Method and apparatus for moving tubular rotary slips
AssigneeHelmerich & Payne, Inc.
InventorsZachary L. Newton, Brandon D. Valentine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary slips lift system for oilfield tubulars includes a movable base adapted to move between a first position and a second position where the first position is closer to a bowl in a drilling rig floor than the second position. The system further includes a lifting arm having a first end and a second end where the second end is pivotally coupled to the movable base and where the lifting arm has a first arm position and a second arm position. The system further includes a rotary slips where the rotary slips is removably coupled to the first end of the lifting arm and where the rotary slips is adapted to be in a first slips position when the lifting arm is in the first arm position and the movable base is in the first position.
Claims20
A rotary slips lift system for oilfield tubulars, the system comprising:
- a movable base movably mounted on a base plate track such that the movable base is adapted to move between a first position and a second position laterally along the base plate track, wherein the first position is closer to a bowl in a drilling rig floor than the second position;
- a lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is pivotally coupled to the movable base, and wherein the lifting arm has a first arm position and a second arm position;
- and
- a rotary slips, wherein the rotary slips is removably coupled to the first end of the lifting arm, wherein the rotary slips is adapted to be in a first slips position when the lifting arm is in the first arm position and the movable base is in the first position, and the rotary slips is adapted to be in a second slips position when the lifting arm is in the second arm position and the movable base is in the second position.
A method of controlling movement of rotary slips, the method comprising:
- providing an assembly comprising a lifting arm, wherein the lifting arm is adapted to be removably coupled to the rotary slips, wherein the lifting arm is adapted to move between a first arm position and a second arm position, the assembly further comprising a movable base movably mounted on a base plate track, wherein the movable base is movable between a first position and a second position laterally along the base plate track;
- moving the lifting arm to the first arm position, thereby placing at least a portion of the rotary slips in a bowl of a drilling rig floor;
- moving the movable base to the first position, wherein a portion of the movable base is proximal the bowl in the first position;
- and
- in response to a control signal, moving the lifting arm to the second arm position, thereby removing the rotary slips from the bowl, and moving the movable base to the second position, wherein the first position is closer to the bowl than the second position.
A rotary slips system, the system comprising:
- a movable base adapted to move laterally between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is closer to a bowl in a drilling rig floor than the second position;
- a lifting arm adapted to be removably coupled to a slips, wherein the lifting arm is adapted to move between a first arm position and a second arm position, thereby lifting and lowering the slips at least partially into and out of the bowl;
- means for moving the lifting arm;
- and
- means for moving the movable base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.