The connection and disassembly of drill pipe are core operations in water well drilling, directly impacting construction efficiency, tool life, and operational safety. Strict adherence to standardized operating procedures is paramount. The following details these two critical operations:
Lower the power head to its lowest point and then raise it, positioning the top shackle of the drill pipe to be connected conveniently for inserting the fork wrench. Stop power head rotation and feed, and shut off the air pressure system to ensure the equipment is in a safe state.
Firmly insert the fork wrench into the pipe shackle. Slowly lower the power head until the wrench’s locating surface rests securely on the wellhead board. Ensure the wrench is reliably supported to prevent accidental dislodgement during operation.
Insert a locking pin to block the fork wrench and prevent its rotation. Start the drilling rig, engaging the power head in reverse rotation to loosen the connection between the link rod currently attached to the power head and the pipe below. Pay attention to the rotation direction to avoid thread damage.
Keep the power head rotating and slowly raise it until the link rod is completely unthreaded and separated from the box thread of the pipe below. At this point, the lower pipe is safely suspended on the wellhead board via the fork wrench.
Apply specialized thread lubricant evenly onto the exposed threads of the lower pipe to reduce wear, extend pipe life, and ensure connection strength.
Retrieve the new drill pipe to be connected and evenly apply thread lubricant to its threaded (pin) end.
Fit the lifting sub over the pin end of the new drill pipe.
Securely hang the lifting sub (with the new pipe attached) onto the trunnion at the bottom of the raised link rod.
Slowly raise the power head until the new pipe is fully suspended by the lifting sub, clear of the ground.
Intermittently open the air pressure switch to thoroughly blow out the inner wall of the new pipe with compressed air, removing debris, mud, or cuttings.
Remove the thread protector from the lower pipe’s threads. Slowly lower the power head while rotating it clockwise. Coordinate movements smoothly to ensure precise alignment of the upper and lower pipe threads, avoiding damage.
Continue lowering the power head with clockwise rotation until the pipe joint is fully tightened, reaching the specified torque value.
Remove the lifting sub from the top of the new pipe. Align the top threads with the power head threads. Rotate the power head clockwise until fully tightened.
Gently raise the power head to relieve pressure on the fork wrench. Confirm it is safe, then withdraw the wrench from the pipe shackle.
Upon completing these steps, the new pipe is connected. The drill string length is increased, and drilling can resume.
Raise the power head. Insert the fork wrench into the shackle of the second rod and lock it in position.
Operate the drilling rig power head in counter-clockwise rotation to loosen the connection between the bottom of the top rod and the top of the second rod.
Engage the hydraulic wrench into the shackle at the bottom of the top rod connection. Operate the drilling rig in reverse to loosen the connection between the top rod and the power head. Remove the hydraulic wrench.
Operate the drilling rig in reverse rotation to separate the top rod from the second rod, ensuring they are completely disconnected. (This process requires the second rod to remain secured by the fork wrench).
Manually support the top rod. A slight counter-clockwise rotation of the power head will completely disconnect the top rod from the power head.
Withdraw the separated top rod from the borehole and set it aside for storage.
Lower the power head. The original second rod now becomes the new top rod. Repeat the above steps to disassemble the remaining rods section by section.
The above standardized operating procedures ensure the safety and efficiency of drill pipe installation and disassembly for water well drilling rigs. They also effectively protect valuable drilling tools and guarantee the smooth progress of the drilling project.
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