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US 11,236,556 B2Granted
Vertical pipe handling
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsRolf Gullaksen, Erling Tambs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical pipe handling system comprising a bellyboard with at least one automated guide for leading tubulars between the fingers of the bellyboard. A method to move a tubular on or above a rig floor comprising automatically moving the tubular with a racking system comprising a bellyboard with at least one automated guide for leading tubulars between the fingers of the bellyboard.
Claims20
A pipe handling system configured to retrieve and store pipe sections, the pipe handling system comprising:
- a setback area on a floor, wherein the setback area is configured to support a weight of a plurality of vertical pipe sections while the plurality of vertical pipe sections are being stored thereon;
- an upper rack positioned above the setback area, wherein the upper rack comprises a plurality of spaced-apart horizontally-oriented upper elongated members configured to accept for storage upper portions of the plurality of vertical pipe sections in spaces between each pair of upper elongated members;
- a first gripping device configured to releasably grip a first vertical pipe section of the plurality of vertical pipe sections;
- and
- an intermediate rack positioned between the setback area and the upper rack, wherein the intermediate rack comprises a plurality of spaced-apart horizontally-oriented intermediate elongated members configured to accept for storage intermediate portions of the plurality of vertical pipe sections in spaces between each pair of intermediate elongated members, wherein the intermediate rack further comprises a plurality of moveable guides, and a first movable guide of the plurality of movable guides is configured to rotate relative to the first vertical pipe section to engage the first vertical pipe section and to translate relative to the intermediate elongated members to translate the first vertical pipe section along a first space of the spaces between a respective pair of intermediate elongated members, thereby aiding in storing or retrieving of the first vertical pipe section.
2 more elements
A method for vertically handling and storing pipe sections, the method comprising:
- gripping and lifting a first vertical pipe section using a first gripping device;
- moving the first vertical pipe section towards a vertical pipe storage system, comprising:
- a setback area on a floor, wherein the setback area is configured to support a weight of a plurality of vertical pipe sections while the plurality of vertical pipe sections are being stored thereon;
- an upper rack positioned above the setback area, wherein the upper rack comprises a plurality spaced-apart horizontally-oriented upper elongated members configured accept for storage upper portions of the plurality of vertical pipe sections in spaces between each pair of upper elongated members;
- and
- an intermediate rack positioned between the setback area and the upper rack, wherein the intermediate rack comprises a plurality of spaced-apart horizontally oriented intermediate elongated members configured to accept for storage intermediate portions of the plurality of vertical pipe sections in spaces between each pair of intermediate elongated members, wherein the intermediate rack further comprises a plurality of moveable guides, and a first movable guide of the plurality of movable guides is configured to rotate relative to the first vertical pipe section to engage the first vertical pipe section and to translate relative to the intermediate elongated members to translate the first vertical pipe section along a first space of the spaces between a respective pair of intermediate elongated members, thereby aiding in storing or retrieving of the first vertical pipe section;
- engaging the first vertical pipe section with the first moveable guide via rotation of the first movable guide relative to the first vertical pipe section;
- guiding the first vertical pipe section along the first space between the respective pair of intermediate elongated members to a storage location via translation of the first movable guide relative to the intermediate elongated members;
- and
- lowering and releasing the first vertical pipe section using the first gripping device.
7 more elements
A pipe handling system configured to store a plurality of pipe sections, the pipe handling system comprising:
- a rack comprising a support member that supports a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and a third elongated member, wherein the first elongated member, the second elongated member, and a third elongated member are arranged in a horizontal plane, a first space is defined between the first elongated member and the second elongated member, and a second space is defined between the second elongated member and the third elongated member;
- and
- a movable guide slidingly coupled to the second elongated member, wherein the movable guide is configured to rotate relative to the support member and to slide along the second elongated member, thereby enabling the movable guide to engage a first pipe section of the plurality of pipe sections while the first pipe section is positioned within the first space and to guide the first pipe section within the first space during a first time period and to engage a second pipe section of the plurality of pipe sections while the second pipe section is positioned within the second space and to guide the second pipe section within the second space during a second time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.