Elevator System with Pivoting Doors and Offset Slips for Tubular Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator technologies for oilfield operations either damage less robust tubulars like drill pipes due to excessive gripping force or fail to securely engage more robust tubulars like casings, leading to inefficiencies in handling and transferring weights during drilling and casing operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular elevator system with pivoting doors and radially offset slips, featuring tapered engaging surfaces and a frustoconical bowl, which can adjust positions to securely engage and disengage tubulars of varying diameters, including both casings and drill pipes, using a timing ring and hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders for precise movement and load transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If slip-type elevators with gripping structures are used to engage robust tubulars like casings, then secure engagement and weight support are improved, but less robust tubulars like drill pipes are damaged due to excessive gripping force
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system dynamically adapts its engagement mechanism based on tubular type. For robust casings, slips with gripping structures engage the outer radial surface. For less robust drill pipes, the system switches to a load bushing that catches the upset or lift nubbin and provides a collar bearing surface, eliminating excessive gripping force while maintaining secure engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engagement parameters by selecting different mechanisms: slip-type engagement with high gripping force for heavy casings, and load bushing engagement with distributed bearing surface for lighter drill pipes. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between secure engagement and damage prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If load bushing elevators are used for less robust tubulars like drill pipes, then damage to tubulars is prevented, but secure engagement of robust tubulars like casings is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system dynamically adapts its engagement mechanism based on tubular type. For robust casings, slips with gripping structures engage the outer radial surface. For less robust drill pipes, the system switches to a load bushing that catches the upset or lift nubbin and provides a collar bearing surface, eliminating excessive gripping force while maintaining secure engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator is designed with multi-functionality to handle both robust casings and less robust drill pipes using different engagement mechanisms. The system can switch between slip-type engagement and load bushing engagement, making it universally applicable to different tubular types without compromising either secure engagement or damage prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If different types of elevators are used for different tubulars, then damage to tubulars is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges both slip-type engagement and load bushing engagement mechanisms into a single elevator device. The elevator body can accommodate both slips and load bushings, allowing it to handle both robust casings and less robust drill pipes without requiring separate elevator devices, thus reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator is designed with multi-functionality to handle both robust casings and less robust drill pipes using different engagement mechanisms. The system can switch between slip-type engagement and load bushing engagement, making it universally applicable to different tubular types without compromising either secure engagement or damage prevention.
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 effectively supports and transfers the weight of tubulars without damaging them, enabling secure engagement and disengagement of both robust casings and less robust drill pipes, enhancing operational efficiency and safety in oilfield operations.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for precise movement and load transfer
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for precise movement and load transfer
Implementation Method 3
tapered engaging surfaces and a frustoconical bowl, which can adjust positions to securely engage and disengage tubulars
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for handling one or more tubulars. The apparatus may include a body defining at least a portion of a tapered bowl. A plurality of slips may be disposed at least partially within the bowl and configured to slide along a surface of the bowl. Each of the slips may include a radial engaging surface and a tapered engaging surface. The radial engaging surface may have a plurality of gripping structures extending inwardly therefrom that are configured to engage an outer surface of a first tubular having a substantially constant outer diameter. The tapered engaging surface may be configured to engage a tapered outer surface of a second tubular.