Method and apparatus with slips assembly for coupling tubulars without interruption of circulation
AssigneeCoupler Developments Limited
InventorLaurence John Ayling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slips assembly which comprises a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter the upset shoulder of the said tubular, there being a segment moving means which can move the segments together to from a collar slidably located around the body of the said tubular, which slips assemblies can also be utilised in conjunction with, or as part of, the couplers referred to in prior patent applications, either to support, raise or lower the string below, or restraint, lower or raise the tubular, or stand of tubulars, above.
Claims27
A combination of a coupler and a slips assembly for preventing axial movement of a tubular including a tool joint box having a shoulder wherein said slips assembly comprises a plurality of slips segments arranged about said tubular and axially positioned to engage said shoulder;
- and means for moving said slips segments to engage said shoulder as a continuous collar;
- and wherein said coupler comprises a pressure hull, a pair of first and second grips and a valve partition;
- and wherein said slips assembly is positioned between said valve partition and one of said first and second grips.
A slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars, which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slips which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the tubular, including slip moving means for moving said slips together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular;
- and in which the surfaces of said slips adjacent to the tubular are at angle to the axis of said tubular, which angle is less than the angle of the upset shoulder so that downward pressure on said slips due to the weight of the drill string is applied to the top end of the upset shoulder;
- and in which said surfaces of said slips are at an angle to the tubular axis of less than 2 degrees less than said angle of the shoulder to the tubular axis.
A slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars, which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body, and in which there are a plurality of slip segments in said body which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the tubular, and including segment moving means for moving the segments together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular, and in which said slips body is supported on a bearing mounted on a rig floor, rotary table or blow out preventer stack.
A coupler and slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars, which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the said tubular, including slip segment moving means for moving said slip segments together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of said tubular;
- and wherein said slips assembly is positioned outside and beneath said coupler for use in continuous drilling in which a drill string is rotated from a top drive rotating means and drilling fluid is circulated down the drill string, and in which said coupler comprises a means to grip the drill string and means to grip and seal a tubular lowered from substantially above, and having upper and lower chamber portions inside a chamber separated by a blind preventer which, in its closed position prevents escape of drilling fluid from the drill stand, whereby when said blind preventer is opened the tubular and the drill stand can be brought into contact and joined together, while mud circulation can continue uninterrupted.
A coupler and slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the said tubular, including a segment moving means for moving said segments together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular;
- said slips assembly being operated upside down to act upon the upset shoulder of a tubular, or the lowest tubular of a stand of tubulars, when forcing or snubbing a tubular, or stand of tubulars, in a downwards direction, into a high pressure space, said high pressure place being inside the upper half of said coupler for use in continuous drilling in which a drill string is rotated by rotating means and drilling fluid is circulated down the drill string, which coupler comprises means to grip the drill string and means to grip and seal a tubular lowered from substantially above, and the upper and lower sections of the coupler are inside a chamber separated into an upper half and a lower half by a blind preventer which, in its closed position prevents escape of drilling fluid from the drill stand, whereby when the blind preventer is opened the tubular and the drill string can be brought into contact and joined together.
A coupler and slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slip segments which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular body of the tubular at the top of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the said tubular, including slips segment moving means for moving said slips segments together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular;
- said slips assembly being operated upside down to act upon the upset shoulder of a tubular, or the lowest tubular of a stand of tubulars, when forcing or snubbing a tubular, or stand of tubulars, in a downwards direction, into a high pressure space, said high pressure place being inside the lower half of a coupler for use in continuous drilling in which a drill string is rotated by rotating means and drilling fluid is circulated down the drill string, which coupler comprises a means to grip the drill string and means to grip and seal a tubular lowered from substantially above, and the upper and lower sections of the coupler are inside a chamber separated into an upper half and lower half by a blind preventer which, in its closed position prevents escape of drilling fluid from the drill stand, whereby when the blind preventer is opened the tubular and the drill stand can be brought into contact and joined together.
A coupler and slips assembly for use with a drill string comprising tubulars which slips assembly comprises a slips base and a slips body and in which there are a plurality of slips which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular body of the tubular at the Lop of the drill string and smaller than the diameter of the upset shoulder of the said tubular, including slips moving means for moving said slips together to form a collar which can be slidably located around the body of the said tubular;
- said slips being positioned outside and above said coupler for use in continuous drilling in which a drill string is rotated from a top drive rotating means and drilling fluid is circulated down the drill string, which coupler comprises means to grip the drill string and means to grip and seal a tubular lowered from substantially above, and the upper and lower portions of said coupler being inside a chamber separated into an upper half and a lower half by a blind preventer which, in its closed position prevents escape of drilling fluid from the drill string, whereby when the blind preventer is opened the tubular and the drill string can be brought into contact and joined together.
A method for joining a tubular having an upset shoulder to a drill string using a coupler which incorporates slips, which slips comprise a plurality of slip segments having surfaces at an angle to the axis of the tubular which, when positioned adjacent to each other, form a collar, which collar is larger than the diameter of the tubular body of the tubular and smaller than the diameter of said upset shoulder, including segment moving means for moving said segments together to form said collar, said method comprising:
- (a) lowering the string until said upset shoulder contacts said slips segments, at which time the weight of the string is supported by said slips segments, which segments are on a slips base wedged within a slips body, which body comprises a continuous ring;
- (b) a tubular is then joined to the string;
- and
- (c) the slips base is then moved away from the slips body and said slips segments are moved outwards from the axis of the string until they are clear for the passage of said upset shoulder through said slips segments.
A slips assembly for preventing axial movement of a tubular, said tubular including a joint box having a shoulder including a surface portion extending at an angle with respect to the axis of the tubular, wherein said slips assembly comprises:
- (a) a slips base;
- (b) a slips body;
- (c) a plurality of slips segments supported in said slips body and connected to said slips base;
- (d) each of said slips segments having a tubular engaging surface extending at an angle such as to engage said shoulder surface portion when said slips segments are moved radially inward such as to form a collar about said shoulder portion;
- and
- (e) actuating means at least partially contained within said slips body, and connected to said slips base, whereby said actuating means move said slips segments radially inwardly toward said tubular and force said tubular engaging surfaces against said shoulder surface portion of said joint box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.