US20070221385A1 - Apparatus and Method for Forming Stands - Google Patents
Apparatus and Method for Forming Stands Download PDFInfo
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- US20070221385A1 US20070221385A1 US11/689,279 US68927907A US2007221385A1 US 20070221385 A1 US20070221385 A1 US 20070221385A1 US 68927907 A US68927907 A US 68927907A US 2007221385 A1 US2007221385 A1 US 2007221385A1
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- tubulars
- tubular
- catwalk
- stand
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 abstract description 11
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 33
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 10
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
- E21B19/15—Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position
- E21B19/155—Handling between horizontal and vertical position
Definitions
- the present invention relates to pipe handling apparatuses and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods for drilling operations wherein stands are formed from tubulars.
- tubular members commonly referred to as “tubulars” are connected in an end to end manner to form a drill string.
- Tubulars are commonly about 30 feet in length and have opposing female and male ends. The ends are threaded in a complementary manner so that opposing male and female ends can be joined together.
- Tubulars are provided on a rack from which they are individually rolled onto a horizontal support, such as a catwalk. Both the rack and catwalk are generally located adjacent to the drilling platform with the catwalk being generally positioned perpendicular to the platform.
- a hoist connected either directly of indirectly to the derrick and raised to a vertical position on the drilling platform.
- the lower end of the tubular is then oriented over the existing drill string and connected to the terminal, surface end of thereof. Following connection of the tubular to the drill string and “torquing” to establish a tight connection, the drilling operation is continued.
- tubulars are generally about 30 feet (10 m) in length. As such, the frequency of adding tubulars to the drill string is high and, therefore, the efficiency of the drilling operation is hampered. In addition, the above described manipulation of the tubulars often requires manual handling and, therefore, increases the risks to the drill rig personnel.
- the tubular is then inserted into an opening in the drilling platform adjacent to the existing drill string.
- a further tubular is then vertically hoisted and aligned above the first tubular.
- the opposing ends are of the two tubulars are then connected together to form a vertical, dual tubular stand.
- the stand is then raised and secured to the drill string. During formation of the stand, the drilling operation is continued without interruption.
- a stand is formed on a horizontal catwalk associated with a drilling platform.
- a “bucking machine” is then used to join the two tubulars.
- the bucking machine includes jaws that grasp and axially rotate the tubulars in opposite directions so as to engage the threads on the respective ends and to torque the connection to the desired value.
- Two stands are formed in this manner, which are then loaded onto a “trolley”.
- the trolley, carrying the two stands, is hoisted onto the drill rig platform and oriented vertically. The stands are then removed from the trolley and either connected to the drill string or stored in the vertical position for later connection to the drill string.
- the present invention provides a method of forming a stand from tubulars comprising:
- the present invention provides an apparatus for forming a stand from tubulars comprising:
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a stand forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention with a first tubular loaded thereon.
- FIG. 1 a is a front elevation along the line A-A of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a second tubular loaded thereon.
- FIG. 3 a is a front elevation along the line B-B of FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein the formed stand is elevated towards a drilling rig.
- FIG. 4 a is a front elevation along the line C-C of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in a folded state without tubulars.
- the present invention provides an improved apparatus for forming stands from individual tubulars.
- the invention comprises a catwalk onto which are loaded two tubulars.
- the tubulars are positioned generally coaxially on the catwalk in an end-abutting arrangement.
- the catwalk is provided with lifting devices comprising, in one aspect, actuating arms having rollers that contact and raise the tubulars above the level of the catwalk.
- the rollers are driven by one or more motors and are arranged so that the tubulars are axially spun in opposite directions with respect to each other. During the spinning operation, the tubulars are advanced against each other whereby the complementary threads on each end engage to form a connection, thereby forming a dual tubular stand.
- the tubulars are arranged so that the male and female ends are in abutting arrangement so as to permit engagement.
- the arms are then lowered whereby the now formed stand is allowed to rest on the catwalk, preferably in a trough or groove provided thereon.
- the stand is then pushed towards the drilling rig.
- a ramp provided either on the catwalk or on the rig causes one end of the stand to be raised during the pushing process up to a point where a hoist on the drill rig can engage and pull the stand to the desired vertical position over the drilling platform.
- the stand can then be stored or immediately connected to an existing drill string.
- the apparatus of the invention is transportable and certain sections can be folded to facilitate such transport.
- the invention provides a simple and efficient means of forming a stand.
- the invention can also be operated to load individual tubulars as well directly onto a rig in situations where a stand is not needed.
- the apparatus of the invention can operate in the opposite manner wherein stands are received from the rig and then separated or dismantled into individual tubulars.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 comprises a frame having a front end section 12 , a rear end section 16 and a mid section 14 .
- the structure of the frame is commonly known and may comprise struts and support members and the like. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, various structures for the frame are possible.
- the apparatus 10 is adapted to rest on the ground; however, in other embodiments, the apparatus may include tracks, wheels or other such devices upon which the frame rests.
- the front end 12 of the apparatus 10 is inclined upwards and is preferably adjustable so as to reach to the level of the drilling platform.
- the front end 12 can be inclined to a point where a tubular or stand resting thereon can be grasped by a hoist or similar device provided on the drill rig.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 does not include a front end portion 12 as shown in the accompanying drawings. Such a situation may occur where the drilling rig itself includes a suitable ramp that functions in the same manner as the front end 12 .
- the catwalk 10 includes a top surface 17 which receives and manipulates tubulars as will be described further below.
- the top surface 17 includes a groove or “V” or “U” shaped surface for locating the tubular in a desired location thereon.
- An example of such a groove is illustrated as element 19 in FIG. 4 a .
- Various other means for retaining tubulars on the top surface 17 will be known to persons skilled in the art. It will be understood that such retaining means serve to prevent tubulars from rolling or other such unwanted movements.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 is first positioned adjacent a drilling rig (not shown) such that the catwalk extends generally perpendicularly from the rig and such that the front end section 12 is adjacent the rig. As indicated above, the front end section 12 is inclined upwards so as to be roughly at the level of drilling platform (not shown) of the rig. As mentioned above, in another aspect, the catwalk apparatus 10 does not include a front end section 12 and such functionality is instead provided by a ramp provided on the drill rig.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the catwalk apparatus wherein the front end section 12 is not shown for convenience. Moreover, various other elements of the catwalk 10 such as decking etc. are not illustrated but will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
- a supply rack 18 containing a supply of tubulars 20 is positioned adjacent to the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the tubulars 20 are preferably provided in a generally parallel arrangement on the rack 18 .
- the tubulars as commonly known in the art, have male and female ends each provided with complementary threads.
- the tubulars 20 on the rack 18 are arranged so that all of the respective male and female ends are positioned in the same orientation. More preferably, in order to facilitate the present method, the tubulars are oriented such that all female ends are pointed towards the catwalk front end 12 (i.e. pointed towards the drilling rig). The purpose of such preferred arrangement will be apparent from the following description.
- the supply rack 18 is positioned close to the catwalk 10 so as to facilitate transfer of tubulars 20 from the rack 18 to the catwalk 10 .
- the catwalk 10 and rack 18 are arranged so as to allow a tubular to roll from the rack onto the top surface 17 of the catwalk 10 .
- the catwalk top surface 17 would be slightly lower than the rack 18 so as to allow such rolling.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 would be vertically adjustable whereby the catwalk could be lowered to allow a tubular to roll thereon from the rack.
- the catwalk can then be raised to a height above the rack so that, during a stand dismantling operation (discussed further below), the tubulars can roll from the catwalk onto the rack.
- any difference in height may also be overcome by using a forcing means to urge tubulars between the catwalk and the rack. In such case, a difference in height would not pose a problem for the tubular transfer step.
- tubulars can be transferred between the rack 18 and the catwalk apparatus 10 by means of a crane or any other similar device. Various other tubular transfer mechanisms will be known to persons skilled in the art.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 of the invention also preferably includes a skate 22 that is arranged to generally traverse the length of the catwalk from the rear end section 16 to the front end section 12 .
- the skate 22 includes a clamp to grasp one end, preferably the male end, of a tubular after being loaded on the catwalk top surface 17 and to pull same towards the rear end section 16 of the catwalk apparatus.
- the skate 22 also includes a bearing surface for pushing the tubular along the length of the catwalk towards the front end section 12 .
- the skate 22 can be provided on a track or groove on the catwalk.
- One example of an arrangement for the skate is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,223 wherein a “pusher” member is described for advancing tubulars longitudinally along a catwalk.
- the skate 22 can be advanced in either direction by a mechanical means (such as using a cable attached to a motor), a hydraulic means (such as by using a cylinder and piston combination) or any other means.
- a mechanical means such as using a cable attached to a motor
- a hydraulic means such as by using a cylinder and piston combination
- the skate is provided with a clamp for attaching to an end of one tubular.
- Such clamps are commonly known in the art and any suitable clamp mechanism can be used for the skate.
- one such clamp is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,540, which teaches a “gripping device” for grasping an end of a tubular.
- the skate 22 may, in one embodiment, include a threaded portion (not shown) with threads that are complementary to those provided on the end of the tubular.
- the threaded portion of the skate 22 may be rotated to engage the end of the tubular. Rotation in an opposite direction would then disengage the skate.
- Various other gripping means for the skate will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
- a first tubular 20 a is rolled or otherwise placed onto the top surface 17 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the female end 24 of the tubular 20 a is directed towards the front end of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the skate 22 is then advanced towards the tubular and grips the male end 26 thereof.
- the skate 22 in a “pull” mode, is then retracted to the rear end portion 16 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the first tubular 20 a is pulled towards the rear end portion 16 .
- FIG. 1 which also shows the skate 22 gripping the tubular 20 a .
- the gripping mechanism is released. This position is shown in FIG. 3 .
- the terminal position of the skate 22 on the rear end 16 of the apparatus 10 is the position that pulls the first tubular 20 a a sufficient distance so as to allow another tubular 20 to be loaded onto the top surface 17 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates the next step in the process wherein a second tubular 20 b is provided on the top surface 17 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the second tubular 20 b is oriented with its female end 28 directed towards the front end section 12 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the male end 30 of the second tubular 20 b is positioned adjacent and in opposition to the female end 24 of the first tubular 20 a .
- both tubulars 20 a and 20 b are positioned on the top surface 17 of the catwalk 10 and aligned so as to be coaxial with each other.
- the groove 19 (as shown in FIG.
- each arm is provided with a pair of opposed rollers. As shown in FIG. 1 a , the rollers are arranged so as to form a pinch point 31 there-between, which is adapted to receive a portion of a tubular as explained further below.
- the catwalk apparatus 10 is provided with four lifting devices, 32 a to 32 d , such that each of the first and second tubulars, 20 a and 20 b , are engaged by two lifting devices.
