The invention is a land drilling rig (10) having a drilling mast (12), a top drive (14) movable in the drilling mast (12) along the vertical axis of the drilling mast (12), and a crown bearing (18) at an upper end (16) of the drilling mast (12), the crown bearing (18) being movable by means of a positioning device (24), and a method of operating such a drilling rig (10) and a method of operating a top drive (14) in the drilling mast (12) of such a drilling rig (10).

Systems and methods for using high rate telemetry to improve drilling operations. A method may include performing drilling operations with a wired drill pipe (WDP) string in an oil and/or gas well. The drilling operations may include pumping drilling fluid to a mud motor of the WDP string through an internal passage of the WDP string and vertically moving the WDP string via a drawworks while controlling the drawworks to change speed of the WDP string based on downhole data received by wellsite surface equipment via electrical conductors integral to WDP of the WDP string. The received downhole data may include downhole pressure data that is generated downhole by a pressure sensor and is indicative of pressure of the drilling fluid in the internal passage.

Apparatus and methods for controlling slide drilling based on torque and rotational distance of a top drive connected with an upper end of a drill string. A method may comprise operating a processing device that receives torque measurements indicative of torque output by the top drive, receives rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance imparted by the top drive, causes the top drive to rotate the drill string while the drill string is off-bottom, determines a reference torque based on the torque measurements received while the drill string is rotated off-bottom, causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference torque to perform slide drilling, determines a reference rotational distance based on the rotational distance measurements received during the slide drilling, and causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference rotational distance to perform the slide drilling.

A rotary casing drill for gripping and rotating a tubular structure such as a well casing. The drill includes a housing having at least one gear positioned within the housing. The drill also includes a grip assembly that is driven by the gear. The grip assembly is configured to grip the tubular structure to allow the tubular structure to be rotated about an axis. The grip assembly including a plurality of grippers that are configured to grip the tubular structure to allow it to be rotated. The grippers are positioned radially outwardly from the tubular structure and are adapted to move in a radial direction toward and away from the tubular structure. The grip assembly also includes a compression ring that is positioned radially outwardly from the grippers and is configured to move in an axial direction from a first position to a second position. Axial movement of the compression ring causes radial movement of the grippers. The grip assembly further includes a push-pull member configured to axially move the compression ring and at least one biasing member that is configured to bias one or more of the grippers radially outwardly away from the tubular structure when the compression ring is moved axially away from the grippers by the push-pull member. When the compression ring is in the second position, the push-pull member is permitted to float with respect to the compressing ring.

The invention relates to a rotary drive arrangement for a drill rod having an outer pipe and an inner rod running at least in sections inside the outer pipe, in particular for double-head and/or overburden drilling, with a first gearbox for driving the inner rod in a rotating manner and a second gearbox for driving the outer pipe in a rotating manner, wherein the first gearbox and the second gearbox are independent of each other. According to the invention provision is made in that the first gearbox and the second gearbox are supported in a common gearbox housing and are surrounded by the same.

Apparatus and methods for controlling release of torsional energy from a drill string having a lower portion that is stuck against a subterranean formation and a top end rotated by a top drive. The method may include decreasing a rotational speed set-point of the top drive, decreasing a torque set-point of the top drive, and/or decreasing flow rate of drilling mud being pumped downhole via the drill string, thereby decreasing torque output by a mud motor rotating a drill bit. The method may further include lifting the drill string to free the drill string. Decreasing the torque set-point of the top drive may comprise decreasing the torque set-point of the top drive to a minimum torque level that the top drive can output. Decreasing the rotational speed set-point of the top drive may comprise decreasing the rotational speed set-point of the top drive to zero.

A tubular running tool equipped with a mandrel having an elongated body and configured for suspension above a wellbore. A plurality of slips are disposed on the mandrel. Each slip is configured to receive and hold a swappable insert via a releasable interlocking junction. Each swappable insert is configured with a gripping portion on an outer surface thereof. The mandrel is configured for actuation to urge the slips radially outward such that the swappable inserts disposed thereon are correspondingly urged radially outward. A method and system using the tool for running a tubular and providing a makeup torque.

A trailer-mounted drilling rig incorporates a dual top drive apparatus and a plurality of lifting assemblies useable for decreasing connection time of pipe segments useable during well drilling or other well operations, and methods of connecting pipe segments useable during well drilling or other operations. The plurality of lifting assemblies operatively connected to the dual top drive apparatus and a first lifting assembly is capable of moving a first top drive vertically inline with a wellbore while a second lifting assembly is capable of independently moving a second top drive vertically out of alignment with the wellbore.

Disclosed is a drilling system and a method for drilling a well. The drilling system includes a coilable drill string; a first reel for storing the coilable drill string; a drive means for driving the coilable drill string into the well from the first reel and out of the well to the first reel; and a deflection means for directing the coilable drill string between the first reel and into the well centre. The drilling system further includes a top drive. The coilable drill string is provided with: a first connection at a first end for connecting the coilable drill string to a bottom-hole-assembly and a second connection at a second end for connecting the coilable drill string to the top drive.

Equipment and methods for coupling a top drive to one or more tools to facilitate data and/or signal transfer therebetween include a receiver assembly connectable to a top drive; a tool adapter connectable to a tool string, wherein a coupling between the receiver assembly and the tool adapter transfers at least one of torque and load therebetween; and a stationary data uplink comprising at least one of: a data swivel coupled to the receiver assembly; a wireless module coupled to the tool adapter; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the tool adapter. Equipment and methods include coupling a receiver assembly to a tool adapter to transfer at least one of torque and load therebetween, the tool adapter being connected to the tool string; collecting data at one or more points proximal the tool string; and communicating the data to a stationary computer while rotating the tool adapter.