Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TUBULAR GUIDING AND GRIPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
[0001] Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and
apparatus to
grip tubular members. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate
to an
apparatus that is used to guide and grip one or more tubular members, such as
oilfield
tubular members as the tubular members are disposed downhole.
Background Art
[0002] In oilfield exploration and production operations, various oilfield
tubular
members are used to perform important tasks, including, but not limited to,
drilling
the wellbore and casing a drilled wellbore. For example, a long assembly of
drill
pipes, known in the industry as a drill string, may be used to rotate a drill
bit at a
distal end to create the wellbore. Furthermore, after a wellbore has been
created, a
casing string may be disposed downhole into the wellbore and cemented in place
to
stabilize, reinforce, or isolate (among other functions) portions of the
wellbore. As
such, strings of drill pipe and casing may be connected together, such as end-
to-end
by threaded connections, in which a female "pin" member of a first tubular
member is
configured to threadably engage a corresponding male "box" member of a second
tubular member. Alternatively, a casing string may be made-up of a series of
male-
male ended casing joints coupled together by female-female couplers. The
process by
which the threaded connections are assembled is called "making-up" a threaded
connection, and the process by which the connections are disassembled is
referred to
"breaking-out" the threaded connection. As would be understood by one having
ordinary skill, individual pieces (or "joints") of oilfield tubular members
may come in
a variety of weights, diameters, configurations, and lengths.
[0003] Referring to Figure 1, a perspective view is shown of one embodiment
of a
drilling rig 101 used to run one or more tubular members 111 (e.g., casing,
drill pipe,
etc.) downhole into a wellbore 113. As shown, the drilling rig 101 includes a
frame
structure known as a "derrick" 102, from which a traveling block 103 (which
may
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include a top drive) suspends a lifting apparatus 105 (e.g., an elevator or a
tubular
(e.g., casing) running tool connected to the quill of a top drive) and a
gripping
apparatus 107 (e.g., slip assembly or "spider") at the rig floor may be used
to
manipulate (e.g., raise, lower, rotate, hold, etc.) a tubular member 111. The
traveling
block 103 is a device that is suspended from at or near the top of the derrick
102, in
which the traveling block 103 may move up-and-down (i.e., vertically as
depicted) to
raise and/or lower the tubular member 111. The traveling block 103 may be a
simple
"pulley-style" block and may have a hook from which objects below (e.g.,
lifting
apparatus 105 and/or top drive) may be suspended. Drilling rig 101 can be a
land or
offshore rig (e.g., drill ship) without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
[0004] Additionally, the lifting apparatus 105 may be coupled below the
traveling
block 103 (and/or a top drive if present) to selectively grab or release a
tubular
member 111 as the tubular member 111 is to be raised and/or lowered within and
from the derrick 102. As such, the top drive may include one or more guiding
rails
and/or a track disposed adjacent to the top drive, in which the guiding rails
or track
may be used to support and guide the top drive as the top drive is raised
and/or
lowered within the derrick. An example of a top drive is disclosed within U.S.
Patent No. 4,449,596, filed on August 3, 1982, and entitled -Drilling of Wells
with
Top Drive Unit."
[00051 Typically, a lifting apparatus 105 includes movable gripping
members (e.g.,
slip assemblies) attached thereto and movable between a retracted (e.g.,
disengaged)
position and an engaged position. In the engaged position, the lifting
apparatus 105
supports the tubular member 111 such the tubular member 111 may be lifted
and/or
lowered, and rotated if so equipped, e.g., by using a lifting apparatus that
is a tubular
(e.g., casing) running tool connected to the quill of the top drive. In the
retracted
position, the lifting apparatus 105 may release the tubular member 111 and
move
away therefrom to allow the tubular member 111 to be engaged with or removed
from the lifting apparatus 105 and/or the gripping apparatus 107. For example,
the
lifting apparatus 105 may release the tubular member 111 after the tubular
member
111 is threadably connected to a tubular string 115 supported by the gripping
apparatus 107 (e.g., slip assembly or "spider") at the rig floor at the floor
of the
drilling rig 101.
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=
[0006] Further, in an embodiment in which the drilling rig 101 includes a
top drive
and a tubular running tool, the tubular member 111 may be supported and
gripped
by the tubular running tool connected to the quill of the top drive. For
example, the
tubular running tool may include one or more gripping members that may move
radially inward and/or radially outward. In such embodiments, these gripping
members of a tubular running tool may move radially outward to grip an
internal
surface of the tubular member 111, such as with an internal gripping device
and/or
the gripping members of the tubular running tool may move radially inward to
grip
an external surface of the tubular member 111, such as with an external
gripping
device, however so equipped.
[0007] As such, the gripping apparatus 107 of the drilling rig 101 may be
used to
support and suspend the tubular string 115, e.g., by gripping, from the
drilling rig
101, e.g., supported by the rig floor 109 or by a rotary table thereof. The
gripping
apparatus 107 may be disposed within the rig floor 109, such as flush with the
rig
floor 109, or may extend above the rig floor 109, as shown. As such, the
gripping
apparatus 107 may be used to suspend the tubular string 115, e.g., while one
or more
tubular members 111 are connected or disconnected from the tubular string 115.
[0008] Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, a gripping device 201 that may
be
included as the lifting apparatus 105 and/or the gripping apparatus 107 of the
drilling
rig 101 is shown. As such, the gripping device may be the same or similar to
the
gripping devices shown and disclosed within the '169 Application and the '072
Application, or may be any other gripping or supporting device known in the
art.
For example, in addition or in alternative to a gripping device, a lifting
apparatus
105 and/or the gripping apparatus 107 may comprise a supporting device may be
used that supports one or more tubular members within a drilling rig, such as
supporting a tubular string of tubular members suspended from a drilling rig.
An
example of a supporting device is disclosed within U.S. Patent No. 6,651,737,
filed
on January 24, 2001, and entitled "Collar Load Support system and Method."
[0009] The illustrated gripping device 201 includes a bowl 203 with a
plurality of slip
assemblies 205 movably disposed therein. Specifically, the slip assemblies 205
may
be connected to a ring 207, in which the ring 207 may be connected to the bowl
203
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through an actuator (e.g., actuator rods) 209. Actuator may be actuated, such
as
electrically actuated and/or fluidly (e.g., hydraulically) actuated, to move
up and/or
down with respect to the bowl 203, in which the slip assemblies 205 connected
to the
ring 207 may correspondingly move up and/or down with respect to the bowl 203.
[0010] The illustrated slip assemblies 205 are designed to engage and
contact the
inner tapered surface of the bowl 203 when moving with respect to the bowl
203.
Bowl 203 is shown as a continuous surface but may comprise non-continuous
surfaces (e.g., a surface adjacent to the rear of each slip assembly 205).
Thus, as the
slip assemblies 205 move up or down with respect to the bowl 203, the slip
assemblies 205 may travel down along an inner surface of the bowl 203. With
this
movement, an inner surface (e.g., die) of the slip assemblies 205 will grip a
tubular
member 211 disposed within the gripping device 201. The slip assemblies 205
may
have a gripping surface (e.g., teeth) on the inner surface to facilitate the
gripping of
the tubular member 211. After the tubular member 211 is supported by the
gripping
device 201, additional tubular members may be connected or disconnected from
the
tubular member 211.
[0011] As shown with respect to Figures 2A and 2B, the gripping device 201
may be
used to grip tubular members 211 having multiple outer diameters. For example,
as
shown in Figure 2A, the slip assemblies 205 may be positioned within the bowl
203
of the gripping device 201 to grip a tubular member 211A having a first
diameter Dl.