- lifting devices 32 a and 32 b engage the second tubular 20 b while lifting devices 32 c and 32 d engage the first tubular 20 a .
- the roller-bearing ends of actuating aims 33 are raised by any known means, such as hydraulically, mechanically etc. In such manner, the rollers 34 are raised up to receive the tubular within the pinch 31 there-between.
- the arms 33 are raised further so that the tubular is raised above the top surface 17 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- FIG. 3 a illustrates the second tubular 20 b contained between two rollers 34 and raised above the top surface 17 .
- the top surface 17 of the catwalk is provided with openings through which the rollers 34 and/or arms 33 may be extended.
- the rollers 34 are driven either directly or indirectly by motors and the like so as to rotate the tubular engaged therein about its longitudinal axis.
- the rollers 34 are reversibly driven as will be further explained below.
- the arms 33 and rollers 34 are designed with sufficient strength to support the tubular.
- the rollers 34 are made of a material that includes a sufficient coefficient of friction to cause rotation of the tubular. Such materials and other specifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
- the rollers are activated as mentioned above.
- the rollers engaging the first tubular 20 a i.e. the rollers provided on lifting devices 32 c and 32 d
- the rollers engaging tubular 20 b i.e. the rollers provided on lifting devices 32 a and 32 b
- the skate 22 now in “push” mode (as shown in FIG. 3 ) is used to advance the first tubular 20 a towards the front end 12 of the apparatus 10 .
- the female end 24 of the first tubular 20 a is advanced towards the male end 30 of the second tubular 20 b . Due to the opposite rotation of each tubular, and the complementary threading between the male and female ends (as discussed above), the first and second tubulars are allowed to engage one another thereby forming a stand. In this process, it will be understood that the rotation directions of each of the rollers associated with the two tubulars are selected so as to allow the respective male end to be threaded onto the respective female end and vice versa.
- the lifting devices 32 are lowered so as to allow the stand to rest on the top surface 17 of the catwalk apparatus 10 .
- the skate 22 continues in the “push” mode and is advanced towards the front end section 12 of the apparatus 10 . In this way, the skate 22 bears against the male end 26 of the first tubular 20 a and, therefore, urges the stand in a direction towards the front end section 12 and towards the drilling rig (not shown).
- the section of the stand proximal to the front end section is gradually elevated as the skate 22 is advanced. Such elevation continues until the female end 28 of the second tubular 20 b reaches a height wherein a hoist mechanism (not shown) provided on the drilling rig is able to reach and grip the end of the stand.
- the hoist mechanism then raises the stand to its vertical orientation on the drilling platform and the stand is then either connected to the existing drill string or is stored in the vertical position for future connection.
- the stand may require torquing on the drilling rig to provide a sufficiently tight connection between the tubulars 20 a and 20 b . Such torquing can be effected by known devices commonly provided on the rig.
- the terminal, surface exposed end of a drill string is normally the female end.
- the lower end of the now vertical stand should comprise the male end in order to mate with the existing drill string.
- the formation of the stand takes place in such a manner that the formed stand, when oriented vertically, is in the desired position with the male end pointed downwards. It will also be understood that the opposite orientation of the tubulars and stands will be required should the exposed drill string end be male.
- the above described process can also be operated in reverse order to dismantle stands. That is, the hoist on the drilling rig can first extract a stand from a drill string and lower it on to the front end section 12 of the catwalk apparatus. The skate 22 is then advanced and activated to grip the free end (usually the male end) of the stand. The skate is then retracted towards the rear end section 16 of the catwalk apparatus 10 until the stand is rests on top surface 17 in a generally horizontal orientation and wherein each tubular segment of the stand is positioned above the respective pairs of lifting devices 32 . The lifting devices 32 are then activated as above to raise the stand above the top surface 17 .
- rollers are then actuated to rotate in opposite directions as before, but in this case, such rolling is used to disconnect (i.e. unscrew) the tubulars.
- one of the tubulars is then loaded onto the rack 18 by either rolling or by means of a device such as a crane etc.
- the remaining tubular is then pushed by the skate 22 to a position on the top surface 17 that enables the tubular to be moved to the rack as well.
- Another feature of the present invention is the capability to automate the standbuilding operation. That is, as described above, very little manual manipulation of the tubulars or stands is needed. Thus, the entire process can be coordinated by an operator positioned away from the catwalk. In this way, the present invention provides a stand make-up and break-up system which comprises a safer alternative than processes known in the art.
- the apparatus discussed above will include suitable and commonly known electrical connections and/or processors etc. to enable such automation.
- the system of the invention would include a control system to enable one or more operators to control various mechanisms on the catwalk 10 , the rack 18 and/or the drill rig (i.e. the hoist).
- the rack may be provided with an automated feeder to feed single tubulars to the catwalk top surface 17 .
- the skate 22 and lifting devices 32 may in turn be controlled remotely by means of commonly known control circuitry.
- the hoist described above may also be controlled remotely by the same operator so as to cause vertical lifting of the stand onto the rig.
- the system may be controlled by a computer based control system, which can coordinate all of the above functions.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a further feature of the invention. As shown, the front end 12 and rear end 16 sections of the catwalk apparatus 10 can be folded over the mid section 14 . In this way, the apparatus 10 can be reduced in size to facilitate transportation between sites.
- the present apparatus also provides a safe and efficient means of loading even single tubulars onto a drilling platform.
- a tubular is loaded onto the top surface 17 of the catwalk apparatus 10 as described above and the skate 22 is used to push the tubular towards the rig.
