APPARATUS FOR ROTATING A PIPE

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for spinning a tubular that includes a yoke having a first arm and a second arm outwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region defining a well for receiving a tubular. The yoke includes a center roller coupled to the central region of the yoke. Each arm includes an adjustable roller. Each arm further includes at least one rail for linearly translating the adjustable rollers to the arms to move toward and away from the central roller, where the rollers are detachably coupled to the arm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to oilfield tubular spinners and, in particular, a chainless apparatus and method for rotating a tubular.

2. Related Art

In drilling for oil and gas, it is necessary to assemble a suing of drill pipe joints. Thus, a tubular drill string may be formed from a series of connected lengths of drill pipe and suspended by an overhead derrick. These lengths of drill pipe are connected by tapered external threads (the pin) on one end of the pipe, and tapered internal threads (the box) on the other end of the pipe.

During the drilling and completion of a well, as the well is drilled deeper, additional joints of pipe are periodically added to the drill string and, as the drill bit at the end of the drill string is worn, the drill string must occasionally be pulled from the well and reinstalled for maintenance purposes. The process of pulling or installing the drill string is referred to as “tripping.” During tripping, the threaded connections between the lengths of drill pipe are connected and disconnected as needed. The connecting and disconnecting of adjacent sections of drill pipe (referred to as making or breaking the connection, respectively), involves applying torque to the connection and rotating one of the pipes relative to the other to fully engage or disengage the threads.

In modern wells, a drill string may be thousands of feet long and typically is formed from individual thirty-foot sections of drill pipe. Even if only every third connection is broken, as is common, hundreds of connections have to be made and broken during tripping. Thus, the tripping process is one of the most time consuming and labor intensive operations performed on the drilling rig.

Currently, there are a number of devices utilized to speed tripping operations by automating or mechanizing the process of making and breaking a threaded pipe connection. These devices include tools known as power tongs, iron roughnecks, and pipe spinners. Many of these devices are complex pieces of machinery that require two or more people to operate and require multiple steps, either automated or manual, to perform the desired operations. Additionally, many of these devices grip the pipe with teeth that can damage the drill pipe and often cannot be adjusted to different pipe diameters without first replacing certain pieces, or performing complex adjustment procedures.

In particular, roughnecks combine a torque wrench and a spinning wrench, simply called a spinner, to connect and disconnect drill pipe joints of the drill string. In most instances, the spinner and the torque wrench are both mounted together on a carriage. To make or break a threaded connection between adjoining joints of drill pipe, certain roughnecks have a torque wrench with two jaw levels. In these devices, an upper jaw of the torque wrench is utilized to clamp onto a portion of an upper tubular, and a lower jaw clamps onto a portion of a lower tubular (e.g., upper and lower threadedly connected pieces of drill pipe). After clamping onto the tubular, the upper and lower jaws are turned relative to each other to break or make a connection between the upper and lower tubulars. A spinner, mounted on the carriage above the torque wrench, engages the upper tubular and spins it until it is disconnected from the lower tubular (or in a connection operation, spins two tubulars together prior to final make-up by the torque wrench).

Generally, a spinner comprises four rollers, each driven by a separate hydraulic motor, that engage the outer wall of the drill pipe to spin the pipe. However, other spinners exists that use flexible belts or chains to engage and spin the pipe. An example of a chain spinner is the SPINMASTER® spinner made available from Hawk Industries. The basic function and construction of the SPINMASTER® spinner are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,924 (Hauk).

In particular, the Hauk '924 patent discloses a spinner that includes first and second elongate casing sections that are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot, and first and second driven sprockets mounted, respectively, on the casing sections at locations remote from the pivot. The spinner also includes a drive sprocket, mounted on the first casing section, driven by a motor-gear assembly and a continuous chain mounted around the drive sprocket, and around the first and second driven sprockets. The chain has an inverse internal portion adapted to receive and directly contact a tubular well element to be rotated. Cylinders connected between the casing sections pivot them toward and away from each other and thus, alternately clamp the inverse internal portion around the well element, and release such element from the inverse internal portion of the chain.

