Abstract: A folding telescoped drill rig mast having wheel assemblies which travel along the power swivel guide rail to guide the telescoped upper mast as it retracts or extends within the lower mast. The fully extended upper mast locks into a transfer frame which moves laterally relative to the lower mast between a first position with the upper guide rail offset from the lower guide rail to a second position with the upper guide rail in longitudinal alignment with the lower guide rail. This lateral movement aligning the upper and lower masts enables pinning the upper and lower masts together to transfer the upper mast loading to the support members of the lower mast. The mast includes a base structure, a lower mast with a guide rail, and an upper mast held within the lower mast. The upper mast includes a guide rail for the power swivel.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a cased borehole is drilled under surface obstructions in a single pass operation. The drilling apparatus includes a rotary drill bit mounted on a guide head having a ball joint connection to a housing. Remote controlled hydraulic cylinders enable steering of the guide head and bit, so that the hole direction can be controlled at will. Casing sections connected to the housing are added end-to-end as the borehole is lengthened, and axial thrust is applied to the casing string at the borehole entrance by a drilling rig to force the bit against the formations. The bit is driven by drill pipe that is centralized within the casing, so that when the bit, guide head and housing emerge from the ground, these elements can be disconnected, and the drill pipe pulled out of the casing to leave an unobstructed, lined borehole that is formed in a single pass.

Abstract: A cantilevered mast drilling rig is disclosed in which the erection operation for elevating the cantilevered mast and the drill rig floor to the elevated operating positions is a single step procedure. Both the cantilevered mast and the drill rig floor are completed on the ground prior to the elevating operation. The drill rig floor is pinned to the cantilevered mast so that, in response to actuation of the drawworks, the mast and drill rig floor are elevated to their operating positions as a single unit in a single operation.

Abstract: A pick-up and lay-down apparatus that will pick up drill pipes, casings, collars and riser pipes from pipe racks of a variety of different off-shore drilling installations, such as a drill ship, semi-submersible drill rig, jack-up drill rig, platform drill rig, etc., and set (lay-down) the pipes on the drill floor for easy access is disclosed. The apparatus also operates to transfer the pipe from the drill floor to the pipe rack. The pick-up and lay-down apparatus may use either hydraulic or electric motors for the primary power source to drive it. Rack and pinion systems are employed to move the various components of the apparatus during pick-up and transfer of the pipe. The system includes a moveable gantry beam; two moveable pick-up and lay-down carriages; one or more moveable troughs; and, two or more lifting and rotating arms. The apparatus could also be truck mounted for onshore operations.