Stand building using a horseshoe slip elevator

A method for building a stand of tubulars, comprising:

• lowering a main arm of a pipe racking system toward a rig floor along a vertical column, wherein the pipe racking assembly comprises a gripper coupled to an end of the main arm, and an elevator suspended from the gripper or end of the main arm by one or more suspension arms;
• pivoting the elevator so as to receive a first tubular into a throat of the elevator;
• engaging the first tubular using slips of the elevator;
• raising the main arm with respect to the rig floor, wherein raising the main arm causes the elevator and the first tubular engaged by the elevator to raise;
• lowering the tubular into the well or mousehole by lowering the main arm and the elevator;
• gripping and supporting the first tubular at the well or mousehole using a supporting device;
• releasing the first tubular from the elevator;
• pivoting the elevator so as to receive a second tubular into a throat of the elevator;
• engaging the second tubular using slips of the elevator;
• raising the main arm with respect to the rig floor, wherein raising the main arm causes the elevator and the second tubular engaged by the elevator to raise;
• lowering the second tubular into contact with the first tubular by lowering the main arm and the elevator;
• rotating the second tubular with respect to the first tubular, to secure a connection therebetween and thereby form at least part of a tubular stand;
• gripping the tubular stand using the gripper;
• and
• raising the tubular stand by raising the main arm along the vertical column.