US 2019/0376352 A1 · INTEGRATED PIPE HANDLING SYSTEM FOR WELL COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION

Abstract

A novel integrated pipe handling system and method is provided wherein one or more pipe tubs having lift arms can be loaded with pipe and transported to a drill site where it may be deployed next to a pipe handling trailer. The pipe tubs and pipe handling trailer are arranged such that when the lift arms are raised, pipes may roll from a tub to the trailer, where a pipe is transferred to an angularly adjustable trough on the trailer. The trough may be raised to a preselected position and the pipe moved along the trough by a skate such that the pipe is available to be transferred from the pipe handling trailer to a drilling rig. The process may be reversed to remove pipe from the drilling rig. A control system, which may be operated in a manual or automated mode, is used to operate the integrated system using information about each pipe joint recorded during the loading process.

Claims80

Dependent claims

An integrated pipe handling system comprising:

a movable container for storing and transporting cylindrical objects;
said movable container comprising a frame, and a lifting surface within said container capable of supporting said cylindrical objects in a raised position or a lowered position;
a movable platform for receiving a said cylindrical object from said movable container;
said movable platform comprising a bed, an angularly movable surface for moving said cylindrical object at an angle with respect to said bed;
and a skate slidably movable along said angularly movable surface for supporting said cylindrical object at a plurality of positions along said angularly movable surface;
a control system for controlling the operation of said lift arm of said movable container and said angularly movable surface and said skate of said movable platform;
said control system being capable of storing information about said cylindrical objects stored in said movable container, and controlling the operation of said lift arm, said angularly movable surface and said skate.

4 more elements

A method of transferring cylindrical objects from a movable container to a movable platform comprising the steps of:

providing a movable container comprising a frame, and a lifting surface within said container capable of supporting said cylindrical objects in a raised position or a lowered position, an indexing rack disposed on said frame, and cylindrical objects loaded in said movable container;
providing a movable platform comprising a bed, an angularly movable surface for receiving a said cylindrical object and moving said cylindrical object at an angle with respect to said bed, a skate slidably movable along said angularly movable surface for supporting said cylindrical object on said angularly movable surface at a plurality of positions along said angularly movable surface, and a picker arm pivotally mounted to said movable platform for manipulating said cylindrical objects;
raising said lifting surface to a position whereby said cylindrical objects may roll over said frame of said movable container onto said indexing rack;
raising said picker arm to a first position whereby one said cylindrical object is lifted from said indexing rack and onto said picker arm;
and
raising said picker arm to a second position whereby said cylindrical object may roll from said picker arm and onto said angularly movable surface.

3 more elements

A method of raising a cylindrical object on a movable platform to a feed position comprising the steps of:

providing a movable platform comprising a bed, an angularly movable surface for receiving a said cylindrical object and moving said cylindrical object at an angle with respect to said bed, and a skate slidably movable along said angularly movable surface for supporting said cylindrical object on said angularly movable surface at a plurality of positions along said angularly movable surface;
causing said angularly movable surface and said skate to move said cylindrical object on said angularly movable surface from a position generally parallel to said bed to said feed position.

A method of transferring cylindrical objects from a movable platform to a movable container comprising the steps of:

providing a movable platform comprising a bed, an angularly movable surface for containing a said cylindrical object and moving said cylindrical object at an angle with respect to said bed, a skate slidably movable along said angularly movable surface for supporting said cylindrical object on said angularly movable surface at a plurality of positions along said angularly movable surface, an ejection mechanism capable of ejecting said cylindrical object from said angularly movable surface, and a picker arm pivotally mounted to said movable platform for manipulating said cylindrical object;
providing a movable container comprising a frame, and a lifting surface within said container capable of supporting said cylindrical object in a raised position or a lowered position, and an indexing rack disposed on said frame;
raising said lifting surface to a position whereby said cylindrical objects may roll over said frame of said movable container from said indexing rack;
activating said ejection mechanism to eject said cylindrical object from said angularly movable surface and onto said picker arm in a first position;
lowering said picker arm to a second position whereby said cylindrical object contacts and is supported by said indexing rack;
and
allowing said cylindrical object to roll from said indexing rack over said frame of said movable container and into said movable container.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated pipe handling system for well completion and production

Life of this patent

Integrated pipe handling system for well completion and production

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims80