Pipe handling device, method and system

• US 20050098352A1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesco Corporation US (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Beierbach, K. Evert, Nikiforuk, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,140,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A pipe handling device for mounting to use with a top drive and possibly a pipe engaging apparatus, includes a link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to move with the top drive and an outboard end pivotally connectable to a pipe elevator segment, and a drive system to drive the outboard end of the link arm at least between a lower position and a raised position. A pipe handling system and method are also described.

Claims

1. A pipe handling device for mounting to move with a top drive, the pipe handling device comprising:

a link arm having a first end and an outboard end, the first end being mounted to a support surface, moveable with the top drive, by a pivotal connection such that the link arm is rotatable in a plane about the pivotal connection at least between a lower position and a raised position and is substantially stabilized against lateral movement out of the plane when in the lower position and the outboard end of the link arm being connectable to a pipe elevator segment and positioned to grip a pipe and to present the pipe to be engaged for movement with the top drive and a drive system to drive the link arm about its pivotal connection.

2. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection includes an axle and the first end includes an eye mounted on the axle shaft.

3. The pipe handling device of claim 2 wherein the axle includes a long axis and the plane is substantially orthogonal to the axle shaft.

4. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a spacer pad positioned to act between the link arm and the support surface.

5. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a second link arm having a first end and an outboard end, the first end being mounted to the support surface by a pivotal connection such that the link arm is rotatable in a plane about the pivotal connection at least between a lower position and a raised position and wherein the planes of the link arms are substantially parallel to each other.

6. The pipe handling device of claim 5, wherein the top drive is axially aligned with a rig main axis and the pair of link arms are maintained equidistant from the rig main axis during rotation.

7. The pipe handling device of claim 1, wherein the top drive carries a pipe engaging apparatus for rotational and axial movement of a pipe and the link arm is of a length to permit the outboard end to present a pipe for engaging by the pipe engaging apparatus.

8. The pipe handling device of claim 2 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to drive its link arm about the axle shaft.

9. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a connection to an elevator control mechanism.

10. The pipe handling device of claim 8 wherein the hydraulic cylinder extends between its link arm and a bracket offset horizontally from the axle shaft.

11. A pipe handling device for mounting onto a pipe engaging apparatus, the pipe engaging apparatus including a main body and a pipe gripping mechanism to grip a pipe for rotational and axial movement thereof and being connectable to a top drive, the pipe handling device comprising:

a link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to the pipe engaging apparatus and an outboard end pivotally connectable to a pipe elevator segment, the link arm being sized to present the pipe into a position to be gripped by the pipe engaging apparatus and a drive system to drive the outboard end the link arm out from the pipe engaging apparatus.

12. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm.

13. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the pipe elevator segment is remotely actuable to open and close.

14. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the link arm is pivotally connected to a bracket on the pipe engaging apparatus, the bracket including a channel key.

15. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the link arm is pivotally mounted on a axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus.

16. The pipe handling device of claim 15 further comprising a second link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to the pipe engaging apparatus and an outboard end pivotally connectable to the pipe elevator segment, the second link arm being pivotally mounted on a second axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus and wherein the axles are spaced apart and axially aligned.

17. The pipe handling device of claim 16 wherein the outboard ends are mounted to remain substantially equidistant from the pipe gripping mechanism.

18. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the link arm is laterally stabilized to rotate substantially in a plane.

19. The pipe handling device of claim 11 further comprising a connection to an elevator control mechanism.

20. The pipe handling device of claim 15 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm, the hydraulic cylinder connected between the link arm and a support offset horizontally from a vertical plane aligned with the long axis of the axle shaft.

21. The pipe handling device of claim 11 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm, the hydraulic cylinder selected to move the link arm in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection.

29. The pipe handling system of claim 19 wherein the link arm is laterally stabilized to rotate substantially in a plane.

31. The pipe handling system of claim 19 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder selected to move the link arm in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection.

22. A pipe handling system comprising:

a pipe engaging apparatus for gripping a pipe joint and having a main body including an upper end for drive connection to a top drive and a pipe gripping mechanism, a link arm including a pivotal connection to the pipe engaging apparatus main body and an outboard end and the link arm being elongate to extend to a position below the pipe gripping mechanism and a link arm drive system for driving the link arm about its pivotal connection.

23. The pipe handling system of claim 22 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm.

24. The pipe handling system of claim 22 wherein the link arm is telescopically extendable.

25. The pipe handling system of claim 22 wherein the link arm is pivotally connected to a bracket on the pipe engaging apparatus, the bracket including a channel key.

26. The pipe handling system of claim 22 wherein the link arm pivotal connection includes a axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus.

27. The pipe handling system of claim 26 further comprising a second link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to the pipe engaging apparatus and an outboard end, the second link arm being pivotally mounted on a second axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus and wherein the axles are spaced apart and axially aligned.

28. The pipe handling system of claim 24 wherein the outboard ends are mounted to remain when driven substantially equidistant from the pipe gripping mechanism.

30. The pipe handling system of claim 23 wherein the drive system includes a hydraulic cylinder connected between the link arm and a support, the support being offset horizontally from a vertical plane aligned with the long axis of the axle shaft.

32. The pipe handling system of claim 22 further comprising a pipe elevator pivotally connected to the outboard end of link arm.

33. The pipe handling system of claim 32 wherein the pipe elevator is mechanized to open and close by a remote tool operator.

34. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow and a link arm on the pipe engaging apparatus and driven to pivot relative to the pipe engaging apparatus, the method comprising:

using the link arm to pick up a pipe from a pipe supply, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arms, positioning a lower end of the pipe onto a joint positioned in the rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidably holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

35. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 34 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

36. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 34 further comprising driving the link arms in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

37. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 34 further comprising driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.

38. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow to define a main axis of the rig, the method comprising:

providing a link arm mounted by a pivotal connection to move with the top drive, the link arm driven to pivot about its pivotal connection through a plane of rotation at least between a lowered position and a raised position and substantially stabilized when in the lowered position against moving out of the plane of rotation, using the link arm to pick up a pipe from a pipe supply, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arm, positioning a lower end of the pipe section onto a joint positioned in the rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidably holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

39. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 38 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while lowering the top drive.

40. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 38 further comprising driving the link arm in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

41. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 38 further comprising driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.