Light-weight single joint manipulator arm

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for making up tubular strings in a well. The present invention provides a single joint manipulator arm for manipulating and positioning tubing joints for coupling into a tubular string. In one embodiment, a string elevator is supported by a hoist. A single joint elevator is supported on a swing arm that is pivotally secured to the sub-hoist assembly. An actuator rotates the swing arm to an initial position for securing to an add-on tubular joint whereby the single joint elevator engages a proximate end of the add-on tubular joint. As the hoist is lifted, a damper dampens rotation of the swing arm as it finds gravitational equilibrium with the single joint held in a substantially vertical orientation. A distal end of the tubular joint is aligned with a casing string supported by a spider, and the tubular joint is threadably coupled to the tubular string. The actuator may include provisions to power the arm from the vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation and also to dampen the movement of the arm as it moves from the substantially horizontal or an intermediate position to the vertical orientation once the single joint elevator engages the add-on tubular joint and the hoist suspends the joint for rotation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention provides a device and a method for manipulating tubular segments for make up and installation of a tubular string in a well.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Tubular strings installed in wells are made up by threadably coupling individual tubular segments at a well site. For example, a string of drill pipe is made from threadably coupling joints of drill pipe to rotate and advance a drill bit downhole. A casing string is made up by threadably coupling casing segments to line a drilled borehole to prevent collapse and to facilitate cementing. A production string is made up and run through casing strings to provide a conduit from the formation to the surface for producing oil or gas.[0005]Valuable rig time is consumed in retrieving, positioning and threadably coupling segments of pipe into a string. Since hundreds of segments may be made up and run into a borehole, saving just seconds per ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]One embodiment of the present invention comprises a single joint manipulator arm having a swing arm supporting a single joint elevator for securing a pipe segment to the swing arm. The swing arm is a strong and generally light-weight arm positionable with one or more cylinders or other actuators for rotatably aligning the segment with the string. In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a single joint manipulator arm that is pivotably securable to one or more bails that support a string elevator for lifting and lowering the pipe string into the borehole after each joint or stand of new pipe is threadably coupled into the string. The present invention provides a light-weight single joint manipulator arm that is easily and efficiently removed from the path of the string elevator or spider elevator. In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a single joint manipulator arm that is pivotably securable to a sub threadably coupled to a top drive shaft or quill. In this embodiment, the manipulator arm is pivotably secured to the sub above other components, such as a fill-up and circulation tool, or it is pivotably secured to a sub positioned below a top drive shaft and above a casing running tool.

Problems solved by technology

Suspending the single joint elevator by a rope imposes many limitations on the efficiency of the process of adding pipe segments to the pipe string.

Also, once the pipe segment is coupled to the rope and hoisted above the rig floor, the pipe segment will generally not hang vertical due to the force of gravity, and it is difficult and awkward to maneuver the pipe segment into a vertical position atop the pipe string suspended in the borehole.

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