Design and Testing of a Rapidly Relocatable Lightweight Top Drive System for Enhanced Drilling Efficiency

To meet the efficiency and safety requirements of small drilling rigs and workover rigs in intelligent and automated operations, this study develops a rapidly relocatable lightweight top drive system. The system integrates key technologies such as an integrated hoisting system with a traveling block, dual-rail variable track technology, lightweight main structure design, and permanent magnet direct drive technology, achieving a high level of integration between the top drive and the drilling rig. During the extension, erection, lowering, and transportation of the derrick, there is no need to disassemble the top drive. The derrick, top drive rail, top drive, and traveling block are integrated into a single modular unit for transportation, significantly reducing installation and disassembly time and shortening the relocation cycle. Field applications demonstrate that this rapidly relocatable lightweight top drive effectively solves the height limitation problem of the derrick, greatly enhances the mobility performance of truck-mounted drilling rigs, and significantly improves production efficiency. It plays an important role in accelerating the comprehensive intelligent transformation of small drilling rigs and workover rigs.