- the combination of the pushing action by the skate 22 and the inclination of the front end section 12 causes the front end of the tubular to be raised towards the drilling platform.
- a hoist mechanism (as described above) on the drill rig can then be used to raise the tubular to a vertical orientation and positioned on the drilling platform.
- the automation of the process enables an operator or a control system to remotely control this operation.
- skate 22 has been described as performing two functions, namely the “pulling” and “pushing” of tubulars.
- dual role of the skate is a preferred embodiment.
- each of these functions can be performed with two separate skate-like devices.
- one device may comprise a gripping mechanism to pull tubulars while a second device may comprise a bearing surface for pushing tubulars.
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Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority from Canadian application number 2,540,820, filed on Mar. 21, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to pipe handling apparatuses and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods for drilling operations wherein stands are formed from tubulars.
- Various ground drilling operations are known such as exploring and/or extracting oil from subterranean deposits. The drilling operation is conducted on a drill rig comprising a raised drilling platform located above the drilling location. A denick is provided on the platform to raise, support and rotate a drill string. A drill string includes a drill bit for boring into the ground. As the drilling operation continues, tubular members, commonly referred to as “tubulars” are connected in an end to end manner to form a drill string. Tubulars are commonly about 30 feet in length and have opposing female and male ends. The ends are threaded in a complementary manner so that opposing male and female ends can be joined together.
- The addition of a tubular to an existing drill string is a relatively time consuming and dangerous procedure. Tubulars are provided on a rack from which they are individually rolled onto a horizontal support, such as a catwalk. Both the rack and catwalk are generally located adjacent to the drilling platform with the catwalk being generally positioned perpendicular to the platform. Once on the catwalk, one end of the tubular is attached to a hoist connected either directly of indirectly to the derrick and raised to a vertical position on the drilling platform. The lower end of the tubular is then oriented over the existing drill string and connected to the terminal, surface end of thereof. Following connection of the tubular to the drill string and “torquing” to establish a tight connection, the drilling operation is continued. As indicated above, tubulars are generally about 30 feet (10 m) in length. As such, the frequency of adding tubulars to the drill string is high and, therefore, the efficiency of the drilling operation is hampered. In addition, the above described manipulation of the tubulars often requires manual handling and, therefore, increases the risks to the drill rig personnel.
- Various apparatuses and methods have been proposed for handling tubulars such as those provided in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,547,110; 4,486,137; 6,220,807; 6,705,414; 6,854,520; 6,969,223; 6,976,540; and 6,997,265. The entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- In order to increase the efficiency of the drilling operation, various methods have been proposed to pre-connect at least two tubulars, to form a “stand”, prior to connection to the drill string. Such a process is often referred to as “standbuilding”. As will be appreciated, such pre-connection step involving two tubulars will reduce by half the number of connections required to be made to the drill string and, therefore, allows the drilling process to continue with fewer interruptions. An example of such a standbuilding procedure is provided in related U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,976,540 and 6,997,265. In these references, a tubular is rolled from a rack onto a ramp positioned adjacent the drilling platform. One end of the tubular is raised by a hoist to a vertical orientation above the drilling platform. The tubular is then inserted into an opening in the drilling platform adjacent to the existing drill string. A further tubular is then vertically hoisted and aligned above the first tubular. The opposing ends are of the two tubulars are then connected together to form a vertical, dual tubular stand. The stand is then raised and secured to the drill string. During formation of the stand, the drilling operation is continued without interruption.
- Another example of a standbuilding operation is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,414. In this reference, a stand is formed on a horizontal catwalk associated with a drilling platform. According to the disclosed method, two pairs of tubulars are positioned end to end on the catwalk. A “bucking machine” is then used to join the two tubulars. The bucking machine includes jaws that grasp and axially rotate the tubulars in opposite directions so as to engage the threads on the respective ends and to torque the connection to the desired value. Two stands are formed in this manner, which are then loaded onto a “trolley”. The trolley, carrying the two stands, is hoisted onto the drill rig platform and oriented vertically. The stands are then removed from the trolley and either connected to the drill string or stored in the vertical position for later connection to the drill string.
- Thus, there exists a need for a simple and efficient means for forming stands.
- In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of forming a stand from tubulars comprising:
-
- providing a supply of tubulars;
- providing an elongate stand forming apparatus comprising a front end, rear end and mid section;
- loading a first tubular on the stand forming apparatus, wherein the first tubular is positioned generally parallel therewith;
- pulling the first tubular towards the rear end of the apparatus;
- loading a second tubular on the stand forming apparatus, wherein the second tubular is positioned generally parallel therewith and wherein the second tubular is positioned in general coaxial alignment with the first tubular;
- rotating the first and second tubulars about their longitudinal axes and in opposite directions; and,
- advancing the first tubular against the second tubular during the rotation whereby cooperating threads on each opposing end of the first and second tubulars are engaged to form a stand.
- In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for forming a stand from tubulars comprising:
-
- a generally horizontal, elongate catwalk having a frame with a top surface adapted to receive at least two of the tubulars aligned in a coaxial manner, the frame having a front end, a rear end, and a mid section;
- a pulling means adapted to grip and pull a first of the tubulars towards the rear end of the catwalk;
- a pushing means adapted to advance the first tubular to the front end of the frame; and,
- a rotating means for rotating the tubulars about their longitudinal axes.
