Abstract: According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes an upper skid including a first floor supporting a first plurality of mud circulation components; a first storage structure disposed below the first floor that receives a fluid exiting the first plurality of components; and a first plurality of fasteners carried on the upper skid. The apparatus also includes a lower skid that includes a second floor supports a second plurality of mud circulation components; a second storage structure disposed below the second floor that receives a fluid exiting the second plurality of components; and a second plurality of fasteners carried on the support structure that correspond to the first plurality of fasteners to couple the upper skid over the lower skid. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper skid is selectively detachable from the lower skid.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

Abstract: An apparatus including a support; a first upper frame and a second upper frame each attached to the support; and removable actuators extending vertically from a base and located below the support and between the first and second upper frames, wherein the actuators are vertically extendable and retractable; wherein the actuators are adapted to engage the support and raise or lower the support upon the extension or retraction of each actuator; wherein the actuators are adapted to extend to a first height at which a first middle frame may be arranged below the first upper frame and a second middle frame may be arranged below the second upper frame; and wherein the actuators are adapted to retract to a second height at which the first middle frame may be attached to the first upper frame and the second middle frame may be attached to the second upper frame.

Abstract: An apparatus including a bell nipple assembly defining a first internal passage that includes two sections forming first and second internal passages that may be aligned by a flexible connector disposed between first and second flanges in one of the sections to at least partially adjust for an offset amount caused by longitudinal axis misalignment of the other section. Methods of adjusting for longitudinal axis offset between two misaligned components, such as of a bell nipple zone, are also encompassed.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the platform floor is a rig floor.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive.

Abstract: A tubular handling device includes a first arm movable along, and pivotable about, a first axis, and a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, the first gripper being coupled to the first arm and rotatable, relative to the first arm, about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. According to another aspect, a method includes providing a first gripper; coupling a first arm to the first gripper, moving the first arm, pivoting the first arm, and rotating the first gripper, relative to the first arm. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, and a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, the tubular handling device including a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, and a first arm coupled to the first gripper.

Abstract: A system comprising a support structure having a plurality of vertically extending members arranged to define a mast channel, the support structure attached to a platform having a rig floor and the support structure positioned above an opening in the rig floor; a first mast section that is attached to the support structure; a second mast section that is attached to the support structure and the first mast section; and a third mast section; wherein the system has a first arrangement in which the third mast section is located below the rig floor in a vertical position and is vertically spaced from the second mast; and wherein the system has a second arrangement in which the third mast section is attached to the second mast section and at least a portion of the third mast extends within the opening of the rig floor.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive.

Abstract: An apparatus including a base, and a drilling tower pivotally coupled to the base to pivot the drilling tower between first and second pivot positions. The drilling tower includes a first portion, and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion to pivot the second portion between third and fourth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the first pivot position. A method includes pivotally coupling a drilling tower to a base, which includes providing a first portion of the drilling tower, pivotally coupling a second portion of the drilling tower to the first portion of the drilling tower, and pivotally coupling the first portion of the drilling tower to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping goods may include a strut, a first beam, a second beam, a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut, the first beam, and the second beam, and having an opening facing in the direction of the upper wall, and a lift-eye disposed within the lift-eye housing and configured to support the weight of the apparatus and to pivot from a stowed position within the lift-eye housing to a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the lift-eye housing.

Abstract: A method including arranging a plurality of actuators into an operating position, arranging a first upper frame and a second upper frame proximate the actuators, attaching a support to the first upper frame and the second upper frame, wherein the support is located above the actuators, and extending the actuators to engage the support. The method also includes extending the actuators to raise the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a first position, arranging a first middle frame below the first upper frame and a second middle frame below the second upper frame, retracting the actuators to lower the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a second position, and attaching the first upper frame to the first middle frame and attaching the second upper frame to the second middle frame.

Abstract: A method comprising attaching a first mast section to a support structure using a first plurality of fasteners located on the support structure, wherein a lower portion of the support structure is connected to and located above an opening in the platform comprising a platform floor, and wherein the first mast section has a line, a hook, and a pulley, with the line operably coupled to the pulley and connected to a hoist attached to the platform. The method also comprises lowering the hook, using the hoist, in a downward direction away from the pulley and through the opening, attaching the hook to a second mast section located below the platform floor, raising the hook and the second mast section, using the hoist, in an upward direction towards the pulley and through the opening, and connecting the first mast section to the second mast section.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening.

Abstract: A method includes accommodating a first mast section of a mast on a mast cart below a floor of a platform, the mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and elevating, using actuators located on the mast cart, the first mast section through an opening in the platform. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the platform using a plurality of holding locks located on the platform, accommodating a second mast section on the mast cart below the floor of the platform, and elevating the second mast section to the first mast section using the actuators. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, detaching the first mast section from the platform, elevating the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening using the actuators, and attaching the second mast section to the platform using the holding locks.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening.

Abstract: A method including arranging a plurality of actuators into an operating position, arranging a first upper frame and a second upper frame proximate the actuators, attaching a support to the first upper frame and the second upper frame, wherein the support is located above the actuators, and extending the actuators to engage the support. The method also includes extending the actuators to raise the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a first position, arranging a first middle frame below the first upper frame and a second middle frame below the second upper frame, retracting the actuators to lower the support, the first upper frame, and the second upper frame to a second position, and attaching the first upper frame to the first middle frame and attaching the second upper frame to the second middle frame.

Abstract: A method comprising attaching a first mast section to a support structure using a first plurality of fasteners located on the support structure, wherein a lower portion of the support structure is connected to and located above an opening in the platform comprising a platform floor, and wherein the first mast section has a line, a hook, and a pulley, with the line operably coupled to the pulley and connected to a hoist attached to the platform. The method also comprises lowering the hook, using the hoist, in a downward direction away from the pulley and through the opening, attaching the hook to a second mast section located below the platform floor, raising the hook and the second mast section, using the hoist, in an upward direction towards the pulley and through the opening, and connecting the first mast section to the second mast section.

Abstract: A method includes accommodating a first mast section of a mast on a mast cart below a floor of a platform, the mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and elevating, using actuators located on the mast cart, the first mast section through an opening in the platform. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the platform using a plurality of holding locks located on the platform, accommodating a second mast section on the mast cart below the floor of the platform, and elevating the second mast section to the first mast section using the actuators. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, detaching the first mast section from the platform, elevating the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening using the actuators, and attaching the second mast section to the platform using the holding locks.