Patent Grant
7331746
This invention relates to the field of equipment used in the drilling industry, and more particularly, it relates to an apparatus for manipulating and racking pipes in a drilling derrick.
In drilling operations, the derrick is the structure designed to support and manipulate the drill string in and out of the well bore. The drill string is a series of drill pipe segments detachably connected together. Typically, the drill pipe segments are coupled together to form a pipe stand of a predetermined or standard length and the pipe stands are then coupled together to form the drill string.
A drill collar and a drill bit are attached to a drill end of the drill string. The drill collar is a heavier pipe having a larger diameter which fits around the drill pipe and places weight on the drill bit such that the downward force from the weight of the drill string, drill collar, and other drilling equipment on the drill bit assists in the drilling process. As the drill bit and drill string rotate and penetrate into the well bore, additional lengths of pipe stands may be connected to the coupling end of the drill string. Each pipe stand is typically thirty to forty five feet in length for larger drilling operations and between fifteen and twenty feet for smaller operations.
Because the drill bit has to be changed after a few days or even a few hours, depending on the hardness of the matter being drilled through, the drill string must be raised and lowered frequently. This involves withdrawing the drill string from the well bore by conventional hoisting means such as a winch mounted to the derrick, uncoupling the pipe stands of the drill string using a power wrench, and stacking the pipe stands in a conventional pipe storage or racking assembly such as a finger board assembly. In larger operations, the drill string can weigh several hundred tonnes and requires an extremely powerful motor housed in the derrick to withdraw the drill string from the well bore. Typically, electric or hydraulic pipe handling systems transport pipe stands between the well bore and the derrick to and the storage assembly. After replacing the bit, the pipe stands are removed from the storage assembly by the pipe handling system and transported back to the drill string where the pipe stands are re-coupled with the drill string and lowered back down the well bore to recommence drilling. Known as a “round trip”, this operation can take up to ten hours or more, depending on the depth of the well.
There are several devices and apparatus known in the art designed to improve the efficiency of the round trip operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,974 to Krueger, issued Nov. 11, 1986, provides an automated pipe equipment system for automatically removing pipe stands from and adding pipe stands to a drill string by using sensing means such as transducers to indicate to a programmable controller whether a pipe joint has been grasped by a racking arm. This system increases the efficiency of the round trip operation by reducing the manual labour typically required to facilitate various steps in the operation, such as ensuring that the racking arm has securely grasped the pipe stand. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,941 to McCleskey Jr. et al., issued Oct. 3, 1978, provides a device which rapidly handles and vertically racks riser pipes and drill pipes in the drilling derrick. Manipulators effect the desired displacement of the pipes such that the lower ends of the pipes may rest on a set back platform on the drill floor and the upper ends of the pipes may be secured in a finger board. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,178 to Brown et al., issued Mar. 22, 1977, provides a pipe racker wherein a manoeuvrable arm mounted on the derrick may grip the pipe joint anywhere along its length, lift the pipe, and move the pipe to another location without the need of a cable support. The vertical, horizontal and telescoping of the manoeuvrable arm provides the racker with three orthogonal degrees of freedom
While the prior art provides devices for handling pipe stands in a more efficient manner, they do not provide a solution to address the instability associated with manipulating and transporting pipe stands that may exceed thirty feet in length and several hundred tonnes in weight. For example, in the Krueger patent, a clamp engages only an upper portion of the pipe to effect vertical and rotational movement, leaving the mid-portion and lower portion of the pipe vulnerable to undesired swaying movement which may affect the racking rate. Furthermore, the repeated use of clamps and other similar securing means causes scarring of the pipe stands which eventually causes weakening and breakage of the pipe stands. Conventional securing means used in the art also fails to provide proper or adequate support of the weight of the pipe stand. Therefore, an unaddressed need exists in the industry to provide an apparatus for handling pipes in a stable and efficient manner to deal with deficiencies and inadequacies in the prior art.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for handling pipes in a drilling derrick wherein the apparatus stabilizes and supports the pipe stand such that unwanted movement of the pipe stand, which affects the rate of racking, may be reduced, thereby increasing racking efficiency.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for handling pipes in a drilling derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted to the derrick, the apparatus comprising a rotatable gate assembly mounted to the pipe racking assembly. The rotatable gate assembly includes a substantially U-shaped collar and an arm. The collar defines a gate opening to receive and secure an upper portion of a pipe stand and the collar is rotatably mounted to a first end of a shaft. The first end of the arm is pivotably and rotatably mounted to a second end of the shaft and a releaseable pipe mount is mounted to the second end of the arm to engage a predetermined portion of the pipe stand. The releseable pipe mount comprises a first securing means which engages a mid-portion of the pipe stand and a second securing means mounted to the first securing means such that the second securing means may securely engage a lower portion of the pipe stand. The first securing means and the second securing means provides support and stability to the pipe stand when the pipe stand engages the first and the second securing means.
