Top Drive System and Method

Abstract

A top drive system is provided comprising a top drive, a torque tube, and a traveling block, wherein the torque tube is connected to the travelling block on one side and to the top drive on the other side. A method to install the top drive system is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A top drive system comprising:
 a top drive;   a torque tube having a first end and a second end;   a traveling block;   wherein said torque tube is connected to said travelling block on said first end and to said top drive on said second end.   
     
     
         2 . The top drive system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mud hose located on said travelling block such that a lower end of a bending radius of said mud hose is high away from a drill floor. 
 
     
     
         3 . The top drive system according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said torque tube is provided with an attachment point for securing said top drive in a fixed position on said torque tube. 
 
     
     
         4 . The top drive system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a guide dolly assembly affixed to said torque tube. 
 
     
     
         5 . The top drive system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a top drive gearbox on said top drive;   a guide dolly assembly affixed to said torque tube, wherein said guide dolly assembly is located above said top drive gearbox.   
     
     
         6 . The top drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube, and said guide dolly assembly are adapted to be transported as one assembled unit.   
     
     
         7 . The top drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube and said guide dolly assembly are adapted to be installed and/or removed from a mast as one assembled unit.   
     
     
         8 . The top drive system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a mast for supporting said traveling block; 
 a guide dolly assembly affixed to said torque tube; and 
 a guide rail on said mast; 
 wherein said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube and said guide dolly assembly comprises an assembled unit; 
 wherein said guide dolly assembly engages said guide rail for guiding and transferring torque from said assembled unit to said mast. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method of simultaneously guiding and transferring torque from a top drive and travelling block into a guide rail on a mast comprising the steps of:
 connecting the top drive and the travelling block with a torque tube;   affixing a guide dolly assembly to said torque tube;   engaging the guide rail on the mast with said guide dolly assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 locating a mud hose on said travelling block such that a lower end of a bending radius of said mud hose is high away from a drill floor. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said guide dolly assembly is located above a top drive gearbox on said top drive.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transporting said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube, and said guide dolly assembly as one assembled unit.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 securing said top drive in a fixed position on said torque tube. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 suspending said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube and said guide dolly assembly on the mast as one assembled unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 removing said top drive, said travelling block, said torque tube and said guide dolly assembly from the mast as one assembled unit.   
     
     
         16 . A drilling system comprising:
 a drilling rig having a drill floor defining a hole;   a mast above said drill floor, said mast for supporting a hoisting system including a traveling block;   a guide rail supported by said mast;   a top drive attached to said travelling block;   a torque tube having a first end and a second end, said first end of said torque tube affixed to said travelling block, said second end of said torque tube engaging said top drive, wherein said torque tube aligns said top drive and said travelling block;   a guide dolly assembly affixed to said torque tube;   wherein said torque tube is for guiding and transferring torque from said top drive into said guide dolly assembly, wherein said guide dolly assembly guides both of said top drive and said travelling block simultaneously and transfers forces into said guide rail on said mast;   a drill string suspended from said top drive through said hole in said drill floor into a drill well, said drill string terminating in a drill bit, said drill string rotatable by said top drive and raiseable and lowerable with said top drive via said travelling block to facilitate drilling operations.   
     
     
         17 . The drilling system according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 a mud hose located on said travelling block such that a lower end of a bending radius of said mud hose is high away from said drill floor. 
 
     
     
         18 . The drilling system according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 a torque bracket affixed to said top drive; 
 wherein said torque tube is slidably received in said torque bracket. 
 
     
     
         19 . The drilling system according to  claim 18  wherein:
 said top drive includes a top drive gear box; and 
 said torque bracket is affixed to said top drive adjacent said top drive gear box. 
 
     
     
         20 . The drilling system according to  claim 16  wherein said guide dolly assembly comprises:
 a dolly frame and dolly arms, said dolly arms pivotally affixed to said torque tube at a first end and pivotally affixed to said dolly frame at a second end, said guide dolly assembly having extend/retract devices attached to said dolly frame at a first end and attached to said dolly arms at a second end for pivoting said dolly arms for retracting said top drive and said travelling block backwards towards said guide rail for allowing a pipe racking system to handle pipe in/out from a well center simultaneously as said top drive is hoisted or lowered from its position for a subsequent tripping sequence.