Some prior art spinners, such as the SPINMASTER®, are also adjustable to accommodate pipes of varying diameter. These spinners are adjusted by changing the location of the drive sprocket relative to the driven sprockets, thus the effective length of the chain is adjusted to accommodate different pipe diameters. While adjustable spinners are versatile, these spinners must be manually adjusted by the operator during use. In many instances, the operator must climb atop of the spinner, disengage fasteners or locking pins holding the drive sprocket in place, manually adjust the drive sprocket to a desired location, and re-fasten or lock the drive sprocket at its new location. Manually adjusting the spinner can therefore be consuming and dangerous.

A need exists for an improved chainless spinner that accommodates various pipe sizes, that evenly applies torque on the tubular and is easy to repair and maintain.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for spinning a tubular is provided. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a yoke having a first arm and a second arm outwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region, where each arm carries at least one rail and where the first arm and the second arm define a well therebetween. The apparatus further includes a center roller coupled to the central region of the yoke proximate the well, a first adjustable roller slidably coupled to the first arm, and a second adjustable roller slidably coupled to the second arm, where the first and second adjustable rollers may be linearly translated towards and away from the center roller.

In another implementation, the apparatus includes a frame having at least one arm outwardly extending from a central region, and a drive roller detachable coupled to the at least one arm.

A method of rotating a tubular is also provided. The method includes providing a spinner having a central roller, a first adjustable roller, and a second adjustable roller, where a well is defined by the central roller, the first adjustable roller and the second adjustable roller. The method further includes positioning the spinner about the tubular such that the tubular is received by the well, translating the adjustable rollers linearly towards the center roller, engaging the tubular by the rollers such that the tubular is gripped by the rollers at three points, and driving at least one roller to spin the tubular.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of the apparatus in accordance with present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrating an adjustable roller system detachably coupled to the frame at the pin assembly of each arm.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of FIG. 1 engaged with a tubular.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 engaged with the tubular.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description of implementations below is presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the description below, or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus 100 for spinning a tubular is provided. The apparatus 100 may include a frame 102, a center roller assembly 104, a first adjustable roller assembly 106, and a second adjustable roller assembly 108.

In particular, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of the apparatus 100 in accordance with present invention. As shown, the frame 102 may include a substantially V-shaped construction having a central region 110, and a first arm 112 and second arm 114 outwardly extending in angular opposition from the central region 110. Each arm 112, 114 carries a rail system 116, 118. The first arm 112 and second arm 114 define a well 120 therebetween.

The center roller assembly 104 may be coupled to the central region 110 proximate the well 120. Each adjustable roller assembly 106, 108 is coupled to a motor carriage 122, 124. Each motor carriage 122, 124 is slidably coupled to the rail system 116, 118 of each arm 112, 114, such that the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be linearly translated along the rail systems 116, 118 towards and, alternately, away from the center roller assembly 104 in a fixed angular orientation relative to the center roller assembly 104, as depicted by arrows 123. Each carriage 122, 124 is translated along the rail system 116, 118 by a hydraulic cylinder 126 coupled between the carriage 122, 124 at one end 128, and a pin assembly 132 coupled to the frame 102 at an opposite end 130. Each roller assembly 104, 106, 108 includes a drive roller 134, 136, 138 directly driven by motors 144, 146, 148, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus 100 illustrating how an adjustable roller system 106 is detachably coupled to the frame 102 at the pin assembly 132 (FIG. 1) of each arm 112, 114. As shown, each pin assembly 132 includes a coupling pin 202 that is received by a pair of sleeves 204 coupled to a distal end of the motor carriage 122. The sleeves 204 are configured such that an end 130 of the hydraulic cylinder 126 may be disposed in corresponding alignment between them.

