Dynamic block retraction for drilling rigs

Abstract

A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore in the earth, the drill rig system comprising: a drill rig comprising: a substructure supporting a rig floor and a mast extending vertically above the rig floor; a top drive supported by a line spooled between a crown block and a travelling block, a carriage that is guided by the guide rails on the mast, wherein the carriage at least one arm that extends/retracts to position the top drive farther/closer to the mast; a theodolite and/or laser ranging systems positioned to reflect a laser beam off a reflector associated with the top drive to determine the top drive's position relative to a well axis; and a controller of the at least one arm based on the top drive position determined by the theodolite and/or laser ranging systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore in the earth, the drill rig system comprising:
 a drill string turning device;   a sensor of the position of the turning device relative to a well axis; and   a mover of the turning device to a position on the well axis.   
     
     
         2 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turning device comprises a top drive. 
     
     
         3 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turning device comprises a turn table and kelly. 
     
     
         4 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises a theodolite and a laser ranging system positioned a distance away from the turning device. 
     
     
         5 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises a first sensor positioned a distance away from the turning device and a second sensor positioned another distance away from the turning device, wherein the first sensor, the well axis, and the second sensor form an angle of approximately 90 degrees at the well axis in a plane perpendicular to the well axis. 
     
     
         6 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises first and second theodolites positioned in a plane defined by the flexing of the mast and two distances away from the turning device. 
     
     
         7 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises two primary theodolites positioned in the plane defined the flexing of the mast and two distances away from the turning device and two secondary theodolites positioned in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane defined the flexing of the mast and two distances away from the turning device. 
     
     
         8 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises at least one inclinometer that detects an inclination of the mast. 
     
     
         9 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor of the position of the turning device comprises a device that measures a position of the turning device relative to the mast, and wherein the drill rig system further comprises a sensor of the weight of the drill string turning device and a drill string suspended from the drill string turning device. 
     
     
         10 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turning device comprises a top drive and the mover comprises arms that extend/retract from a carriage to move the top drive relative to a drill rig mast. 
     
     
         11 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turning device comprises a top drive and the mover comprises a mover of a crown block relative to a drill rig mast. 
     
     
         12 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the turning device comprises a turn table and kelly and the mover comprises at least one jack of the drill rig. 
     
     
         13 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mover comprises a carriage that extends/retracts the top drive relative to a drill rig mast and at least one jack of the drill rig. 
     
     
         14 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller of the mover based on data from the sensor of the position. 
     
     
         15 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control system,
 wherein the control system records position data corresponding to the position of the turning device relative to a well axis where the data is taken with the turning device at a plurality of mast elevations and the drill rig system being subject to a plurality of hookloads at each mast elevation,   wherein the control system commands the mover to move the turning device to a recorded position based on a measured mast elevation and a measured hookload compared to the plurality of mast elevations and the plurality of hookloads at which the position data was recorded.   
     
     
         16 . A method for drilling a wellbore in the earth, the method comprising:
 turning a drill string with a turning device;   determining the position of the turning device relative to a well axis; and   positioning the turning device on the well axis.   
     
     
         17 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the turning comprises turning the drill string with a top drive. 
     
     
         18 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the turning comprises turning the drill string with a turn table and kelly. 
     
     
         19 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the determining the position of the turning device comprises: positioning a laser generator a distance away from the turning device, sensing a laser beam generated via the laser generator to determine the distance between the laser generator and the turning device, and measuring an angle between the laser beam and a reference constant. 
     
     
         20 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the determining the position of the turning device comprises: positioning first and second laser generators a distance from each other, generating a first laser beam between the first laser generator and the turning device, generating a second laser beam between the second laser generator and the turning device, and measuring angles between each laser beam and a reference constant. 
     
     
         21 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the determining the position of the turning device comprises: positioning first and second ranging systems a distance from each other, measuring a distance between the first ranging system and the turning device, and measuring a distance between the second ranging system and the turning device. 
     
     
         22 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the turning comprises turning the drill string with a top drive and the positioning comprises extending/retracting a carriage of the top drive relative to a drill rig mast. 
     
     
         23 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the turning comprises turning the drill string with a turn table and Kelly and the positioning comprises jacking portions of a drill rig. 
     
     
         24 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the positioning comprises extending/retracting a carriage of the top drive relative to a drill rig mast and jacking portions of a drill rig. 
     
     
         25 . A method for drilling a wellbore as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the determining the position of the turning device relative to a well axis comprises determining distances between the turning device and the well axis at a plurality of mast elevations and a plurality of hookloads at each mast elevation, and   wherein the positioning the turning device on the well axis comprises moving the turning device a determined distance relative to the well axis depending on the turning device's mast elevation and hookload compared to the plurality of mast elevations and the plurality of hookloads at each mast elevation.   
     
     
         26 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore in the earth, the drill rig system comprising:
 a drill rig comprising:
 a substructure supporting a rig floor and a mast extending vertically above the rig floor; 
 a top drive supported by a line spooled between a crown block and a travelling block, 
 a carriage that is guided by the guide rails on the mast, wherein the carriage has at least one arm that extends/retracts to position the top drive farther/closer to the mast; 
   a first laser generator positioned to generate a laser beam relative to the top drive to determine the top drive's position relative to a well axis; and   a controller of the at least one arm based on the top drive position determined by the laser generator.   
     
     
         27 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a second laser generator positioned to generate a laser beam relative to the top drive to determine the top drive's position relative to a well axis, wherein the second laser generator is positioned a distance from the first laser generator. 
     
     
         28 . A drill rig system for drilling a wellbore, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of jacks under the substructure that tilt the drill rig under control of the controller based on the top drive position determined by the first laser generator.