Apparatus and method for performing earth borehole operations

Abstract

An apparatus for performing earth borehole operations comprising a base or substructure, a mast mounted on the base, a top drive mounted on the mast for longitudinal movement therealong, the top drive having an opening therethrough and a coiled tubing injector mounted on the mast above the top drive such that coiled tubing from the tubing injector can pass through the opening in the top drive, the apparatus being operable to selectively use the top drive to engage and manipulate a component used in borehole operations while the coiled tubing injector is substantially inoperative and selectively operable to use the coiled tubing injector to inject coiled tubing into an earth borehole while the top drive is substantially inoperative or alternatively using the coiled tubing injector to inject coiled tubing into a tubular string being manipulated by the top drive.

1 . An apparatus for performing earth borehole operations comprising: 
 a base;    a mast mounted on said base;    a top drive mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong, the top drive having an opening therethrough; and    a coiled tubing injector mounted on said mast above said top drive such that coiled tubing from said tubing injector can pass through said opening in said top drive.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mast comprises first and second, spaced frame members, said top drive and said coiled tubing injector being mounted between said frame members.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said top drive is slidably mounted on said mast.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said mast is provided with tracks and said top drive slides on said tracks.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said coiled tubing injector is carried by said top drive whereby movement of said top drive moves said coiled tubing injector longitudinally along said mast.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said top drive is moved longitudinally along said mast using a draw works.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said mast is provided with tracks and said top drive and said coiled tubing injector slide on said tracks.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said draw works is mounted on said base.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said draw works is mounted on said mast.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said apparatus further includes a rotary table mounted on said base.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said coiled tubing injector is adapted to be selectively latched in a preselected position on said mast.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said base comprises a wheeled structure.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said mast is pivotally secured to said base for movement to preselected angles ranging from horizontal to vertical and at any desired angle therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said coiled tubing injector includes a lubricator for guiding coiled tubing, said lubricator telescoping to selectively allow access to said coiled tubing.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of any of claims  1  or  2 , wherein said top drive and said coiled tubing injector are selectively operable, independent of one another, to perform earth borehole operations with jointed pipe or coiled tubing, respectively.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for connecting the tubing of a coiled tubing injector to a bottom hole assembly comprising: 
 a base;    a mast mounted on said base;    a top drive mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong, said top drive having an opening therethrough;    a coiled tubing injector mounted on said mast above said top drive such that coiled tubing from said coiled tubing injector can pass through said opening in said top drive; and    a rotary table mounted on said base, said rotary table being operable to engage and manipulate a first component of a bottom hole assembly, said top drive being operable to engage and manipulate a second component of a bottom hole assembly, said top drive and said rotary table being cooperatively operable to make up a complete bottom hole assembly, said coiled tubing injector being selectively operable to move coiled tubing through said opening in said top drive into and out of engagement with said complete bottom hole assembly.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said mast comprises first and second, spaced frame members, said top drive and said coiled tubing injector being mounted between said frame members.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said top drive is slidably mounted on said mast.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said mast is provided with tracks and said top drive slides on said tracks.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said coiled tubing injectors carried by said top drive whereby said movement of said top drive moves said coiled tubing injector longitudinally along said mast.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said top drive is moved longitudinally along said mast using a draw works.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said mast is provided with tracks and said top drive and said coiled tubing injector slide on said tracks.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said draw works is mounted on said base.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said draw works is mounted on said mast.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of any one of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said apparatus further includes a rotary table mounted on said base.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said coiled tubing injector is adapted to be selectively latched in a preselected position on said mast.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of any one of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said base comprises a wheeled structure.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said mast is pivotally secured to said base for movement to preselected angles ranging from horizontal to vertical and at any desired angle therebetween.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said coiled tubing injector includes a lubricator for guiding coiled tubing, said lubricator telescoping to selectively allow access to said coiled tubing.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of any of claims  16  or  17 , wherein said top drive and said coiled tubing injector are selectively operable, independent of one another, to perform earth borehole operations with jointed pipe or coiled tubing, respectively.  
   
