Top drive with automatic positioning system

Abstract

An automatic top drive positioning system includes a top drive having a pipe handling system rotator gear, a drive motor rotationally coupled to the rotator gear and a rotational position sensor rotationally coupled to the rotator gear. A controller is configured to operate the drive motor to automatically move the rotator gear to a selected rotational orientation based on measurements from the rotational position sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic top drive positioning system, comprising:
 a top drive comprising a pipe handling system rotator gear, a drive motor rotationally coupled to the rotator gear and a rotational position sensor rotationally coupled to the rotator gear; and   a controller in signal communication with the rotator gear and the drive motor, the controller configured to operate the drive motor to automatically move the rotator gear to a selected rotational orientation based on measurements from the rotational position sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic top drive positioning system of  claim 1  further comprising link cylinders coupled to elevator links coupled to the top drive, the link cylinders configured to move elevator links coupled to the top drive in a direction transverse to a direction of motion of the top drive during drilling operations. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic top drive positioning system of  claim 2  further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the link cylinders in signal communication with the controller, at least one sensor configured to measure an elevation of the top drive above a drill floor in signal communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate the rotator gear and the link cylinders such that an elevation of the top drive and a rotational orientation of the rotator gear prohibit interference between any part of the top drive and a drilling derrick. 
     
     
         4 . A method for operating a top drive, comprising:
 measuring a rotational position of a pipe handler rotate gear having elevator links rotationally coupled thereto;   automatically rotating the pipe handler rotate gear such that the elevator links are disposed in a selected rotational orientation with respect to a drilling derrick.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising measuring an elevation of the elevator links above a drill floor and at least one of automatically rotating the pipe handler rotate gear to an orientation such that interference between the elevator links and the drilling derrick is avoided when the top drive is elevated in the drilling derrick. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising automatically operating link extension cylinders to enable elevator extension when the rotator gear is within a selected range of rotational orientations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising automatically retracting the link extension cylinders when the rotate gear in within a selected range of rotational orientation.