Adjustable work platform for pipe and casing stabbing operations

Abstract

A stabbing board, for a rig and for supporting a worker while stabbing joints of tubular members, comprises a frame member, a platform to support the worker, a carriage, vertical power means for moving the carriage vertically with respect to the frame member, a linkage to connect the platform to the carriage and to facilitate horizontal movement of the platform relative to the carriage and the frame member and horizontal power means for moving the platform horizontally with respect to the frame member. Preferably, the linkage is a scissors linkage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a handling board or platform and, more particularly, to a stabbing board assembly mountable on a well derrick for supporting a worker while stabbing joints of pipe or casing during running operations.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]It is common practice in the oil and gas well drilling art to provide some form of support or platform for accommodating an operator or worker at a position above the floor of the derrick, particularly during a running of pipe or tubulars into the well, in order to assist in properly axially aligning the tubulars during the stabbing operation. Typically this is accomplished through the use of casing stabbing boards, which are hung or suspended on wirelines held within the derrick or drilling rig.[0003]Additionally, in the prior art, a number of devices have been developed to improve upon such hung or suspended stabbing boards. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,602 to Bryant, which is h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides improvements to stabbing boards and stabbing baskets. The stabbing board includes a frame, a platform for the worker, a carriage, and vertical power means for moving the carriage vertically with respect to the frame. Additionally, there is a linkage that connects the platform to the carriage and facilitates horizontal movement of the platform relative to the carriage and the frame. The linkage is a scissors linkage. The vertical power means includes a leadscrew mounted within the frame, a motor to drive the leadscrew, and a nut mounted on the carriage to receive the leadscrew. These improvements allow for safer and more efficient stabbing of joints of tubular members together during running operations."

Problems solved by technology

However, the stabbing board of Bryant does not provide for any horizontal movement of the platform to allow an operator to be placed in sufficient proximity to the pipe or tubulars during stabbing operations and to easily and quickly allow the platform to move away from the pipe or tubulars when the operator has completed his task of stabbing the tubular.

As such, the stabbing board of Calhoun cannot easily and quickly move the platform away from the pipe or tubulars when the operator has completed the stabbing operations so as to reduce the risk of the operator being hit or injured by to the moving blocks or other equipment within the derrick.

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