Abstract:
A top drive assembly having a top drive traveling block; a retracting guide dolly for use with the top drive traveling block and top drive operably by a master control system to hydraulically operate all of the top and bottom dolly arms simultaneously to extend and retract the top drive and top drive traveling block laterally and move the dolly as needed based on signals from a plurality of sensors disposed on the drilling rig, or on equipment adjacent the drilling rig.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The current application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/587,519 filed on Jan. 17, 2012, entitled “METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRILLING RIG WITH A RETRACTING GUIDE DOLLY AND A TOP DRIVE.” This reference is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present embodiments generally relate to a top drive assembly for a drilling rig which can be operated by a master control system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A need exists for a portable drilling rig that has a top drive that extends and retracts to provide quicker drilling. 
     The present embodiments meet these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a schematic of a drilling rig system usable with the top drive assembly. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a detailed schematic of a data storage usable with the top drive assembly. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a detailed schematic of another data storage of a master control system usable with the top drive assembly. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a plan view of the retracting guide dolly according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the top drive assembly with retracting guide dolly according to one or more embodiments. 
     
    
    
     The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the present apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways. 
     The present embodiments relate to a top drive assembly for a drilling rig which can be operated by a master control system. 
     The drilling rig can have a mast having a top drive, a top drive traveling block, a top drive drill line for lifting the top drive, and a drawworks connected to a power supply. 
     The top drive assembly operates on a retracting guide that can be controlled from a remote master control system. 
     The retracting guide dolly can include a first dolly engagement roller assembly and a second dolly engagement roller assembly operatively engaging a first side of the mast. The roller assemblies can be stabilized using guide dolly stabilizers. 
     A first dolly arm can be pivotably connected to the first dolly engagement roller assembly and the top drive, and a second dolly arm can be pivotably connected to the second roller assembly and the top drive. 
     A third dolly engagement roller assembly and a fourth dolly engagement roller assembly can be operatively engaged with a second side of the mast. 
     A third dolly arm can be pivotably connected to the third dolly engagement roller assembly and the top drive. A fourth dolly arm can be pivotably connected to the fourth dolly engagement roller assembly and the top drive. 
     A traveling block connects to the top drive and a traveling block dolly assembly. 
     The traveling block dolly assembly can include a first traveling block roller assembly engaged with the first side of the mast, and a second traveling block roller assembly engaged with the second side of the mast. 
     At least two traveling block arms can be pivotably connected to the traveling block and the traveling block roller assemblies. 
     A master control system can be used to pivot the dolly arms and the traveling block arms to retract the top drive laterally when the top drive and traveling block are traveling to a start position. The start position can be adjacent the crown when pipe is being ran into the wellbore and the drill floor when tubulars are being taken out of the wellbore. 
     The master control system can be operated from a first or second client device which can be a cell phone, a laptop, a computer, a tablet, or another type of processor. The master control system can be remote to the top drive assembly. 
     In one or more embodiments, the guide dolly arms and the traveling block arms can be connected using pivot pins and pad eyes. 
     The master control system can be used to pivot the dolly arms and the traveling block arms to extend the top drive laterally to engage one or more tubulars. 
     Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a schematic of a system configured to perform an operation on a tubular according to one or more embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the master control system  100  can include a server  602 . The server  602  can be in communication with a network  608 . 
     The server  602  can be configured to execute computer instructions in one or more data storages, to communicate with devices via the network. The server  602  can be a PENTIUM™ processor, a computer, or a similar device. 
     In one or more embodiments, the server can be in a computing cloud. 
     The server can be a plurality of servers connected together, some in the computing cloud, some outside of the computing cloud connected to the network  608 . 
     A data storage  610  can be connected with, integrated with, or otherwise in communication with the server  602 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the data storage can be in a computing cloud. In one or more embodiments, a plurality of data storages can be used, some in a computing cloud, some outside of a computer cloud for operation of the master control system. 
     A first client device  660  and a second client device  670  can be in communication with the network  608 . Accordingly, the client devices  660  and  670  can be in communication with the server  602  via the network  608 . 
     The first client device  660  can have first client computer instructions for presenting an executive dashboard  102  of rig functions to a first user  662  which can include location of the top drive assembly  684  on the mast  683  of the drilling rig  680 . 
     The second client device  670  can have second client device computer instructions for presenting the same executive dashboard of rig functions to a second user  672 . 
     The master control  100  can be in communication with the drilling rig  680 . 
     The drilling rig  680  can include a mast  683  with a drawworks  682 , a top drive assembly  684 , a rough neck  689  on a drill floor  690  of the drilling rig, and a top crown  685  on the mast. 
     A vertical pipe handler  681  and a horizontal to vertical pipe handler  688  can be connected to the drilling rig. 
     The drawworks  682  of the drilling rig can have a rotational speed monitoring device  916 . The rotational speed monitoring device  916  can be any device capable of determining the rotational speed of the drawworks  682 . 
     The vertical pipe handler  681  adjacent the drilling rig can have one or more vertical pipe handler monitoring devices  918 . The vertical pipe handler monitoring device  918  can be configured to determine: if the arms are actuated, the position of the arms, or combinations thereof. 
     The top drive assembly  684  of the drilling rig can have one or more top drive monitoring devices  912 . The top drive monitoring device  912  can be an accelerometer, a RFI tag, or another device capable of measuring the acceleration of the top drive, aiding in the determination by sending a signal or interacting with another monitoring device to cause a signal to be sent. For example, the top drive can have a chip or device configured to interact with one or more mast measuring devices  914  to cause a signal to be sent to the server  602 . 
