Patent ID: 7828087

Claim:
A well drilling apparatus comprising: a pre-assembled transportable substructure having a rear end and a front end, and also having at least two front leg mounts, at least two rear leg mounts and at least two support leg mounts, wherein the substructure further comprises: a mast starter section, located at the front end of the substructure, having at least two front legs and at least two rear legs, wherein the at least two front legs are pivotally attached to the at least two front leg mounts; at least two supporting legs pivotally attached to the at least two support leg mounts at one end; an elevatable drill floor pivotally attached to the second end of the at least two supporting legs and wherein the elevatable drill floor is also pivotally attached to the at least two front legs of the mast starter section; at least one dog tail pivotally attached to the substructure, wherein the at least one dog tail is adapted for raising a mast assembly from its horizontal assembly position to its vertical operating position; and a mast assembly raising system that communicates forces between the substructure, the at least one dog tail and the mast assembly, wherein the mast assembly raising system can raise the mast assembly to its vertical operating position by having the at least two front legs of the mast starter section pivot around the at least two front leg mounts and thereby causing the at least two rear legs of the mast starter section to attach itself to the at least two rear leg mounts; a pre-assembled mast strong back, wherein the mast strong back is connected to the mast starter section at ground level without a crane, thereby forming a part of the mast assembly; at least one pre-assembled transportable mast intermediate section, wherein the at least one mast intermediate section is connected to the mast strong back at ground level without a crane, thereby forming a part of the mast assembly; a pre-assembled transportable mast top section having a crown block in communication with a traveling block via a messenger line, wherein the mast top section is assembled at the top of the at least one mast intermediate section at ground level without a crane, thereby forming the rest of the mast assembly; and a second anchor point, located along the length of the mast assembly, for providing communication from the mast assembly raising system to the mast assembly.