Drawworks device on a drill floor

1. A drawworks apparatus on a drill floor, the drawworks device comprising:

an upper pulley assembly configured to rotate about a rotational axis;

a hinged adapter pivotally coupling the pulley assembly to a crown beam, wherein the hinged adapter includes an upper portion connected to the crown beam and a lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to pivot relative to the upper portion about a first horizontal axis and the upper pulley assembly is rotatably connected to the lower portion; and

a main block suspended from the pulley assembly with a hoisting wire, wherein the pulley assembly is configured to raise and lower the main block by rotating about the rotational axis;

wherein the main block is configured to move laterally relative to a drill string projecting upward from the drill floor;

wherein the first axis is oriented perpendicular to the direction of lateral movement of the main block;

wherein the rotational axis of the pulley assembly is oriented approximately parallel to the direction of lateral movement of the main block.

2. The drawworks apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drilling machine connected to the main block, wherein the drilling machine is configured to pivot relative to the main block about a second axis oriented parallel to the first axis.

3. A drawworks apparatus for supporting a drilling machine above a drill floor, the drawworks apparatus comprising:

a crown beam;

a hinged adapter including an upper portion connected to the crown beam and a lower portion pivotally connected to the upper portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to pivot relative to the upper portion about a first horizontal axis;

a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the hinged adapter, wherein the pulley assembly includes a hoisting wire; and

a main block suspended from the pulley assembly by the hoisting wire.

4. The drawworks apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a drilling machine connected to the main block.

5. The drawworks apparatus of claim 4 wherein the drilling machine is pivotably connected to the main block.

6. The drawworks apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a rail, a carriage connected and movable on the rail, the drilling machine pivotably connected to the carriage.

7. The drawworks apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a pipe mount connected to the drilling machine.

8. The drawworks apparatus of claim 6 wherein the drill floor has a drilling center and wherein the drilling machine is movable with the carriage between the drilling center of the drill floor and a position laterally offset therefrom.

9. The drawworks apparatus of claim 8 wherein, upon upward movement of the drilling machine, an angle between the hoisting wire and a line through the drilling center is reduced by pivoting of the main block with respect to the crown beam.

10. A drawworks apparatus for supporting a drilling machine above a drill floor, the drill floor having a drilling center, the drawworks apparatus comprising:

a crown beam;

a pulley assembly hingedly connected with a hinged adapter to the crown beam, the pulley assembly including a hoisting wire;

a main block suspended from the pulley assembly by the hoisting wire

a drilling machine pivotably connected to the main block

a rail;

a carriage connected and movable on the rail;

wherein the drilling machine is pivotably connected to the carriage, the drilling machine movable with the carriage between the drilling center of the drill floor and a position laterally offset therefrom;

wherein, upon upward movement of the drilling machine, an angle between the hoisting wire and a line through the drilling center is reduced by pivoting of the main block with respect to the crown beam;

wherein the hinged adapter includes an upper portion connected to the crown beam and a lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion about a horizontal first axis, the main block movable in a first direction laterally, the first axis approximately perpendicular to the first direction, the drilling machine connected to the main block about a second axis, and the second axis parallel to the first axis.

11. A method for moving a drilling machine above a drill floor, the method comprising:

connecting a drilling machine to a main block of a drawworks apparatus, the drawworks apparatus comprising a crown beam, a pulley assembly hingedly connected to the crown beam and including a hoisting wire, and the main block suspended from the pulley assembly by the hoisting wire;

pivoting the pulley assembly relative to the crown beam about a horizontal first axis with a hinged adapter; and

raising or lowering the drilling machine with respect to the drill floor using the drawworks apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the drilling machine is pivotably connected to the main block and the drawworks apparatus further comprises a rail, a carriage connected and movable on the rail, the drilling machine pivotably connected to the carriage, wherein the drill floor has a drilling center and wherein the drilling machine is movable with the carriage between the drilling center of the drill floor and a position laterally offset therefrom, the method further comprising moving the drilling machine between the drilling center and the position laterally offset therefrom.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein, upon upward movement of the drilling machine, an angle between the hoisting wire and a line through the drilling center is reduced by pivoting of the main block with respect to the crown beam.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein a hinged adapter hingedly connects the pulley assembly to the crown beam, and wherein the hinged adapter includes an upper portion connected to the crown beam and a lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion about the first axis the axis.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the main block is movable in a first direction laterally, and wherein the first axis is approximately perpendicular to the first direction, the method further comprising moving the main block in the first direction laterally.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the drilling machine is connected to the main block and configured to pivot relative to the main block about a second axis, the second axis parallel to the first axis.