Abstract: Machine for moving casing or pipe from a horizontal position adjacent a well to a vertical position over the well bore. The machine includes a boom movable between a lowered position and a raised position by a hydraulic ram. A strongback grips the pipe and holds the same until the pipe is vertically positioned. Thereafter, an hydraulic ram on the strongback is actuated thereby lowering the pipe or casing onto the string suspended in the well bore and the additional pipe or casing joint is threaded thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for use to facilitate threading and unthreading substantially vertical lengths of pipe on a drilling rig by moving the pipe between the well bore center line and a racking assembly. An arm having a gripping head mounted thereon is extendable and retractable relative to a carriage mounted on the drilling rig working board. When storing pipe, the lower end of each pipe is set on a support assembly which includes a plurality of switches which signal the position of each pipe thereon. The arm and carriage are moved under control of a computer to an appropriate slot for storing the upper end of the pipe stand. When running pipe into the well bore, the arm and carriage move the upper end of the pipe to the center line of the well and when the traveling block of the drilling rig picks up the pipe, a signal generated by the switch beneath the pipe causes the carriage and arm to move to the location for unracking the next stand of pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for skidding a drilling rig of the type having a roller mechanism which includes at least one roller for non-rotatingly supporting at least some of the rig on a platform and at least one roller for rotatingly supporting at least some of the rig while it is skidded. The drilling rig platform is supported by beams having a vertical web mounted below each non-rotating roller. The web is in vertical alignment with the vertical axis of its associated non-rotating roller. A beam having a vertical web is mounted beneath the rig above each rotating roller. The rig beam web is in vertical alignment with the vertical axis of its associated rotating roller.