- These and other features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a stand forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention with a first tubular loaded thereon. -
FIG. 1 a is a front elevation along the line A-A ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 with a second tubular loaded thereon. -
FIG. 3 a is a front elevation along the line B-B ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 wherein the formed stand is elevated towards a drilling rig. -
FIG. 4 a is a front elevation along the line C-C ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 shown in a folded state without tubulars. - As described further below in more detail, the present invention provides an improved apparatus for forming stands from individual tubulars. In general, the invention comprises a catwalk onto which are loaded two tubulars. The tubulars are positioned generally coaxially on the catwalk in an end-abutting arrangement. The catwalk is provided with lifting devices comprising, in one aspect, actuating arms having rollers that contact and raise the tubulars above the level of the catwalk. The rollers are driven by one or more motors and are arranged so that the tubulars are axially spun in opposite directions with respect to each other. During the spinning operation, the tubulars are advanced against each other whereby the complementary threads on each end engage to form a connection, thereby forming a dual tubular stand. As will be understood, the tubulars are arranged so that the male and female ends are in abutting arrangement so as to permit engagement. The arms are then lowered whereby the now formed stand is allowed to rest on the catwalk, preferably in a trough or groove provided thereon. The stand is then pushed towards the drilling rig. A ramp provided either on the catwalk or on the rig causes one end of the stand to be raised during the pushing process up to a point where a hoist on the drill rig can engage and pull the stand to the desired vertical position over the drilling platform. The stand can then be stored or immediately connected to an existing drill string. The apparatus of the invention is transportable and certain sections can be folded to facilitate such transport.
- Thus, the invention provides a simple and efficient means of forming a stand. The invention can also be operated to load individual tubulars as well directly onto a rig in situations where a stand is not needed. In another aspect, the apparatus of the invention can operate in the opposite manner wherein stands are received from the rig and then separated or dismantled into individual tubulars.
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FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. Thecatwalk apparatus 10 comprises a frame having afront end section 12, arear end section 16 and amid section 14. The structure of the frame is commonly known and may comprise struts and support members and the like. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, various structures for the frame are possible. In one embodiment, theapparatus 10 is adapted to rest on the ground; however, in other embodiments, the apparatus may include tracks, wheels or other such devices upon which the frame rests. Thefront end 12 of theapparatus 10 is inclined upwards and is preferably adjustable so as to reach to the level of the drilling platform. In general, thefront end 12 can be inclined to a point where a tubular or stand resting thereon can be grasped by a hoist or similar device provided on the drill rig. In another embodiment, thecatwalk apparatus 10 does not include afront end portion 12 as shown in the accompanying drawings. Such a situation may occur where the drilling rig itself includes a suitable ramp that functions in the same manner as thefront end 12. - The
catwalk 10 includes atop surface 17 which receives and manipulates tubulars as will be described further below. In a preferred embodiment, thetop surface 17 includes a groove or “V” or “U” shaped surface for locating the tubular in a desired location thereon. An example of such a groove is illustrated aselement 19 inFIG. 4 a. Various other means for retaining tubulars on thetop surface 17 will be known to persons skilled in the art. It will be understood that such retaining means serve to prevent tubulars from rolling or other such unwanted movements. - In operation, the
catwalk apparatus 10 is first positioned adjacent a drilling rig (not shown) such that the catwalk extends generally perpendicularly from the rig and such that thefront end section 12 is adjacent the rig. As indicated above, thefront end section 12 is inclined upwards so as to be roughly at the level of drilling platform (not shown) of the rig. As mentioned above, in another aspect, thecatwalk apparatus 10 does not include afront end section 12 and such functionality is instead provided by a ramp provided on the drill rig. -
FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the catwalk apparatus wherein thefront end section 12 is not shown for convenience. Moreover, various other elements of thecatwalk 10 such as decking etc. are not illustrated but will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. As shown inFIG. 2 , asupply rack 18 containing a supply oftubulars 20 is positioned adjacent to thecatwalk apparatus 10. Thetubulars 20 are preferably provided in a generally parallel arrangement on therack 18. As discussed above, the tubulars, as commonly known in the art, have male and female ends each provided with complementary threads. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, thetubulars 20 on therack 18 are arranged so that all of the respective male and female ends are positioned in the same orientation. More preferably, in order to facilitate the present method, the tubulars are oriented such that all female ends are pointed towards the catwalk front end 12 (i.e. pointed towards the drilling rig). The purpose of such preferred arrangement will be apparent from the following description. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thesupply rack 18 is positioned close to thecatwalk 10 so as to facilitate transfer oftubulars 20 from therack 18 to thecatwalk 10. In one embodiment, thecatwalk 10 andrack 18 are arranged so as to allow a tubular to roll from the rack onto thetop surface 17 of thecatwalk 10. As will be understood, in such arrangement, the catwalktop surface 17 would be slightly lower than therack 18 so as to allow such rolling. In one embodiment, thecatwalk apparatus 10 would be vertically adjustable whereby the catwalk could be lowered to allow a tubular to roll thereon from the rack. The catwalk can then be raised to a height above the rack so that, during a stand dismantling operation (discussed further below), the tubulars can roll from the catwalk onto the rack. It will be understood that in other embodiments, any difference in height may also be overcome by using a forcing means to urge tubulars between the catwalk and the rack. In such case, a difference in height would not pose a problem for the tubular transfer step. In yet another embodiment, tubulars can be transferred between therack 18 and thecatwalk apparatus 10 by means of a crane or any other similar device. Various other tubular transfer mechanisms will be known to persons skilled in the art. - The