As discussed, the slip assemblies 205 may be positioned using the ring 207
that may
be vertically moveable, e.g., through the actuator rods 209. Figure 2B shows
gripping
device 201, in which the slip assemblies 205 are positioned vertically higher
within
the bowl 203 with respect to the positioning of the slip assemblies 205 shown
in
Figure 2A. As such, this positioning of the slip assemblies 205 in Figure 2B
enables
the gripping device 201 to grip another tubular member 211B, in which the
tubular
member 211B has a second outer diameter D2 larger than the first outer
diameter D1
of the tubular member 211A (for example, where D1 and D2 are on a tubular body
itself and not a connector portion thereof). Thus, gripping device 201 may
grip
tubular members 211 having a large range of outer diameters without the need
of
reconfiguration and/or adding supplemental equipment to the gripping device
201.
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For example, in one embodiment, the second outer diameter D2 may be at least
145
percent larger (or smaller) than the first outer diameter Dl.
[0012] A tubular string of tubular members may be heavy, in the magnitude
of several
hundreds of thousands of pounds. As such, the gripping devices handling these
tubular strings, in addition to the drilling rig and other components thereof,
must be
equipped to handle such weight. Further, tubular members of the tubular
string, such
as casing, may have a relatively thin wall, in which the tubular members may
be
crushed or partially deformed if excessive force is applied by the gripping
device.
Additionally, the weight of the tubular string may be even further magnified,
such as
when drilling offshore, as the tubular string may need to extend through the
water to
reach the borehole, which may be in the magnitude of several thousands of
feet, if not
more. For example, the tubular string may have one or more different tubular
members or tubular sections, such as including a section within the tubular
string
having casing, drill pipe, and/or a landing string, in which each of these
sections of
the tubular string may have different dimensions (internal diameter and/or
external
diameter) adding to the overall weight of the tubular string. Adding length to
the
tubular string only further increases the weight that the gripping devices,
drilling rig,
and other components thereof must be equipped to handle, an equipping process
that
may significantly increase the cost of for drilling.
[0013] To offset at least some of the weight of the tubular string (which
may include
a casing string or other tubular string hung from a distal end thereof),
floatation
modules have been developed that may be connected to or otherwise disposed
about
(e.g., about the OD of) a tubular member 311. One or more floatation modules
315
may be connected to the tubular member 311, such as by having a hinge formed
on
one side of the floatation module 315 that enables the floatation module 315
to, for
example, clasp around the tubular member 311 from a lateral side thereof.
Additionally or alternatively, a floatation module may be attached or applied
to the
tubular member, such as by applying as a coating or attached via other means,
e.g.,
adhesive, to retain the floatation module stationary with respect to the
tubular
member. Depicted floatation modules 315 have a generally circular profile
(e.g., a
cylinder). However, floatation modules 315 may have any shape, such as a
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rectangular or hexagonal profile or spherical shape, that enables the
floatation
modules to connect to the tubular member 311.
[0014] A floatation module is commonly formed from a buoyant material or
buoyant
structure, such as having foam (e.g., high density foam) or plastic and/or
having a
housing with a fluid (e.g., gas) disposed therein for buoyancy. As such, this
buoyant
material or buoyant structure for the floatation module 315 may be used to
offset at
least some of the weight of the tubular member 311, e.g., from the drilling
rig 101,
and thus a tubular string altogether, as the floatation module 315 may be
connected to
the tubular member 311. A floatation module 315 may be used within the water,
e.g.,
seawater of an offshore drilling operation, and/or a floatation module 315 may
be
disposed within a wellbore, including the riser, in land or offshore drilling
operations.
As such, a floatation module 315 may provide a buoyancy force when disposed
within
water and/or mud of a drilling operation, in which the buoyancy force of the
floatation
modules 315 may be used to offset at least some of the weight of the tubular
string,
e.g., from the drilling rig 101.
[0015] Further, a floatation module, may be used with a landing string,
such as when
a landing string is used to dispose (e.g., "land") one or more tubular
members, such as
casing, within a wellbore in a deep water offshore operation. The landing
string,
which may exceed tens of thousands of feet in axial length to reach between
the sea
floor and the drilling rig (e.g., a floating drilling platform or ship), may
include one or
more floatation modules 315 connected thereto or otherwise disposed about to
offset
some of the weight of the landing string and the other tubular string (e.g.,
casing). As
such, the floatation modules may relieve, at least a portion, of the stress
applied to the
landing string, other tubular string, and drilling rig equipment used for the
operation.
[0016] However, as a floatation module may be formed from a generally
buoyant
material and/or as a generally buoyant structure (e.g., forming the floatation
module
with, at least a portion of, foam) a floatation module may lack strength
and/or rigidity,
e.g., the floatation module may be easily damaged. For example, a floatation
module
may be particularly susceptible to damage when assembling and/or disassembling
a
tubular string of tubular members together and/or disposing (e.g., raising or
lowering)
the tubular string within and/or through a gripping or supporting device (as
discussed
herein).
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[0017] One example may be that, as a floatation module is disposed through
a bore of
a gripping or supporting device of a drilling rig, one or more of the
components of the
gripping or supporting device, such as the slip assemblies of the gripping
device
having a gripping surface (e.g., teeth) or other damage inducing surface or
component
of a gripping or supporting device, may contact and thus damage (e.g.,
dislodge) the
floatation module. For further example, a gripping surface of a slip assembly
(e.g.,
teeth) contacting a foam portion of a floatation module may damage (e.g.,
abrade or
puncture) the flotation module. As such, damage to a floatation module may be
magnified if a tubular member which the floatation module is connected to is
not
properly aligned within a bore of a gripping or supporting device during
movement
therethrough. Accordingly, there exists a need to prevent damage to a
floatation
module connected to a tubular member, as any damage to the floatation module
may
increase the loads applied to the drilling rig.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0018] According to a first example of the present disclosure there is
provided an
apparatus to guide a tubular member. The tubular member may have a floatation
module attached thereto. The apparatus may comprise one or more of: a bowl, a
slip
assembly, a first guiding member and a second guiding member. The bowl may
form
a bore having a first opening formed at a first side of the bowl and a second
opening
formed at a second side of the bowl. The bore may have a tapered inner wall
extending from the first opening to the second opening about a longitudinal
axis. The
slip assembly may be movably disposed within the bowl. The first guiding
member
may be disposed adjacent to the first opening of the bowl. The second guiding
member may be disposed adjacent to the second opening of the bowl.
[0019] The apparatus may further comprise a support ring disposed adjacent
to the
first side of the bowl. The first guiding member may be connected to the
support ring.
The support ring may be a timing ring. The support ring may be movable along
the
longitudinal axis of the bowl with respect to the bowl to move the slip
assembly.
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[0020] The apparatus may further comprise a first plurality of guiding
members. The
first plurality of guiding members may include the first guiding member. The
first
plurality of guiding members may be substantially equally spaced from one
another
about the longitudinal axis.
[0021] The apparatus may further comprise a plate assembly. The plate
assembly
may be disposed adjacent to the second side of the bowl. The second guiding
member
may be connected to the plate assembly. The plate assembly may be removably
connected on the second side of the bowl.
[0022] The apparatus may further comprise a second plurality of guiding
members.
The second plurality of guiding members may include the second guiding member.
The second plurality of guiding members may be substantially equally spaced
from
one another about the longitudinal axis.
