A system includes a top drive system, a swivel joint system coupled to the top drive at a position axially below the top drive system, wherein the swivel joint system comprises a first subunit and a second subunit rotatably coupled together, wherein the first sub unit is coupled to the top drive system, and wherein the swivel joint system is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, and a tubular gripping system coupled to the second subunit of the swivel joint system.

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.

A drive unit of a top drive system includes a drive stem having a plurality of ports from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof. A plurality of sliding coupling members is disposed in the ports. A coupling collar encircles the drive stem and has actuation surfaces and recessed surfaces on an interior thereof, wherein the recessed surfaces align with the ports when the coupling collar is in a first position, and the actuation surfaces align with the ports when the coupling collar is in a second position.

A method for drilling a wellbore includes rotating a drill string having a steerable drilling motor proximate a distal end thereof in a wellbore to a selected tool face angle. A torque applied to the drill string and a rotational orientation of the drill string is measured at spaced apart positions along the drill string. The drill string is rotated in a first direction until rotation at one of the selected positions is measured. Rotation of the drill string is reversed to a second direction until rotation of the drill string at the one of the selected positions is measured. Rotation of the drill string is reversed to the first direction until a torque measured at at least one position along the drill string corresponds to a torque measured when drill string rotation was reversed from the first direction.

A tool circulates drilling fluid through and rotates a pipe string while making up or breaking out a stand of pipe. The tool includes a clad configured to grip and seal around the RCCT sub. The clad includes a body portion, an inner ring configured to selectively rotate independently, an outer ring configured to be stationary with respect to the inner ring, the outer ring having at least two annular protrusions, a first arm configured to engage with a first annular protrusion, a second arm configured to engage with a second annular protrusion, and a stinger configured to latch into the at least one side entry port and allow the sub and the drill pipe string to rotate independent of the clad. The clad is configured to avoid or prevent stuck pipe incidents.

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.

Present embodiments are directed to a tubular gripping system having engagement features. The tubular grappling system is configured to grip a tubular of a mineral extraction system and includes a first set of teeth of a contact surface of the tubular grappling system, wherein the contact surface is configured to engage with the tubular, and each tooth of the first set of teeth comprises a first orientation and a second set of teeth of the contact surface of the tubular grappling system, wherein each tooth of the second set of teeth comprises a second orientation, wherein the first and second orientations are generally perpendicular to one another, wherein the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are axially offset from one another relative to a central axis of the tubular grappling system.

A device for supporting a becket of a travelling block features a bar whose longitudinal dimension exceeds a distance between a first pair of support legs by which one end of the becket is pivotally supported on the travelling block. The bar is abutted against the first support legs from a side thereof facing a second pair of support legs, to which the second end of the becket is coupled when the becket is closed. A sling is connected to the bar via a connection lies intermediately of the bar's ends so as to reside between the first support legs. The sling is wrapped under the becket to an opposing side of the second pair of support legs, where a lifting cable is connected to the sling. Under tension from the lifting cable, the sling snugly cradles an underside of the becket to support same during opening of the becket.

A system and method of automating a slide drilling operation comprising a plurality of tasks is described, in particular, reducing stored torque within a drill string that extends within a wellbore that includes storing, using a computing system, a first predetermined workflow to reduce stored torque within the drill string, and a second predetermined workflow to reduce stored torque within the drill string, wherein the first predetermined workflow comprises instructions to vertically move the drill string in first and opposing second directions; and wherein the second predetermined workflow comprises instructions to rotate the drill string in a first direction. Further included are a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computing system, a controller of the computing system receives a selection command selecting the first predetermined workflow or the second predetermined workflow, and a specific parameter is selected and one of the first and second predetermined workflows is automatically executed.

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes detecting a first parameter indicative of lateral movement of a top drive system with respect to a rotational axis of the top drive system with a first plurality of sensors and detecting a second parameter indicative of lateral movement of the top drive system with respect to the longitudinal axis of the top drive system with a second plurality of sensors. The first parameter is different from the second parameter. The method also includes transmitting the first parameter and the second parameter to a monitoring system and comparing the first parameter to a first threshold value and comparing the second parameter to a second threshold value with the monitoring system. Detecting the first parameter and the second parameter includes detecting lateral movement of a mud saver valve configured to flow mud through a sealed passage.