catwalk apparatus 10 of the invention also preferably includes askate 22 that is arranged to generally traverse the length of the catwalk from therear end section 16 to thefront end section 12. Theskate 22 includes a clamp to grasp one end, preferably the male end, of a tubular after being loaded on the catwalktop surface 17 and to pull same towards therear end section 16 of the catwalk apparatus. Theskate 22 also includes a bearing surface for pushing the tubular along the length of the catwalk towards thefront end section 12. Theskate 22 can be provided on a track or groove on the catwalk. One example of an arrangement for the skate is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,223 wherein a “pusher” member is described for advancing tubulars longitudinally along a catwalk. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, theskate 22 can be advanced in either direction by a mechanical means (such as using a cable attached to a motor), a hydraulic means (such as by using a cylinder and piston combination) or any other means. Further, as described above, the skate is provided with a clamp for attaching to an end of one tubular. Such clamps are commonly known in the art and any suitable clamp mechanism can be used for the skate. For example, one such clamp is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,540, which teaches a “gripping device” for grasping an end of a tubular. It will be understood that theskate 22 may, in one embodiment, include a threaded portion (not shown) with threads that are complementary to those provided on the end of the tubular. In this way, instead of clamping or grasping a tubular, the threaded portion of theskate 22 may be rotated to engage the end of the tubular. Rotation in an opposite direction would then disengage the skate. Various other gripping means for the skate will be apparent to those skilled in the art. - In operation, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first tubular 20 a is rolled or otherwise placed onto thetop surface 17 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. As shown, in the preferred arrangement, thefemale end 24 of the tubular 20 a is directed towards the front end of thecatwalk apparatus 10. Theskate 22 is then advanced towards the tubular and grips themale end 26 thereof. Theskate 22, in a “pull” mode, is then retracted to therear end portion 16 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. In this way, the first tubular 20 a is pulled towards therear end portion 16. This position is illustrated inFIG. 1 which also shows theskate 22 gripping the tubular 20 a. Once theskate 22 has reached its terminal point on thecatwalk apparatus 10, the gripping mechanism is released. This position is shown inFIG. 3 . As will be understood by the discussion herein, the terminal position of theskate 22 on therear end 16 of theapparatus 10 is the position that pulls the first tubular 20 a a sufficient distance so as to allow another tubular 20 to be loaded onto thetop surface 17. -
FIG. 3 illustrates the next step in the process wherein a second tubular 20 b is provided on thetop surface 17 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. As with the first tubular 20 a, the second tubular 20 b is oriented with itsfemale end 28 directed towards thefront end section 12 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. The male end 30 of the second tubular 20 b is positioned adjacent and in opposition to thefemale end 24 of the first tubular 20 a. Further, as can be seen inFIG. 3 , bothtubulars top surface 17 of thecatwalk 10 and aligned so as to be coaxial with each other. As will be understood, the groove 19 (as shown inFIG. 4 a) serves to maintain the desired alignment of thetubulars tubulars top surface 17, a plurality of lifting devices 32 (a-d), provided on thecatwalk apparatus 10, are actuated. The lifting devices 32 preferably, and in one aspect, comprise actuatingarms 33 at the ends of which are provided drivenrollers 34. Such lifting devices are illustrated inFIGS. 1 a, and 3 a. As can be seen, according to one embodiment, each arm is provided with a pair of opposed rollers. As shown inFIG. 1 a, the rollers are arranged so as to form apinch point 31 there-between, which is adapted to receive a portion of a tubular as explained further below. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3 , thecatwalk apparatus 10 is provided with four lifting devices, 32 a to 32 d, such that each of the first and second tubulars, 20 a and 20 b, are engaged by two lifting devices. Thus, as shown, lifting devices 32 a and 32 b engage the second tubular 20 b while lifting devices 32 c and 32 d engage the first tubular 20 a. In operation, the roller-bearing ends of actuating aims 33 are raised by any known means, such as hydraulically, mechanically etc. In such manner, therollers 34 are raised up to receive the tubular within thepinch 31 there-between. Thearms 33 are raised further so that the tubular is raised above thetop surface 17 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. For example,FIG. 3 a illustrates the second tubular 20 b contained between tworollers 34 and raised above thetop surface 17. - It will be understood that the
top surface 17 of the catwalk is provided with openings through which therollers 34 and/orarms 33 may be extended. Therollers 34 are driven either directly or indirectly by motors and the like so as to rotate the tubular engaged therein about its longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, therollers 34 are reversibly driven as will be further explained below. It will be understood that thearms 33 androllers 34 are designed with sufficient strength to support the tubular. It will also be understood from the present description that therollers 34 are made of a material that includes a sufficient coefficient of friction to cause rotation of the tubular. Such materials and other specifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. In addition, although two pairs of lifting devices are described for the purpose of lifting the entire lengths of each of the tubulars, it will be appreciated that any number of devices may also be provided for achieving the same purpose. For example, it would also be possible to include only one lifting device per tubular in which case, the rollers may be elongated to support the length of the tubulars. - Once the two