[0023] At least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding
member may
be movably connected to the bowl. At least one of the first guiding member and
the
second guiding member may be radially movable with respect to the longitudinal
axis
of the bowl. At least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding
member
may be connected to an actuator of the apparatus to impart movement, e.g.
radial
movement, thereto. At least one of the first guiding member and the second
guiding
member may comprise a roller. The roller may contact a floatation module
disposed
within the bore.
[0024] The apparatus may further comprise a support ring. The support ring
may be
disposed adjacent to the first side of the bowl. The apparatus may further
comprise a
plate assembly. The plate assembly may be disposed adjacent to the second side
of
the bowl. The bowl, the support ring, and the plate assembly may each comprise
a
first section and a second section. Each of the first sections of the bowl,
the support
ring, and the plate assembly may be removably connected to the second sections
of
the bowl, the support ring, and the plate assembly, respectively. Each of the
first and
second sections of the bowl, the support ring, and the plate assembly may be
formed
along a plane that intersects with the longitudinal axis of the bowl.
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[0025] The apparatus may further comprise a protector. The protector may
be
movably disposed within the bowl. The protector may be adjacent to the slip
assembly. The protector may be movable between a first position and a second
position. The protector may be biased towards the first position. The
apparatus may
comprise a plurality of protectors movably disposed within the bowl.
[0026] According to a second example of the present disclosure there is
provided a
system to guide a tubular member. The tubular member may have a floatation
module attached thereto. The system may comprise one or more of an apparatus
having a bore, a first plurality of guiding members and a second plurality of
guiding
members. The apparatus may have a bore with a longitudinal axis extending
therethrough. The apparatus may be configured to support a tubular member. The
apparatus may have a first opening formed at a first side thereof and a second
opening
formed at a second side thereof. The apparatus may have an inner wall
extending
from the first opening to the second opening. The first plurality of guiding
members
may be disposed adjacent to the first opening. The second plurality of guiding
members may be disposed adjacent to the second opening.
[0027] The apparatus may further comprise a slip assembly disposed
therein. The
slip assembly may be movable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The inner
wall of
the apparatus may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.
[0028] The system may further comprise a protector. The protector may be
movably
disposed within the bowl. The protector may be adjacent to the slip assembly.
[0029] The first plurality of guiding members may comprise a first
plurality of rollers.
The second plurality of guiding members may comprise a second plurality of
rollers.
[0030] According to a third example of the present disclosure there is
provided an
apparatus to guide a tubular member. The apparatus may comprise one or more
of: a
bowl, a slip assembly and a protector. The bowl may form a bore. The bore may
have a first opening formed at a first side of the bowl and a second opening
formed at
a second side of the bowl. The bore may have a tapered inner wall extending
from the
first opening to the second opening about a longitudinal axis. The slip
assembly may
be movably disposed within the bowl. The protector may be movably disposed
within
the bowl. The protector may be adjacent to the slip assembly.
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[0031] The apparatus may further comprise a first guiding member disposed
adjacent
to the first opening of the bowl. The apparatus may further comprise a second
guiding member disposed adjacent to the second opening of the bowl.
[0032] The slip assembly may comprise a plurality of slip assemblies. The
protector
may comprise a plurality of protectors. Each of the protectors may be movably
disposed within the bowl adjacent to one of the plurality of slip assemblies.
[0033] According to a fourth example of the present disclosure there is
provided a
method to manufacture an apparatus to guide a tubular member. The tubular
member
may have a floatation module attached thereto. The method may comprise one or
more of: providing a bowl having a bore formed therein; disposing a first
guiding
member adjacent to a first opening of the bore; and disposing a second guiding
member adjacent to an opposing second opening of the bore. The bore may be
defined about a longitudinal axis with a slip assembly movably disposed within
the
bowl.
[0034] The method may further comprise rotatably connecting at least one
of the first
guiding member and the second guiding member to the bowl. The one of the first
guiding member and the second guiding member may comprise a first roller. The
method may further comprise removably connecting at least one of the first
guiding
member and the second guiding member to the bowl.
[0035] The first guiding member may comprise a first plurality of guiding
members.
The method may further comprise substantially equally spacing the first
plurality of
guiding members from one another about the longitudinal axis.
[0036] The method may further comprise moving, e.g. radially, at least
one of the
first guiding member and the second guiding member with respect to the
longitudinal
axis of the bowl. The method may further comprise connecting an actuator to
the at
least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member. The
actuator
may move, e.g. radially, the at least one of the first guiding member and the
second
guiding member.
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[0037] The method may further comprise disposing a tubular member having a
floatation module connected thereto through the apparatus. The method may
further
comprise contacting the floatation module with a guiding surface of at least
one of the
first guiding member and the second guiding member.
[0038] The method may further comprise movably disposing a protector
within the
bowl and adjacent to the slip assembly.
[0039] According to a fifth example of the present disclosure there is
provided a
method to guide a tubular member. The tubular member may comprise a flotation
module. The method may comprise one or more of: providing a gripping apparatus
having a bowl with a bore formed therein, the bore forming a longitudinal
axis;
disposing the tubular member, at least partially, within the bore of the bowl;
and
guiding the flotation module with at least one guiding member disposed
adjacent to
the bowl.
[0040] The gripping apparatus may further comprise a slip assembly movably
disposed therein. The gripping apparatus may further comprise a protector. The
protector may be movably disposed therein adjacent the slip assembly.
[0041] The at least one guiding member may comprise a first guiding member
and a
second guiding member. The method may further comprise disposing the first
guiding member adjacent to a first opening of the bore. The method may further
comprise disposing the second guiding member adjacent to an opposing second
opening of the bore.
[0042] The method may further comprise contacting the floatation module
with a
guiding surface of at least one of the first guiding member and the second
guiding
member. The at least one floatation module may thereby be prevented from
contacting the slip assembly.
[0043] The method may further comprise rotatably connecting at least one
of the first
guiding member and the second guiding member to the bowl. The one of the first
guiding member and the second guiding member may comprise a first roller. The
method may further comprise moving, e.g. radially, the at least one guiding
member
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bowl. The method may further
comprise
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connecting an actuator to the at least one guiding member such that the
actuator
moves, e.g. radially, the at least one guiding member.
[0044] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the
following description and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a drilling rig.
[0046] Figures 2A and 2B show perspective views of a gripping apparatus
disposed
within a drilling rig.
[0047] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a tubular member having
floatation
modules connected thereto.
[0048] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a guiding apparatus in
accordance with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0049] Figure 5 shows a partial exploded view of a guiding apparatus in
accordance
with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0050] Figures 6A-6D show multiple views of an apparatus in accordance
with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0051] Figures 7A and 7B show multiple bottom perspective views of an
apparatus
guiding a tubular member in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0052] Figures 8A-8C show multiple views of an apparatus gripping a
tubular
member in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0053] Figures 9A-9D show multiple views of an apparatus in accordance
with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0054] Figures 10A-10D show multiple views of a portion of an apparatus
in
accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0055] Figure 11 shows a computer system that may be used in accordance
with an
embodiment disclosed herein.
[0056] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a guiding apparatus in
accordance with
embodiments disclosed herein.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in
detail with
reference to the accompanying Figures. Like elements in the various figures
may be
denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. Further, in the following
detailed
description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific
details are
set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the claimed
subject
matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that
the
embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details.
In
other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to
avoid
unnecessarily complicating the description.
[0058] In various aspects disclosed herein, embodiments disclosed herein
generally
relate to an apparatus that may guide a tubular member, such as guiding a
tubular
member when assembling a string of tubular members together. For example,
embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus that may be used to guide
a
tubular member. The tubular member, such as in one embodiment, may have one or
more floatation modules disposed about and/or connected to the tubular member.
