Method And Apparatus For Continuous Raising And Lowering Joints Of Pipe

• US 20150322736A1
• Filed: 05/11/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Thomas Carpenter
• Original Assignee: William Thomas Carpenter
• Inventors: Carpenter, William Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,562,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/00 Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/086 with a fluid-actuated cylinder E21B19/084, E21B19/087, E21B19/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for lifting and lowering of pipe continuously, during the drilling, repair or maintenance of wells, without interruption to connect or disconnect pipe.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuously raising and lowering joints or stands of pipe, without interruption to connect or disconnect pipes comprising:

lifting and lowering device;

holding device;

a rotating device;

a power source to actuate the lifting and lowering device, pivoting device, holding device and rotating device;

a transfer device to remove or introduce pipe;

means to transfer the generated power to the above devices;

energy storage means;

means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means; and

means for converting potential energy from the energy storage means to kinetic energy to power the lifting and lowering device;

the pivoting device;

the holding device;

the rotating device and other associated devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy storage means is an accumulator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy storage means is a spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the energy storage means is a battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible motor drive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible piston-actuated drive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible lead screw drive.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible rack and pinion drive.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible drum and cable drive.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for alternatingly engaging the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means and means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage means to potential energy in the accumulator, and for converting potential energy in the accumulator to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible motor drive.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the storage means to potential energy in the accumulator, and for converting potential energy in the accumulator to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible piston actuated drive.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the drum to potential energy in the accumulator, and for converting potential energy in the accumulator to kinetic energy in the drum, comprises a reversible lead screw drive.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the drum to potential energy in the accumulator, and for converting potential energy in the accumulator to kinetic energy in the drum, comprises a reversible rack and pinion drive.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the drum to potential energy in the accumulator, and for converting potential energy in the accumulator to kinetic energy in the drum, comprises a reversible drum and cable drive.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for alternatingly engaging the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means and means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy.

17. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible motor.

18. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible piston-actuated drive.

19. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible lead screw drive.

20. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible rack and pinion drive.

21. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a drum and cable drive.

22. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for alternatingly engaging the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means and means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy.

23. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible motor drive.

24. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible piston-actuated drive.

25. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible lead screw drive.

26. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible rack and pinion drive.

27. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for converting kinetic energy from energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means, and the means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy, comprises a reversible drum and cable drive.

28. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for alternatively engaging the means for converting kinetic energy from the energy storage to potential energy in the energy storage means and means for converting potential energy in the energy storage means to kinetic energy.

29. A method of continually lifting and lowering pipe in a well drilling, maintenance or repair operation, without the necessity of stopping intermittently to connect or disconnect pipe, comprising the steps of:

lowering a first pipe;

storing the energy released by the lowering of the first pipe;

lifting a second pipe; and

using the stored energy to assist in the lifting of the second pipe and connecting this second pipe to the first pipe while continuing the lowering process without interruption to make the connection.