Method and apparatus for handling wellbore tubulars

• US 7,370,707 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Cummins, Tracy J., McDaniel, Gary, Cummins, Patrick D., Hayes, Michael, Boutwell, Doyle Frederic Jr., Hill, Troy F., Thomas, Allen Keith Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US10/818,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 166/78.1, 166/77.1, 166 7751- 7753, 166/380, 166/85.1, 166/85.5, 166/75.11, 175/423, 173/164, 277/606
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/004 supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/166 Arrangements of torque limiters or torque indicators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/20 Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a tubular handling system for handling wellbore tubulars. In one aspect, the present invention provides a tubular handling system adapted to retain a tubular without damaging the outer surface of the tubular. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of connecting tubulars by remotely controlling the connection process, including joint compensation, alignment, make up, and interlock. In one embodiment, the tubular handling system comprises an elevator adapted to support a tubular utilizing a first portion of an upset of the tubular and a spider adapted to support the tubular utilizing a second portion of the upset. In another embodiment, at least one of the elevator and the spider is remotely controllable. In yet another embodiment, the tubular handling system comprising a joint compensator system adapted to provide fluid communication to the elevator during rotation of the tubular.

Claims

1. A tubular handling system, comprising:

a first support member adapted to support a tubular utilizing a first portion of a shoulder of the tubular;

a second support member adapted to support the tubular utilizing a second portion of the shoulder; and

a rotary seal adapted to provide communication between the first support member and a controller while allowing rotation of the first support member.

2. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first support member and the second support member is remotely controllable.

3. The tubular handling system of claim 1, further comprising a joint compensator.

4. The tubular handling system of claim 3, wherein the communication between the first support member and the controller comprises transmitting a fluid signal or an electric signal.

5. The tubular handling system of claim 3, wherein the rotary seal maintains communication between the first support member and the controller during rotation of the first support member.

6. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein the first support member comprises a fluid operated side door elevator.

7. The tubular handling system of claim 6, wherein the side door elevator further comprises a sensor for determining whether the elevator is opened or closed.

8. The tubular handling system of claim 1, further comprising a rotary table for supporting the second support member.

9. The tubular handling system of claim 8, wherein the rotary table is adapted to absorb a force experienced by the second support member.

10. The tubular handling system of claim 9, wherein the rotary table comprises a polyurethane layer.

11. The tubular handling system of claim 9, wherein the rotary table comprises one or more piston and cylinder assemblies.

12. The tubular handling system of claim 11, wherein the rotary table is remotely controllable between an open position and a closed position.

13. The tubular handling system of claim 1, further comprising an interlock system for ensuring the tubular is retained by at least one of the first support member and the second support member.

14. The tubular handling system of claim 1, further comprising a tubular guide member for positioning the tubular.

15. The handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second support members support the tubular at the same time.

16. The tubular handling system of claim 1, further comprising a tong assembly for connecting the tubular with a second tubular.

17. The tubular handling system of claim 16, further comprising tong positioning device.

18. The tubular handling system of claim 17, wherein the tong positioning device comprises a single extendable beam having variable length.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary seal comprises a rotatable portion at least partially disposed in a non-rotatable portion.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the rotatable portion is in fluid communication with the non-rotatable portion.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the rotary seal comprises a rotatable portion at least partially disposed in a non-rotatable portion.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the rotatable portion maintains fluid communication with the non-rotatable portion during rotation of the rotatable portion.

23. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the first support member and the controller comprises transmitting a fluid signal or an electric signal.

24. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein the rotary seal maintains communication between the first support member and the controller during rotation of the first support member.

25. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are radially displaced from each other.

26. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise two different locations of the shoulder.

27. A method of handling a tubular, comprising:

providing a rotary seal to provide communication between the first support member and a controller;

supporting the tubular along a first downward facing portion of an upset using a first support member;

supporting the tubular along a second downward facing portion of the upset using a second support member; and

remotely controlling at least one of the first support member and the second support member.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising compensating for movement of the tubular during connection of the tubular with a second tubular.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising translating a tong into position to connect the tubulars.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising remotely operating the tong assembly.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a fluid to the first support member during rotation of the tubular.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising absorbing a load experienced by the second support member.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the load is absorbed by a rotary table.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising remotely opening or closing the rotary table.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising ensuring at least one of the first support member or the second support member is retaining the tubular.

36. A method of handling tubulars, comprising:

supporting a first tubular using a spider;

sending data relating to retention of the first tubular from the spider to a controller;

supporting a second tubular using an elevator;

sending data relating to retention of the second tubular from the elevator to the controller;

connecting the second tubular to the first tubular;

disengaging the spider from the first tubular;

lowering a portion of the second tubular through the spider;

engaging the spider to the second tubular;

sending data relating to retention of the second tubular from the spider to the controller; and

disengaging the elevator from the second tubular.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein

supporting the second tubular using the elevator comprises supporting the second tubular along a first downward facing portion of an upset;

and

supporting the second tubular using the spider comprises supporting the second tubular along a second downward facing portion of the upset.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising ensuring at least one of the spider and the elevator is supporting the second tubular.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising compensating for the axial movement of the second tubular while connecting the second tubular to the first tubular.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing a tubular guide member to align the second tubular to the first tubular prior to connecting.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the spider disposed on a shock table.

42. A tubular handling system, comprising:

a first support member adapted to support a tubular utilizing a first portion of an upset of the tubular;

a second support member adapted to support the tubular utilizing a second portion of the upset;

a rotary seal adapted to provide communication between the first support member and a controller while allowing rotation of the first support member; and

a rotary table for supporting the second support member.

43. The tubular handling system of claim 42, wherein the rotary table is adapted to absorb a force experienced by the second support member.

44. The tubular handling system of claim 43, wherein the rotary table comprises a polyurethane layer.

45. The tubular handling system of claim 43, wherein the rotary table comprises one or more piston and cylinder assemblies.

46. The tubular handling system of claim 45, wherein the rotary table is remotely controllable between an open position and a closed position.

47. A tubular handling system, comprising:

a first support member adapted to support a tubular utilizing a first portion of an upset of the tubular;

a second support member adapted to support the tubular utilizing a second portion of the upset;

a rotary seal adapted to provide communication between the first support member and a controller while allowing rotation of the first support member; and

a tong assembly for connecting the tubular with a second tubular.

48. The tubular handling system of claim 47, further comprising tong positioning device.

49. The tubular handling system of claim 48, wherein the tong positioning device comprises a single extendable beam having variable length.

50. A method of handling a tubular, comprising:

supporting the tubular along a first downward facing portion of an upset using a first support member;

supporting the tubular along a second downward facing portion of the upset using a second support member;

remotely controlling at least one of the first support member and the second support member; and

providing a fluid to the first support member during rotation of the tubular.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising compensating for movement of the tubular during connection of the tubular with a second tubular.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising absorbing a load experienced by the second support member.

53. The method of claim 50, further comprising ensuring at least one of the first support member or the second support member is retaining the tubular.