The
floatation modules may be used to manage the weight of the tubular member, in
addition to manage the weight of the string of tubular members altogether. As
such,
the apparatus may be used to guide the tubular member into and through, for
example,
a gripping apparatus. In such an embodiment, the apparatus may thereby
prevent, at
least a portion of, damage from occurring to the floatation modules and/or the
tubular
member.
[0059] For example, if a tubular member having one or more floatation
modules
connected thereto is misaligned with a gripping apparatus when entering a
gripping
apparatus, one or more of the floatation modules may contact and be damaged
against
one or more components of the gripping apparatus (such as by having one or
more of
the floatation modules contact one or more of the slip assemblies of a
gripping
apparatus). However, an apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed
herein
may be used to guide and properly align the tubular member when entering a
gripping
apparatus, thereby preventing, at least a portion, of the damage from
occurring to the
tubular member and/or the floatation modules connected thereto. Further, in
one
embodiment the apparatus may be used to grip and support a tubular member,
such as
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when suspending a string of tubular members from a drilling string,
independent if the
tubular member has a floatation module connected thereto.
[0060] Further, in one embodiment the apparatus may be used to allow a
tubular
member having one or more floatation modules connected thereto to pass through
the
apparatus, in which the apparatus may then grip and support (e.g., an end of)
the
tubular member after the one or more floatation modules have passed through
the
apparatus.
[0061] Thus, in one aspect, an apparatus in accordance with embodiments
disclosed
herein may include a bowl, a plurality of slip assemblies, and one or more
guiding
members. The bowl may have a bore or opening formed therethrough, and/or the
plurality of slip assemblies may be movably connected to the bowl. Further,
the
apparatus may include one or more guiding members, such as having one or more
guiding members disposed adjacent to one opening of the bore (e.g., defined by
the
bowl) of the apparatus and/or having one or more guiding members disposed
adjacent
to another opening of the bore. One or more guiding members may be disposed in
the
bore (e.g., defined by a bowl) of the apparatus, for example between adjacent
slip
assemblies, without departing from the spirit of the invention. One or more
guiding
members may be used to guide a tubular member, such as when a tubular member
is
being disposed within or through the apparatus. For example, the tubular
member
may have one or more floatation modules disposed thereabout and/or connected
thereto, in which one or more of the guiding members may engage a surface of
the
floatation module to guide the flotation module into and/or through the
apparatus. In
one embodiment, one or more guiding members may guide a flotation module into
and/or through an apparatus (e.g., spider) and also may guide the tubular that
the
flotation module is connected to through the apparatus (e.g., spider).
[0062] In one embodiment, the guiding members may include one or more
rollers. A
roller may be rotatably connected to the apparatus. As such, as when a roller
engages
a surface of a floatation module, the roller may rotate and roll against a
surface of the
floatation module. This movement may enable the roller to guide the floatation
module and tubular member into and/or through the apparatus, thereby assisting
in
preventing, at least a portion, of damage occurring to the floatation module
and/or
tubular member by the apparatus.
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100631 The apparatus may include more than one guiding member. In such
embodiments, a plurality of guiding members may be disposed adjacent to one or
both
ends of the bore (e.g., bowl). As such, the plurality of guiding members may
be
substantially equally spaced from one another about the longitudinal axis of
the bowl.
This configuration may enable the guiding members to apply substantially equal
pressure to the floatation module and tubular member disposed within the
apparatus.
Further, the guiding members may be movable with respect to the apparatus,
such as
movable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore (e.g., bowl) of the
apparatus.
As such, the guiding members may be able to move radially with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the bowl. Further, the guiding members may be able to
move
axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bowl.
[0064] As used herein, "connected" may refer to not only having two or
more
elements directly attached to each other, but connected may additionally refer
to
having two or more elements indirectly attached to each other. For example, as
discussed more below, an apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed
herein
may have a guiding member connected to a bowl of the apparatus. As such, it
should
be understood that the present disclosure contemplates not only having the
guiding
member directly attached to the bowl, but the present disclosure additionally
contemplates other structures and/or arrangements for the apparatus, such as
by
having a structure or member disposed between the guiding member and the bowl,
in
which the guiding member and the bowl are connected to each other through the
other
structure or member.
100651 Referring now to Figure 4, a perspective view of an apparatus 401
to guide a
tubular member in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is shown. In
this
embodiment, the apparatus 401 is disposed within a surface 491, such as within
a
rotary table 109 of a drilling rig 101 (e.g., shown in Figure 1).
Particularly, as shown,
the apparatus 401 may be disposed within an adapter ring, in which the adapter
ring
may be disposed, and thus suspended, within a rotary table of a drilling rig.
Those
having ordinary skill in the art, however, will appreciate that the present
disclosure is
not so limited, as the apparatus may, in other embodiments, be disposed above
or on
the surface without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
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[0066] Guiding apparatus 401, which may be a spider as illustrated or an
elevator,
e.g., with the attachment of lifting bail or link eyes, includes a bowl 403
defining a
bore 405 therein. The bore 405 may be formed about an axis 400 extending
longitudinally through the apparatus 401. Specifically, the bowl 403 may be
formed
such that a top opening 407 of the bore 405 is formed at a top side of the
bowl 403,
and a bottom opening of the bore 405 is formed at the bottom side of the bowl
(depicted in Figure 5). Further, the depicted bowl 403 has an inner wall that
extends
between the top opening 407 of the bowl 403 to the bottom opening. Although
the
bowl is shown as being a continuous surface, the term bowl may also refer to a
plurality of discrete surfaces without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. The depicted inner wall of the bowl 403 is skewed at an angle
(e.g.,
tapered) with respect to the axis 400. For example, the bowl 403 may have a
smooth,
non-stepped profile, tapered inner wall, in which the bowl 403 may be used to
enable
the apparatus 401 to grip a range of tubular members having different
dimensions
(e.g., different outer diameters), with the slip assemblies moving along the
bowl 403.
However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
present
disclosure is not so limited, as other shapes and profiles, such as a stepped
(e.g.,
"rapid advance") profile, may be used for the inner wall of the bowl without
departing
from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0067] The depicted apparatus 401 further includes a plurality of slip
assemblies 421,
in which the slip assemblies 421 are movable with respect to the bowl 403
(e.g., in-
and-out of the bowl 403), such as by having the slip assemblies 421 movably
connected to the bowl 403. Specifically, the depicted slip assemblies 421 are
movable in a radial direction with respect to the axis 400 as well as being
movable in
a longitudinal direction along the axis 400. For example, by having the slip
assemblies 421 movably connected to the bowl 403, the slip assemblies 421 may
be
able to "slide" towards and/or away from the axis 400, e.g., move along the
inner wall
of the bowl 403. As such, the slip assemblies 421 may be used to grip a
tubular
member, such as gripping an outer surface of a tubular member received within
the
apparatus 401. Slip assemblies 421 may be restricted from lateral movement in
the
bore (e.g., bowl), for example, while still allowing for movement towards
and/or
away from axis 400 (e.g., radial movement relative to axis 400 of the bore).
