Top drive casing system

• US 7,712,523 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Allen, Jim, Gray, Kevin, Thompson, Gary, Snider, Randy Gene, Shahin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US10/389,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 175/40, 166/78.1, 166/77.51, 166/77.53, 166/250.01, 166/379, 166/380, 166/66, 731/525.9, 731/524.3, 731/524.9
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/07 Slip-type elevators
• 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 21/02 Swivel joints in hose-lines
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/05 Cementing-heads, e.g. having provision for introducing cementing plugs

Abstract

A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.

Claims

1. A method for making a threaded connection between a first threaded downhole tubular and a second threaded downhole tubular, comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member, operatively connected to the top drive, for gripping the first threaded downhole tubular;

gripping the first threaded downhole tubular with the gripping member;

aligning a first thread on the first threaded downhole tubular with respect to a second thread on the second threaded downhole tubular;

operating the top drive, thereby rotating the gripping member and the first threaded downhole tubular and thereby inter-engaging the first and second threads;

measuring a torque developed at the inter-engaging first and second threads during make-up;

controlling the top drive to adjust the torque in response to the measured torque and prior to an indication of shouldering between the first and second threaded downhole tubulars; and

continue making the threaded connection after adjustment of the torque.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising gripping the second threaded downhole tubular with a second gripping member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the torque comprises measuring a plurality of torques.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the top drive to adjust the torque comprises increasing the torque.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the top drive to adjust the torque comprises selectively rotating the top drive.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the top drive thereby rotating the first threaded downhole tubular and the second threaded downhole tubular to drill within the wellbore;

measuring the torque developed in response to rotation of the first and second threaded downhole tubulars; and

controlling an output of the top drive in response to the measured torque.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second threaded downhole tubulars comprises a casing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising lowering the connected first and second threaded downhole tubular.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising circulating a drilling fluid through the gripping member.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling the top drive to adjust the torque, comprises:

connecting a coupler to the top drive and the gripping member; and

operating the coupler to control the amount of torque transfer from the top drive to the gripping member.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising deenergizing the torque just prior to the indication of a shouldering of the first and second threaded downhole tubulars.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a thread compensator and compensating for a threaded connection.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a thread compensator and compensating for a threaded connection.

14. A method for rotating a tubular member comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member, operatively connected to the top drive, for gripping the tubular member;

gripping the tubular member with the gripping member;

operating the top drive to rotate the gripping member and thereby rotating the tubular member;

measuring a torque developed in response to rotation of the tubular member;

adjusting the torque during the rotation of the tubular member in response to the measured torque and prior to an indication of shouldering of the tubular member; and

rotating the tubular member after adjustment of the torque.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the gripping member further comprises a torque sub.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting a drilling apparatus to the tubular member and rotating the tubular member.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the tubular member to a second tubular member.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a thread compensator and compensating for a threaded connection.

19. An apparatus for making a threaded connection between a first downhole tubular and a second downhole tubular comprising:

a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

a first gripping member operatively connected to the top drive for gripping the first downhole tubular;

a second gripping member for restraining the second downhole tubular;

a torque measuring device for measuring a torque between the first and second downhole tubulars during makeup of the threaded connection;

a controller for controlling an output of the top drive in response to the measured torque;

a joint compensator disposed between the top drive and the first gripping member; and

a fluid fill-up circulating tool connected to the first gripping member, wherein the top drive, the torque measuring device, the joint compensator, and the fluid fill-up circulating tool are in fluid communication for circulating a fluid from the top drive to the first downhole tubular gripped by the first gripping member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the torque measuring device comprises a torque sub.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the torque measuring device is operatively located between the top drive and the gripping member.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the torque measuring device further comprises a joint make-up monitoring system.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a joint make-up monitoring system.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first gripping member comprises slips.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first gripping member comprises non-marking slips.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the torque measuring device further comprises a torque sub.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a swivel.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first gripping member comprises radially movable gripping elements.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the gripping elements are hydraulically actuated.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the gripping elements comprise slips.

