Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock

• US 7,073,598 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Haugen, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US10/625,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 166 7751- 7753, 166/85.1, 166/377, 166/378, 166/380, 175/85
• US Class Current: 166/380
• 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 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/165 Control or monitoring arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0021 Safety devices, e.g. for preventing small objects from falling into the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions

Abstract

The present invention provides for an apparatus and methods to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods can be used to for running in casing, running in wellbore components or for a drill string.

Claims

1. An apparatus for picking up a casing string from a rack and moving the casing string toward a center of a well for use with a top drive, comprising:

a tubular gripping member attached to a structural intermediate, wherein the structural intermediate is pivotable from the top drive to move the casing string toward the center of the well and wherein the tubular gripping member is rotatable by the top drive and wherein the structural intermediate and the gripping member are in fluid communication with an inner diameter of the casing string.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structural intermediate comprises a first portion pivotable with respect to a second portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first portion is operatively connected to the top drive and the second portion is operatively connected to the tubular gripping member.

4. A method for use in drilling with casing with a top drive, comprising:

providing a tubular gripping member pivotally connected to the top drive, wherein the tubular gripping member is rotatable relative to the top drive;

locating the top drive at a center of a well;

pivoting the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well;

engaging a casing with the tubular gripping member;

pivoting the tubular gripping member toward the center of the well; and

supplying fluid from the tubular gripping member to the casing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting the casing to a casing string with a cutting structure disposed at its lower end.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising rotating the casing string.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising allowing incremental movement of the top drive while the casing is connected to the casing string.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a compensator to allow for the incremental movement of the top drive.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a stretch sensor to determine a connection between the casing and the casing string.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the tubular gripping member comprises a torque head.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the tubular gripping member comprises a spear.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein a structural intermediate pivotally connects the tubular gripping member to the top drive.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the structural intermediate is rotationally fixed relative to the tubular gripping member and is rotatable relative to the top drive.

14. A method for moving a casing string to a center of a well, comprising:

providing a top drive and a tubular gripping member pivotally connected by a tubular structural intermediate;

pivoting the structural intermediate to bias the tubular gripping member toward the casing string;

grippingly engaging the casing string with the tubular gripping member so that the casing string and the tubular gripping member are rotationally and axially fixed relative to one another; and

moving the casing string to the center of the well.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein moving the casing string to the center of the well comprises pivoting the structural intermediate to move the casing string to the center of the well.

16. A top drive adapter for gripping a casing string in a non-vertical position with respect to the center of a well, comprising:

a tubular gripping member for gripping the casing string in the non-vertical position; and

a tubular structural intermediate for biasing the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well,

wherein the top drive adapter is rotatable relative to the top drive.

17. A system for handling a tubular, comprising:

a top drive;

a first gripping member operatively coupled to the top drive;

a second gripping member; and

an interlock system connected to the first gripping member and the second gripping member, the interlock system adapted to ensure that at least one of the first gripping member or the second gripping member is connected to the tubular.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a compensator.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a stretch sensor.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a counter to measure rotation of the tubular.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a torque sub to measure torque exerted on the tubular.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the tubular comprises a casing.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the tubular comprises a casing connected to a casing string.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the tubular comprises a cutting member disposed at a lower portion of the tubular.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising a pivotable mechanism for pivoting the first gripping member.

26. A method for use in drilling with casing with a top drive, comprising:

providing a tubular gripping member pivotally connected to the top drive, wherein the tubular gripping member is rotatable relative to the top drive;

providing a stretch sensor to determine a connection between the casing and the casing string;

locating the top drive at a center of a well;

pivoting the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well;

engaging a casing with the tubular gripping member;

pivoting the tubular gripping member toward the center of the well; and

connecting the casing to a casing string with a cutting structure disposed at its lower end.

27. A method for use in drilling with casing with a top drive, comprising:

providing a tubular gripping member pivotally connected to the top drive, wherein the tubular gripping member is rotatable relative to the top drive, wherein the tubular gripping member comprises a spear;

locating the top drive at a center of a well;

pivoting the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well;

engaging a casing with the tubular gripping member; and

pivoting the tubular gripping member toward the center of the well.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising supplying a fluid from the spear to the casing.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising rotating the casing to extend the well.

30. An apparatus for use with a top drive, comprising:

a pivotable mechanism connected to a lower end of the top drive, wherein the pivotable mechanism has a bore therethrough and is pivotable towards and away from the top drive;

a gripping head connected to a lower end of the pivotable mechanism and pivotable by the pivotable mechanism, wherein the gripping head grippingly engages a casing string;

a compensator; and

a stretch sensor.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the stretch sensor determines a stretching of the compensator.

32. A system for handling a tubular, comprising:

a top drive;

a first gripping member operatively coupled to the top drive;

a second gripping member;

an interlock system for ensuring that at least one of the first gripping member or the second gripping member is connected to the tubular; and

a stretch sensor.

33. A system for handling a tubular, comprising:

a top drive;

a first gripping member operatively coupled to the top drive;

a second gripping member;

an interlock system for ensuring that at least one of the first gripping member or the second gripping member is connected to the tubular; and

a counter to measure rotation of the tubular.

34. An apparatus for picking up a casing string from a rack and moving the casing string toward a center of a well for use with a top drive, comprising:

a tubular gripping member attached to a structural intermediate, wherein the structural intermediate is pivotable from the top drive to move the casing string toward the center of the well and wherein the structural intermediate and the gripping member provide fluid communication to an inner diameter of the casing string.

35. An apparatus for use with a top drive, comprising:

a pivotable mechanism connected to a lower end of the top drive, wherein the pivotable mechanism has a bore adapted for fluid flow therethrough and is pivotable towards and away from the top drive; and

a gripping head connected to a lower end of the pivotable mechanism and pivotable by the pivotable mechanism, wherein the gripping head grippingly engages a casing string.

36. An apparatus for use with a top drive, comprising:

a pivotable mechanism connected to a lower end of the top drive, wherein the pivotable mechanism has a bore therethrough and is pivotable towards and away from the top drive;

a gripping head connected to a lower end of the pivotable mechanism and pivotable by the pivotable mechanism, wherein the gripping head grippingly engages a casing string; and

a compensator.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a stretch sensor.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the stretch sensor determines a stretching of the compensator.