Bit Installation

To install the bit, proceed as follows:

1. Hoist the completed drill pipe/stabilizer assembly 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 to 0.9 M) off the drill deck. Place the bit basket (furnished with machine) into the hole left by the guide bushing in the drill deck. Remove all personnel from the drilling deck and the immediate area. Turn on the main air stream to blow any contaminants from the drill pipe and stabilizer.

Bit Installation

2. Place the bit into the bit basket. Coat the threads and shoulders of the bit and stabilizer with drill pipe thread compound.

3. Turn the rotary rheostat clockwise until the tool string begins to turn at approximately 5 RPM as shown on operator’s display terminal operator’s display screen. Release the hoist brake and slowly lower the rotary/pulldown unit and tool string onto the bit. Lower the drive unit in small increments until the threads catch and the stabilizer starts to thread itself onto the bit. As soon as the threads start to catch, set the hoist brake and let the stabilizer screw itself onto the bit.

4. When the joint is tight the rotary unit will slow down and the rotary load meter will show an increased load. At this point return the rotary rheostat to the neutral position.

5. After making the bit to stabilizer joint, hoist the rotary drive unit to allow the bit basket to be removed. Remove the bit basket and store it in a safe place.

6. Lower the completed tool string so that the guide bushing is seated in the hole in the drill deck. Set the hoist brake and depress the drill/propel control OFF pushbutton. The tool string is now complete for single pass drilling or for the first pass of multiple pass drilling.

BREAKOUT WRENCH OPERATION

CAUTION: When working with the breakout wrench it is important that the hoist brake be set, the drill/propel control OFF pushbutton be depressed to prevent operation of the hoist or rotary controls. Failure to follow this caution may lead to the controls being energized while personnel are in the area, leading to the death or serious injury of those personnel.

Operation of the breakout wrench is necessary anytime a pipe joint, except the joint at the rotary coupling, must be broken. This includes removing the bit or stabilizer, or separating two sections of pipe.

To break a joint with the breakout wrench, proceed as follows:

1. If a pipe joint between pipe sections or between the stabilizer and the pipe is to be broken, align the slots in the lower pipe to be broken with the tool wrench jaws. Close the tool wrench by turning the tool wrench control switch to the EXTEND position. Make sure the lower tool is held securely by the tool wrench and that the slots in the tool are aligned with the tool wrench jaws.

CAUTION: All personnel should be removed from the drill deck when operating the breakout wrench.

2. To break the joint, turn and hold the breakout wrench switch to the EXTEND position. The jaws of the breakout wrench should grip the upper tool and turn it while the lower tool is held stationary by the tool wrench. Release the breakout wrench switch.

3. Once the joint has broken, repeat the cycle 2-3 times to loosen the joint sufficiently to allow the rotary unit to finish disassembly.

4. Turn and hold the breakout wrench switch in the RETRACT position until the breakout wrench releases the upper section of pipe and moves away from the pipe.

5. Using the rotary unit, continue disassembly of the joint. Refer to the appropriate topic for exact operating procedures.

CAUTION: The joint must uncouple freely while using the rotary unit. If the joint does not uncouple freely, repeat the procedure using the breakout wrench until it does. Constantly observe the joint between the rotary coupling and the first section of pipe when running the rotary motion in reverse. If this joint begins to uncouple, stop the rotary motion immediately and retighten the joint. If this joint uncouples the pipe will fall, possibly causing death or serious injury to personnel.

6. If the lower tool is the bit, secure the bit with the bit basket as described in the topic Bit Removal. Operate the breakout wrench as described above, except that the lower tool (bit) is secured by the bit basket, not the tool wrench.

DRILL TOOL STRING DISASSEMBLY

The tool string is disassembled in reverse of assembly, that is the bit is removed first, then the drill pipe and lastly the stabilizer.

To remove the bit from the tool string, proceed as follows:

1. Raise the tool string 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 to 0.9 M) above the drill deck. Install the bit basket in the hole in the drill deck.

3. Using the breakout wrench, break the joint between the stabilizer and the bit. After breaking the joint, use rotary power to disassemble the joint. Use a slight amount of hoist power to lift the tool string off of the bit to facilitate the disassembly.

4. Hoist the tool string 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 to 0.9 M) off of the drill deck. Secure the rotary/pulldown unit and controls. Attach a lifting bell to the bit. Attach the auxiliary winch line to the lifting bell and lift the bit out of the bit basket.

5. After removing the bit, a new bit may be installed or the bit basket may be removed, allowing removal of the drill pipe.

To remove the drill pipe from the rotary drive unit, proceed as follows:

1. Lower the tool string until the slots on the upper end of the stabilizer are aligned with the tool wrench. Clamp the stabilizer in the tool wrench. Using the breakout wrench to break the joint between the stabilizer and the drill pipe. After breaking the joint, use the rotary unit to disassemble that joint completely. Raise the rotary/pulldown unit and drill pipe 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 to 0.9 M).