31. An apparatus for making up tubulars, comprising:

a rotational device disposable above a well floor;

a tubular gripping member operatively connected to the rotational device, the gripping member having one or more radially extendable elements for gripping a first downhole tubular;

a measuring device for measuring torque developed within a threaded connection as the first downhole tubular is rotated into threaded engagement with a second downhole tubular;

a thread compensator coupled to the tubular gripping member; and

a controller for controlling the rotational device in response to a torque measured by the measuring device, wherein the rotational device and the thread compensator are in fluid communication with the first downhole tubular for circulating a fluid to the first downhole tubular gripped by the tubular gripping member.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the rotational device is de-energized when the measured torque reaches a predetermined torque.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a swivel.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a coupler for selectively transmitting torque from the rotational device.

35. A method for making a threaded connection between a first threaded wellbore casing and a threaded wellbore casing string, comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member having radially movable gripping elements and being operatively connected to the top drive, for gripping the first threaded wellbore casing;

operatively connecting a coupler between the top drive and the gripping member;

gripping the first threaded wellbore casing with the gripping elements;

aligning a first thread on the first threaded wellbore casing with respect to a second thread on the threaded wellbore casing string;

operating the top drive, thereby rotating the gripping member and the first threaded wellbore casing and thereby inter-engaging the first and second threads;

measuring a torque developed at the inter-engaging first and second threads during make-up;

controlling the top drive to adjust the torque in response to the measured torque; and

operating the coupler to control the amount of torque transfer from the top drive to the gripping member.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising inserting a circulating tool into the first threaded wellbore casing.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the gripping elements comprise jaws.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the gripping elements comprise slips.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein operating the coupler comprises deenergizing the torque just prior to an indication of a shouldering of the first and second threads.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising providing a thread compensator and compensating for a threaded connection.

41. A method for making a threaded connection between a first threaded downhole tubular and a second threaded downhole tubular, comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member, operatively connected to the top drive, for gripping the first threaded downhole tubular;

gripping the first threaded downhole tubular with the gripping member;

aligning a first thread on the first threaded downhole tubular with respect to a second thread on the second threaded downhole tubular;

operating the top drive, thereby rotating the gripping member and the first threaded downhole tubular and thereby inter-engaging the first and second threads;

measuring a torque developed at the inter-engaging first and second threads during make-up;

controlling the top drive to adjust the torque in response to the measured torque;

de-energizing the torque just prior to an indication of a shouldering of the first and second threads; and

continue making the threaded connection at the adjusted torque.

42. A method for making a threaded connection between a first threaded downhole tubular and a second threaded downhole tubular, comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member, operatively connected to the top drive, for gripping the first threaded downhole tubular;

gripping the first threaded downhole tubular with the gripping member;

aligning a first thread on the first threaded downhole tubular with respect to a second thread on the second threaded downhole tubular;

operating the top drive, thereby rotating the gripping member and the first threaded downhole tubular and thereby inter-engaging the first and second threads;

measuring a torque developed at the inter-engaging first and second threads during make-up;

controlling the top drive to adjust the torque in response to the measured torque, wherein controlling the top drive to adjust the torque comprises connecting a coupler to the top drive and the gripping member and operating the coupler to control the amount of torque transfer from the top drive to the gripping member;

continue making the threaded connection at the adjusted torque; and

lowering the connected first and second threaded downhole tubular.

43. A method for making a threaded connection between tubular members, comprising:

providing a rig structure having a top drive operatively connected thereto;

providing a gripping member that is operatively connected to the top drive;

providing a coupler that is operatively connected to the top drive and the gripping member;

gripping a first tubular with the gripping member;

aligning the first tubular with respect to a second tubular;

rotating the first tubular using the top drive and the gripping member to make up a threaded connection between the first and second tubular;

measuring a torque developed at the threaded connection during make up;

operating the coupler to adjust the torque transfer from the top drive to the gripping member in response to the measured torque; and

continuing to make up the threaded connection after adjustment of the torque.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising de-energizing the coupler prior to an indication of shouldering of the first and second tubulars.