Patent ID: 7090035

Claim:
A method for connecting a joint of pipe to a top drive assembly using a pipe launcher, the top drive assembly located in a drilling mast of a drilling rig, the method comprising the steps of: (a) raising or lowering the top drive assembly in the drilling mast to a first predetermined position above a drilling platform on the drilling rig, the top drive assembly having a top drive motor with a rotatable quill, said first predetermined position suitable for the top drive assembly to connect with a joint of pipe, the joint of pipe having a box end and a pin end defining a longitudinal axis between said ends; (b) moving a joint of pipe with the pipe launcher to a second predetermined position adjacent to the drilling platform suitable for connecting the joint of pipe to the top drive assembly, the joint of pipe having the box end pointed toward the top drive assembly at a predetermined angle, the angle determined by the height of the drilling platform and the distance between the drilling rig and the pipe launcher; (c) tilting the top drive motor about a substantially horizontal axis until the quill is pointed toward the box end of said pipe and substantially aligned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said pipe; (d) pushing the joint of pipe along its longitudinal axis from the second predetermined position toward the top drive motor whereby the box end of the pipe may be threadably engaged to the quill; and (e) gripping and pulling the joint of pipe along its longitudinal axis toward the top drive motor while simultaneously rotating the quill to threadably engage the box end of the pipe until the connection between the joint of pipe and the top drive assembly is substantially complete.