The first securing means may be a magnetic guide extending vertically in parallel to the pipe stand such that the magnetic guide may engage a predetermined length of the mid-portion of the pipe stand to prevent movement of the pipe stand. The second securing means may be a support member attached to a lower end of the magnetic guide such that the support member may receive the pipe stand to support the weight of the pipe stand and prevent movement of the lower portion of the pipe stand. The support member is configured to engage and mate with a tool joint on the pipe stand. The apparatus further comprises a first actuator configured to elevate the first and the second securing means such that the pipe securely engages the first and the second securing means and may be vertically raised for transport between the derrick and the pipe racking assembly. When the first actuator elevates the first and the second securing means, the pipe stand slides vertically downwards until the tool joint engages and mates with the second securing means.
In another embodiment of the invention, the arm is operable by a second actuator such that the arm may displace between a vertical position substantially parallel to the pipe stand and an angled position. The arm may displace between the vertical position and the angled position such that the arm may securely engage the first and the second securing means to the pipe stand. The arm may also displace between the vertical position and the angled position such that the arm may transfer the pipe stand securely engaged to the first and said second securing means to the pipe racking assembly. When the arm retracts to the vertical position after the first and said second securing means securely engages the pipe stand, the collar receives the upper portion of the pipe stand in the gate opening such that the gate opening may prevent movement of the upper portion of the pipe stand.
A drive mechanism is mounted to the shaft to rotate the rotatable gate assembly between a pipe engaging position, wherein the rotatable gate assembly is in operable communication with the derrick, and a pipe racking position, wherein the rotatable gate assembly is in operable communication with the pipe racking assembly. The pipe racking assembly comprises a frame and a plurality of support members wherein each of the support members are attached to the frame at a first end only such that a central gap is defined between the support members. The support members capture and retain the pipe when the arm racks the pipe between the support members.
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
a is a side perspective view of the pipe racking assembly and the rotatable gate assembly of the apparatus for handling pipes as shown in
b is an exploded view of the rotatable gate assembly as shown in
c is an assembled perspective of
d is a plan view of
e is a front view of
f is a side view of
With reference to
In an embodiment of the invention, pipe racking assembly 10 is generally rectangular in shape and horizontally disposed. Pipe racking assembly 10 is mounted to a mid-portion of derrick 5 such that pipe racking assembly 10 extends outwards and away from derrick 5. Pipe racking assembly 10 includes a frame 16 and a plurality of transversely disposed support members 18 coupled to frame 16 such that each support member 18 attaches to frame 16 at a first end only, thereby defining a central gap 17 between support members 18. In an embodiment of the invention, rotatable gate assembly 20 is mounted to frame 16 such that rotatable gate assembly is positioned in gap 17 so that pipe stand 12 may travel along gap 17 towards support members 18. To rack pipe stand 12, pipe stand 12 is positioned in between support members 18 such that the weight of pipe stand 12 rests on one of the support members 18 and the base of the pipe stand rests on the ground.
