A top drive for well operations having a gearbox, a traction motor connected to the gearbox so that a motor shaft of the traction motor extends into the gearbox, a quill extending into the gearbox, a gear train positioned within the gearbox and mechanically connected between the traction motor shaft and the quill, and a connector positioned in the gear train, wherein in a coupled configuration the connector communicates torque through the gear train, and wherein in a decoupled configuration the connector does not communicate torque through the gear train. A method for operating a top drive by applying a first torque to a quill with two traction motors, disconnecting one of the traction motors from the quill, and applying a second torque less than the first torque to the quill with the non-disconnected traction motor.

A top drive for well operations having a gearbox, a traction motor connected to the gearbox so that a motor shaft of the traction motor extends into the gearbox, a quill extending into the gearbox, a gear train positioned within the gearbox and mechanically connected between the traction motor shaft and the quill, and a connector positioned in the gear train, wherein in a coupled configuration the connector communicates torque through the gear train, and wherein in a decoupled configuration the connector does not communicate torque through the gear train. A method for operating a top drive by applying a first torque to a quill with two traction motors, disconnecting one of the traction motors from the quill, and applying a second torque less than the first torque to the quill with the non-disconnected traction motor.

The present disclosure provides a fixed-cutter drill bit including a bit body defining a bit rotational axis, a plurality of blades each having an inner end that is radially closer to the bit rotational axis than a remainder of the respective blade, a central bit surface, and a plurality of cutters disposed on the blades and including an innermost cutter located closest among all of the plurality of cutters to the bit rotational axis and having a flattened cutting surface, a cutting arc, and a relief having ends which is located within and interrupts the cutting arc such that the cutting arc includes at least two portions located on opposite ends of the relief. The disclosure also provides a drilling system including the drill bit and a drill string attached to the drill bit and a surface assembly to rotate the drill string and drill bit.

One or more images of a tubular being run into a well are captured. The one or more images can be captured by an image sensor. The tubular includes a first tubular section and a second tubular section connected together by a connection. An onsite edge gateway local to the image sensor is configured to perform various operations. Based on the captured one or more images, an elevation of the connection relative to a reference elevation of the well is determined. Based on the determined elevation, an operating condition is determined. It is determined whether the operating condition is included in an automation rule. In response to determining that the automation rule includes the operating condition, a signal is transmitted to drive a controllable device.

A power swivel is disclosed that is configured to rotate tubular string and drill bit to form or extend a subterranean borehole. In an embodiment, the power swivel includes a motor, a gear box coupled to the motor, and a lubrication system coupled to the gear box. The lubrication system includes a pump disposed within the gear box, the pump including an outlet. In addition, the lubrication system includes a recirculation line fluidly coupled to the outlet of the pump. Further, the lubrication system includes a first injector fluidly coupled to the recirculation line. The injector is configured to deliver lubricant to one of a bearing and a gear disposed within the gear box.

A power swivel is disclosed that is configured to rotate tubular string and drill bit to form or extend a subterranean borehole. In an embodiment, the power swivel includes a motor, a gear box coupled to the motor, and a lubrication system coupled to the gear box. The lubrication system includes a pump disposed within the gear box, the pump including an outlet. In addition, the lubrication system includes a recirculation line fluidly coupled to the outlet of the pump. Further, the lubrication system includes a first injector fluidly coupled to the recirculation line. The injector is configured to deliver lubricant to one of a bearing and a gear disposed within the gear box.

An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other. The actuator controls movement between the first structure and the second support structure and carries out further operative functions for driving parts of an excavating machine or drilling equipment.

A method of building and operating a land-based drilling rig with a high-capacity mast include providing a platform collapsed on a substructure over a proposed well drilling location and building the high-capacity mast in a horizontal condition by attaching a lower portion of the high-capacity mast to the platform. The high-capacity mast having an opening formed therein sized to accommodate four Range 2 pipes or three Range 3 pipes. The high-capacity mast may be raised from the horizontal condition to a vertical condition by pushing the side of the high-capacity mast to pivot the high-capacity mast about a pivot point on the platform. The platform may be raised from a collapsed condition to a raised condition over the substructure. Some implementations include dual racking boards on the high-capacity mast.

Image sensors are positioned around a rig floor. An on-site edge or fog computing gateway is communicably coupled to the image sensors. The on-site edge or fog computing gateway includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The programming instructions instruct the one or more processors to do the following: receive an image stream form at least one of the plurality of image sensors; generate, from the image stream, an operating condition; determine that an automation rule includes the operating condition generated from the image stream; in response to determining that an automation rule includes the operating condition, send an instruction to drive a controllable device; and, in response to sending an instruction to drive the controllable device, drive the controllable device.

A snubbing jack including a jack assembly including a base plate, a traveling plate, an axis extending through the base plate and the traveling plate, and a plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies, a rotary drive including a rotary base and a hub, wherein the rotary drive is configured to rotate the hub relative to the rotary base, a clamp coupled to the rotary base and configured to grip a first tubular member, a power tongs coupled to the rotary base and configured to grip a second tubular member and to rotate the second tubular relative to the rotary base, and a torque transfer device coupled between the rotary drive and the jack assembly and configured to allow the rotary drive to move axially relative to the base plate and configured to restrict rotation of the rotary drive relative to the jack assembly.