Top Drive Motor Servicing via Motion Arm Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top drive devices in wellbore drilling installations experience significant downtime due to equipment failures, with the gearbox being a critical but difficult-to-maintain component, leading to costly interruptions in offshore drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A method is proposed where the top drive motor is removed using a motion arm assembly while the rest of the top drive device remains attached to the trolley, allowing for direct mechanical coupling and stabilization, facilitating easier access and replacement of motors without the need for extensive disassembly, and incorporating a rotatable head clamp assembly to reduce the load on the top drive device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the top drive motor is removed using traditional methods with the entire top drive device detached from the trolley, then the motor can be accessed for replacement, but the servicing time and operational downtime are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The top drive device is segmented into separable components, allowing the motor to be independently removed while the transmission housing remains attached to the trolley. This enables partial disassembly that provides motor access without requiring complete device detachment, thereby reducing servicing downtime while maintaining repair accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the top drive device is completely detached from the trolley for motor servicing, then full access to internal components is achieved, but the complexity of the servicing procedure and reassembly time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the top drive device as a separate serviceable component while leaving the transmission housing attached to the trolley. This selective extraction provides sufficient access to the motor for replacement without requiring removal of the entire device, thereby simplifying the servicing procedure and reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional maintenance schedules are implemented to prevent top drive failures, then equipment reliability is improved, but the operational flexibility and productivity are reduced due to planned downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified motor replacement procedure enables maintenance personnel to quickly service the top drive during brief operational interruptions. This preliminary preparation of accessible motor mounting allows rapid intervention when failures occur, minimizing unplanned downtime and maintaining higher productivity compared to traditional maintenance approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for servicing a top drive device of a wellbore drilling installation. The installation comprises a drilling tower, a drill floor having a well center through which a drilling tubulars string can pass along a firing line. A trolley is guided along a vertical trolley rail. A top drive device is attached to the trolley and comprises one or more top drive. A motion arm assembly comprises a base and an extensible and retractable motion arm, wherein the base is guided by a vertical motion arm rail. The motion arm has an operative reach that encompasses the firing line. The motion arm assembly is adapted to support at least one of a well center tool, e.g. an iron roughneck tool and a tubular gripper member, and allowing to bring said well center tool or tubular gripper member in the firing line. In order to remove a top drive motor from the top drive device whilst the rest of the top drive device remains attached to the trolley, the motion arm assembly and/or the trolley are operated so that the top drive motor is within the operative reach of the motion arm, the motion arm is operated to reach the top drive motor and the top drive motor is connected to the motion arm, and then the motion arm is used to support and/or lift, lower said top drive motor upon disconnection thereof from the rest of the top drive device.