Method and apparatus with slips assembly for coupling tubulars without interruption of circulation
AssigneeCoupler Developments Limited
InventorLaurence Ayling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slips assembly which comprises a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter the upset shoulder of the said tubular, there being a segment moving means which can move the segments together to from a collar slidably located around the body of the said tubular, which slips assemblies can also be utilised in conjunction with, or as part of, the couplers referred to in prior patent applications, either to support, raise or lower the string below, or restraint, lower or raise the tubular, or stand of tubulars, above.
Claims38
1-32. Cancelled
A slips assembly for preventing axial movement of a tubular including a tool joint box having a shoulder comprising:
- (a) a plurality of slips segments arranged about said tubular and axially positioned to engage said shoulder;
- and
- (b) means for moving said slips segments to engage said shoulder as a continuous collar.
A method of securing a tubular with a plurality of surrounding slips segments, such tubular including a joint box having a shoulder comprising:
- (a) moving said surrounding slips segments toward said tubular;
- (b) positioning said tubular and said slips segments so as to be in axial alignment with said shoulder;
- and
- (c) moving said slips segments toward said shoulder and engaging said shoulder to secure said tubular.
A slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the said tubular, there being a segment moving means which can move the segments together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular.
A method for joining a tubular to a drill string using a coupler which incorporates slips which slips comprise a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter the upset shoulder of the said tubular, there being a segment moving means which can move the segments together to form a collar slidably located around the body of the said tubular method comprising lowering the string until the shoulder of the box contacts the slips segments, at which time the weight of the string is supported by the slips segments, which segments are on a slips base wedged within a slips body, which body comprises a continuous ring, supported on bearings, mounted on the rig floor, rotary table or the BOP (blow out preventer) stack, a tubular is then joined to the string, the slips base moved away from the slips body and the slips segments moved outwards from the axis of the string until they are clear of the passage of the relevant tool joints through the slips assembly and the relevant tool joints passed through the drill segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.