comprises erecting a mast structure (20) of the drilling rig (10) extending from a horizontal tunnel (production tunnel) into a vertical mast shaft (14) and by means of an erecting structure (50), wherein the mast structure (20) comprises a plurality of mast segments (60) connected to one another or connectable to one another.

The Invention relates to an underground drilling rig (10) and a method for its erection, wherein the method, in a special embodiment, comprises erecting a mast structure (20) of the drilling rig (10) extending from a horizontal tunnel (production tunnel) into a vertical mast shaft (14) and by means of an erecting structure (50), wherein the mast structure (20) comprises a plurality of mast segments (60) connected to one another or connectable to one another.

The disclosed embodiments provide a drilling rig having a tubular delivery arm that vertically translates the mast in a non-conflicting path with a retractable top drive. The retractable top drive translates a well center path and a rearward retracted path. The tubular delivery arm is operable to deliver tubular stands between a catwalk, stand hand-off, mousehole, and well center positions. An upper racking mechanism moves tubular stands between a racked position of the racking module and a stand hand-off position between the mast and racking module. A lower racking mechanism controls the movement of the lower end of the tubular stand being moved coincident to the movements of the upper racking mechanism. An upper support constraint stabilizes tubular stands at the stand hand-off position. A lower stabilizing arm guides the lower end of tubular stands between the catwalk, stand hand-off, mousehole, and well center positions.

A bit changer assembly includes a bit basket actuator assembly configured to be coupled to a drill rig. The bit basket actuator assembly includes an actuator, a guiderail, and a bit basket that is movably coupled to the guiderail via actuation of the actuator. The bit changer assembly also includes a bit carousel configured to be coupled to the drill rig, such that the bit carousel is rotatably and vertically moveable relative to the drill rig.

A bit changer assembly includes a bit basket actuator assembly configured to be coupled to a drill rig. The bit basket actuator assembly includes an actuator, a guiderail, and a bit basket that is movably coupled to the guiderail via actuation of the actuator. The bit changer assembly also includes a bit carousel configured to be coupled to the drill rig, such that the bit carousel is rotatably and vertically moveable relative to the drill rig.

A drill bit retaining assembly includes a ring, a bit clamp member coupled to the ring, and an actuator coupled to the ring. The bit clamp member is movable via the actuator between a first position, in which the bit clamp member is configured to be engaged with a drill bit and a second position in which the bit clamp member is configured to be disengaged from the drill bit.

A drill bit retaining assembly includes a ring, a bit clamp member coupled to the ring, and an actuator coupled to the ring. The bit clamp member is movable via the actuator between a first position, in which the bit clamp member is configured to be engaged with a drill bit and a second position in which the bit clamp member is configured to be disengaged from the drill bit.

Industrial machines and methods of operating the same. One method includes receiving, with an electronic processor, a current value of a parameter of an industrial machine during operation of the industrial machine and comparing, with the electronic processor, the current value of the parameter to a stored value of the parameter to determine whether the industrial machine is unlevel. The method also includes, when the industrial machine is unlevel, autonomously, with the electronic processor, changing a position of at least one of a plurality of jacks to level the industrial machine, wherein autonomously changing the position of at least one of the plurality of jacks includes at least one selected from a group consisting of extending the at least one of the plurality of jacks and retracting the at least one of the plurality of jacks.