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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Drilling of wells with top drive unit

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6354754
Well drilling apparatus including a top drive drilling assembly having a motor driven stem adapted to be attached to the upper end of a drill string and drive it during a drilling operation, a torque wrench carried by the top drive assembly and movable upwardly and downwardly therewith and operable to break a threated connection between the drill string and the stem, and an elevator carried by and suspended from the top drive assembly and adapted to engage a section of drill pipe beneath the torque wrench in suspending relation. The torque wrench and elevator are preferably retained against rotation with the rotary element which drives the drill string, but may be movable vertically relative to that rotary element and relative to one another in a manner actuating the apparatus between various different operating conditions.
Assignee:
Varco International, Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4449596
OSTI ID:
6354754
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English