Tubular positioning system
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorsNestor D. Guillory, Jr., Robert W. Menard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for delivering a downhole tubular from a rack at an oilfield surface to a rig floor thereat. The system includes a trough for accommodating the tubular that is slidably engaged with a lift frame in a sledded fashion. Thus, for delivery of the tubular, the trough may be sleddingly extended from the lift frame. That is, as opposed to a roller type of coupling between the trough and tubular, a sledded coupling is utilized that may require comparatively less maintenance and mobilization time. This may be particularly the case where lighter weight tubulars of less than about 1,000 lbs., preferably under about 500 lbs., are being delivered.
Claims16
A downhole tubular positioning system for locating at a surface of an oilfield, the system comprising:
- a mobile lift frame for elevation approaching that of a rig floor at the oilfield;
- and
- a trough coupling to said lift frame for accommodating a tubular;
- and
- an undercarriage slidably secured to said frame and affixed to said trough to provide the coupling, the coupling of a rollerless sledded configuration for slidably extending said trough toward the rig floor;
- wherein the sledded configuration comprises an interfacing between said frame and said undercarriage for the extending, the interfacing including an outer polymer layer disposed at one of said frame and said undercarriage.
An assembly for locating at an oilfield surface and comprising:
- a rack disposed at the oilfield surface to accommodate a production tubular of less than about 1,000 lbs. in weight;
- a rig disposed at a well location of the oilfield surface;
- and
- a positioning system having a trough for delivering the tubular to a floor of said rig from said rack, the trough having an undercarriage affixed thereto and slidably retained within a lift frame of said system to support a rollerless sledded extension thereof for the delivering.
A method of delivering a downhole tubular to a rig floor at an oilfield, the method comprising:
- extending a trough accommodating the tubular toward the rig floor from a lift frame of a positioning system located at a surface of the oilfield, said extending of the trough comprising extending of an undercarriage affixed to the trough and slidably retained within the frame for rollerless sledded extending.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.