Apparatus and method for handling a tubular
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorDicky Robichaux
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for inserting or removing a string of tubulars from a borehole includes a makeup/break out mechanism which is capable of adding a tubular to or removing a tubular from the string and handling mechanism which feeds a tubular into, or removes a tubular from, the make up/break out mechanism. The make up/break out mechanism is moveable along the direction parallel to the axial direction of the string, such that the string may be substantially continuously inserted into or removed from the borehole.
Claims26
An apparatus for inserting or removing a string of tubulars from a borehole, the apparatus comprising:
- a make up/break out mechanism which is capable of adding a tubular to or removing a tubular from the string, wherein the make up/break out mechanism is moveable along the direction parallel to the axial direction of the string, such that the string may be substantially continuously inserted into or removed from the borehole, wherein the make up/break out mechanism comprises a pair of vertically spaced slips which are adapted to selectively grip the tubulars, whereby one of the slips is moveable towards and/or away from the other slip;
- and
- a handling mechanism which is adapted to feed a tubular into, or remove a tubular from, the make up/break out mechanism, the handling mechanism including at least one substantially vertical track and a rail mechanism movably connected to the at least one substantially vertical track for handling one tubular.
A method of inserting or removing a string of tubulars from a borehole, the method comprising:
- providing a make up/break out mechanism which is capable of adding a tubular to or removing a tubular from the string;
- providing a handling mechanism which is adapted to feed a tubular into, or remove a tubular from, the make up/break out mechanism;
- moving the handling mechanism on at least one substantially vertical track;
- and
- moving the make up/break out mechanism along the direction parallel to the axial direction of the string, as it is adding a tubular to or removing a tubular from the string, such that the string is substantially continuously inserted into or removed from the borehole.
An apparatus for handling tubulars, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second assemblies, each assembly comprising:
- a substantially vertical track;
- a rail mechanism movably connected to the substantially vertical track;
- a coupling mechanism, associated with the rail mechanism, for coupling the rail mechanism to a tubular;
- and
- a movement mechanism to provide movement to the rail mechanism.
A method of handling tubulars, the method comprising:
- providing a rail mechanism, the rail mechanism being associated with a coupling mechanism for coupling to a tubular, and the rail mechanism being movably connected to a single substantially vertical track;
- coupling the coupling mechanism to a tubular;
- and
- operating a movement mechanism to move the rail mechanism.
An apparatus for handling a tubular, the apparatus comprising:
- a pair of substantially vertical tracks;
- a coupling mechanism operatively connected to each track for coupling to a tubular;
- and
- a pair of moveable members which are hingedly connected to both the coupling mechanism and the pair of substantially vertical tracks, such that movement of the pair of moveable members results in movement of the coupling mechanism substantially about a longitudinal axis of the track, wherein each moveable member is connected to a separate vertical track.
A method of handling a tubular, the method comprising:
- providing at least one substantially vertical track;
- connecting at least one coupling mechanism to the at least one track, the at least one coupling mechanism for coupling to a tubular;
- providing at least one moveable member which is hingedly connected to both the coupling mechanism and the at least one vertical track;
- and
- moving the at least one moveable member and the at least one coupling mechanism substantially about a longitudinal axis of the at least one track.
A method for adding or removing a plurality of tubular sections from a string of tubulars, comprising:
- providing a make up/break out mechanism for gripping the tubular sections;
- providing a tubular handling mechanism for conveying the tubular sections to the make up/break out mechanism such that an axis of the tubular sections is substantially parallel to an axis of the string of tubulars, the tubular handling mechanism including at least two gripping mechanisms for gripping at least two tubular sections substantially simultaneously;
- and
- gripping a first tubular section with the handling mechanism and conveying the first tubular section to the make up/break out mechanism while substantially simultaneously gripping a second tubular section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.