Rotatable gate assembly 20 includes a collar 22 rotatably mounted on a first end of a shaft 24 such that shaft 24 journals centrally through collar 22. Preferably, collar 22 is substantially U-shaped and defines a recess or a gate opening 25 for receiving and engaging pipe stand 12. Gate opening 25 may provide additional stability to pipe stand 12, especially to an upper portion of pipe stand 12 when pipe stand 12 is received within gate opening 25 while pipe stand 12 is being transported to pipe racking assembly 10, described below. Collar 22 may be rotated about shaft 24 by way of a conventional drive mechanism 28 mounted to shaft 24. The rotation of collar 22 from a pipe engaging position wherein rotatable gate assembly 20 faces derrick 5, to a pipe racking position wherein rotatable gate assembly 20 faces pipe racking assembly 10, enables the transport of pipe stand 12 away from derrick 5 for racking in between support members 18 of pipe racking assembly 10.
Rotatable gate assembly 20 further includes an arm 30 having a first end and a second end. Preferably, arm 30 is fixed in length, although, depending on the drilling operation although arm 30 may be extendable. The first end of arm 30 may be pivotably mounted on a second end of shaft 24 by way of a pivot pin. In an embodiment of the invention, arm 30 is also rotatably mounted on shaft 24 such that drive mechanism 28 may rotate arm 30 from the pipe engaging position after arm 30 securely engages pipe stand 12 in derrick 5 and into the pipe racking position to transfer pipe stand 12 to pipe racking assembly 10 to position pipe stand 12 in between support members 18. In the pipe engaging position, arm 30 is operable by an actuator 32 to move arm 30 in direction A towards pipe stand 12. Actuator 32 may be a pneumatically or a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston unit. In an embodiment of the invention, actuator 32 is attached to a lever mounted to shaft 24 at a first end and operably coupled to arm 30 at a second end such that extension of piston 33 causes arm 30 to displace from a vertical position parallel to pipe stand 12 to an angled position to engage pipe stand 12 when in the pipe engaging position. When rotated in the pipe racking position, extension of piston 33 causes arm 30 to displace from a vertical position parallel to pipe stand 12 to an angled position to position pipe stand 12 in between support members 18. Refraction of piston 33 causes extendable arm to displace from the angled position back to the vertical position.
A first securing means such as a magnetic guide 34 is attached to the second end of arm 30 such that magnetic guide 34 may assist in directing arm 30 towards pipe stand 12 to engage pipe stand 12 to magnetic guide 34 and therefore to arm 30. Advantageously, magnetic guide 34 extends vertically along the length of pipe stand 12 and generally conforms to the shape of pipe stand 12 such that magnetic guide 34 may engage a larger surface area of pipe stand 12 compared to the securing means used in the prior art. Preferably, magnetic guide 34 extends between one quarter to one third the length of pipe stand 12 and engages onto pipe stand 12 without causing damage to pipe stand 12. Preferably, magnetic guide 34 engages a mid-portion of pipe joint 12 such that magnetic guide 34 may provide greater stability and prevent pipe stand 12 from swaying when pipe stand 12 is uncoupled from drill string 15.
In another embodiment of the invention, a second securing means such as a support member 36 may also be provided to assist magnetic guide 34 in securely engaging pipe stand 12. Support member 36 is configured to receive pipe stand 12 and frictionally engage tool joint 14 such that support member 36 may support the weight of pipe stand 12. In an embodiment of the invention, the interior surface of support member 36 defines a recess that complements the size and shape of tool joint 14 such that when tool joint 14 slides into the recess, support member 36 securely engages tool joint 14 and pipe stand 12 such that support member 36 may support the weight of pipe stand 12. Preferably, support member 36 is attached to a lower end of magnetic guide 34 such that support member 36 may provide additional stability to a lower portion of pipe stand 12.
