Method and apparatus for connecting tubulars using a top drive
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorBernd-Georg Pietras
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars, said apparatus comprising a winch (15), at least one wire line (4, 5) and a device (2) for gripping a tubular (3), the arrangement being such that, in use, the winch (15) can be used to winch said at least one wire (4, 5) and said device (2) to position a tubular (3) below said top drive.
Claims18
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive and comprising:
- a suspension unit (9) for coupling a tubular (3) to the top drive, the suspension unit (9) having a static part fixed with respect to a top drive and a dynamic part movable relative thereto;
- and
- a winch (15) located on said static part of said suspension unit (9), at least one wire (4, 5), and a device (2) for gripping the tubular (3), the arrangement being such that, in use, the winch (15) can be used to winch said at least one wire (4, 5) and said device (2) to position the tubular (3) below said top drive.
A method of facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive having a suspension unit (9) for coupling a tubular (3) to the top drive, the suspension unit (9) having a static part fixed with respect to a top drive and a dynamic part movable relative thereto, the static part defining a winch, the method comprising the steps of attaching at least one wire to a tubular, the wire depending from the static part of said suspension unit, and winching the wire and the tubular upwards to a position beneath the top drive.
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said apparatus comprising:
- an elevator, and
- a pair of bails, wherein said elevator is movable along said pair of bails.
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said apparatus comprising:
- an elevator (102) having pins (115);
- and
- a pair of bails (103, 104) comprising slots (116, 116a) in which said pins (115) are disposed, wherein said elevator (102) is movable along said pair of bails (103, 104).
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said apparatus comprising:
- an elevator (102);
- and
- a pair of bails (103, 104) attached to an axle (106) disposed on the top drive and are movable thereabout, wherein said elevator (102) is movable along said pair of bails (103, 104).
An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said apparatus comprising:
- an elevator (102);
- a pair of bails (103, 104) attached to an axle (106) disposed on the top drive and are movable thereabout, wherein said elevator (102) is movable along said pair of bails (103, 104);
- and
- at least one piston and cylinder (108, 109) for moving said pair of bails (103, 104).
A method for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said method comprising:
- using an elevator to move a tubular to a position below said top drive, wherein the elevator is connected to the top drive using a pair of bails and wherein the elevator is movable along said pair of bails.
A method for connecting a first tubular and a second tubular using a top drive, comprising:
- gripping the first tubular with a clamp;
- raising the first tubular toward a tool;
- holding the first tubular with the tool;
- connecting the first tubular to the second tubular;
- releasing the first tubular from the clamp and the tool;
- gripping the first tubular with an elevator;
- and
- lower the first tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.