Apparatus and method for making up and breaking out threaded connections of drill bits and bottomhole components

Abstract

An apparatus and method for making up and breaking out the threaded connection of a drill bit and bottomhole assembly away from a drilling rig wellbore. The apparatus includes a housing structure adapted for releaseably securing a drill bit and thereby preventing rotation of the drill bit during make up or break out of the drill bit and a bottomhole component. A back up wrench positions and grips the housing structure having the drill bit releaseably secured therein and a torque wrench applies torque to the bottomhole component to make up or break out the connection therebetween.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present application relates generally to an apparatus and method for connecting or disconnecting a drill bit and a bottomhole component using a bit breaker. The apparatus is adapted for use with conventional bit breakers. The method and apparatus is adapted to make up and break out drill bits oriented in a horizontal mode away from the drilling rig without the usual need for a rotary table of a conventional drilling rig designed for make up and break out of drill bits oriented in a vertical mode over a drilling rig wellbore. By eliminating the need for a rig rotary table in order to perform drill bit make up and break out operations, drilling rig equipment and rig personnel can be used for other more cost-effective purposes. RELATED APPLICATION [0002] The present application includes structure that relates to another patent application by Applicant entitled “Apparatus and Method for Assembling and Disassembling Downhole Components in a Horizontal Mode.”...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

That is, the drill collar, which is typically very heavy, must be handled using the drilling rig and power tongs—while the heavy-duty the collar is suspended above the rotary table.

Clearly, the use of drilling rig equipment and the rotary table for these tasks can be time consuming and reduce the cost effectiveness of the overall drilling operation.

In addition, using rig equipment to apply torques of up to 60,000 ft lbs for make up and break out operations can not only wear down and cause breakage of the equipment but also create potentially dangerous situations.

However, conventional devices used for making up or breaking out operations in a horizontal mode do not include heavy-duty bit adapters configured for high-torque applications.

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