Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02488843 2004-11-29
APPARATUS FOR HANDLrNG AND RACKING PIPES
Field of the Invention
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.
Background of the Inyention
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 drib 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
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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 dernck 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. Patent No.
4,621,974 to Krueger,
issued November 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 o~ 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.
Patent No. 4,117,941 to McCleskey Jr. et al., issued October 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. Patent No. 4,013,178 to Brown et
al., issued March
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
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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 deaf with
deficiencies and
inadequacies in the prior art.
Su~n~at~r of the Invention
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 stead 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 sha8 and a releaseable pipe mount is
mounted to the
second end of the arm to engage a predetermined portion of the pipe stand. The
releasable
pipe mount comprises a fast securing means which engages a mid-portion of the
pipe stand
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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
I O 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
ach~ator elevates
the first and the second securing means, the pipe stand slides vertically
downwards until the
tool joim engages and mates with the second securing means.
In another embodiment of the invention, the arm is operable by a second
actuaxor 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 seauing 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.
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t1 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
ratatable 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.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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:
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the apparatus for handling pipes;
Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus for handling pipes as shown in Figure
1;
Figure 2a is a side perspective view of the pipe racking assembly and the
rotatable gate assembly of the apparatus for handling pipes as shown in Figure
l;
Figure 2b is an exploded view of the rotatable gate assembly as shown in
Figure 2a;
Figure 2c is an assembled perspective of Figure 2b.
Figure 2d is a plan view of Figure 2a.
Figure 2e is a front view of Figure 2a.
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CA 02488843 2004-11-29
Figure 2f is a side view of Figure 2a.
Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus for handling pipes as shown in
Figure
1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus for handling pipes as shown in Figure
1; and
Figure 5 is a side perspective view of the apparatus for handling pipes
mounted on a derrick.
Detailed Descr~ion of Embodiments of the Invention
With reference to Figures 1 to 5 wherein similar characters of reference
denote
corresponding parts in each view, the apparatus for handling pipes according
to the present
invention includes a derrick 5, a pipe racking assembly IO mounted to derrick
5, and a
rotatable gate assembly 20 mounted to pipe racking assembly 10. In an
embodiment of the
present invention, the apparatus for handling pipes is canfigured to handle
and rack a plurality
of pipe stands I2 which are detachably coupled together to form a drill string
15. Pipe stands
12 are formed by coupling a plurality of pipe joints together. The ends of
each pipe joint are
flared such that at the point of coupling between pipe joints and pipe stands
12, an annular
flange known in the art as a tool joint 14 is formed.
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 l6.such that each support~ember-
18 attaches---
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CA 02488843 2004-11-29
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 I6 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 I8 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 i0, 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
faces derrick 5, to a pipe racking position wherein rotatable gate assembly 20
faces pipe
racking assembly I0, enables the transport of pipe stand I2 away from derrick
5 for racking in
between support members 18 of pipe racking assembly I0.
20 Rotatable gate assembly 20 further includes an arm 30 having a first end
and a
second end. Preferably, arm 30 is fixed and may vary in length, depending on
the drilling
operation although arm 30 may be extendable. The first end of arm 30 may be
pivotably
mourned on a second end of shaft 24 by way of a pivot pin. In an embodiment of
the
invention, arm 30 is also rotatably mourned 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. Tn an
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CA 02488843 2004-11-29
embodiment of the invention, actuator 32 is attached to a lever mourned 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.
Retraction 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 I2 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
fi~ictionally
engage tool joint I4 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 i2. Preferably, support member
36 is
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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, a~n 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 mowed 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. 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 arrn
towards pipe stand 12 such that magnetic guide 34 may engage pipe stand 12.
Preferably,
25 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
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that the lowermost portion of pipe joim 12 previausly 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 I2 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 Figure 2b, and the assembt~
perspective view of Figure Ze upper and lower bearing covers 100 and 102
sandwich
therebetween bearings 104 within the upper apertured flange 106a of rotator
tube 106. Rotator
tube 106 is rotatably clamped between fixed rotator arms 108 rigidly mounted
to the platform.
Rotator tie bars 110 are pinned to a lower flange 112 which is rigidly mounted
to rotator tube
I06. The opposite ends of tie bars 110 may be pinned to an actuating
mechanism. Driver
gears 114 are driven by hydraulic motors 116. Hydraulic motors 116 are mounted
to so as to
depend from hydraulic motor housings 118 in a column between rotor arms 108
and lower
support arms 108a. Rotor tube 106 is further rotatably supported between an
opposed facing
pair of clamping members 120 each of which are mourned to the corresponding
opposed
facing distal ends of arms 108a. The lower end of clamping members 120 are
supported on a
horseshoe shaped mourning bracket 122. Drive gears 114 engage bull gear 124
which is
mounted circumferentially around lower flange I 12 so that actuation of
hydraulic motors 116
rotates rotator tube about its axis of rotation A.
CA 02488843 2004-11-29
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregping
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.
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