Tubular handling with spider control system
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsIgor Stankovic, Bjoern Thiemann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spider can include a sensor that outputs measurements indicative of a distance between a location on the spider and a floor of a well rig, and a control system that controls actuation of slips of the spider between open and closed positions in response to the measurements. A method can include measuring a distance between a location on a spider and a floor of a well rig, and controlling actuation of slips of the spider between open and closed positions in response to the measuring. A system can include a spider with at least one slip that grips a tubular positioned in the spider, and a sensor that senses a rise of a location on the spider relative to a floor of a well rig.
Claims20
A spider for use with a subterranean well, the spider comprising:
- at least one sensor which directly senses a distance between a location on the spider and a floor of a well rig, in which the distance changes when at least a portion of a weight supported by the spider is transferred from the spider while slips of the spider are in a closed position;
- and
- a control system configured to control actuation of the slips of the spider between an open position and the closed position based on the distance.
A method for use with a subterranean well, the method comprising:
- directly measuring a distance between a location on a spider and a floor of a well rig, in which the distance changes when at least a portion of a weight supported by the spider is transferred from the spider while slips of the spider are in a closed position;
- and
- controlling actuation of the slips of the spider between an open position and the closed position based on the distance.
A system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising:
- a spider configured to grip a tubular positioned in the spider;
- and
- at least one sensor which directly senses displacement of a location on the spider relative to a floor of a well rig caused by transfer of at least a portion of a weight of the tubular from the spider while the spider is in gripping engagement with the tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.