A drilling machine has a hybrid thrust/pull back system. The hybrid thrust/pull-back system includes at least two different types of drive mechanisms that can be operated concurrently or independently depending upon an operating state of the drilling machine

A drilling machine has a hybrid thrust/pull back system. The hybrid thrust/pull-back system includes at least two different types of drive mechanisms that can be operated concurrently or independently depending upon an operating state of the drilling machine

A high trip rate drilling rig has first handling equipment to transport stands in/out of setback, second handling equipment to deliver stands to/from well center, and a hand-off position to set down stands for exchange between first/second equipment. Second equipment can include a top drive and a delivery arm translatable along the mast past each other, and a clasp on the arm slidable on the stand for constraint below the upper end, which can allow the top drive to engage/disengage the constrained stand above the arm. A high trip rate method transports stands in/out of setback, delivers stands to/from well center, and sets down and hands off stands at hand-off position between the setback transportation and well center delivery. The delivery can include engaging/disengaging the top drive and a stand constrained by the clasp.

A high trip rate drilling rig has first handling equipment to transport stands in/out of setback, second handling equipment to deliver stands to/from well center, and a hand-off position to set down stands for exchange between first/second equipment. Second equipment can include a top drive and a delivery arm translatable along the mast past each other, and a clasp on the arm slidable on the stand for constraint below the upper end, which can allow the top drive to engage/disengage the constrained stand above the arm. A high trip rate method transports stands in/out of setback, delivers stands to/from well center, and sets down and hands off stands at hand-off position between the setback transportation and well center delivery. The delivery can include engaging/disengaging the top drive and a stand constrained by the clasp.

A cable guide for supporting a slack portion of a drill line during a slip and cut operation features a top body portion and a bottom body portion held together in spaced relation to one another such that inner ends of the top and bottom body portions are facing but spaced from one another. At least one contact surface is carried on each body portion, and a pair of the contact surfaces are aligned in a working position so as to collectively define a pathway between the inner ends of the top and bottom body portions along which the slack portion of the drill line is to be routed. The cable guide also features an adjustable coupling mechanism arranged for displacing the inner ends of the top and bottom body portions towards and away from one another so as to adjust a size of the pathway.

A cable guide for supporting a slack portion of a drill line during a slip and cut operation features a top body portion and a bottom body portion held together in spaced relation to one another such that inner ends of the top and bottom body portions are facing but spaced from one another. At least one contact surface is carried on each body portion, and a pair of the contact surfaces are aligned in a working position so as to collectively define a pathway between the inner ends of the top and bottom body portions along which the slack portion of the drill line is to be routed. The cable guide also features an adjustable coupling mechanism arranged for displacing the inner ends of the top and bottom body portions towards and away from one another so as to adjust a size of the pathway.

A pipe handling assembly carried by a horizontal boring machine includes a pipe box having a plurality of columns. One or more pipe sections may be received and stored in any of the columns. A pair of shuttle arms are used to move the pipe sections from the pipe box to a carriage included in the machine. The pipe column selection assembly includes an elongate rotatable shaft that carries a series of stop elements. A shaft-mounted pinion gear drives movement of the shuttle arms. A longitudinally positionable bolt element can block the rotational path of any selected one of the stop elements. Such blockage stops movement of the shuttle arms beneath a corresponding one of the columns. The pipe column selection assembly allows an operator to select which column to load or unload a pipe section into and from within a pipe box.

An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.

An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.

A joined pipe injector for the oil-field industry that is capable of handling strings of jointed pipe. The injector includes gripper block assemblies removably mounted to a pair of looping, sprocket-supported drive chains facing a pipe/tubing passage therebetween. The gripper block assemblies have self-adjusting pipe inserts biased with springs to grip tubing or pipe of constant nominal diameter or pipe having both nominal and secondary diameter including upset joints. An insert guide is provided at the end of the pipe/tubing passage to postpone contact between the pipe inserts and the pipe when the respective gripper block assemblies are moving with curving motion around the sprockets. The injector is designed to operate either independently, or in conjunction with a conventional work-over and/or drill rig.