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100681 As shown, the slip assemblies 421 may be movably connected to a
support
ring 431. Support ring may be a "timing ring", e.g., as discussed in the '169
Application and the '072 Application. For example, by using a slide mechanism
433,
the slip assemblies 421 may be able to move in the radial direction with
respect to the
axis 400, in addition to the longitudinal direction along the axis 400, such
as when the
support ring 431 moves in the longitudinal direction. However, those having
ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms or connections may be
used to
movably connect the slip assemblies to a support ring and/or the bowl. For
example,
in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, a pin-and-link mechanism may
be
used to movably connect the slip assemblies to the support ring. As such, the
present
disclosure contemplates other structures and/or arrangements for the apparatus
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
100691 Apparatus 401 may include one or more guiding members 441, in which
the
guiding member(s) 441 may be disposed adjacent to one or more ends or openings
of
the bore (e.g., defined by bowl 403), slip assemblies 421, and/or support ring
431. In
Figure 4, the guiding member(s) 441 are depicted as connected to the support
ring
431, in which the guiding member(s) 441 may be disposed adjacent to the top
side
407 of the bowl 403, e.g., when the slip assemblies 421 are received within
the bowl
403. The guiding member(s) 441 may be substantially equally spaced (e.g.,
laterally
and/or circumferentially) from one another about the axis 400, e.g., three or
more
guiding member(s) 441 substantially equally spaced from one another. This
arrangement may enable the guiding member(s) 441 to provide guidance from
multiple directions for a tubular member received within the apparatus 401
(discussed
more below). For example, the guiding member(s) may guide a tubular member
when being received into and/or being extracted from the apparatus, and/or the
guiding member(s) may guide a lateral movement of the tubular member with
respect
to the apparatus. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that
the present disclosure is not so limited, as guiding member(s) may be disposed
at
other locations (e.g., within the bore of the bowl 403 or on the slip
assemblies 421)
and/or connected to other components, such as by having guiding member(s)
connected to the drilling rig rather than connected to the apparatus itself
(e.g., support
ring as discussed above), without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure.
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[0070] As discussed above, the guiding member(s) 441 may be used to guide
a
tubular member into the apparatus 401. As such, the guiding member(s) 441 may
be
disposed adjacent to the bore of the apparatus 401 having axis 400 such that
as a
tubular member is received within the apparatus 401, the guiding member(s) 441
may
engage a surface of the tubular member, or in other embodiments, a surface of
a
component connected to the tubular member such as a flotation module, to guide
the
tubular member into, out of, and/or through the apparatus 401. For example, in
an
embodiment in which a tubular member has a floatation module disposed
thereabout
and/or connected thereto, the guiding member(s) 441 may engage a surface of
the
floatation module to guide the tubular member into, out of, and/or through the
apparatus 401. Though not particularly stated, those having ordinary skill in
the art
will appreciate that the present disclosure contemplates use with guiding a
tubular
member into, out of, through, and/or any other movement with an apparatus in
accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0071] As such, in one embodiment, the guiding member(s) 441 comprise one
or
more rollers, though those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
any type of
guiding member may be used to guide a tubular member within an apparatus in
accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a guiding member
may
include a conveyor belt (not shown), such as a top and/or bottom set of three
or more
conveyor belts disposed about the bore of the apparatus 401. Rollers may be
able to
rotate, such as by having the roller rotatably connected (e.g., by bearing) to
the
support ring 431, as shown in Figure 4. In such an embodiment, the rollers may
be
able to rotate about an axis thereof, in which the axis of rotation for the
rollers may be
disposed transverse with respect to the axis 400 of the apparatus 401. As
such, the
axis of rotation for one or more of the rollers may be skewed with respect to
the axis
400 of the apparatus 401. Guiding member(s) (e.g., roller) may be mounted to
the
apparatus 401 in any manner and/or means without departing from the spirit of
the
disclosure. The roller(s) may then be used to "roll" against a surface of, for
example,
a floatation module disposed about a tubular member. This engagement with the
floatation module by the guiding member may be used to prevent, at least a
portion
of, damage from occurring to the floatation module and/or tubular member,
e.g., from
contact with the slip assemblies.
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[0072] As shown in Figure 4, the guiding member 441 may have multiple
sections
and/or outer profiles, such as a middle section 443 disposed between two side
sections
445 in the depicted roller 441. As such, in one or more embodiments, the
middle
section 443 may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of one or both
of the
two side sections 445. Guiding member 441 may comprise one or more
frustoconical
sections, for example, two frustoconical sections wherein the tapered ends are
adjacent and/or abut. This configuration may provide the guiding member with
an
outer surface that compliments the outer surface of a floatation module and/or
tubular
member for desirable engagement with the floatation module and/or tubular
member.
[0073] Those having ordinary skill in the art, however, will appreciate
that the present
disclosure is not so limited, as the guiding member of the present disclosure
may have
multiple sizes, shapes, arrangements, and/or configurations. In one
embodiment, one
or more of the guiding member(s) may have a convex or a concave outer surface,
e.g.,
in which the convex or concave surface is used to engage with the outer
surface of a
floatation module and/or tubular member. Alternatively, in another embodiment,
one
or more of the guiding member(s) may have a substantially cylindrical outer
surface.
Further, in yet another embodiment, one or more of the guiding member(s) may
have
a low coefficient outer surface, in which the low coefficient surface may
enable a
floatation module and/or tubular member to "slide" against the surface of the
guiding
member(s). Furthermore, additionally or alternatively to a roller, one or more
of the
guiding member(s) may have a sloped surface, such as by having a surface that
is
sloped towards the axis of the apparatus (e.g., to form a generally convergent
surface,
for example, converging towards an opening of the bore) to facilitate guiding
a
tubular member into the apparatus. Furthermore still, in one embodiment, one
or
more of the guiding member(s) may collectively comprise a ring, or at least a
portion
of a ring, in which the guiding member(s) may be able to move between multiple
radial positions with respect to the axis of the apparatus. For example, in
one
embodiment, one or more guiding members may be disposed about an axis of the
apparatus such that the guiding member(s) form a circular, or semi-circular,
arrangement with respect to the axis of the apparatus (e.g., laterally
adjacent). In such
an arrangement, one or more of the guiding members may be movable with respect
to
the axis of the apparatus, such as movable radially (e.g., only radially) with
respect to
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the axis of the apparatus. As such, multiple sizes, shapes, arrangements, and
configurations are contemplated for one or more guiding member(s) in
accordance
with the present disclosure.
[0074] One or more of the guiding member(s) may be connected to the
apparatus
such that the guiding member(s) may move (e.g., be actuated) in the radial
direction
(e.g., at least the radial direction) with respect to the axis of the
apparatus. In such an
embodiment, the guiding member(s) may be movable between multiple radial
positions with respect to the axis of the apparatus. Such guiding member(s)
may be
selectively locked into one or more of the radial positions, as desired. For
example, as
shown in Figure 4, the guiding member(s) 441 may be connected to the apparatus
401
such that the guiding member(s) 441 are moveable between multiple radial
positions
with respect to the axis 400 of the apparatus 401. Specifically, in this
depicted
embodiment, the guiding member 441 is connected to the support ring 431 using
a
removable connector 447 (e.g., a bolt or pin movable into multiple holes or a
slot in a
bracket), in which connector 447 may be removed to enable the guiding member
441
to adjust the radial position of the guiding member 441 with respect to the
axis 400.