tubulars top surface 17, the rollers are activated as mentioned above. However, it should be noted that the rollers engaging the first tubular 20 a (i.e. the rollers provided on lifting devices 32 c and 32 d) are rotated in a direction opposite to therollers engaging tubular 20 b (i.e. the rollers provided on lifting devices 32 a and 32 b). In this way, the two tubulars are rotated in opposite directions. Once axial rotation of thetubulars skate 22, now in “push” mode (as shown inFIG. 3 ) is used to advance the first tubular 20 a towards thefront end 12 of theapparatus 10. Thus, thefemale end 24 of the first tubular 20 a is advanced towards the male end 30 of the second tubular 20 b. Due to the opposite rotation of each tubular, and the complementary threading between the male and female ends (as discussed above), the first and second tubulars are allowed to engage one another thereby forming a stand. In this process, it will be understood that the rotation directions of each of the rollers associated with the two tubulars are selected so as to allow the respective male end to be threaded onto the respective female end and vice versa. - Once the stand, comprising the joined
tubulars top surface 17 of thecatwalk apparatus 10. Theskate 22 continues in the “push” mode and is advanced towards thefront end section 12 of theapparatus 10. In this way, theskate 22 bears against themale end 26 of the first tubular 20 a and, therefore, urges the stand in a direction towards thefront end section 12 and towards the drilling rig (not shown). - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , due to the inclination of thefront end section 12, the section of the stand proximal to the front end section is gradually elevated as theskate 22 is advanced. Such elevation continues until thefemale end 28 of the second tubular 20 b reaches a height wherein a hoist mechanism (not shown) provided on the drilling rig is able to reach and grip the end of the stand. The hoist mechanism then raises the stand to its vertical orientation on the drilling platform and the stand is then either connected to the existing drill string or is stored in the vertical position for future connection. It will be understood that the stand may require torquing on the drilling rig to provide a sufficiently tight connection between thetubulars - As will be known to persons skilled in the art, the terminal, surface exposed end of a drill string is normally the female end. As such, the lower end of the now vertical stand should comprise the male end in order to mate with the existing drill string. As will be understood from the above description, by positioning the tubulars on the rack with the female ends directed towards the
front end section 12 of thecatwalk apparatus 10, the formation of the stand takes place in such a manner that the formed stand, when oriented vertically, is in the desired position with the male end pointed downwards. It will also be understood that the opposite orientation of the tubulars and stands will be required should the exposed drill string end be male. - As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the above described process can also be operated in reverse order to dismantle stands. That is, the hoist on the drilling rig can first extract a stand from a drill string and lower it on to the
front end section 12 of the catwalk apparatus. Theskate 22 is then advanced and activated to grip the free end (usually the male end) of the stand. The skate is then retracted towards therear end section 16 of thecatwalk apparatus 10 until the stand is rests ontop surface 17 in a generally horizontal orientation and wherein each tubular segment of the stand is positioned above the respective pairs of lifting devices 32. The lifting devices 32 are then activated as above to raise the stand above thetop surface 17. The rollers are then actuated to rotate in opposite directions as before, but in this case, such rolling is used to disconnect (i.e. unscrew) the tubulars. Once separated, one of the tubulars is then loaded onto therack 18 by either rolling or by means of a device such as a crane etc. The remaining tubular is then pushed by theskate 22 to a position on thetop surface 17 that enables the tubular to be moved to the rack as well. - Another feature of the present invention is the capability to automate the standbuilding operation. That is, as described above, very little manual manipulation of the tubulars or stands is needed. Thus, the entire process can be coordinated by an operator positioned away from the catwalk. In this way, the present invention provides a stand make-up and break-up system which comprises a safer alternative than processes known in the art. It will be understood that the apparatus discussed above will include suitable and commonly known electrical connections and/or processors etc. to enable such automation. For example, the system of the invention would include a control system to enable one or more operators to control various mechanisms on the
catwalk 10, therack 18 and/or the drill rig (i.e. the hoist). In such case, the rack may be provided with an automated feeder to feed single tubulars to the catwalktop surface 17. Theskate 22 and lifting devices 32 may in turn be controlled remotely by means of commonly known control circuitry. Similarly, the hoist described above may also be controlled remotely by the same operator so as to cause vertical lifting of the stand onto the rig. In one embodiment, the system may be controlled by a computer based control system, which can coordinate all of the above functions. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a further feature of the invention. As shown, thefront end 12 andrear end 16 sections of thecatwalk apparatus 10 can be folded over themid section 14. In this way, theapparatus 10 can be reduced in size to facilitate transportation between sites. - The above description has focussed on “making up” a dual tubular stand. However, it will be appreciated that the present apparatus also provides a safe and efficient means of loading even single tubulars onto a drilling platform. In such a process, a tubular is loaded onto the
top surface 17 of thecatwalk apparatus 10 as described above and theskate 22 is used to push the tubular towards the rig. As described above, the combination of the pushing action by theskate 22 and the inclination of thefront end section 12, causes the front end of the tubular to be raised towards the drilling platform. A hoist mechanism (as described above) on the drill rig can then be used to raise the tubular to a vertical orientation and positioned on the drilling platform. As discussed above, the automation of the process enables an operator or a control system to remotely control this operation. - It will be understood that the above description has focussed on the formation of stands including two tubulars (i.e. a dual make-up stand). However, the apparatus described above may also be adapted to form stands with any number of tubulars. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that a functional limit in the length of stands lies in the height of the derrick provided on the drill rig.
