Push / pull system and support structure for snubbing unit on a rig floor

1. A support structure for use on a rig floor and for supporting a unit used to manipulate tubular components in and out through a wellhead, comprising:

a support plate adapted to securely mount the support structure to said unit used to manipulate tubular components in and out through a wellhead and adapted to distribute downward forces to the rig floor;

a passage in the support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass therethrough;

a plurality of rig engaging members connected to the support plate;

at least one tensile member mount;

wherein the unit used to manipulate tubular components in and out through a wellhead does so co-axially through said passage in the support plate; and

wherein the support structure is adapted to be placed on the rig floor;

wherein said unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead further comprises a plurality of ram recesses, each suitable to receive a jacking ram, the support structure further comprising:

a plurality of ram passages in the support plate coaxially aligned with the plurality of ram recesses, each ram passage being of sufficient diameter to allow a jacking ram to pass therethrough; and

wherein, during operations, any downward forces are generally distributed into the rig floor through the support structure and the plurality of rig engaging members.

2. The support structure of claim 1 where the unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a compact snubbing unit.

3. The support structure of claim 1 where the unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull unit.

4. The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a worker platform adjacent the support plate to support a worker above the rig floor.

5. A push/pull system for use on a rig to manipulate tubular components co-axially in and out through a wellhead, the system comprising:

a unit used to manipulate tubular components co-axially in and out through a wellhead;

the support structure of claim 1 to support said unit used to manipulate tubular components co-axially in and out through a wellhead at a position above the rig floor and having a plurality of tensile member mounts; and

a plurality of tensile members connected between the support structure's plurality of tensile member mounts and a plurality of mounting points on the rig or the rig floor, plurality of tensile members adapted to overcome any well pressure-generated forces on the tubular components which would otherwise urge the tubular components out of the wellhead.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of rig engaging members are positioned between the support plate and the rig floor.

7. The system of claim 5 where the unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a compact snubbing unit.

8. The system of claim 5 where the unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead is a push/pull unit.

9. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a worker platform to support a worker above the rig floor.

10. A push/pull unit for use on a rig floor and for manipulating tubular components co-axially in and out through a wellhead, said push/pull unit comprising:

a support plate adapted to distribute downward forces to the rig floor, said support plate further comprising a plurality of ram recesses;

a passage in the support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass therethrough;

a plurality of rig engaging members connected to, and projecting substantially downward from, the support plate;

a plurality of tensile member mounts;

a traveling slip assembly;

a stationary slip assembly having a stationary plate, said stationary plate mounted to the support plate;

at least one jacking ram securably mounted between the support plate and the traveling slip assembly, said at least one jacking ram further comprising an annular groove of such dimensions to allow secure placement of said at least one jacking ram within at least one of said plurality of ram recesses;

wherein said traveling slip assembly, said stationary slip assembly and said at least one jacking ram are actuatable to manipulate tubular components co-axially in and out through a wellhead; and

wherein, during operations, any downward forces are generally distributed into the rig floor through the support structure and the plurality of rig engaging members.

11. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the jacking rams each further comprising an annular groove of such dimensions to allow secure placement of said jacking rams within said plurality of ram recesses.

12. The support structure of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of ram retainers to maintain secure placement of the jacking rams within said plurality of ram recesses.

13. A support structure for use on a rig floor and for supporting a unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead, said unit having a plurality of jacking rams, the support structure comprising:

a support plate adapted to securely mount the support structure within said unit used to manipulate tubular components through a wellhead and further adapted to distribute downward forces to the rig floor;

a passage in the support plate of sufficient diameter to allow tubular components to pass therethrough;

a plurality of rig engaging members connected to the support plate;

a plurality of tensile member mounts;

a plurality of ram passages in the support plate adapted to securably mount the plurality of jacking rams;

wherein the support structure is adapted to be placed on the rig floor;

wherein, during operations, any downward forces are generally distributed into the rig floor through the support structure and the plurality of rig engaging members; and

wherein the jacking rams each further comprising an annular groove of such dimensions to allow secure placement of said jacking rams on the support plate.

14. The support structure of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of ram retainers to maintain secure placement of the jacking rams on the support plate.