Dual top drive systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for wellbore operations using a dual top drive system with two top drives; the top drives positioned with one above the other; the two top drives in certain aspects movable separately or in unison; in one aspect the top drives operational to counter each other's reactive torque; and in other aspects the wellbore operation being one of drilling, casing, casing while drilling, casing drilling, reaming, underreaming, joint make-up, joint breakout, milling, managed pressure drilling, underbalanced drilling, tubular running, tubular running with continuous circulation, controlling bit face orientation during operations with a bit, conducting well operations based on mechanical specific energy considerations, and automatic drilling.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for a wellbore operation using a first top drive and a second top drive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the wellbore operation is one of drilling, casing, casing while drilling, casing drilling, reaming, underreaming, joint make-up, joint breakout, milling, managed pressure drilling, underbalanced drilling, tubular rotation, tubular running, tubular running with continuous circulation, controlling bit face orientation during operations with a bit, conducting well operations based on mechanical specific energy considerations, automatic drilling and tubular rotation. and the tubular is one of casing, tubing, riser, tubular member, pipe, drill pipe, string of tubulars, drill string, quill, shaft, drive shaft and hollow shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  in which the two top drives operate in an operation mode, and the operation mode is one of the two top drives each simultaneously rotating a tubular and the two top drives each alternately rotating a tubular. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the welbore operation is a tubular rotation operation and the tubular is a first tubular and the first top drive rotates the first tubular in a first direction and the second top drive rotates a second tubular in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the wellbore operation including one of joint make-up of the first tubular with the second tubular and joint breakout of the first tubular from the second tubular. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first top drive is on a first carriage movably connected to a derrick and the second top drive is on a second carriage movably connected to the derrick, and the relation to the derrick is one of a first relation and a second relation, in the first relation the first carriage on a first side of the derrick and the second carriage on the first side of the derrick, and in the second relation the first carriage is on a first side of the derrick and the second carriage is on a second side of the derrick opposite the first side. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising using the two top drives, stabilizing a tubular during rotation thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising using the two top drives, counteracting a force applied to a tubular during the operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the operation is a joint make-up operation for joining two tubulars and, using the two top drives, the first top drive rotates a first tubular member during joint make-up and the second top drive holds a second tubular member to be made up with the first tubular. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the second top drive rotates the second tubular. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the wellbore operation is a joint make-up operation, and first top drive makes up the joint to shouldering of the joint, and the second top drive then makes up the joint past shouldering. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the wellbore operation is a joint make-up operation and the first top drive makes up the joint to a point near shouldering, and the second top drive then completes makes up of the joint. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the operation is a tubular rotation operation and both of the top drives are operating in one of a first mode and a second mode, the first mode comprising upon sensing that less torque is sufficient, one of the top drives is selectively deactivated and the second mode comprising upon sensing a need for added torque in the rotation, the other top drive is selectively activated to provide additional torque for the rotation. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the operation is one of a tubular rotation operation and a drilling operation, and during the operation the top drives are activated alternately. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the position of the top drives with respect to each other is changable during the wellbore operation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the second top drive is moved out of the way of the first top drive as the top drives move down in a derrick. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each top drive has a dedicated torque transfer apparatus for transferring torque therefrom, the method further comprising
 transferring torque from each top drive. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first top drive is connected to a first torque transfer apparatus and the second tpp drive is connected to a second torque transfer apparatus, the method further comprising
 transferring torque from the first top drive with the first torque transfer apparatus to a first structure, and 
 transferring torque from the second top drive with the second torque transfer apparatus to a second structure, the second structure opposite and spaced-apart from the first structure. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first top drive is on a derrick, the second top drive is on the derrick, and the derrick is on a drillship. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each top drive is in driving relation to a drive stem, and the drive stem is rotated by both top drives during the well operation. 
     
     
         32 . A dual top drive system for a wellbore operation, the dual top drive system comprising a first top drive above a second top drive.