System for manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863194-B2
Application number	US-201414888834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2014
Priority date	May 3, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A system for manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations includes a remote-controlled tubular lift system (RCTLS) having an engagement head configured to engage a proximal end region of a tubular and change the position of the tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein in the vertical position a longitudinal axis of the tubular has an angular variation with respect to a predetermined vertical axis of not greater than about 5 degrees.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations comprising:
a remote-controlled tubular lift system (RCTLS) comprising:
an engagement head configured to grasp a proximal end region of a tubular and change the position of the tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position; and
a stabilizer configured to initially engage the tubular at the proximal end region of the tubular and limit swinging motion of the tubular as it translates over the stabilizer during the change of the position of the tubular from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position,
wherein the stabilizer comprises:
a first arm coupled to a shunter through a first hinged axis;
a second arm coupled to the first arm through a second hinged axis, the second hinged axis being parallel to the first hinged axis; and
wherein the second arm is configured to articulate independently from the first arm.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a work zone, wherein the engagement head is contained within the work zone.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end region is spaced away from a center of gravity of the tubular by at least about 0.2(l), wherein l is a length of the tubular.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular is selected from the group of tubulars consisting of drillpipe, casing, drillcollar, and a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RCTLS is part of a rig.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engagement head is part of an engagement head assembly comprising the engagement head coupled to an engagement head tower, and wherein the engagement head is configured to simultaneously translate along an engagement head axis and rotate about a rotational axis to change the position of the tubular from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engagement head is part of an engagement head assembly comprising the engagement head coupled to an engagement head tower, and wherein the engagement head is configured to translate the tubular in a vertical position along the predetermined vertical axis and maintain an angular variation of not greater than about 5 degrees during translation.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the vertical position a longitudinal axis of the tubular has an angular variation with respect to a predetermined vertical axis of not greater than about 5 degrees.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured to engage at least a portion of the tubular in the substantially horizontal position, and is configured to move the tubular to a ready position to be engaged with the engagement head.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured to engage a portion of the tubular and guide a distal end of the tubular during the change of position of the tubular from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured for movement along at least a vertical axis, a lateral axis, a horizontal axis, or a combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a receiving surface configured to engage at least a portion of the tubular, and wherein the receiving surface comprises a contour having a complementary shape to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tubular.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a roller configured to rotate as the tubular translates over a surface of the roller.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the roller comprises a receiving surface configured to engage at least a portion of the tubular.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer further comprises a stop bar configured to engage a portion of the tubular and maintain contact between the tubular and a receiving surface of the stabilizer.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment element configured to engage a portion of the tubular in the vertical position and assist in maintaining the angular variation of not greater than about 5 degrees during translation of the tubular along the predetermined vertical axis.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured to engage a distal end region of the tubular opposite the proximal end region, wherein the distal end region is spaced away from a center of gravity of the tubular by at least about 0.2(l).

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engagement head is configured to translate vertically along an engagement head axis substantially parallel to the predetermined vertical axis to change the position of the tubular from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured for simultaneous movement in multiple directions.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is configured for complex movement in at least two directions.

Assignees

• Canrig Drilling Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Larkin Brendan

Classifications

• E21B19/155 Primary

  Handling between horizontal and vertical position · CPC title