   
       31 . A method of performing earth borehole operations comprising: 
 providing a base;    providing a mast mounted on said base;    providing a top drive mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong, said top drive being operable to engage and manipulate components used in earth borehole operations, said top drive having an opening therethrough;    providing a coiled tubing injector mounted on said mast above said top drive such that coiled tubing from said injector can pass through said opening in said top drive;    providing a rotary table on said base;    selectively using said top drive to engage and manipulate a component used in earth borehole operations while said coiled tubing injector is substantially inoperative; and    selectively using said coiled tubing injector to inject coiled tubing into said earth borehole while said top drive is substantially inoperative, said coiled tubing passing through said opening in said top drive.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , including engaging a first component of a bottom hole assembly by said rotary table.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , including engaging a second component of a bottom hole assembly by said top drive.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , comprising operating said rotary table and said top drive to connect said first and second components of said bottom hole assembly together.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , comprising further operating said rotary table and said top drive to successively connect components of a bottom hole assembly to make up a complete bottom hole assembly.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising disengaging said top drive from said complete bottom hole assembly while suspending said complete bottom hole assembly from said rotary table.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising moving said coiled tubing injector to a position such that coiled tubing passing through said opening in said top drive can engage said complete bottom hole assembly.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising disengaging said rotary table from said bottom hole assembly whereby said complete bottom hole assembly can be lowered using said coiled tubing injector to perform earth borehole operations.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise drilling with coiled tubing.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said drilling comprises directional drilling.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise drilling with conventional jointed drill pipe using said top drive.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 31 , where said drilling comprises directional drilling.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise using coiled tubing in completion operations.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise running coiled tubing as production tubing.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise running casing using said top drive.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise conducting completion operations using said top drive.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said earth borehole operations comprise running production tubing using said top drive.  
   
   
       48 . A method of performing earth borehole operations comprising: 
 providing a base;    providing a mast mounted on said base;    providing a top drive mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong, said top drive being operable to engage and manipulate a component used in earth borehole operations, said top drive having an opening therethrough;    providing a coiled tubing injector mounted on said mast above said top drive such that coiled tubing from said injector can pass through said opening in said top drive;    using said top drive to engage and manipulate a component used in earth borehole operations; and    using said coiled tubing injector to inject coiled tubing into said component through said opening in said top drive, while said top drive is manipulating said component.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said component is a string of casing.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said component is a string of tubing.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said component is a string of drill pipe.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of any of claims  1 ,  2 ,  16  or  17 , wherein said top drive is moved longitudinally along said mast using a hydraulic cylinder system.  
   
   
       53 . An apparatus for performing earth borehole operations comprising: 
 a base;    a mast mounted on said base;    a coiled tubing injector mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong;    a top drive mounted on said mast for longitudinal movement therealong, said top drive being mounted below said coiled tubing injector, said top drive having a first position wherein said coiled tubing injector can pass through said top drive and a second position wherein coiled tubing from said coiled tubing injector can pass alongside said top drive.    
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said mast comprises first and second, spaced frame members, said first and second spaced frame members being provided with first and second mast tracks extending longitudinally along said first and second frame members, said top drive being movable along said first and second tracks.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein there are first and second spur tracks operatively connected to said first and second mast tracks, respectively, said first and second spur tracks extending transversely to said first and second mast tracks, respectively, said top drive being movable from said mast tracks to said spur tracks.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , further including a switching mechanism to switch said top drive from said mast tracks to said spur tracks.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said top drive is carried by a frame, said frame having a first side and a second side, said first side carrying a first roller assembly engaging said first mast track, said second side carrying a second roller assembly engaging said second mast track whereby said frame can move longitudinally along said mast tracks.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein said top drive has a first frame position generally centrally of said frame between said first and second sides and a second frame position proximate one of said first and second sides.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein said top drive is suspended from said frame by first and second bails, said first and second bails being pivotally secured to said frame and to said top drive.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein there is a mechanical linkage between at least one of said first and second bails and said frame to effect pivoting of said at least one of said bails whereby said top drive is moved from said first to said second frame position.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein said mechanical linkage comprises a piston cylinder arrangement.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said coiled tubing injector is mounted on a carrier frame, said carrier frame being longitudinally movable along said mast, said coiled tubing injector being pivotally mounted on said carrier frame whereby said coiled tubing injector can be moved from a first position to a second position.  
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein in said first position said coiled tubing injector is generally parallel to said mast and in said second position said coiled tubing injector is transverse to said mast.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein in said second position said coiled tubing is substantially perpendicular to said mast.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said carrier frame includes a shaft, said coiled tubing injector being affixed to said shaft.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein said mast comprises first and second spaced frame members and said carrier frame comprises a first pillow block operatively connected to said first frame member and a second pillow block operatively connected to said second frame member, said shaft being rotatably journaled in said first and second pillow blocks.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein there is a first piston/cylinder assembly interconnecting said coiled tubing injector and a portion of said carrier frame which is not rotatable relative to said mast, said first piston/cylinder assembly being operative to move said coiled tubing injector from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein there is a second piston cylinder assembly interconnecting said coiled tubing injector and a second portion of said frame which is not rotatable relative to said mast.  
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said carrier frame includes a shaft, such coiled tubing injector being rotatable on said shaft.  
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said mast comprises first and second spaced frame members and said carrier frame comprises a first pillow block operatively connected to said first frame member and a second pillow block operatively connected to said second frame member, said shaft being fixedly secured in said first and second pillow blocks.  
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein said coiled tubing injector is connected to a reel of coiled tubing by said coiled tubing, said reel being rotatable in a first direction to pivot said coiled tubing injector from said first position toward said second position, said reel being rotatable in a second direction to permit said coiled tubing injector to move from said second position to said first position.