System and method for transferring pipe

• US 20030155154A1
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Oser, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,779,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/52
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/15 Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method for transferring pipe between a storage device for the pipe and a pipe string extending over a well.

Claims

1. A system for transferring pipe comprising:

a pipe lift for receiving a pipe joint and movable between a first position and a second position; and

a pipe shuttle located at the second position for receiving the pipe joint from the pipe lift and moving the pipe joint to a third position.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pipe rack, and wherein the first position is adjacent the pipe rack.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pipe feeder for receiving the pipe joint from the pipe rack and for providing the pipe joint to the pipe lift.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second position is spaced vertically and horizontally from the first position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the third position is spaced vertically from the second position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pipe lift and the pipe shuttle each comprises at least one grip for engaging the pipe joint.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one rail over which the pipe shuttle moves.

8. A method for transferring pipe comprising the steps of:

disposing a pipe joint to a pipe lift in a first position;

moving the pipe lift to a second position;

transferring the pipe joint from the pipe lift to a pipe shuttle; and

moving the pipe shuttle to a third position remote from the second position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second position is laterally spaced from the first position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third position is vertically spaced from the second position.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of disposing comprises transferring the pipe joint into the pipe lift from a pipe rack.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the pipe shuttle is moved to the third position via at least one rail.

13. A system for transferring pipe comprising:

a pipe shuttle for receiving a pipe joint removed from a pipe string at a first position and for moving the pipe joint to a second position; and

a pipe lift for receiving the pipe joint from the pipe shuttle in the second position and for moving the pipe joint to a third position spaced from the second position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second position is vertically spaced from the first position and wherein the third position is horizontally and vertically spaced from the second position.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a pipe rack disposed adjacent the pipe lift when the pipe joint is in the third position.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a pipe feeder for transferring the pipe joint from the pipe lift to the pipe rack.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the pipe shuttle and the pipe lift each comprises at least one grip for engaging the pipe joint.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one rail over which the pipe shuttle travels.

19. A method for transferring pipe comprising the steps of:

removing a pipe joint from a pipe string;

transferring the pipe joint to a pipe shuttle at a first location;

moving the pipe shuttle from the first location to a second location;

transferring the pipe joint from the pipe shuttle to a pipe lift at the second location; and

moving the pipe lift from the second location to a third location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second location is vertically spaced from the first location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the third location is vertically and horizontally spaced from the second location.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising transferring the pipe joint from the pipe lift to a pipe rack.

23. A system for transferring pipe comprising:

a first means for receiving a pipe joint in a first location and moving the pipe joint to a second location; and

a second means for receiving the pipe joint from the first means in the second location and moving the pipe joint to a third location.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first means is a pipe lift and wherein the second location is horizontally and vertically spaced from the first location.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second means is a pipe shuttle and wherein the third location is vertically spaced from the second location.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the first means receives the pipe joint from a pipe rack and wherein the second means delivers the pipe joint to a pipe string.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the first means is a pipe shuttle and wherein the second location is vertically spaced from the first location.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second means is a pipe lift and wherein the third location is horizontally and vertically spaced from the second location.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the first means receives the pipe joint from a pipe string and wherein the second means delivers the pipe joint to a pipe rack.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the first and second means each includes at least one grip for engaging the pipe joint.

31. The system of claim 23, further comprising at least one rail and wherein one of the means moves along the rail.

32. A method for transferring pipe comprising the steps of:

receiving a pipe joint in a first location and moving the pipe joint to a second location; and

receiving the pipe joint at the second location and moving the pipe joint to a third location.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second location is horizontally and vertically spaced from the first location.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the third location is vertically spaced from the second location.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the pipe joint is received from a pipe rack at the first location and wherein the pipe joint is delivered to a pipe string at the second location.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the second location is vertically spaced from the first location.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the third location is horizontally and vertically spaced from the second location.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the pipe joint is received from a pipe string at the first location and wherein the pipe joint is delivered to a pipe rack at the second location.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving one of the means along a rail.