Catwalk system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305201-A1
Application number	US-201615098187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Present embodiments are directed to a catwalk system that includes a base, a plurality of columns extending from the base, where each of the plurality of columns is rigid in an erected position, and a carriage and trough assembly configured to translate along the plurality of columns to lift a tubular element from a lowered position to a raised position in a substantially horizontal orientation, where the plurality of columns is configured to remain stationary as the carriage and trough assembly is translated from the lowered position to the raised position.

First claim

1 . A catwalk system, comprising:
a base; a plurality of columns extending from the base, wherein each of the plurality of columns is rigid in an erected configuration; and a carriage and trough assembly configured to translate along the plurality of columns to lift a tubular element from a lowered position to a raised position in a substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the plurality of columns is configured to remain stationary as the carriage and trough assembly is translated from the lowered position to the raised position.

2 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage and trough assembly comprises a carriage and a trough disposed in the carriage, and wherein the trough is configured to extend horizontally from the carriage to convey the tubular element toward a rig floor.

3 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , comprising a first front column of the plurality of columns coupled to a second front column of the plurality of columns, and comprising a first rear column of the plurality of columns coupled to a second rear column of the plurality of columns.

4 . The catwalk system of claim 3 , comprising a first opening between the first front column and the second front column and a second opening between the first rear column and the second rear column.

5 . The catwalk system of claim 3 , wherein the first front column and the second front column are coupled to one another with first cross-bracing, and wherein the first rear column and the second rear column are coupled to one another with second cross-bracing.

6 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , comprising one or more stabilizers coupled to the base, wherein the one or more stabilizers are configured to expand one or both of a width or an area of the base.

7 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage and trough assembly comprises pins disposed in a trough of the carriage and trough assembly, wherein the pins are configured to extend from the trough to secure the tubular element within the carriage and trough assembly when the carriage and trough assembly translates along the plurality of columns.

8 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , comprising one or more gullwings coupled to the base, wherein the one or more gullwings are configured to receive the tubular element and facilitate positioning the tubular element on the carriage and trough assembly.

9 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , comprising a brace coupled to the base and extending toward a column of the plurality of columns, wherein the brace is configured to support the column of the plurality of columns.

10 . The catwalk system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of columns forms a first angle with the base that is substantially similar to a second angle formed between a V-Door of a drilling rig and a ground surface.

11 . A system, comprising:
a carriage and trough assembly configured to support a tubular element being raised from a lowered position to a lifted position, the carriage and trough assembly comprising:
a carriage; and
a trough disposed within the carriage, wherein the trough is configured to extend horizontally from the carriage, and wherein the trough comprises a conveyor assembly configured to move relative to the trough and receive and transport a tubular element.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the conveyor assembly comprises one or more belts, apron feeders, plates, belt segments, or any combination thereof.

13 . The system of claim 11 , comprising one or more gullwings coupled to a base supporting the carriage and trough assembly, wherein the one or more gullwings are configured to receive the tubular element and facilitate positioning the tubular element on the carriage and trough assembly.

14 . The system of claim 13 , comprising a kicker and a rocker coupled to a base supporting the carriage and trough assembly, wherein the kicker and the rocker are configured to facilitate removal of the tubular element from the carriage and the trough assembly.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the kicker is configured to direct the tubular element toward the rocker, and wherein the rocker is configured to direct the tubular element toward the one or more gullwings.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the carriage and trough assembly comprises sliding elements configured to enable relative movement between the carriage and the trough.

17 . A method, comprising:
loading a tubular element onto a carriage and trough assembly of a catwalk system, wherein the catwalk system comprises a plurality of columns; raising the carriage and trough assembly in a substantially horizontal orientation along the plurality of columns from a lowered position to a raised position; extending a trough of the carriage and trough assembly from a carriage of the carriage and trough assembly toward an elevated rig floor; and conveying the tubular element along the trough toward the elevated rig floor via a conveyor extending a length of the trough.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
positioning an additional tubular element onto the trough when the carriage and trough assembly is in the raised position; conveying the tubular element toward the carriage and trough assembly via the conveyor; retracting the trough into the carriage; lowering the carriage and trough assembly in the substantially horizontal orientation along the plurality of columns from the raised position to the lowered position; and unloading the tubular element from the carriage and trough assembly.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein loading the tubular element onto the carriage and trough assembly of the catwalk system comprises positioning the tubular element onto gullwings of a base of the catwalk system and rolling the tubular element onto the carriage and trough assembly.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the conveyor comprises one or more belts, apron feeders, plates, belt segments, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Tesco Corp

Inventors

• Bowley Ryan Thomas
• Jantzen Leon Keith
• Coombe Brent James-William

Classifications

• E21B19/14 Primary

  Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole (E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B19/08 Primary

  Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables (E21B19/22 takes precedence; automatic feed E21B44/02); Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods · CPC title