Tubular handling apparatus and methods

A method of moving a tubular, the method comprising:

• providing a tubular handling apparatus comprising:
• a plurality of pipe beams defining a pipe rack;
• a plurality of tiering arms each having a first recess;
• and
• a plurality of lifting arms each having:
• a second recess proximate a first end of each of the lifting arms,
• the plurality of lifting arms being actuatable between a raised position and a lowered position;
• positioning a top edge of the tiering arms generally level with a bottom surface of a tubular on the pipe rack such that a tubular may roll from the pipe rack onto the tiering arms;
• raising the lifting arms from the lowered position below the tubular upwards to the raised position, wherein as the lifting arms raise, the tubular is lifted from the tiering arms and rolls along the top edge of the lifting arms until the tubular engages with the second recess in the lifting arms;
• and
• lowering the lifting arms from the raised position to the lowered position, wherein the tubular engages with the first recess in the tiering arms when the lifting arms are in their lowered positioned such that they no longer contact the tubular.

A pipe handling system comprising:

• a pipe delivery system comprising a trough adapted for receiving a tubular;
• a plurality of pipe movement systems, each located adjacent or proximal the pipe delivery system, wherein each of the pipe movement systems comprises:
• means for storing a plurality of tubulars;
• means for lifting one of the plurality of tubulars from the means for storing a plurality of tubulars to a first position;
• and
• means for moving the one of the plurality of tubulars located in the first position longitudinally, wherein the means for lifting one of the plurality of tubulars is adapted to move the one of the plurality of tubulars from the first position to a second position from which the tubular will roll into the trough.

A method of drilling a well, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a trough for receiving a drill pipe therein and moving the pipe from the trough to a location above a rig floor of a drilling rig coupled to a drill string and drilling a well;
• (b) providing a pipe rack having a plurality of drill pipes thereon;
• (c) providing a pipe handling apparatus adjacent or proximal to the pipe rack, wherein the pipe handling apparatus comprises means for receiving a pipe from the pipe rack and lifting the pipe to move the pipe to the trough;
• (d) using the pipe handling assembly to move a first pipe from the pipe rack to the trough;
• (e) moving the pipe from the trough to the location above the rig floor;
• (f) adding the pipe to the drill string;
• and
• (g) repeating steps (d)-(f) a plurality of times during drilling of the well.

A tubular handling apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of pipe beams defining a pipe rack;
• a plurality of tiering arms, each having a first recess;
• and
• a plurality of lifting arms, each lifting arm corresponding to one of the plurality of tiering arms, and each lifting arm having a second recess proximate a first end of each of the lifting arms, wherein each second recess is aligned with a first recess of a corresponding tiering arm, the plurality of lifting arms being actuatable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the plurality of tiering arms, wherein a top surface of each of the plurality of pipe beams comprises a slope extending downward towards the plurality of tiering arms;
• a plurality of rollers positioned within each of the tiering arms for engaging with and moving a tubular positioned within the first recess of the tiering arms.