Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorDavid M. Haugen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides for an apparatus and methods to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods can be used to for running in casing, running in wellbore components or for a drill string.
Claims29
An apparatus for use with a top drive, comprising:
- a pivotable mechanism connected to a lower end of the top drive, wherein the pivotable mechanism has a bore therethrough and is pivotable towards and away from the top drive;
- and
- a gripping head connected to a lower end of the pivotable mechanism and pivotable by the pivotable mechanism, wherein the gripping head grippingly engages a casing string.
An apparatus for picking up a casing string from a rack and moving the casing string toward a center of a well for use with a top drive, comprising:
- a tubular gripping member attached to a structural intermediate, wherein the structural intermediate is pivotable from the top drive to move the casing string toward the center of the well.
A method for use in drilling with casing with a top drive, comprising:
- providing a tubular gripping member pivotally connected to the top drive, wherein the tubular gripping member is rotatable relative to the top drive;
- locating the top drive at a center of a well;
- pivoting the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well;
- engaging a casing with the tubular gripping member;
- and
- pivoting the tubular gripping member toward the center of the well.
A method for moving a casing string to a center of a well, comprising:
- providing a top drive and a tubular gripping member pivotally connected by a tubular structural intermediate;
- pivoting the structural intermediate to bias the tubular gripping member toward the casing string;
- grippingly engaging the casing string with the tubular gripping member so that the casing string and the tubular gripping member are rotationally and axially fixed relative to one another;
- and
- moving the casing string to the center of the well.
A top drive adapter for gripping a casing string in a non-vertical position with respect to the center of a well, comprising:
- a tubular gripping member for gripping the casing string in the non-vertical position;
- and
- a tubular structural intermediate for biasing the tubular gripping member away from the center of the well,
- wherein the top drive adapter is rotatable relative to the top drive.
A system for handling a tubular, comprising:
- a top drive;
- a first gripping member operatively coupled to the top drive;
- a second gripping member;
- and
- an interlock system for ensuring that at least one of the first gripping member or the second gripping member is connected to the tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.