System for handling tubulars on a rig
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsTravis James Miller, Frank Benjamin Springett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for handling tubulars on a rig may include a top handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a top portion of a tubular to and from a setback area. The system may also include a lower handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a bottom portion of the tubular between well center and a release position. The system may also include a bottom handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling the bottom portion of the tubular between the release position and the setback area.
Claims19
A system for handling tubulars on a rig, comprising:
- a top handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a top portion of a tubular to and from a setback area;
- a lower handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a bottom portion of the tubular between well center and a release position;
- and
- a bottom handling device configured for:
- arrangement on a drill floor of the rig;
- and
- freely maneuvering about the rig floor while lifting the tubular from the drill floor via the bottom portion of the tubular and carrying the tubular between the release position and the setback area, the bottom handling device comprising an articulable assembly having a first condition and a second condition, wherein, in the first condition, a drive wheel positions the bottom handling device relative to the tubular, thus, allowing the articulable assembly to float and, in a second condition, the articulable assembly controls the position of the bottom handling device.
A tubular handling device for handling tubulars on a rig floor, comprising:
- a rig floor lifting machine having a pipe lifting and carrying condition and a free condition, wherein, in the pipe lifting and carrying condition, the rig floor lifting machine is configured to engage a bottom portion of a tubular, lift the tubular from the rig floor, and freely maneuver while carrying the tubular to a setback area;
- and
- an articulable assembly having a first condition and a second condition, wherein, in the first condition, a drive wheel positions the bottom handling device relative to the tubular, thus, allowing the articulable assembly to float and, in the second condition, the articulable assembly controls the position of the rig floor lifting machine.
A method of handling tubulars on a rig, the method comprising:
- decoupling a tubular from a pipe string;
- swinging the tubular from well center to a release area and setting the tubular on the drill floor with a top drive elevator;
- moving a rig floor lifting machine to the release area with an articulable assembly;
- with the rig floor lifting machine;
- engaging the tubular;
- lifting the tubular from the rig floor;
- and
- freely maneuvering the rig floor lifting machine using a drive wheel thereon and while carrying the tubular to a setback area;
- and
- with an articulable assembly, selecting between a first condition and a second condition wherein, in the first condition, the articulable assembly floats and, in the second condition, the articulable assembly controls the position of the rig floor lifting machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.