Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorDavid M. Haugen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and methods to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods can be used for running in casing, running in wellbore components or for a drill string.
Claims33
An apparatus for use with tubulars, comprising:
- a spider having a set of slips for gripping the tubulars;
- a top drive disposable above the spider for gripping the tubulars;
- and
- an interlock system to ensure that a tubular string is gripped by one of the top drive and the spider, wherein the interlock system prevents the top drive from disengaging the tubular string, unless the spider is engaged around the tubular string.
An apparatus for use with tubulars, comprising:
- a spider having a set of slips for gripping the tubulars;
- a top drive disposable above the spider for gripping the tubulars;
- and
- an interlock system to ensure that a tubular string is gripped by one of the top drive and the spider, wherein the interlock system prevents the spider from disengaging the tubular string, unless the top drive is engaged to the tubular string.
An apparatus for use with tubulars, comprising:
- a spider having a set of slips for gripping the tubulars;
- a top drive disposable above the spider for gripping the tubulars;
- and
- an interlock system to ensure that a tubular string is gripped by one of the top drive and the spider, wherein the interlock system includes a controller.
An apparatus for assembling and disassembly tubulars, comprising:
- a first member having a motor for rotating and joining tubulars at a joint and forming a tubular string therefrom, and a cylindrical body having a first set of slips and a wedge lock assembly disposed on the cylindrical body, the first set of slips is coupled to a piston that is coupled to a resilient member;
- a second member having a piston coupled to a second set of slips;
- and
- an interlock system.
A method for use with assembling and dissembling a tubular string formed by a first tubular and a second tubular, comprising:
- engaging a first apparatus to the first tubular;
- engaging a second apparatus to the second tubular;
- joining the first tubular to the second tubular thereby forming the tubular string;
- providing an interlock system to ensure that at least the first apparatus or the second apparatus is engaging the tubular string;
- opening the second apparatus to disengage the second apparatus from the second tubular;
- lowering the tubular string;
- engaging the second apparatus to the tubular string;
- and
- disengaging the first apparatus from the first tubular, wherein the first apparatus includes a motor for joining the tubulars and at least a first set of slips, and the second apparatus having at least a second set of slips.
An apparatus for use with a tubular string formed by connecting a first tubular and a second tubular, comprising:
- a top drive for gripping and rotating the first tubular;
- a second device for gripping the second tubular;
- and
- an interlock system operatively connected to the first and second devices to ensure that the tubular string is gripped by at least one of the first and second devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.