WELL DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Drilling apparatus is shown comprising a slant hole drilling derrick and a vertical pipe racking tower facing the open end of the derrick. A pivoted cup is provided at one side of the rotary table and is adapted to receive the lower end of a stand of drill pipe. A counterweighted forked cable arrangement is provided between the upper end of the derrick and the upper end of the vertical pipe racking tower, the forked cable being adapted to be secured to the upper end of a stand of drill pipe to transfer the said stand of drill pipe between the derrick and the vertical pipe racking tower. A plurality of hinged, power-operated centering devices are mounted on the derrick to engage the stand of drill pipe at various points along the length thereof. A sliding stabbing finger is provided at the upper end of the derrick to hold a stand of drill pipe out of the central portion of the derrick during part of the transfer operation of the said stand of drill pipe between the derrick and the vertical pipe racking tower. The foregoing features are operated in a coordinated manner to facilitate and expedite the handling of stands of drill pipe.