Casing Lifting System With Elastic Stabilizers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for lifting drilling casing are labor-intensive and pose safety risks to roustabouts, as they require climbing over or under heavy casing sections to wrap slings, leading to potential pinching or crushing hazards and instability during transport.
Innovation Solution
A casing lifting system comprising a spreader bar and lifting caps with elastic stabilizers and slings that allow for safe and efficient engagement and lifting of casing sections, keeping the lifting caps within reach of roustabouts and providing features like handles, inspection windows, and a polymer sleeve lining for secure fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If slings are wrapped around tubulars using existing methods, then the tubulars can be lifted and transported, but roustabouts face high risk of injury from pinching or crushing between heavy tubulars and labor-intensive climbing operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the lifting cap with engagement features) that mediates between the sling and the tubular. The lifting cap engages with the tubular's box end or pin end, allowing the sling to lift the tubular without requiring roustabouts to directly handle or climb on the tubular itself, thereby eliminating pinching hazards and reducing labor intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting cap is designed to engage automatically with the tubular's box end or pin end through its engagement features (such as internal threads or mechanical interlocks). This self-engaging mechanism eliminates the need for roustabouts to manually wrap slings around the tubular, reducing labor intensity and minimizing exposure to hazards
2Productivity
If multiple casing sections are lifted simultaneously using existing methods, then transport efficiency is improved, but stability and control during lifting become difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lifting system by providing individual lifting caps for each tubular being lifted. Each lifting cap independently engages with its corresponding tubular, allowing multiple tubulars to be lifted simultaneously while maintaining individual stability and control. This segmentation approach enables efficient multi-tubular transport without compromising stability
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting cap is designed as a universal device that can engage with different types of tubular ends (box ends or pin ends) through its engagement features. This multi-functionality allows the same lifting cap design to be used across various tubular configurations, simplifying the lifting system while maintaining stability and control during simultaneous lifting of multiple sections
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances safety and efficiency by eliminating the need for roustabouts to climb on casing sections, reducing the risk of injury and damage, and ensuring stable lifting of multiple casing sections simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first and second lifting caps are configured for coupling adjacent to opposing lateral ends of the spreader bar by respective first and second elastic stabilizers
Data Source
AI summary
A casing lifting system includes a spreader bar, a first lifting cap, and a second lifting cap. The first lifting cap is configured to engage a first end of a first section of drilling casing, and the first lifting cap includes a first lifting lug. The second lifting cap is configured to engage a second end of the first section of drilling casing opposite the first end of the first section of drilling casing, and the second lifting cap includes a second lifting lug. In some embodiments, each of the first and second lifting caps are configured for coupling adjacent to opposing lateral ends of the spreader bar by respective first and second elastic stabilizers coupled between the first and second lifting lugs and first attachment points adjacent to the opposing lateral ends of the spreader bar.