2. Depress the drill/propel control OFF pushbutton and set hoist brake. Go to the drill deck and clean the pocket of the pipe rack to be used of dirt, cuttings or any material that will interfere with the entrance of the pipe or the operation of the pipe rack gate controls. Verify that the gate controls are intact.

3. Clean and lubricate the threads and shoulder on the lower end of the pipe. This is to prevent rusting while stored in the pipe rack. After performing this function, return the controls to operating condition.

4. After selecting the pipe rack to be used by turning the pipe rack selector switch to #l or #4, swing the pipe rack over the hole. Then return the joystick to the NEUTRAL position.

5. Slowly lower the rotary/pulldown unit and place the lower end of the pipe into the pipe rack pocket. Make sure that the pipe is seated firmly on the bottom of the pocket.

6. Quickly turn the rotary rheostat to the left (counterclockwise) to approximately one-half of full speed. The joint should break at the rotary coupling.

NOTE: If the joint does not break immediately, return the rotary rheostat to the zero position to reduce the chance of damaging the motor by stalling it.

7. If the joint does not break, it will be necessary to index the slots on the drill pipe so as to allow the rotary drive unit to build up speed before stopping the drill pipe. This is done by rotating the drill pipe in the forward direction until the slots in the pipe are almost aligned with the pawls in the sockets. This allows the drill pipe to rotate almost one-half turn before being stopped by the pawls.

After indexing the pipe to allow the one-half turn rotation, repeat step 6 above to break the joint. Repeat this procedure as many times as is necessary to break the joint.

8. When the joint breaks, gently raise the rotary/pulldown unit as the joint is unscrewing.

9. When the joint completely unscrews, the pipe will drop to the bottom of the pipe rack pocket. The upper gate will automatically close around the drill pipe. When the joint is completely unscrewed, raise the rotary/pulldown unit until it is in a position so as not to be struck by the pipe rack when it is moved. Set the hoist brake.

10. Swing the pipe rack into the stored position.

To remove the stabilizer, proceed as follows;

1. With the stabilizer still clamped in the tool wrenches, attach a lifting bell to the upper end of the stabilizer. Attach the auxiliary winch line to the lifting bell and lift the stabilizer and guide bushing from the hole in the drill deck. Block the assembly in a horizontal position.

2. Remove the auxiliary winch line from the stabilizer. Remove the guide bushing from the stabilizer and replace the auxiliary winch line.

3. Using the auxiliary winch line, remove the stabilizer from the drill. Replace the guide bushing in the hole in the deck.

ADDING ADDITIONAL DRILL PIPE

Installation of additional sections of drill pipe is necessary when the depth of the hole is to be greater than the total length of one section of pipe. Installation of the second and third sections of pipe is essentially the same procedure as installation of the first. The rotary/pulldown unit is raised above the pipe racks, a pipe rack with pipe moved over the hole, the rotary coupling threaded to the pipe, and the pipe removed from the rack and the rack stored.

To add an additional section of drill pipe, proceed as follows:

1. The first part of the hole should be drilled as deep as possible with the first section of pipe. The hole should be drilled deep enough to place the joint between the rotary drive unit and the top of the first section of the pipe even with the top of the tool wrench. After completing this section of the hole, turn the main air stream off.

2. Raise the tool string until the slots in the top of the first section of pipe are aligned with the tool wrench. Clamp the tool wrench firmly around the drill pipe.

3. Quickly turn the rotary rheostat to the left (counterclockwise) to approximately one-half of full speed. The rotary coupling should turn, breaking the joint between the pipe and the coupling.

NOTE: If the joint does not break immediately, return the rotary rheostat to the zero position to reduce the chance of damaging the motor by stalling it.

4. If the joint does not break, it will be necessary to index the slots on the drill pipe so as to allow the rotary drive unit to build up speed before stopping the drill pipe. This is done by rotating the drill pipe in the forward direction until the slots in the pipe are almost aligned with the tool wrenches. This allows the drill pipe to rotate almost one-half turn before being stopped by the tool wrenches. The spring loaded inserts in the tool wrench allow the pipe to rotate while being clamped by the wrench.

After indexing the pipe to allow the one-half turn rotation, repeat step 3 above to break the joint. Repeat this procedure as many times as is necessary to break the joint.

5. When the joint breaks, apply enough hoist power to raise the rotary/pulldown unit as the joint is unscrewing. Do not apply enough power to lift the tool wrench and cause it to lose its grip on the pipe. Once the joint is completely disassembled, raise the rotary/pulldown unit to a position to make the coupling accessible from the drill deck. Set the hoist brake, depress the drill/ propel control OFF pushbutton to prevent operation. Clean and lubricate the threads and shoulder of the rotary coupling. Use an approved drill thread compound on the threads and shoulder. After cleaning and lubricating the coupling, raise the rotary drive unit to a position above the pipe racks so as not to be struck by the pipe or rack as the rack swings into position over the guide bushing.

