US 9,309,728 B2Granted

Drilling rig employing tubular handling device

AssigneeNabors Drilling International Limited

InventorsPadira Reddy, Ashish Gupta, Sean M. Bailey

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Abstract

A tubular handling device includes a first arm movable along, and pivotable about, a first axis, and a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, the first gripper being coupled to the first arm and rotatable, relative to the first arm, about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. According to another aspect, a method includes providing a first gripper; coupling a first arm to the first gripper, moving the first arm, pivoting the first arm, and rotating the first gripper, relative to the first arm. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, and a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, the tubular handling device including a first gripper to engage a first tubular member, and a first arm coupled to the first gripper.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a drilling tower defining a first axis;
a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, the tubular handling device comprising:
a first gripper to engage a first tubular member;
and
a first arm coupled to the first gripper, the first arm defining:
a second fixed axis that is parallel to the first axis and spaced therefrom in a first direction, the first arm being movable along, and pivotable about, the second fixed axis;
and
a third axis that is perpendicular to the second fixed axis, a portion of the first arm defining the third axis and being movable away from the second fixed axis in the first direction and movable towards the second fixed axis in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first gripper being rotatable, relative to the first arm, about the third axis;
a base to which the drilling tower is pivotally coupled to pivot the drilling tower between first and second pivot positions;
wherein the drilling tower comprises:
a first portion;
and
a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion to pivot the second portion between third and fourth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the first pivot position;
and
a top drive coupled to the drilling tower and movable along each of the first and second portions of the drilling tower when the second portion is in the fourth pivot position.

12 more elements

A method, comprising:

providing a drilling tower, the drilling tower extending longitudinally along a first axis, the drilling tower comprising a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled thereto;
employing a tubular handling device to position one or more tubular members proximate the drilling tower, comprising:
providing a first gripper;
coupling a first arm to the first gripper, the first arm defining:
a second fixed axis that is parallel to the first axis and spaced therefrom in a first direction, and
a third axis that is perpendicular to the second fixed axis;
moving the first arm along the second fixed axis;
pivoting the first arm about the second fixed axis;
moving a portion of the first arm to move the third axis away from the second fixed axis in the first direction;
rotating the first gripper, relative to the first arm, about the third axis;
engaging a first tubular member with the first gripper;
and
moving the first arm to move the third axis, the first gripper and the first tubular member towards the second fixed axis in a second direction opposite the first direction;
pivoting the drilling tower between first and second pivot positions;
pivoting the second portion between third and fourth pivot positions when the drilling tower is in the first pivot position;
coupling a top drive to the drilling tower;
and
moving the top drive along each of the first and second portions of the drilling tower when the second portion is in the fourth pivot position.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/788,994Filed 7 Mar 2013 · continuation
Priority: 14 May 2012
Published: US 2013/0302114 A114 Nov 2013
Granted: 12 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E21B 19/155
Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position: handling between horizontal and vertical position
E21B 3/022
Surface drives for rotary drilling: top drives
E21B 15/00
Supports for the drilling machine
E21B 19/06
Rod or cable suspensions: elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices