Automated pipe joining system and method

An apparatus for making and breaking joints of wellbore tubulars, comprising:

• a support frame;
• a tong assembly operatively connected to the support frame;
• a stabbing guide;
• and
• a positioning tool for detecting a center position and a vertical position of a tubular joint of a tubular member.

An apparatus for making and breaking joints of wellbore tubulars, comprising:

• a support frame;
• a tong assembly operatively connected to the support frame;
• and
• a mud bucket operatively connected to the support frame;
• and
• a positioning tool for detecting a center position and a vertical position of a tubular joint of a tubular member.

A method for connecting two tubulars, comprising:

• disposing a pipe joining system on a rig floor, the pipe joining system being remotely operable and having a tong assembly and tubular alignment member operatively connected thereto, wherein the tubular alignment member includes a plurality of semi-circular segments with a tapered inside diameter and an actuating device capable of moving the plurality of semi-circular segments independently of the tong assembly between open and closed positions;
• locating the pipe joining system proximate a first tubular, wherein the first tubular is positioned within an operating space of the pipe joining system;
• placing a second tubular above and in substantial axial alignment with the first tubular, such alignment being maintained by closing the tubular alignment member with the actuating device to at least partially encircle the second tubular;
• engaging the first tubular and the second tubular with the tong assembly;
• and
• operating the tong assembly to engage a thread of the first tubular with a mating thread of the second tubular.

A method for disconnecting two tubulars, comprising:

• disposing a pipe joining system on a rig floor, the pipe joining system being remotely operable and having a positioning tool and mud bucket operatively connected thereto;
• locating the pipe joining system proximate a connection between a first tubular and a second tubular, wherein the connection is positioned within an operating space of the pipe joining system;
• detecting a center position and a vertical position of the joint between the first tubular and the second tubular with the positioning tool;
• moving the mud bucket from a first position to a second position;
• and
• separating a thread of the first tubular from a mating thread of the second tubular.

An apparatus for making and breaking joints of wellbore tubulars, comprising;

• a support frame;
• a tong assembly operatively connected to the support frame, the tong assembly having a first tong configured to grip a first tubular member on a first side of a joint and a second tong configured to grip a second tubular member on a second side of the joint;
• a spinner operatively connected to the support frame and spaced from the tong assembly;
• and
• at least three components selected from the group consisting of:
• a stabbing guide;
• a mud bucket operatively connected to the support frame;
• a cleaning and doping device operatively connected to the support frame;
• and
• a positioning tool.