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.