As such, the present disclosure contemplates other structures and/or
arrangements for
the guiding member(s) without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0075] Guiding member(s) may be driven by an actuator, e.g., driven
towards and/or
away from the bore of the apparatus. An actuator may be mounted to a guiding
member(s) via linkage or other ways known in the art. An upper and/or a lower
set of
laterally adjacent guiding members may comprise an actuator, to drive guide
member(s) towards and/or away from the bore of the apparatus. As such, an
actuator
may have a sensor and/or a controller coupled thereto and/or with each .other,
in
which a sensor may be able to communicate the position of a guiding member and
the
controller may be able to send signals to control the actuator, thereby
enabling the
actuator to move the guiding member to a desired position. Referring now to
Figure
12, a perspective view of an apparatus 1201 to guide a tubular member in
accordance
with embodiments disclosed herein is shown. In this embodiment, the apparatus
1201
includes a plurality of guiding members 1241, in which the apparatus 1201
includes
one or more actuators 1249 operatively coupled to a guiding member(s) 1241 to
move
the guiding member(s) 1241. For example, an actuator 1249 may be coupled to
each
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guiding member 1241, in which the actuator may be used to move the guiding
member 1241 toward and/or away from the axis 1200 of the apparatus 1201. In
the
embodiment in Figure 12, one or more of the guiding members 1241 may be
slidably
mounted within a slot at an end thereof, in which the actuator 1249 may be
attached to
the end of the guiding members 1241 to move the guiding members. As such, as
the
actuators 1249 are actuated, the actuators 1249 may move the guiding members
1241
towards and/or away from the axis 1200. Further, in this embodiment, one or
more of
the actuators 1249 may be attached adjacent the top of the apparatus 1201 when
coupled to the guiding members 1241. Further, as shown in Figure 12B, guiding
members 1241 disposed at the lower end of the apparatus may also include an
actuator 1249 to move guiding members (e.g., move towards and/or away from the
axis 1200), such as similar to the actuator(s) shown in Figure 12. An actuator
used in
accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein may be a hydraulic,
pneumatic, electric, and/or any other actuator known in the art. An actuator
may be
remotely controlled. Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that
other arrangements for an actuator to move a guiding member of an apparatus in
accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may be used without departing
from
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0076] In one embodiment, guiding member(s) having actuators connected
thereto
may be controlled, such as controlled by a processor or other control system,
to
dispose one or more of the actuated guiding members to a desired location
(e.g., a
desired distance from the axis of the bore of the apparatus or from the
surface of a
tubular disposed in the bore the apparatus). For example, guiding members
(e.g.,
laterally adjacent guiding members) may be actuated, such as by a
processor/computer or by an operator, to move and dispose the guiding members
to a
substantially uniform radial distance relative to the axis of the bore of the
tool, such as
shown in Figure 12. Further, in one embodiment, a plurality of guiding members
may
be actuated (e.g., a guiding surface of the guiding members may be actuated)
to a
radial distance relative to the axis of the bore that is greater than the
largest radial
distance (e.g., outer diameter) of a flotation module mounted to a tubular
member
being run into the apparatus, but may also be less than the smallest radial
distance of
the apparatus, such as the radial distance of the gripping surface of the slip
assemblies
when the slip assemblies are in a retracted (thereby no longer gripping the
tubular
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member) position or other position with the apparatus. In one embodiment, one
set
(e.g., one or more guiding members of a laterally adjacent set of guiding
members or
one of an upper and a lower set of laterally adjacent guiding members) of
guiding
members may be actuated and another set may be non-actuated, for example,
three or
more actuated guiding members interspersed with three or more non-actuated
guiding
members. Further, in one embodiment, a plurality of guiding members may be
actuated (e.g., via a controller) to move to a radial distance relative to the
axis of the
bore that is less than the radial distance of the gripping surface of the slip
assemblies
(e.g., in a retracted position). The plurality of guiding members may be
actuated (e.g.,
via a controller) to move radially away from the axis of the bore (e.g., only)
to allow
the slip assemblies (e.g., the gripping surface of the slip assemblies) to be
a radial
distance relative to the axis of the bore that is less than the radial
distance of the
plurality of guiding members, thereby enabling a tubular member to be gripped
by the
slip assemblies when desired.
[0077] In one embodiment, in an inward radial position, the guiding
member(s) may
be extendable further radially inward than the gripping portion of the slip
assemblies
with respect to the axis of the apparatus. In an outward radial position, the
guiding
member(s) may be extendable further radially outward than the gripping portion
of
the slip assemblies with respect to the axis of the apparatus. Further, those
having
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, though one or more guiding
members
may have an actuator attached thereto, in other embodiments without actuators
attached thereto, guiding members may be movable, such as movable between an
inward radial position and an outward radial position. Further, in accordance
with
one or more embodiments disclosed herein, one or more guiding members may not
be
movable, such as with respect to the axis of the apparatus. In such an
embodiment,
the guiding member(s) may be disposed in a desired radial position, such as by
having
the guiding member(s) disposed in an inward radial position. As such, those
having
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure
contemplates
multiple orientation and arrangements for the guiding members, as the guiding
members may be movable, non-movable, and/or may include one or more actuators.
[0078] Referring now to Figure 5, a partial exploded view of an apparatus
501 to
guide a tubular member in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is
shown.
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Specifically, in this embodiment, the apparatus 501 is shown partial and
exploded to
depict the bore formed in the bowl 503 in more detail. As such, and as
discussed
above, the apparatus 501 includes a bore formed by illustrated section of bowl
503, in
which the bore has a first (e.g., top) opening 507 formed at one (e.g., a top)
side of the
bowl 503 and a second, opposing (e.g., bottom) opening 509 formed at the other
(e.g.,
bottom) side of the bore defined by bowl 503. Further, the bowl 503 has an
inner wall
505 that extends between the top opening 507 of the bowl 503 to the bottom
opening
509 of the bowl. The inner wall 505 is illustrated as tapered with respect to
the axis
of the bowl and shown as a circumferentially continuous inner surface but may
comprise non-continuous surfaces as noted previously.
[0079] The apparatus 501 may include one or more guiding members 541, in
which,
as discussed above, the guiding member(s) 541 may be disposed adjacent to one
or
more sides of the bowl 503. As shown in Figure 5, the guiding member(s) 541
are
disposed adjacent to the bottom opening 509 of the bottom side of the bowl
503.
Apparatus 501 may include a plate assembly 551, in which the plate assembly
551
may have the guiding member(s) 541 connected thereto and the plate assembly
551
may connect to the bowl 503. Although shown adjacent to the bottom opening 509
of
bowl 503, additionally or alternatively plate assembly 551 can be disposed
adjacent to
top opening 507 of the bowl 503 or anywhere else desired. The guiding
member(s)
541 may be connected to the plate assembly 551 such that the guiding member(s)
541,
or at least a portion thereof, may extend (or may be extendable) further
radially
inward with respect to an axis of the bore of the tool than any component of
the plate
assembly 551, such as discussed above. This may enable the guiding member(s)
541
to engage a surface of a floatation module and/or a tubular member when being
disposed within the apparatus 501.
[0080] A plate assembly 551 may include one or more plates included
therein, if
desired, to connect to the guiding member(s) 541. For example, in this
embodiment,
the plate assembly 551 includes a first plate 555 and a second plate 557
connected to
each other using one or more struts 591. The first plate 555 and the second
plate 557
may be disposed substantially parallel with respect to each other, and a strut
may be
connected between the first plate 555 and the second plate 557 such that a gap
is
formed between the first plate 555 and the second plate 557 of the plate
assembly 551.
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As such, this arrangement may enable one or more guiding member(s) 541 to be
disposed between the first plate 555 and the second plate 557 of the plate
assembly
551, such as disposed within gaps formed within the plate assembly 551.
However,
those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present
disclosure is not
so limited, as other structures and/or arrangements may be used for the
apparatus
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, such as a plate
assembly
having only one plate or more than two plates, or by not including a plate
assembly at
all and having the guiding member(s) connect to the bowl of the apparatus.
