Abstract: Jacking mechanism for moving a string of casing or other well pipe vertically within a well and including two units operable to releasably engage and support the pipe, power actuated mechanism for moving one of the units upwardly and downwardly relative to the other to jack the pipe vertically through a wellhead structure, and apparatus for supporting the power actuated mechanism and units at least in part from that wellhead structure.

Abstract: A casing jacking mechanism is positionable in the rotary table opening of a well drilling rig to lower casing into the well, and is preferably formed sectionally of a number of components adapted to be assembled temporarily on the rig and subsequently dismantled after the casing has been lowered. The jacking mechanism may include a first support structure to be located above the upper end of the well, two piston and cylinder mechanisms adapted to be lowered at different sides of the axis of the well to positions in which their cylinders are connected by the support structure, a second support structure connectable to and actuable vertically by the pistons of the piston and cylinder mechanisms, a spider unit adapted to be placed on the first support structure and releasably engageable with the well pipe, and an elevator to be positioned on the second support structure for movement vertically therewith and also releasably engageable with the well pipe.

Abstract: Well drilling apparatus including a powered drilling unit connectable to the upper end of a drill string and adapted to rotate it to drill a well, and a vertically extending guide track structure which guides the drilling unit for movement along the axis of the well, with a portion of the guide track structure being mounted for swinging movement between a drilling position in which the drilling unit is aligned with the axis of the well and a slightly inclined position in which the track structure guides the drilling unit for movement along an inclined axis in alignment with a mousehole, and with the drilling unit also preferably being mounted for movement to a laterally retracted position at a side of the well in which it leaves an area along the axis of the well unobstructed for use of conventional hoisting equipment in making a `round trip` of the drill string out of and then back into the well.

Abstract: 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 threaded 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.

Abstract: A well pipe spinner having two body parts carrying rollers adpated to engage a pipe at different locations about its periphery and grip and spin the pipe by rotation of one or more of the rollers, with the two body parts being mounted by pivotal connections for swinging movement about two spaced axes respectively to grip and release the pipe, and with an adjustable connection attaching the two pivotal connections together for relative lateral adjusting movement to shift their pivotal axes toward and away from one another for gripping different sizes of pipe.

Abstract: A well drilling system designed to eliminate the usual rotary table, kelly and kelly bushing, and including a drilling unit having a tubular part connectible to the upper end of the drill string and a motor for driving that tubular part rotatively, with the drilling unit being mounted by a guide structure for vertical movement, and in addition being mounted for movement transversely of the axis of the well from the normal drilling position to at least one laterally offset position. Preferably, the drilling unit is movable to two different laterally offset positions, in one of which the drilling unit is above a mousehole location to pick up or release a pipe section, and in the other of which the drilling unit is at an inactive location at which it may remain during a trip of the drill string into or out of the well.

Abstract: A jacking mechanism for lowering a string of casing or other well pipe into a well includes two structures which extend generally vertically beneath the floor of a drilling rig and which have portions functioning as power operated actuating units for moving one of two pipe supporting units upwardly and downwardly relative to the other, with the two specified generally vertical structures being offset circularly about the well axis from the location of a tubular mousehole element, and with one or more blowout preventers beneath the rig floor having a portion projecting outwardly away from the well axis at a location circularly between one of the generally vertical structures of the jacking mechanism and the mousehole.

Abstract: A well drilling rig having a rotary table for driving a drill string rotatively and having jacking mechanism for lowering casing into the well after drilling, with the jacking mechanism including fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder means which may be left in the rig during drilling and which are positioned low enough in the rig to avoid interference with operation of the rotary table. The jacking mechanism also includes a structure which is adapted to be connected to the piston and cylinder means when the casing or other well pipe is to be lowered and which is actuable upwardly and downwardly and carries one of two pipe gripping units for progressively jacking the pipe downwardly by vertical reciprocation of that structure. The reciprocating structure may take the form of a beam extending between two pistons and actuable thereby, with a second beam being connected to cylinders within which the pistons are contained and being utilized to support the second gripping element.

Abstract: Well drilling apparatus including a powered drilling unit connectable to the upper end of a drill string and adapted to rotate it to drill a well, and a vertically extending guide track structure which guides the drilling unit for movement along the axis of the well, with a portion of the guide track structure being mounted for swinging movement between a drilling position in which the drilling unit is aligned with the axis of the well and a slightly inclined position in which the track structure guides the drilling unit for movement along an inclined axis in alignment with a mousehole, and with the drilling unit also preferably being mounted for movement to a laterally retracted position at a side of the well in which it leaves an area along the axis of the well unobstructed for use of conventional hoisting equipment in making a `round trip` of the drill string out of and then back into the well.

