US 12,753,662 B2Granted

Retention feature for tubulars in a fingerboard

AssigneeNabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.

InventorsDavid Siljeg, Derek Patterson

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Abstract

A fingerboard can include first and second fingers with a channel therebetween, and a biasing element with a first plurality of lobes that extend into the channel and define first and second locations. First and second tubulars disposed in first and second locations, where movement of the first tubular from the first location engages the first biasing element and prevents movement of the second tubular from the second location while the first tubular is engaged with the first biasing element. A fingerboard can include first and second fingers with a channel therebetween, and a biasing element with a first plurality of lobes that extend into the channel. Axially adjacent lobes define a first location therebetween, and movement of a first tubular along the channel from the first location to an adjacent second location compresses a first lobe as the first tubular moves past the first lobe.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A fingerboard for managing tubulars in a subterranean operation, the fingerboard comprising:

a plurality of fingers comprise a first finger adjacent a second finger with a space therebetween that forms a channel;
and
a first retention feature attached to the first finger, wherein the first retention feature comprises a first biasing element that comprises a first plurality of lobes, wherein the first plurality of lobes extend into the channel and define a plurality of storage locations in the channel, wherein the plurality of storage locations comprise a first storage location, a second storage location, and a third storage location;
a first tubular disposed in the first storage location;
and
a second tubular disposed in the second storage location, wherein movement of the first tubular from the first storage location engages the first biasing element and prevents movement of the second tubular from the second storage location while the first tubular is engaged with the first biasing element,
wherein the movement of the first tubular from the first storage location requires application of a predetermined force to the first tubular to overcome a first biasing force of the first biasing element that resists movement of the first tubular from the first storage location, and
wherein the movement of the second tubular from the second storage location requires application of a second force to the second tubular, and wherein the second force is at least 1.1 times greater than the predetermined force when the first tubular engages the first biasing element.

5 more elements

A fingerboard for managing tubulars in a subterranean operation, the fingerboard comprising:

a plurality of fingers that comprises a first finger adjacent a second finger with a space therebetween that forms a channel;
and
a first biasing element that comprises a first plurality of lobes, wherein the first plurality of lobes extend into the channel, wherein a first lobe and a second lobe are axially adjacent lobes of the first plurality of lobes, wherein the first lobe and the second lobe define a first storage location therebetween, and wherein movement of a first tubular along the channel from the first storage location to an adjacent second storage location compresses the first lobe as the first tubular moves past the first lobe,
wherein application of a predetermined force moves the first tubular from the first storage location to the adjacent second storage location and compresses the first lobe as the first tubular passes by the first lobe, and
wherein compression of the first lobe extends a second lobe of the first plurality of lobes farther into the channel than when the first lobe is in an uncompressed state.

2 more elements

A method for managing tubulars in a fingerboard, the method comprising:

attaching a first retention feature to a first finger of a plurality of fingers of a fingerboard;
extending a first plurality of lobes of a first biasing element from the first retention feature into a channel formed between the first finger and a second finger of the plurality of fingers, wherein the first finger is adjacent to the second finger;
forming a first storage location between a first lobe and an adjacent second lobe of the first plurality of lobes, wherein the first storage location is configured to receive and retain a first tubular;
forming a second storage location between the second lobe and an adjacent third lobe of the first plurality of lobes, wherein the second storage location is configured to receive and retain a second tubular;
applying a predetermined force to the first tubular, thereby moving the first tubular out of the first storage location;
and
compressing the first lobe as the first tubular passes by the first lobe,
wherein compressing the first lobe causes the second lobe to extend further into the channel than in an uncompressed state, thereby increasing a force required to move the second tubular from the second storage location, and wherein the increased force is at least 1.1 times greater than the predetermined force.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.