Coiled tubing drilling rig

Abstract

A novel rotary table is secured to the top of a well's BOP simplifying the making up of sectional tubing joints used in some aspects of operations with coiled tubing. The rotary table comprises top a bottom stationary housing affixed to the BOP, a top housing supported on the bottom housing by an annular bearing, a split clamp to transferring the weight of the tubing to the top housing and seals between the top and bottom housings and between the top housing and the tubing. More preferably, a coiled tubing rig is provided having a frame, a tiltable mast, an injector reel, a tubing straightener and a jib crane in combination with the rotary table for increased functionality including drilling surface hole using coiled tubing. The mast tilts between two positions, either aligning coiled tubing and injector with the BOP or aligning a jib crane and tubing elevators for manipulating sectional tubing including BHA onto and through the rotary table.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A rotary table for the supported rotation of sectional tubular components which extend through a bore in a wellhead comprising: 
 (a) a bottom stationary housing affixed to the top of the wellhead and having a bore contiguous with the wellhead;    (b) a top rotational housing having bore a contiguous with the bottom housing;    (c) means for transferring the weight of the components to the top housing;    (d) an annular bearing installed between the top and bottom housings for rotationally supporting the weight of the components and having bore contiguous with the top and bottom housings;    (e) a seal between the top and bottom housings; and    (f) a seal between the top housing and the components passing therethrough so that the components can be rotationally supported through the wellhead, the wellhead seal is maintained and the components can be rotated.    
     
     
         2 . The rotary table of  claim 1  wherein the means for transferring the weight of the components to the top housing is a split clamp.  
     
     
         3 . The rotary table of  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the bottom housing has an upward tubular protuberance formed with an annular and radially outwardly extending shoulder upon which the annular bearing is supported; and  
 (b) the top housing has an annular shoulder extending radially inwardly from the bore so that, when the top housing is telescoped over the protuberance, the inward shoulder bears against and is supported on the annular bearing.  
 
     
     
         4 . The rotary table of  claim 3  wherein: 
 (a) the protuberance's shoulder is fitted with a circumferential outer seal for sealing against the bore of the top housing; and  
 (b) the top housing's shoulder is fitted with a circumferential inner seal for sealing against the protuberance.  
 
     
     
         5 . The rotary table of  claim 4  further comprising means for retaining the top housing to the bottom housing.  
     
     
         6 . The rotary table of  claim 5  wherein the retaining means comprises an annular collar rotatably fitted between the wellhead and the protuberance's shoulder, the collar extending about the protuberance's shoulder to engage the top housing and draw the top housing to the bottom housing, retaining them together.  
     
     
         7 . The rotary table of  claim 6  wherein the annular collar has female threads for engaging male threads on the top housing.  
     
     
         8 . The rotary table of  claim 4  wherein flow tee is incorporated into the bottom housing.  
     
     
         9 . Hybrid apparatus for operation with both coiled and sectional tubing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a coiled tubing rig having a frame and a mast normally aligned over a wellhead, an injector located in the mast and a tubing straightener positioned between the injector and the wellhead;    (b) a rotary table affixed to the well head for rotationally supporting sectional tubular components passing through the wellhead;    (c) a jib crane mounted atop the mast; and    (d) means for pivoting the mast between two positions, 
 (i) a first position where the mast, injector and straightener are aligned with the wellhead for injection and withdrawing of coiled tubing, and  
 (ii) a second position with the mast pivoted out of alignment from the wellhead so that the jib crane can align sectional tubing with the wellhead and be supported therefrom and be made up on the rotary table.  
   
     
     
         10 . The hybrid apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the sectional tubing is a BHA.  
     
     
         11 . The hybrid apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising power tongs for enabling sectional production casing to be quickly made up and run in through the wellhead.  
     
     
         12 . A method of drilling a well using coiled tubing comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a rotary table over the well;    (b) standing tubular sections on the rotary table to enable rotation of adjacent sections for making up a drilling assembly including a downhole motor and drill bit;    (c) aligning a coiled tubing injector over the drilling assembly;    (d) rotating the drilling assembly to make up to the coiled tubing; and    (e) drilling the well through the rotary table.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 (a) spudding a well with a conventional drilling rig and installing a wellhead; and  
 (b) fitting the rotary table to the wellhead.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the drilling assembly comprises a BHA.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising; 
 (a) positioning a coiled tubing rig over the well, the rig having a mast with a jib crane, an injector being mounted in the mast's top with a straightener mounted between the injector and the well;  
 (b) moving the injector and straightener out of alignment for lifting tubular sections and standing them on the rotary table for making up the drilling assembly; and  
 (c) moving the injector and straightener into alignment with the rotary table for making up the drilling assembly to the coiled tubing.  
 
     
     
         16 . Hybrid apparatus for operation with both coiled and sectional tubing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a coiled tubing rig having a frame and a mast normally aligned over a wellhead, an injector located in the mast and a tubing straightener positioned between the injector and the wellhead;    (b) a rotary table affixed to the well head for rotationally supporting sectional tubular components passing through the wellhead;    (c) a jib crane mounted atop the mast; and    (d) means for pivoting the mast between two positions, 
 (i) a first position where the mast, injector and straightener are aligned with the wellhead for injection and withdrawing of coiled tubing, and  
 (ii) a second position with the mast pivoted out of alignment from the wellhead so that the jib crane can align sectional tubing with the wellhead and be supported therefrom and be made up on the rotary table.