Abstract: A jack usable for leveling a marine platform jacket by lifting a tubular leg or pile guide relative to a pile extending upwardly therethrough includes a gripping unit having slips which engage and grip the pile and which in a predetermined elevated condition of the tubular member are engaged by that member and urged axially thereby in a grip tightening direction acting to positively lock the gripping unit against movement either upwardly or downwardly relative to the pile.

Abstract: A hole is drilled laterally from a main well bore by lowering a drilling unit into the bore in a position of extension essentially longitudinally thereof, and then swinging the unit to a position of extension transversely of the well bore to drill the lateral hole. The drilling unit is desirably held by a carrier as the drilling unit and carrier are lowered into the well, and preferably is of a self-propelling character adapted to move entirely out of the carrier and grip the wall of the lateral hole in a manner transmitting the reactive forces of the drilling operation directly to the earth formation.

Abstract: A power driven tool for making and breaking threaded connections in a well pipe is movable between a central position of alignment with the well axis, a second position offset from the well axis and above a mousehole, and a third retracted or inactive position offset at a side of the well axis opposite that at which the mousehole is located. The tool preferably includes a carriage which rolls along the rig floor between its different positions, desirably on spaced tracks located at opposite sides of the main axis of the well and the mousehole, with the pipe contacting mechanism being mounted for upward and downward movement relative to the carriage and for pivotal movement to an inclined position for alignment with an inclined mousehole, and preferably including an upper well pipe spinner and a lower torque wrench assembly.

Abstract: A device for turning a section of well pipe to connect it to or disconnect it from a pipe string includes a power unit to be mounted at a side of a well and having a part, preferably a piston, which is power actuable in opposite directions, with that part acting upon movement in one direction to exert a pulling force on a flexible line connected to a tong for turning the pipe section, and with the specified part acting upon movement in the opposite direction to exert pulling force on a second elongated flexible element, preferably a chain, which extends about the pipe section and acts to spin it rotatably when the chain is pulled.

Abstract: A slip assembly for supporting well pipe in a rotary table and including a slip bowl structure to be received and supported within the rotary table in a relation to turn with it, a carrier structure supporting a plurality of slips and mounted for upward and downward movement relative to the slip bowl structure and with the slips, latch means for releasably retaining the carrier structure and slips in a lower active pipe gripping position, and yielding means urging the carrier structure and slips upwardly to retracted positions when the latch means are released.

Abstract: A pile handling tool is supported at the upper end of a tubular guide, and includes a jacking mechanism for advancing a pile longitudinally relative to the guide, and a mast projecting upwardly above the jacking mechanism and carrying an aligning structure for laterally engaging a pile and holding it in properly aligned position with respect to the guide. The mast is desirably mounted for retracting movement from an upwardly projecting active position to a laterally retracted inactive position. The jacking mechanism may be constructed to rotate one of two successive pile sections relative to the other to complete a connection therebetween.

Abstract: A pile handling tool is supported at the upper end ofa tubular guide, and includes a jacking mechanism for advancing a pile longitudinally relative to the guide, and a mast projecting upwardly above the jacking mechanism and carrying an aligning structure for laterally engaging a pile and holding it in properly aligned position with respect to the guide. The mast is desirably mounted for retracting movement from an upwardly projecting active position to a laterally retracted inactive position. The jacking mechanism may be constructed to rotate one of two successive pile sections relative to the other to complete a connection therebetween.

Abstract: A combination tool including a power slip, spinner unit and torque wrench, all mounted movably to a common support structure adjacent a well. The assembly is operable to first support the lower of two successive sections of pipe in the power slip, and then turn the upper section relative to the lower one to screw the pipes together or apart, with the major portion of the rotation being effected by the spinner, and the final high torque make-up rotation or initial joint breaking rotation being produced by the torque wrench.

Abstract: A safety valve to be lowered into a well and adapted to close off the flow of production fluid upwardly from the well, and which is operated by an actuating cable extending upwardly toward the surface of the earth, with the cable or other element being preferably maintained under tension and acting to hold the valve in open condition so long as the tensioned condition exists, but to release the valve for automatic closing movement in the event of breakage of the cable or release of its tensioned condition for any other reason. The safety valve includes a ball type valve element which moves downwardly in response to upward movement of the main actuating element, and is turned between open and closed conditions by such downward movement of the ball valve.

Abstract: A power slip for supporting a well pipe, including a plurality of downwardly tapering slips adapted to be wedged against a pipe by engagement with a slip bowl, with the slips being mounted for movement between an active position about the pipe and a retracted position offset to a side of the pipe, and with the mechanism including power operated means for clamping the slips about the pipe independently of the camming action of the slip bowl in a relation enabling the slips to be moved into and out of the bowl by movement of the pipe.