- In the above description, the
skate 22 has been described as performing two functions, namely the “pulling” and “pushing” of tubulars. However, it will be understood that such dual role of the skate is a preferred embodiment. In other embodiments of the invention, each of these functions can be performed with two separate skate-like devices. Thus, one device may comprise a gripping mechanism to pull tubulars while a second device may comprise a bearing surface for pushing tubulars. - Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined herein. The disclosures of all prior art recited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Claims (13)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CA2,540,820 | 2006-03-21 | ||
CA002540820A CA2540820A1 (en) | 2006-03-21 | 2006-03-21 | Apparatus and method for forming stands |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070221385A1 true US20070221385A1 (en) | 2007-09-27 |
Family
ID=38520916
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/689,279 Abandoned US20070221385A1 (en) | 2006-03-21 | 2007-03-21 | Apparatus and Method for Forming Stands |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20070221385A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2540820A1 (en) |
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US20090185883A1 (en) * | 2004-11-29 | 2009-07-23 | Monte Neil Wright | Vertical offline stand building and manipulating system |
US20090196711A1 (en) * | 2008-01-31 | 2009-08-06 | Nabors Global Holdings Ltd. | Pipe Handling Apparatus and Methods |
US20090252576A1 (en) * | 2008-04-04 | 2009-10-08 | Nabors Global Holdings Ltd. | Pipe-handling apparatus and methods |
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US20100163247A1 (en) * | 2008-12-30 | 2010-07-01 | Monte Neil Wright | Horizontal offline stand building system |
US7832974B2 (en) | 2005-06-01 | 2010-11-16 | Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. | Pipe-handling apparatus |
US20100316448A1 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2010-12-16 | Paulo Roberto Gomes Fernandes | Apparatus and method for laying a pipeline |
US20110214919A1 (en) * | 2010-03-05 | 2011-09-08 | Mcclung Iii Guy L | Dual top drive systems and methods |
US8511963B1 (en) * | 2009-02-12 | 2013-08-20 | Billy Bunch | Pipe handling assembly |
US20140205417A1 (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2014-07-24 | Friede Goldman United, Ltd. | Trolley Apparatus |
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US9422779B1 (en) | 2009-02-12 | 2016-08-23 | Justin Bunch | Pipe handling assembly |
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US20180045000A1 (en) * | 2015-02-24 | 2018-02-15 | Drillform Technical Services Ltd. | Transitioning pipe handler |
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US20090185883A1 (en) * | 2004-11-29 | 2009-07-23 | Monte Neil Wright | Vertical offline stand building and manipulating system |
US8215887B2 (en) | 2005-06-01 | 2012-07-10 | Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. | Pipe-handling apparatus and methods |
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US8033779B2 (en) | 2008-01-31 | 2011-10-11 | Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. | Pipe handling apparatus and methods |
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US20100163247A1 (en) * | 2008-12-30 | 2010-07-01 | Monte Neil Wright | Horizontal offline stand building system |
US8511963B1 (en) * | 2009-02-12 | 2013-08-20 | Billy Bunch | Pipe handling assembly |
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US9964235B2 (en) | 2009-05-20 | 2018-05-08 | Paulo Roberto Gomes Fernandes | Supporting structures for pipelines and the like |
US9476265B2 (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2016-10-25 | Friede Goldman United, Ltd. | Trolley apparatus |
US20140205417A1 (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2014-07-24 | Friede Goldman United, Ltd. | Trolley Apparatus |
US20110214919A1 (en) * | 2010-03-05 | 2011-09-08 | Mcclung Iii Guy L | Dual top drive systems and methods |
US9212526B1 (en) * | 2012-01-17 | 2015-12-15 | Canyon Oak Energy LLC | Portable moveable horizontal to vertical pipe handler |
US10422192B2 (en) | 2014-07-15 | 2019-09-24 | Warrior Rig Technologies Limited | Pipe handling apparatus and methods |
US10012038B2 (en) | 2014-07-15 | 2018-07-03 | Warrior Rig Technologies Limited | Pipe handling apparatus and methods |
WO2016097838A1 (en) * | 2014-12-17 | 2016-06-23 | Borais Petroleum Investment Co. | Trolley for insertion of strings of drill pipes in hydrocarbon production wells and plant equipped with said trolley |
US20180045000A1 (en) * | 2015-02-24 | 2018-02-15 | Drillform Technical Services Ltd. | Transitioning pipe handler |
US10480264B2 (en) * | 2015-02-24 | 2019-11-19 | Drillform Technical Services Ltd. | Transitioning pipe handler |
WO2016138007A1 (en) * | 2015-02-27 | 2016-09-01 | Forum Us, Inc. | Tubular pin control system |
US10557320B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2020-02-11 | Forum Us, Inc. | Tubular pin control system |
US10519729B2 (en) | 2015-06-08 | 2019-12-31 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Horizontal pipe connection and length detection system |
US11098540B2 (en) | 2015-06-08 | 2021-08-24 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Horizontal pipe connection and length detection system |
US10060202B2 (en) * | 2015-06-24 | 2018-08-28 | Coax Technology Inc. | System and method for delivering a tubular pipe segment to a drill rig floor |
US10900300B2 (en) | 2015-06-24 | 2021-01-26 | Coax Technology Inc. | System and method for delivering a tubular pipe segment to a drill rig floor |
US20170096867A1 (en) * | 2015-06-24 | 2017-04-06 | Coax Technology Inc. | System and method for delivering a tubular pipe segment to a drill rig floor |
US20190017334A1 (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2019-01-17 | Cameron International Corporation | Horizontal offline stand building system and method of its use in drilling operations |
US11549320B2 (en) | 2018-09-11 | 2023-01-10 | Drillform Technical Services Ltd. | Pipe handler apparatus |
US11346165B2 (en) | 2019-07-10 | 2022-05-31 | Gustaaf Rus | Horizontal stand builder and catwalk |
US11428056B1 (en) | 2020-03-11 | 2022-08-30 | Forum Us, Inc. | Pipe puller for drilling and service rig pipe handlers |
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