A method of unthreading an up-hole drill rod from a down-hole drill rod includes breaking a joint using a first vise and a second vise, the second vise being in a first axial position, rotating the up-hole drill rod to fully unthread the up-hole drill rod from the down-hole drill rod, moving the second vise to a second axial position and moving the unthreaded up-hole drill rod away from the down-hole drill rod and into alignment with a rod loading region of the rod storage structure, after the up-hole drill rod is aligned with the rod loading region of the rod storage structure, extending the rod handling device to receive the up-hole drill rod in rod receivers, moving the second vise axially to the first axial position, and retracting the rod handling device to move the up-hole drill rod to the rod storage structure.

A drilling rig includes an interchangeable plurality of drill pipes, wherein drill bits are arranged at an end section of an end drill pipe. The drill bit being attached to the end section by means of a threaded connection and torque being provided to the drill bit by means of a splines coupling. The drilling rig comprises a lower support device and a breaker device. The system includes a drill bit storage device arranged to hold a plurality of drill bits, a gripping arm for selective gripping of a drill bit. The gripping arm may further comprise a movement sensor, arranged to monitor movement of the gripping arm, and the system may further comprise a control unit. The control unit being arranged to receive input from the sensors and the drilling rig, and to control movement of the gripping arm, the gripping means, the drill bit storage device, and the breaker device of the drilling rig.

A completion system and method adapted for use in wells having long lateral boreholes includes a mast assembly having an upper mast fixture comprising a tong assembly and an alignment guide, a top drive, a gripping mechanism, and a crown. The crown lowers the gripping mechanism, which secures one end of a tubular, and then elevates the gripping mechanism to drag the tubular towards the mast assembly. The alignment guide receives the other end of the tubular and positions it in vertical alignment with the top drive and a wellbore.

A completion system and method adapted for use in wells having long lateral boreholes includes a mast assembly having an upper mast fixture comprising a tong assembly and an alignment guide, a top drive, a gripping mechanism, and a crown. The crown lowers the gripping mechanism, which secures one end of a tubular, and then elevates the gripping mechanism to drag the tubular towards the mast assembly. The alignment guide receives the other end of the tubular and positions it in vertical alignment with the top drive and a wellbore.

Systems and methods for vertical pipe handling include telescopic arm structures that move between retracted and extended positions in a horizontal plane, a cross arm structure connected to each telescopic arm structure, and a gripper head connected to the cross arm structure. The gripper head may be positioned at a desired location to receive, grip, position, and release a vertically oriented drill pipe or other tubular, and may include jaws that can be positioned to accommodate different sizes of drill pipe or tubulars. Means for raising and lower the gripper head, extending or retracting the gripper head in a horizontal plane, and tilting or pivoting the gripper head may also be provided. The vertical pipe handler may be housed below the drill floor and attached to the drill floor support structure.

Systems and methods for vertical pipe handling include telescopic arm structures that move between retracted and extended positions in a horizontal plane, a cross arm structure connected to each telescopic arm structure, and a gripper head connected to the cross arm structure. The gripper head may be positioned at a desired location to receive, grip, position, and release a vertically oriented drill pipe or other tubular, and may include jaws that can be positioned to accommodate different sizes of drill pipe or tubulars. Means for raising and lower the gripper head, extending or retracting the gripper head in a horizontal plane, and tilting or pivoting the gripper head may also be provided. The vertical pipe handler may be housed below the drill floor and attached to the drill floor support structure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to pipe handling apparatus that comprise a base, an elongate door, a pipe carrier and a lift member. In some embodiments the lift member is pivotally connected at one end to the base and pivotally connected to the pipe carrier at the other end. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes further features that provide full capture of the pipe carrier by the elongate door and the lift member. In some embodiments the pipe carrier is moved substantially along the elongate door by a combined actuator, shiv and cable system.

A system for placing and removing pipe from a finger rack of a drilling rig, the system comprising a pipe handling apparatus (140) and a finger rack (139) having at least one finger board (102) having at least two fingers (103 to 106) defining a slot (107 to 109) and a multiplicity of latches (114) arranged therebetween defining a space for a pipe, each latch (114) of the multiplicity of latches selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, the system further comprising at least one camera (101) having said at least one latch (114) of said multiplicity of latches in a field of view, capturing an image of said latch and sending said image to a master control computer (12′), said master computer control computer (12′) programmed with a set of instructions to analyse said image for details indicative of the latch (114) being in an open position or closed position, concluding the latch (114) to be in an open position or closed position and allowing or disallowing a pipe handling apparatus to place or remove a pipe in the finger rack (139) based on said conclusion.

A system for placing and removing pipe from a finger rack of a drilling rig, the system comprising a pipe handling apparatus (140) and a finger rack (139) having at least one finger board (102) having at least two fingers (103 to 106) defining a slot (107 to 109) and a multiplicity of latches (114) arranged therebetween defining a space for a pipe, each latch (114) of the multiplicity of latches selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, the system further comprising at least one camera (101) having said at least one latch (114) of said multiplicity of latches in a field of view, capturing an image of said latch and sending said image to a master control computer (12′), said master computer control computer (12′) programmed with a set of instructions to analyse said image for details indicative of the latch (114) being in an open position or closed position, concluding the latch (114) to be in an open position or closed position and allowing or disallowing a pipe handling apparatus to place or remove a pipe in the finger rack (139) based on said conclusion.

An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.