Apparatus and method for raising components from a wellbore

A lifting apparatus for lifting drill string components from a wellbore, the lifting apparatus comprising:

• upper and lower support elements, each of the support elements having a central aperture passing therethrough;
• a lifting arrangement which is operable to vary the distance between the upper and lower support elements between a first, relatively short distance and a second, relatively long distance;
• and
• selective gripping arrangements held or supported by the upper and lower support elements, respectively, each selective gripping arrangement being operable to apply a gripping force to the exterior of a substantially tubular element passing through the central apertures of the upper and lower support elements, wherein the selective gripping arrangements may be activated or deactivated independently of one another to jack a drill string, and wherein the selective gripping arrangements each comprise a set of slips, in the form of a tapered bowl which is narrower at its bottom end than at the top end, with gripping elements provided on the interior of the bowl to grip the outer surface of a tubular passing therethrough, each of which can be opened so that a substantially tubular element can be removed laterally therefrom,
• wherein the upper and lower support elements each have an inner surface defining the central aperture, and an outer surface, and a slot passing through the entire depth of the element and providing communication between the inner surface and the outer surface, and wherein the central apertures of the upper and lower support elements are at least partially aligned with one another, and the slots of the upper and lower support elements are at least partially aligned with one another,
• wherein the selective gripping arrangement held by the upper support element may be placed in a closed position, so that it grips an outer surface of the substantially tubular element and supports the substantially tubular element, and while the selective gripping arrangement held by the upper support element is in the closed position, the selective gripping arrangement held by the lower support element may be placed in an open position so that cables can be removed from a side of the substantially tubular element through the slot of the lower support element.