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US 11,767,720 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods of handling a tubular
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsTroy F. Hill, Joseph P. Benoit, Joseph P. Breaux, Bryan Doucet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tubular gripping tool for gripping a tubular includes a housing; a mandrel disposed in the housing; a plurality of slips movable along the mandrel; and an engagement member disposed in the housing and movable relative to the mandrel, wherein the engagement member is configured to apply a force against the tubular.
Claims21
A tubular gripping tool for gripping a tubular, comprising:
- a housing;
- a mandrel disposed in the housing;
- a plurality of slips movable along the mandrel;
- an actuation sleeve disposed around an exterior of the mandrel and configured to move the plurality of slips along an inclined surface of the mandrel;
- a gripping actuator for moving the actuation sleeve, the gripping actuator having a rod extending through a bore of the mandrel and coupled to a lower portion of the actuation sleeve;
- an engagement member disposed in the housing and movable relative to the mandrel and the plurality of slips, wherein the engagement member is configured to apply a force against the tubular;
- and
- an engagement actuator for moving the engagement member relative to the mandrel and the plurality of slips and applying the force against the tubular.
5 more elements
A method of gripping a tubular, comprising:
- moving a slip to grip the tubular with sufficient gripping force to lift the tubular;
- moving an engagement member into contact with an end of the tubular;
- after gripping the tubular, causing the engagement member to apply an axial force against the end of the tubular, wherein application of the axial force exerts a pulling force on the slip toward the end of the tubular;
- and
- detecting whether the engagement member has moved beyond a predetermined distance relative to the slip after applying the axial force.
2 more elements
A method of connecting a first tubular to a second tubular, comprising:
- gripping the first tubular using a slip with sufficient gripping force to lift the tubular;
- after gripping the first tubular, moving an engagement member into contact with the first tubular and applying an axial force against an end of the first tubular by the engagement member, wherein application of the axial force exerts a pulling force on the slip toward the end of the tubular;
- detecting whether the engagement member has moved beyond a predetermined distance relative to the slip after applying the axial force;
- and
- connecting the first tubular to the second tubular.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.