As specifically shown, the motor carriage 122 may be coupled to the frame 102 by inserting the coupling pin 202 through a pair of orifices 206 formed at a distal end of the arm 112. The sleeves 204 and end 130 of the cylinder may be disposed between and positioned in alignment with the orifices 206 such that the coupling pin 202 may pass and extend therethrough. Once the coupling pin 202 is installed through the orifices 206, the pin 202 may be secured to the frame 102 by a dowel pin 208, for example, that may be inserted into a pin hole 210 located and a bottom end of the pin 202.

In the alternative, the motor carriage 122, and thus the roller assembly 106, may be disassembled from the frame 102 by first removing the dowel pin 208 from the coupling pin 202, and then removing the coupling pin 202 from the orifices 206. Once the coupling pin 202 is removed from the orifices 206, the motor carriage 122 may be removed from the rail system 116. In this way, the roller assembly 106 may be disassembled from the frame 102 for maintenance, repair and replacement. Further, the rollers assemblies 106, 108 may be removed from the apparatus 100 without having to disassemble the frame 102.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus 100 engaged with a tubular 302 or pipe. To engage the tubular 302, the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 are initially translated to an open or extended position (not shown). The apparatus 100 is then brought into close proximity to the tubular 302 such that the tubular 302 is positioned in the well 120, between the roller assemblies 104, 106, 108. The hydraulic cylinders 126 are actuated to bring the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 into contact with the tubular 302. Thereafter, the cylinders 126 continue to linearly extend to pull the apparatus 100 toward the tubular 302 until all three roller assemblies 104, 106, 108 are in contact with the tubular 302, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus 100 engaged with the tubular 302. As shown, the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be translated linearly towards and, alternatively, away from the center roller assembly 104 to accommodate tubulars of varying dimensions. For example, the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be self-adjusted to accommodate tubulars with diametrical dimensions between approximately 2⅞ and 13⅜ inches. In accordance with the present invention, the drive rollers 134, 136, 138 of the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 will always engage the tubular 302, regardless of its size, at a set contact angle of, for example, 120° relative to the x-axis (30° relative to the drive roller of the center roller assembly 104). Thus, the rollers may maintain a three-point contact of 120°, as shown at points 402, 404, 406, to reduce triangulation of the tubular 302 as it is being spinned by the rollers 134, 136, 138.

An additional benefit of engaging a tubular 302 at the same angle, for example 120°, regardless of tube size, is that it enables the apparatus to engage the tubular with equal spinning loads at each contact point 402, 404, 406. Moreover, the translating adjustable rollers of the present invention provide a mechanical advantage over rollers that pivot into engagement with the tubular because rollers that pivot into engagement require more torque to keep the rollers engaged with the tubular due to the moment arm.

In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “in communication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is “in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to be in communication with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components.

The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for spinning a tubular, the apparatus comprising: a yoke having a first arm and a second arm outwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region, wherein each arm carries at least one rail and wherein the first arm and the second arm define a well therebetween;a center roller coupled to the central region of the yoke proximate the well;a first adjustable roller slidably coupled to the first arm, wherein the first adjustable roller may be linearly translated towards and away from the center roller; anda second adjustable roller slidably coupled to the second arm, wherein the second adjustable roller may be linearly translated towards and away from the center roller.

2. An apparatus for spinning a tubular, the apparatus comprising: a frame having at least one arm outwardly extending from a central region; anda drive roller detachable coupled to the at least one arm.

3. A method of rotating a tubular, the method comprising: providing a spinner having a central roller, a first adjustable roller, and a second adjustable roller, wherein a well is defined by the central roller, the first adjustable roller and the second adjustable roller;positioning spinner about the tubular such that the tubular is received by the well;translating the adjustable rollers linearly towards the center roller;engaging the tubular by the rollers such that the tubular is gripped by the rollers at three points; anddriving at least one roller to spin the tubular.