100811 Further, the plate assembly 551 may removably connect to the bowl
503 of the
apparatus 501, if desired. As shown in Figure 5, the plate assembly 551 may
removably connect to the bowl 503 using a bolt or pin 561 that removably
attaches to
a shaft 553 of the plate assembly 551 through the bowl 503. However, those
having
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms, devices,
structures,
and/or arrangements may be used to removably connect the plate assembly to the
bowl of the apparatus, such as by latching a surface of the plate assembly to
a surface
of the bowl, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
100821 Furthermore, one or more components of an apparatus in accordance
with
embodiments disclosed herein may be formed into one or more sections or
unitary.
For example, in select embodiments, the bowl may be formed into more than one
section. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the bowl 503 may be formed into
two
sections (though only one section is shown) such that the sections form two
substantially similar halves. Similarly, the support ring may be formed into
more than
one section and the plate assembly may be formed into more than one section,
as
desired. Forming the apparatus into more than one section may facilitate
installation
of the apparatus. For example, the size and weight of the components of the
gripping
apparatus may be reduced when portioned into sections. In such embodiments,
the
sections of the bowl, support ring, and any other components of the apparatus,
may be
formed such that the sections are formed along a plane intersecting with the
axis of
the apparatus. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that the
present disclosure is not so limited, as the sections may be formed for the
apparatus
may be formed along any other lines, if the sections are formed for the
apparatus at
all.
24
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=
[0083] Referring now to Figures 6A-6D, multiple views of an apparatus 601
guiding
a tubular member 693 in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is shown.
Figure 6A shows a top perspective view of the apparatus 601 guiding a tubular
member 693, Figure 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus 601
guiding a
tubular member 693, Figure 6C shows an above view of the apparatus 601 guiding
a
tubular member 693, and Figure 6D shows a below view of the apparatus 601
guiding a tubular member 693.
[0084] As with the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the apparatus 601 shown
here in
Figure 6 may be disposed within a surface 691, such as disposed within an
adapter
ring included within a rotary table of a drilling rig. Further, in this
embodiment, the
tubular member 693 has a floatation module 695 disposed about the tubular
member
693. The floatation module 695 may be disposed about and connected to the
tubular
member 693. A floatation module in accordance with embodiments disclosed
herein
is disclosed within U.S. Patent No. 7,383,885, filed on September 22, 2004,
and
entitled "Floatation Module and Method." As such, floatation modules (e.g.,
positive
buoyancy modules) having other shapes, sizes, structures, and/or arrangements
may
be used in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, such as by having a
lower density material, with respect to the tubular member and/or the fluid
the
buoyancy module is disposed in, applied to and/or disposed about an outer
surface
of the tubular member.
[0085] Further, the apparatus 601 may include a bowl 603 and a plurality
of slip
assemblies 621, in addition to a support ring 631 and one or more guiding
member(s) 641. The guiding member(s) 641 may be substantially equally spaced
from one another about the longitudinal axis of the bowl 603. As such, and as
described above, the guiding member(s) 641 may be used to guide the tubular
member 693 when the tubular member 693 is being disposed adjacent to and/or
within the apparatus 601. For example, as the floatation module 695 is
disposed
about and connected to the tubular member 693, one or more of the guiding
member(s) 641 may engage a surface of the floatation module 695 to guide the
tubular member 693 into and/or through the apparatus 601.
[0086] As shown and discussed above, an apparatus in accordance with the
present
disclosure may be used to grip or support one or more tubular members. For
CA 02800567 2014-02-03
example, as shown in one or more embodiments discussed above, the apparatus
may
include one or more slip assemblies, in which the slip assemblies may be used
to
grip a tubular member. As such, an apparatus in accordance with the present
disclosure may be similar to the gripping apparatus shown and disclosed within
the
'169 Application and the '072 Application. Further, an apparatus in accordance
with the present disclosure may be any other gripping or supporting apparatus
known in the art. For example, in addition or in alternative to a gripping
apparatus,
a supporting apparatus may be used in accordance with guiding embodiments
disclosed herein that supports one or more tubular members within a drilling
rig,
such as supporting a tubular string of tubular members suspended from a
drilling rig.
An example of a supporting apparatus is disclosed within U.S. Patent No.
6,651,737,
filed on January 24, 2001, and entitled "Collar Load Support system and
Method."
E.g., the supporting apparatus of the 6,651,737 patent could be outfitted with
guiding member(s), e.g., guiding members disposed about the top and/or bottom
openings of the apparatuses disclosed therein.
[0087] Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, multiple bottom perspective
views of an
apparatus 701 guiding a tubular member 793 in accordance with embodiments
disclosed herein is shown. As with the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the
depicted
tubular member 793 has a floatation module 795 disposed about and connected to
the tubular member 793.
[0088] Further, the apparatus 701 may include one or more guiding members
741
disposed adjacent to one (e.g., top or bottom) opening of a bore of the
apparatus 701,
or adjacent to each of the two openings (e.g., top and bottom) of the
apparatus 701.
The apparatus 701 may include a plate assembly 751, in which the one or more
guiding members 741 may be connected (e.g., fixed or movably (optionally
movable
via an actuator)) to the plate assembly 751. As such, the guiding member(s)
741
may be used to guide the tubular member 793 when the tubular member 793 is
being
disposed within the apparatus 701, such as by having the guiding member(s)
engage
a surface of the floatation module 795 connected to the tubular member 793.
Further, the plate assembly 751 shown in Figure 7A may only have one plate
755,
whereas the plate assembly 751 shown in Figure 7B may have two plates 755 and
757. As such,
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as discussed above and in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, a
plate
assembly may have multiple structures and/or arrangements, or a plate assembly
may
not be included within the apparatus at all. In such an embodiment, the
guiding
member(s) may be attached to the apparatus and/or may be disposed within the
apparatus. Thus, the present disclosure contemplates other structures and/or
arrangements for the apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed
herein.
100891 Accordingly, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed
herein,
as the apparatus 741 may include guiding members 741 disposed adjacent to the
openings of the apparatus 701, the guiding members 741 are used to contact and
guide
a tubular member into, within, and/or through the apparatus 741. As such, when
guiding the tubular member, guiding members 741 from the top of the apparatus
701
and guiding members 741 from the bottom of the apparatus 701 may be used to
establish at least two points-of-contact with the tubular member, such as
axially
and/or radially spaced points-of-contact. For example, one point-of-contact
with the
tubular may be axially spaced from another point-of-contact with respect to
the axis
of the apparatus. Further, in another example, one point-of-contact with the
tubular
may be radially spaced from another point-of-contact with respect to the axis
of the
apparatus. By establishing two points-of-contact with the tubular member with
the
guiding members, this may prevent the tubular member, and other components
attached to the tubular member (e.g., floatation module) from contacting the
apparatus
701, such as from having the floatation module from contacting a slip assembly
(e.g.,
the gripping surface thereof) of the apparatus 701. For example, at least two
axially
spaced points-of-contact may prevent a tubular member from contacting a slip
assembly of an apparatus 701. Further, at least two radially spaced points-of-
contact
may be used to guide a tubular member through the bore of an apparatus, for
example,
such that the guiding members 741 of the apparatus 701 are the only elements
that
may be able to contact the tubular member and/or buoyancy module(s) connected
to
the tubular member e.g., when the slip assemblies are in the retracted
position..
Accordingly, at least two points-of-contact with the tubular member may be
used to
have a desired orientation and movement of the tubular member into, within,
and/or
through an apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed
herein.
