Pipe handling unit

A pipe gripper comprising:

• an elongated housing;
• a rotor, the rotor positioned within the elongated housing, the rotor having a periphery, the rotor having a longitudinal groove extending axially therethrough;
• a clamp, the clamp positioned within the rotor;
• a rotor drive, the rotor drive positioned within the elongated housing;
• wherein the rotor is adapted to generate make-up or break out torque on a pipe positioned within the rotor.

A method of providing make-up torque to a pipe comprising:

• providing a pipe-gripper, the pipe gripper comprising:
• an elongated housing,
• a rotor, the rotor positioned within the elongated housing, the rotor having a periphery, the rotor having a longitudinal groove extending axially therethrough,
• a rotor drive, the rotor drive positioned within the elongated housing, and
• a clamp, the clamp positioned within the rotor;
• clamping a pipe within the longitudinal groove of the rotor using the clamp;
• rotating the pipe using the rotary drive to achieve make-up torque.

A method comprising:

• supplying a pipe manipulator,
• the pipe manipulator having
• a manipulator arm mechanically connecting a pipe gripper to the manipulator arm at a manipulator arm joint, the manipulator arm joint adapted to move a pipe about a rotation axis,
• the pipe gripper comprising
• an elongated housing,
• a rotor, the rotor positioned within the elongated housing, the rotor having a periphery, the rotor having a longitudinal groove ex-tending axially therethrough,
• a rotor drive, the rotor drive positioned within the elongated housing,
• a clamp, the clamp positioned within the rotor;
• gripping the pipe;
• and
• orienting the pipe to a pipe string.