Oilfield lift cap and combination tools

A modular tool comprising:

• a one-piece, formed, planar metallic upper section having a longitudinal axis, the upper section comprising a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, each longitudinal member having a lower end, the longitudinal members joined by a top manipulating end having one or more lifting features formed therein configured to accept one or more manipulators, the one or more formed lifting features positioned such that when the modular tool body and a rig tool connected thereto are lifted by the one or more manipulators, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe or other valve while minimizing possibility of the manipulator slipping off;
• and
• a one-piece, formed, tubular metallic lower section removably attached to the upper section having the same longitudinal axis as the upper section, the lower section comprising:
• a threaded end configured to threadedly mate with an end of at least one, preferably more than one rig tool;
• a central longitudinal bore;
• and
• an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section and retaining members therefore;
• and
• one or more formed, elongate slots in each longitudinal member of size sufficient to define one or more manipulating handles for a rig worker or mechanical manipulator to grasp the upper section and rotate the modular tool and thread the pin end of the lower section into the box end of the drillpipe or other rig tool.

A method of easily and safely attaching a combination modular tool and rig tool having a lower threaded end to a threaded end of a working drillpipe or to a second rig tool, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) making up the combination;
• (b) picking up the combination substantially vertically using a rig hoist, the chain or other manipulator passing through one or more lifting features formed into the upper section of the modular tool;
• (c) stabbing the combination into a threaded end of a working drillpipe or to another component;
• (d) making up the combination with the working drillpipe or other component using one or more manipulating handles formed in the upper section of the modular tool so that the threads of the lower end of the rig tool thread into the threads of the drillpipe or other component;
• (e) optionally breaking down the combination modular tool/rig tool, making up the modular tool to a second rig tool to form a second combination, and repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until the desired number of rig tools are stabbed and made up in the drill string;
• and
• (f) optionally breaking down and removing the modular tool, and screwing the rig top drive directly into the uppermost rig tool in the drill string.

A modular tool body for use with rig tools comprising:

• a one-piece, formed, planar metallic upper section having a longitudinal axis, the upper section comprising a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, each longitudinal member having a lower end, the longitudinal members joined by a top manipulating end having one or more lifting features formed therein configured to accept one or more manipulators, the one or more formed lifting features positioned such that when the modular tool body and a rig tool connected thereto are lifted by the cables or chains, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe or other valve while minimizing possibility of the manipulator slipping off;
• and
• a one-piece, formed, tubular metallic lower section removably attached to the upper section having the same longitudinal axis as the upper section, the lower section comprising:
• a threaded end configured to threadedly mate with an end of at least one, preferably more than one rig tool;
• a central longitudinal bore;
• and
• an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section and retaining members therefore;
• and
• two or more formed slots in each longitudinal member of size sufficient to define one or more generally horizontal manipulating handles for a rig worker or mechanical manipulator to grasp the upper section and rotate the modular tool and thread the pin end of the lower section into the box end of the rig tool.