Apparatus for handling tubulars
Assignee2M-TEK, Inc.
InventorsRichard McIntosh, Toby Scott Baudoin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for facilitating running or pulling tubulars from a well bore whereby the manual operations or functions normally performed by a human are undertaken by the THD and may including remote control or manipulation. The THD comprises an elevator assembly (THD) with a main body consisting of upper and lower plates, a scissor assembly and multiple sized die blocks to conform to the tubular diameter. The THD can be used as a transfer elevator to position the tubular for engagement by the make-up assembly, can be outfitted to perform as a safety clamp or restraining device and also configured as a tubular stabbing arm as required by the operation.
Claims17
A tubular handling device comprising:
- a body having a mostly “U” shaped profile which is shaped to accept an oilfield tubular into a throat area;
- two or more scissor plates with overlapping tips, each tip configured for disallowing the scissor plates to open once encompassing a tubular, configured between an upper and lower body plate, whereby each scissor plate rotates about a fixed axis and where each scissor plate is supported by bushings and each said scissor plate is hydraulically or pneumatically actuated to open and close around a tubular;
- a die retainer secured to each scissor plate;
- a die block secured to each die retainer, wherein each die block is configured to be readily replaced to accommodate a range of tubular outside diameters or profiles;
- a die retainer clip inserted through a transverse slot of the die retainer to secure the die block to the die retainer;
- and
- a control console for remote operation of all functions of the tubular handling device.
A drilling or workover rig comprising:
- a tubular handling device comprising:
- a body having a profile configured to accept an oilfield tubular into a throat area;
- two opposed scissor plates each configured to rotate about a fixed axis, wherein each scissor plate is supported by bushings and each said scissor plate is hydraulically or pneumatically actuated to open and close around the oilfield tubular;
- a die retainer secured to each scissor plate
- a die block secured to each die retainer, wherein each die block is configured to be readily replaced to accommodate a range of tubular outside diameters or profiles;
- and
- one or more link arms attached to the tubular handling device and configured to be manipulated to pivot via cylinders;
- one or more shock dampening cylinders connected between the tubular handling device and the one or more link arms, wherein the shock dampening cylinders are configured to maintain the tubular handling device in a substantially perpendicular position relative to the link arms,
- wherein the tubular handling device is operable from a control console for remote operation of all functions wirelessly or via touch screen to latch onto a tubular and raise the tubular to a substantially vertical position.
A method of handling a tubular using a tubular handling device in an automated manner, the device comprising a body having a profile configured to accept the tubular into a throat area, two opposed scissor plates configured to rotate about a fixed axis, a die retainer secured to each scissor plate, and a die block secured to each die retainer, the method comprising:
- attaching the tubular handling device to one or more link arms;
- attaching shock dampening cylinders between the tubular handling device and the link arms;
- selecting die blocks configured or sized to accommodate the tubular diameter or profile;
- operating the tubular handling device from a control console, and latching onto a tubular with scissor arms of the tubular handling device, and raising the tubular to a substantially vertical position;
- and
- maintaining a substantially perpendicular orientation between the tubular handling device and the link arms while allowing a given degree of freedom to rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.