     The rough neck  689  of the drilling rig can be power tongs secured to a drill floor  690  of the drilling rig  680 . The rough neck  689  can have one or more rough neck monitoring devices  928  configured to determine; if the rough neck  689  is in a closed position or an open position; and to determine the amount of torque forces applied to the rough neck; or combinations thereof. 
     The horizontal to vertical pipe handler  688  connected to the drilling rig can have one or more vertical pipe handler monitoring devices  920  and  922  configured to detect the location, speed, force applied to, how many tubulars are disposed thereon, the like, or combinations thereof. 
     The top crown  685  of the mast  683  can have one or more top crown monitoring devices  930  to determine the speed of drill line passing therethrough. 
     The monitoring devices  912 ,  916 ,  918 ,  920 ,  922 ,  928 , and  930  can talk to the server through any form of telemetry. The mast measuring device  914  can also talk to the servicer though any form of telemetry. Illustrative examples of telemetry can include wired, wireless, acoustic, frequency, or combinations thereof. 
     The drilling rig  680  can be operatively aligned with a well center  10 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows a top drive traveling block  320  secured to the top drive and a drill line  218  connected to drawworks  682 , which are shown in detail in later Figures. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a detailed schematic of a data storage usable by the master control system according to one or more embodiments. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  620  to manage synchronized function of the drawworks, top drive, vertical pipe handler, horizontal to vertical pipe handler, and the top drive assembly having a retractable dolly and top drive. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  622  to roll one or more tubulars into a horizontal to vertical pipe handler and grab the tubulars. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  624  to raise the horizontal to vertical pipe handler gripping the one or more tubulars to a vertical position from an initial horizontal position. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  626  to extend arms of a vertical pipe handler to grab a tubular from the horizontal to vertical pipe handler, and to rotate and lift the tubular for positioning at a well center. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  627  to retract a plurality of the retractable top drive dolly hydraulic cylinders and traveling block dolly hydraulic cylinders to move the retractable dolly to a position over a well center. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  628  to lower a top drive to an end of the tubular. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  630  to engage the top drive with the tubular making up the connection. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  631  to cause a tong to connect a tubular with a drill string in a wellbore; 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  632  to rotate the tubular with the top drive and drive the tubular into the wellbore. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  634  to retract the traveling block assembly by extending all the arms of the retracting dolly up and allowing the top drive assembly to be hoisted up the mast towards the crown. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  636  to extend arms of a vertical pipe handler to grab a subsequent tubulars from the horizontal to vertical pipe handler, and to rotate and lift the tubular for positioning at a well center and repeating the steps to form a drill string. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a detailed schematic of a data storage according to one or more embodiments. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  720  to manage synchronize functions of a drawworks, a top drive assembly, a vertical pipe handler and a horizontal to vertical pipe handler. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  730  to lower the top drive assembly with the retractable dolly arms extended to the top a tubular. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  740  to extend the top drive and engage the top drive with the tubular making up a connection. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  750  to engage a hydraulic power tong with a tubular and to break out the tubular from the drill string. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  760  to engage the tubular with a vertical pipe handler. 
     The data storage  610  can include computer instructions  770  to retract the vertical pipe hander to place the tubular in a setback area. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a plan view of the top drive assembly according to one or more embodiments. 
     The top drive assembly  684  can include a top drive  318 . 
     A second dolly arm  408  can be pivotably connected to a second dolly engagement roller assembly  406  and the top drive  318 . A fourth dolly arm  416  can be pivotably connected to a fourth dolly engagement roller assembly  416  and the top drive  318 . 
     The well center  10  can be viewed herein. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the top drive assembly with retracting guide dolly according to one or more embodiments. 
     The top drive assembly  684  is shown with a retracting guide dolly  329 . The top drive traveling block  320  is shown attached to the top drive  318  and the drill line  218 . 
     A retracting guide dolly  329  can include a first dolly engagement roller assembly  402 . The retracting guide dolly  329  can be connected to the top drive  318  for ensuring the top drive is positioned over the well center. 
     A first dolly arm  404  can be pivotably connected to the first dolly engagement roller assembly  402  and the top drive  318 . 
     The second dolly engagement roller assembly  406  can be axially aligned with the first dolly engagement roller assembly  402 . 
     A second dolly arm  408  can be pivotably connected to the second dolly engagement roller assembly  406  and the top drive  318 . 
     A third dolly engagement roller assembly  410  is shown disposed on an opposite side of the top drive  318 . 
     A third dolly arm  412  can be pivotably connected to the third dolly engagement roller assembly  410  and the top drive  318 . 
     A fourth dolly engagement roller assembly  414  can be operatively aligned with the third dolly engagement roller assembly  410 . 
     A fourth dolly arm  416  can be pivotably connected to the fourth dolly engagement roller assembly  414  and the top drive  318 . 
     A plurality of hydraulic cylinders  440 ,  442 ,  444 ,  446 ,  448  and  450  can be connected to a power unit, such as hydraulic power unit. 
     The traveling block dolly assembly  321  can be secured to the top drive traveling block  320 . 
     The traveling block dolly assembly  321  can have a first traveling block roller assembly  420 ; a second traveling block roller assembly  422 ; a first traveling block arm  421  can be pivotably connected to the first traveling block roller assembly  420  and the top drive traveling block  320 ; a second traveling block arm  424  can be pivotably connected to the second traveling block roller assembly  422  and the top drive traveling block  320 . 
     While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.