Drilling Rigs

18. TOP DRIVE

INDEX

18.1 FUNCTION
18.2 TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS
18.3 TOP DRIVE COMPONENTS
18.4 INSPECTIONS

18.1 FUNCTION

- Introduction
Oil well drilling with a rotary table, kelly drive
bushing and 45 ft of kelly was the industry
standard for years.

TOP DRIVE has been one of the better

innovations in the oil field in the last few years

- Main functions and advantages

Top drive system has 3 main functions:

1. Perform all normal hoisting requirements

2. Rotate the drill string
3. Enable circulation through the drill string

Most rigs today are equipped with top drive.

Advantages:
Possibility to drill stands of pipe rather than single
Ability to back-ream while pooh
Contains remote-controlled Inside BOP , that can be operated at distance from the rig floor

- Manufacture specifications
Top Drive is built in accordance with API Spec. 8A and 8C.
The reference standards adopted by ENI is: ISO 13535

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18.2 TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS

- Top Drive National Oilwell

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- Top Drive VARCO

- Characteristics of Top Drive VARCO

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- TDS-3A Output Curves - TDS-3H Output Curves

- TDS-4H Output Curves - TDS-5 Output Curves

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- TDS-5H Output Curves

Features of Top Drive VARCO

- Features IDS-1 TDS-4H TDS-4S TDS-6S

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- Features TDS-10SA TDS-11SA

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- Features TDS-8SA

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18.3 TOP DRIVE COMPONENTS

- Top Drive Components - Nomenclature

Top Drive Components

1. Counterbalance System
2. Guide Dolly Assembly
3. Motor Housing & Swivel Assembly
4. Pipe Handler
5. Top Drive Control System
6. Top Drive Auxiliary Tools

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1. Counterbalance System

A Counterbalance system offsets

the weight of the TDS and provides
a soft landing when TDS stabs into
or out of the joint when making a
connection.

This prevents damage to the tool

joint threads.
To do this, Hydraulic cylinder
connect the Swivel Bail and the
elevator ear portion of the hook
body.

- Components

2. Guide Dolly Assembly

3. Motor Housing & Swivel

Assembly

4. Pipe Handler

5. Top Drive Control System

6. Top Drive Auxiliary Tools

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2. Guide Dolly Assembly

The Guide Dolly assembly transmits the

drilling torque reaction to the Guide Rails
and can provide a method for setting the
entire unit aside for maintenance or to allow
rig operation without the TDS if necessary.

3. Motor Housing & Swivel Assembly

Consists of:

a. Integrated swivel & wash pipe

b. Drilling Motor & Brake

c. Transmission Pinions

d. Rotating Head

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a. Integrated Swivel & Wash Pipe

The Integrated Swivel is a bearing assembly

that allows transfer of the rotating load to the
lifting components.

- The Swivel Wash pipe is a rotating seal that

allows mud to flow to the rotating drill string.

Working pressure is usually 5000 or 7500 psi.

b. Drilling Motor & Brake

DC drilling motor used is essentially the same as those used elsewhere on a drilling rig to power
the drawworks, mud pumps and rotary table, with same modifications:

1. A double ended armature shaft is provided to permit the attachment of an air brake.
2. Special bearings are installed to allow the motor to operate in a vertical orientation.

The shaft extension on the commutator end of the motor is used to attach an Airflex 16VC600 air
brake that with 90 psi air pressure gives 35.000 ftlbs brake torque.

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Drilling Motor & Brake

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c. Transmission Gear
Depends on the model of TDS
- Transmission Gear: Two speeds
- Transmission Gear: One speed

- Transmission Gear: Two speeds - Transmission Gear: One speed

- Example of Torque data of Varco Top Drive

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d. Rotating head

The rotating head allows the pipe handler to

rotate on the Top Drive.

It can be locked in 2 positions:

180 and 360.

- Rotating head - draw 1

- Rotating head - draw 2

Rotating head - draw 1 Rotating head - draw 2

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4. Pipe Handler

The pipe handler has 2 main function:

- Tripping 93 foot stands

- Providing torque for make up and

break out of connections (at any height
in the derrick)

The main components are:

a. Link Adapter
b. Safety valves and Actuator
c. Torque Wrench
d. Link Tilt
5. Top Drive Control System
6. Top Drive Auxiliary Tools

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a. Link Adapter

The link adapter transfers the hoisting

loads to the drive stem.

The 4 torque arrestors avoid the elevator

rotation and shift 2 ft when the elevators
touch the rig floor.

b. Safety valves & Actuator

There are 2 safety valves on a TDS:

One manual and one remote controlled.

- VARCO remote operated safety valve

- HYDRIL remote operated safety valve

- Kellyguard Valve actuator

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c. Torque Wrench

The torque wrench has a clamping Jaw

for standard tool joints from 5 " to 7 3/8".
Different size can also be handled.

- Torque Wrench Assembly

- Torque Wrench Control manifold

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Torque Wrench - Assembly

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d. Link Tilt

The link tilt allows the elevators to move off of

well center to pick up a joint from the
mousehole.
It also helps the derrickman to handle pipe more
easily

5. Top Drive Control System

- Scheme: Top Drive Control system - Control panel

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6. Top Drive Auxiliary Tools

- Wireline Adapter tool

- TV camera system

It's a system with one or more

cameras installed at different level
of Derrick to allow the driller to
monitor the operations .

18.4 INSPECTIONS

TOP DRIVE system, as with traditional hoisting equipment, must be checked and inspected
periodically as per the manufacturer's recommendations and API RP 8B or related ISO
(International Organization for Standardization) 13534.
ENI policy requires the Category IV inspection (as per API RP 8B and ISO 13534) every 5 years.

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