After magnetic guide 34 engages pipe stand 12 and support member 36 receives pipe stand 12, an actuator 38 elevates magnetic guide 34 and support member 36 such that pipe stand 12 may be vertically lifted away from the drill string. Because the magnetic force of magnetic guide 34 may not be sufficient to entirely support the weight of pipe stand 12, as actuator 38 elevates magnetic guide 34, support member 36 and pipe stand 12, pipe stand 12 may gradually slide vertically downwards until tool joint 14 is received by and engages support member 36 such that support member 36 may securely engage and support the weight of pipe stand 12. Actuator 38 may be a pneumatically or a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston unit. In an embodiment of the invention, a first end of actuator 38 is mounted to the second end of arm 30 and a second end of actuator 38 is operably mounted to magnetic guide 34 such that extension of piston 40 causes magnetic guide 34, support member 36 and pipe stand 12 to elevate. Retraction of piston 40 causes magnetic guide 34, support member 36 and pipe stand 12 to lower.
In operation, after a pipe elevator or any other similar hoisting system raises drill string 15 to a predetermined height, actuator 32 causes arm 30 to pivot about the second end of shaft 24 and extend in direction A towards drill string 15 suspended in the derrick. As arm 30 extends from the vertical position to the angled position towards drill string 15, pipe stand 12 is uncoupled from drill string 15 by conventional detaching means, such as a spinning wrench or power torque wrench. As arm 30 moves towards pipe stand 12, magnetic guide 34 assists in directing arm 30 towards pipe stand 12 such that magnetic guide 34 may engage pipe stand 12. Preferably, magnetic guide 34 engages a mid-portion of pipe stand 12 to stabilize pipe stand 12 and prevent pipe stand 12 from swaying. Furthermore, support member 36 engages tool joint 14 of a lower portion of pipe stand 12 to support the weight of pipe stand 12 and provide stability to the lower portion of pipe stand 12. After magnetic guide 34 engages and support member 36 receives pipe stand 12, actuator 38 elevates magnetic guide 34 and support member 36 such that the lowermost portion of pipe joint 12 previously coupled to drill string 15 may be elevated and transported vertically away from drill string 15 and the well bore.
To rack pipe stand 12 on pipe racking assembly 10, rotatable gate assembly 20 must rotate away from derrick 5 along with pipe stand 12 such that arm 30 may transfer pipe stand 12 to engage support members 18. To that end, actuator 32 causes arm 30 to retract from the angled position to the vertical position, such that the upper portion of pipe stand 12 may be received into gate opening 25 to further stabilize pipe stand 12. Drive mechanism 28 then rotates collar 22 and arm 30 from the pipe engaging position facing derrick 5 to a pipe racking position towards pipe racking assembly 10 such that pipe stand 12 may be positioned in between support members 18. Actuator 32 then causes arm 30 and pipe stand 12 to extend and travel along gap 17 such that pipe stand 12 may be secured in a predetermined location between support members 18. Actuator 38 lowers magnetic guide 34, support member 36, and pipe stand 12 such that pipe stand 12 may lean against support members 18.
As seen in the perspective exploded view of
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2295720 | Dietzmann et al. | Sep 1942 | A |
| 4013178 | Brown et al. | Mar 1977 | A |
| 4067369 | Harmon | Jan 1978 | A |
| 4077525 | Callegari et al. | Mar 1978 | A |
| 4113033 | Lindblad | Sep 1978 | A |
| 4117941 | McCleskey, Jr. et al. | Oct 1978 | A |
| 4212577 | Swanson | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4274778 | Putnam et al. | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4531875 | Krueger | Jul 1985 | A |
| 4621974 | Krueger | Nov 1986 | A |
| 4765401 | Boyadjieff | Aug 1988 | A |
| 20010025727 | Byrt et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
| 20020157870 | Bischel et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| WO 0123701 | Apr 2001 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060113073 A1 | Jun 2006 | US |
