# US 2023/0053471 A1 · Spiders capable of handling well components of multiple sizes

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- Number: US 2023/0053471 A1
- Document ID: US20230053471A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/760,208
- Filed: 2021-03-04
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-24
- Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Federico AMEZAGA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053471A1

## CPC

- E21B 19/10: Slips; Spiders {; Catching devices (rotary tables with master bushing or kelly bushing E21B3/04)}
- E21B 19/24: Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A spider for handling/gripping well components of various sizes can include multiple slip assemblies distributed circumferentially about a central axis, each slip assembly including a slip carrier radially displaceable relative to the central axis, a slip displaceable relative to the slip carrier, and a slip actuator operable to displace the slip relative to the slip carrier, the slip actuator being disposed at least partially internal to the slip carrier. Each slip assembly may include a slip carrier actuator that radially displaces the slip carrier. A table assembly may mount to a well rig with an upper surface of the table assembly being flush with a rig floor of the well rig. Another spider can include a pipe guide assembly with multiple guides and guide actuators. Each guide actuator rotates a respective one of the pipe guides about a respective guide axis that is parallel to the central axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spider for handling/gripping well components for use with a subterranean well, the spider comprising:
multiple slip assemblies distributed circumferentially about a central axis, each slip assembly comprising:
a) a slip carrier radially displaceable relative to the central axis,
b) a slip displaceable relative to the slip carrier, and
c) a slip actuator operable to displace the slip relative to the slip carrier, the slip actuator being disposed at least partially internal to the slip carrier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The spider of claim 1, in which the slip actuator is operable to displace the slip along a surface of the slip carrier, the surface of the slip carrier being angularly offset from the central axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The spider of claim 2, in which the slip actuator is oriented parallel to the surface of the slip carrier.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The spider of claim 1, in which each slip assembly further comprises:
d) a slip carrier actuator operable to displace the slip carrier radially relative to the central axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The spider of claim 1, further comprising a pipe guide assembly, the pipe guide assembly comprising multiple pipe guides, each pipe guide being rotatable about a respective guide axis that is parallel to the central axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The spider of claim 1, further comprising:
a table assembly, the table assembly comprising an upper surface, and
in which the table assembly is configured to mount to a well rig with the upper surface of the table assembly being flush with a rig floor of the well rig.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The spider of claim 6, in which the table assembly further comprises first and second body sections, and at least one body section actuator operable to vary a lateral separation between the first and second body sections, and
each of the first and second body sections containing multiple ones of the slip assemblies.

### Claim 8

A spider for handling/gripping well components for use with a subterranean well, the spider comprising:
multiple slip assemblies distributed circumferentially about a central axis; and
a pipe guide assembly comprising first and second pipe guides, and first and second guide actuators, the first guide actuator being operable to rotate the first pipe guide about a first guide axis that is parallel to the central axis, and the second guide actuator being operable to rotate the second pipe guide about a second guide axis that is parallel to the central axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The spider of claim 8, further comprising first and second covers, each of the first and second covers being pivotable relative to the central axis, the first pipe guide and the first guide actuator being mounted to the first cover, and the second pipe guide and the second guide actuator being mounted to the second cover.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The spider of claim 9, in which each of the first and second covers is pivotable at least 90 degrees relative to the central axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The spider of claim 9, in which each of the first and second covers pivots at least 90 degrees from a closed position to an open position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The spider of claim 8, further comprising:
a table assembly, the table assembly comprising an upper surface, and
in which the table assembly is configured to mount to a well rig with the upper surface of the table assembly being flush with a rig floor of the well rig.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The spider of claim 12, in which the table assembly further comprises first and second body sections, and a body actuator operable to vary a lateral separation between the first and second body sections, and each of the first and second body sections containing multiple ones of the slip assemblies.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The spider of claim 13, in which each slip assembly comprises:
a slip;
a slip carrier;
a slip actuator operable to displace the slip relative to the slip carrier; and
a slip carrier actuator operable to displace the slip carrier radially relative to the central axis.

### Claim 15

A method of operating a spider, the method comprising:
actuating a first set of slip carrier actuators of the spider, thereby displacing a first set of slip carriers radially relative to a first well component having a first diameter; and
actuating a second set of slip carrier actuators of the spider, thereby displacing a second set of slip carriers radially relative to a second well component having a second diameter,
the first diameter being different from the second diameter, and
a number of slip carriers in the first set of slip carriers being different from a number of slip carriers in the second set of slip carriers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, in which the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, and the number of slip carriers in the second set of slip carriers is greater than the number of slip carriers in the first set of slip carriers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, in which the spider comprises laterally separable first and second body sections, half of the number of slip carriers in the first set of slip carriers being disposed in the first body section, and half of the number of slip carriers in the first set of slip carriers being disposed in the second body section.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, in which half of the number of slip carriers in the second set of slip carriers is disposed in the first body section, and half of the number of slip carriers in the second set of slip carriers is disposed in the second body section.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, in which the spider comprises a table assembly, and the method further comprises attaching the spider to a well rig floor, thereby aligning an upper surface of the table assembly with the well rig floor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
actuating a first set of slip actuators of the spider, thereby displacing a first set of slips into gripping engagement with the first well component; and
actuating a second set of slip actuators of the spider, thereby displacing a second set of slips into gripping engagement with the second well component.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, in which at least one slip of the first set of slips is included in the second set of slips.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, in which each of the first set of slip actuators is disposed at least partially internal to a respective one of the first set of slip carriers.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
sensing a position of at least one of the group consisting of: the first and second sets of slip carriers, slips carried on the first and second sets of slip carriers, and a table assembly body section; and
controlling operation of a well rig in response to the sensed position.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, in which the controlling comprises activating a safety interlock system that prevents opening of the spider when an elevator is open, and that prevents opening of the elevator when the spider is open.