6. Position the pipe rack and install the new section of pipe to the rotary unit.

7. Once the new section of pipe is attached to the rotary unit and the pipe rack stored, lower the pipe until it is approximately 3 feet above the drilling deck. Set the hoist brake. Place a cover over the threads on the pipe held by the tool wrench. Clear all personnel from the area and turn the main air stream on to blow away any dirt from inside of the pipe attached to the rotary unit. After turning off the main air stream, remove the cover from the lower pipe and clean and lube both the pin threads on the lower pipe and the box threads on the upper pipe.

8. After cleaning and lubricating the threads, turn the rotary rheostat until the drill pipe is rotating at approximately 5 RPM as shown on the operator’s display terminal operator’s display screen. Lower the rotary/pulldown unit slowly by gravity until the threads begin to contact. Once the threads begin to join the two pipes, attempt to minimize the pressure on the threads by allowing the joint to close slightly while holding the upper pipe in position with the hoist brake, then allowing the upper pipe to descend slightly to keep the tool wrench from losing its grip on the lower pipe. Once the joint is tight, stop the rotary motion.

NOTE: Be sure that the joint is made properly before attempting to unclamp the lower pipe. Should the joint not be made properly and fail, the lower pipe will fall into the hole and be difficult to recover.

9. Unclamp the tool wrench and retract it fully. The second section of pipe is now installed.

To install the third section of pipe, follow the procedure for installation of the second section of pipe, except that the third section of pipe is now installed between the rotary unit and the second section of pipe.

REMOVAL OF MULTIPLE SECTION DRILL PIPE

Disassembly of multiple section pipe strings is essentially the same as disassembly of a single section of pipe. The difference is that instead of the stabilizer being held by the tool wrench, it is the first or second section of pipe.

The tool string is disassembled to reverse order of assembly. First, the last section of pipe to be installed is removed, followed by the second section of pipe installed, and then the first. In each case the lower section of pipe is held by the tool wrench while the joint is broken by the breakout wrench. The joint is then disassembled by the rotary motion and the pipe stored in the pipe rack. The procedure is then repeated as necessary to remove all, or part of the tool string.

NOTE: For normal operation it is not necessary to completely disassemble the tool string to move from hole-to-hole within the drill pattern as long as the stability limitations are not exceeded. Do not disassemble the tool string more than necessary.

ANGLE DRILLING

All tool handling procedures are carried out the same way either in angle drilling or in standard vertical drilling. The only addition to the procedures is the use of the pipe positioner to hold the drill pipe to be threaded together in position and a mast A-frame with adjustable front legs. It also includes an adjustable pipe seal which can be moved to align with the drill pipe.

During angle drilling the deck remains horizontal providing a horizontal surface to work from. The drill pipe, however, is laying at the angle of the mast. In order to make a joint at the drilling deck, such as when adding the stabilizer, bit or drill pipe or when removing these components, it is necessary to hold the drill pipe in position so as to line up with the drill pipe or component being held on the drill deck. This is the function of the pipe positioner.

The pipe positioner is moved into position by hydraulic cylinders. The pipe positioner jaws are opened by a single hydraulic cylinder.

NOTE: Do not operate the rotary machinery except at low speeds to make and break joints while the jaws are closed around the pipe. Operating the rotary machinery at high speeds or drilling while the pipe positioner jaws are closed around the pipe will damage the jaws and positioner structures.

To make a joint with the pipe positioner, proceed as with normal joint assembly. When the pipe rack has been moved into position, retract the positioner into place and lock the jaws around the pipe. Proceed as normal to make the joint. Once the joint is made, open the positioner jaws and extend the positioner to the stored position.

To break a joint both the pipe positioner and the breakout wrench are utilized. The pipe positioner is used to hold the pipe in position to be loaded into the pipe rack. The breakout wrench is used to break the joint.

To break a joint, proceed as normal with joint disassembly. Proceed as normal with joint disassembly. Before breaking the joint completely, clamp the pipe with the pipe positioner. After breaking the joint, hoist the drill pipe and lower the pipe rack, release the jaws and extend the positioner. Proceed as normal with the pipe joint disassembly procedure.

NOTE: THE CASING TONG JIB CRANE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT CAN BE EXTENDED FROM 4 TO 7 FEET. FOR VERTICAL DRILLING, THE CRANE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 5 FOOT POSITION. FOR ANGLE DRILLING OF 30 DEGREES THE CRANE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 6.5 FOOT POSITION.