Pipe handling arm

A drilling rig comprising:

• a drill floor configured for arrangement above a well and having an opening for accessing the well;
• a mast extending from the drill floor;
• a racking board arranged along the mast and adapted for receiving and for bracing top portions of drilling pipe;
• and
• a lift arm for lifting and carrying the drilling pipe, the lift arm comprising:
• a boom secured to the mast at a pivotable coupling, arranged at a first end of the boom, and at a location above the racking board, the boom extending laterally, relative to the mast, from the first end to a second end;
• a pipe engaging element coupled to the boom at the second end and configured to engage with a box end of the drilling pipe;
• and
• a lift line configured to raise and lower the pipe engaging element along the mast to lift and carry the drilling pipe;
• wherein the pivotable coupling is configured to allow the boom to pivot about a vertical axis generally parallel to the mast,
• wherein, the boom is configured to pivotally swing the second end about the pivotable coupling while carrying the drilling pipe between a position at well center and a position in a setback area.

A method of handling drill collar for use in a drilling operation, the method comprising:

• engaging a box end of a collar stand with a pipe engaging element of a lift arm;
• hoisting the collar stand using the lift arm, the lift ann comprising:
• a boom secured to a mast at a pivotable coupling, arranged at a first end of the boom, and at a location above a racking board, the boom extending laterally, relative to the mast, from the first end to a second end;
• wherein the pipe engaging element is coupled to the boom at the second end and configured to engage with the box end of the collar stand;
• and
• a lift line configured to raise and lower the pipe engaging element along the mast to lift and carry the collar stand, wherein the pivotable coupling is configured to allow the boom to pivot about a vertical axis generally parallel to the mast;
• pivotin the second end of the boom about the pivotable coupling to move the hoisted collar stand between a position at well center and a position in a setback area;
• using a first pipe handler, manipulating a first end of the collar stand;
• and
• using a second pipe handler, manipulating a second end of the collar stand.