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Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock

a makeup interlocking and tubular technology, applied in the direction of drilling casings, well accessories, pipes, etc., can solve the problems of increasing the likelihood of thread damage, increasing the potential for downtime, and wasting time in the process of connecting and disconnecting the casing using the thread connection, so as to prevent the inadvertent release of the tubular or the tubular string

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-10-30
WEATHERFORDLAMB
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus and methods to prevent inadvertent release of a tubular or tubular string. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods disclosed herein ensure that at least one tubular holding device is engaged to the tubular before another tubular holding device is allowed to disengage from the tubular. In another embodiment, either a top drive or a spider is engaged to the tubular before the other component is disengaged from the tubular. The interlock system is utilized with a spider and a top drive during assembly or disassembly of a tubular string.
[0013]In one embodiment, an interlock system is used to control the operations of a gripping apparatus connected to the top drive and a spider such that at least one of the top drive or the spider retains the tubular. The interlock system allows the spider to open when the gripping apparatus is supporting a load of the tubular or is in position to support a load of the tubular.

Problems solved by technology

However, the process of connecting and disconnecting a casing using a threaded connection is time consuming.
Furthermore, the threading process also increases the likelihood of damage to the threads, thereby increasing the potential for downtime.
At any given time, an operator can inadvertently drop the casing string by moving the wrong lever.

Method used

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  • Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock
  • Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock
  • Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0030]The present invention is an interlock system for use with a top drive and a spider during assembly or disassembly of a string of tubulars. The interlock system may be used to ensure that the tubular string is retained either by the top drive and / or the spider. In one embodiment, the interlock system is adapted to determine that the load of the tubular string is carried by the top drive before the spider is allowed to open.

[0031]FIG. 1 shows a drilling rig 10 applicable to tubular running and drilling operations. The drilling rig 10 includes a rig floor 20 and a hole 55 therethrough, the center of which is termed the well center. A spider 60 is disposed around or within the hole 55 to grippingly engage the tubular 4 at various stages of the drilling operation. As used herein, the tubular 4 may include a single tubular or a tubular string having more than one tubular. Exemplary tubulars include casing, drill pipe, tubing, and other wellbore tubulars as is known to a person of or...

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. In one embodiment, an interlock system is used to control the operations of a gripping apparatus connected to the top drive and a spider such that at least one of the top drive or the spider retains the tubular. The interlock system allows the spider to open when the gripping apparatus is supporting a load of the tubular or is in position to support a load of the tubular.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 926,502, filed Apr. 27, 2007, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for facilitating the connection of tubulars. More particularly, the invention relates to an interlock system for use with two or more tubular holding apparatus during the assembly or disassembly of tubulars. More particularly still, the invention relates to an interlock system for use with a top drive and a spider during the assembly or disassembly of tubulars.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]It is known in the industry to use top drive systems to rotate a drill string to form a borehole. Top drive systems are equipped with a motor to provide torque for rotating the drilling string. The quill of the top drive is typically thread...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E21B19/16
CPCE21B19/16E21B41/0021E21B19/10E21B19/165
Inventor PIETRAS, BERND-GEORGABRAHAMSEN, EGILL
Owner WEATHERFORDLAMB
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