The slip assemblies may be retractable to a radial distance from the axis to
prevent
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contact with any outer diameter protrusion of a tubular. For example, as
discussed
below with reference to Figures 10A-10D.
[0090] Referring now to Figures 8A-8C, multiple views of an apparatus 801
gripping
a tubular member 893 in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is shown.
Specifically, Figure 8A shows a perspective view of the apparatus 801 gripping
the
tubular member 893, Figure 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus
801
disposed about the tubular member 893, and Figure 8C shows a cross-sectional
view
of the apparatus 801 gripping the tubular member 893.
[0091] As discussed above, an apparatus in accordance with embodiments
disclosed
herein may be used to grip and support a tubular member, such as when
suspending a
string of tubular members. As such, in this embodiment, the apparatus 801 is
used to
grip and support the tubular member 893. Specifically, the apparatus 801 may
include a bowl 803 with a plurality of slip assemblies 821 movably connected
thereto
(e.g., disposed therein), in which the plurality of slip assemblies 821 may
move
radially inward and longitudinally downward with respect to the longitudinal
axis of
the bowl 803, e.g., when the tubular member 893 is disposed within the
apparatus
801. For example, the slip assemblies 821 may move radially inward and
longitudinally downward from a first position, such as a retracted position
shown in
Figure 8B, to a second position, such as an engaged position shown in Figure
8C. As
such, the plurality of slip assemblies 821 may be used to grip an outer
surface of the
tubular member 893.
[0092] Further, the depicted tubular member 893 has a floatation module
895
disposed about and connected to the tubular member 893. When a floatation
module
895 is disposed into the apparatus 801, the plurality of slip assemblies 821
may be
disposed at a first position, such as the retracted position shown in Figure
8B, which
includes having the plurality of slip assemblies 821 extended radially outward
and
longitudinally upward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bowl 803.
The
floatation module 895 may pass through the apparatus 801, such as by having
one or
more guiding members 841 connected to the apparatus 801 engaging a surface of
the
floatation module 895 to guide the floatation module 895 and the tubular
member
893, at least partially, through the apparatus 801. After the floatation
module 895 has
passed through the apparatus 801, the plurality of slip assemblies 821 may be
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disposed at a second position, such as the engaged position shown in Figure
8C,
which includes having the plurality of slip assemblies 821 extended radially
inward
and longitudinally downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bowl
803.
This arrangement may allow the plurality of slip assemblies 821 to grip an
outer
surface of the tubular member 893. However, as discussed above, an apparatus
in
accordance with the present disclosure may be any other gripping or supporting
apparatus known in the art, rather than only the embodiment disclosed in
Figures 8A-
8 C .
[0093] Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that in
accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more
guiding member(s) may be disposed adjacent any pipe gripping or supporting
apparatus known in the art. . As such, the guiding member(s) may be used to
guide
tubular members, such as tubular members having floatation modules attached
thereto, through any gripping or supporting apparatus. In an embodiment, in
which
guiding member(s) are disposed adjacent to the top side of the apparatus and
the
bottom side of the apparatus, the guiding member(s) on both the top side and
bottom
side of the apparatus may be used to guide and prevent contact of the tubular
member
with other portions of the apparatus.
[0094] Further, as shown in Figure 8B, as the guiding member(s) 841 are
disposed
adjacent to both the top side of the bowl 803 and the bottom side of the bowl
803, a
tubular member with a floatation module may be disposed through the apparatus
801
while preventing contact with the retracted slip assemblies 821. As such, the
tubular
member and floatation module may be able to contact the guiding member(s) 841
disposed adjacent to both the top side of the bowl 803 and the bottom side of
the bowl
803, such as by contacting a guiding member disposed adjacent to the top side
of the
bowl 803 and a guiding member disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the bowl
803
simultaneously. This may particularly prevent contact of the tubular member
and
floatation module with the slip assemblies 821 of the apparatus 801.
[0095] Referring now to Figures 9A-9D, multiple views of a gripping
apparatus 901
having a plurality of slip assemblies 921 in accordance with embodiments
disclosed
herein are shown. Specifically, Figures 9A and 9B show multiple views of the
gripping apparatus 901 with the plurality of slip assemblies 921 in an engaged
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position, in which Figure 9A shows a perspective view of the gripping
apparatus 901
and Figure 9B shows an above view of the gripping apparatus 901. Specifically,
Figures 9C and 9D show multiple views of the gripping apparatus 901 with the
plurality of slip assemblies 921 in an retracted position, in which Figure 9C
shows a
perspective view of the gripping apparatus 901 and Figure 9D shows an above
view
of the gripping apparatus 901.
[0096] As discussed above, the apparatus 901 may be used to grip and
support a
tubular member. For example, the apparatus 901 may include a bowl 903 with the
plurality of slip assemblies 921 movably connected thereto, in which the
plurality of
slip assemblies 921 may move radially inward and outward and longitudinally
upward
and downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bowl 903. As such,
the slip
assemblies 921 may move radially inward and longitudinally downward from a
first
position, such as the retracted position shown in Figures 9C and 9D, to a
second
position, such as the engaged position shown in Figures 9A and 9B.
[0097] Further, a gripping apparatus in accordance with one or more
embodiments
disclosed herein may include one or more protectors coupled to the gripping
apparatus, in which the protectors may be used to protect one or more tools,
floatation
modules, and/or any other component disposed within the gripping apparatus.
For
example, as shown in Figures 9A-9D, the gripping apparatus 901 may include one
or
more protectors 971 coupled thereto. Particularly, as shown in this
embodiment, the
protectors 971 may be movably coupled to the gripping apparatus 901, such as
movably connected to or within the bowl 903 of the gripping apparatus 901. The
protectors 971 may connect to one or more rods 973, in which the rods 973 may
be
disposed within and/or through the bowl 903 of the gripping apparatus 901.
Further,
the rods 973 may be able to rotate with respect to the bowl 903 of the
gripping
apparatus 901. Protector 971 connected to a rod 973 (rotatable or not) may be
able to
rotate about the rod 973 with respect to the bowl 903 of the apparatus 901.
[0098] As shown, as the protectors 971 are movable with respect to the
apparatus
901, the protectors 971 may move as the slip assemblies 921 move within the
apparatus 901. As such, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, with the plurality of
slip
assemblies 921 in an engaged position, the protectors 971 may enable the slip
assemblies 921 to pass between one or more of the protectors 971 to have the
slip
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assemblies 921 move radially inward and longitudinally downward with respect
to the
axis of the apparatus 901. Further, as shown in Figures 9C and 9D, with the
plurality
of slip assemblies 921 in the retracted position, the protectors 971 may close
about the
slip assemblies 921 and cover at least a portion of the slip assemblies 921.
One or
more of the protectors 971, thus, may be biased, for example, an actuator,
spring
and/or other biasing mechanism may be used to bias one or more of the
protectors
into the position as shown in Figures 9C and/or 9D. Protectors 971 thus may
protect
one or more tubular and/or floatation modules that may be disposed within
and/or
through the apparatus 901, such as by preventing a tubular and/or floatation
module
from contacting the slip assemblies 921 of the apparatus 901 when disposed
within
the apparatus 901. Protector 971 may extend axially the entire length of a
slip
assembly 921, and/or may be less than the entire length of the slip assemblies
921
(e.g., that part of the slip assembly having teeth or other gripping surface).
[0099] As shown, a protector 971 may be disposed on each side of each slip
assembly
921 included with the apparatus 901. However, those having ordinary skill in
the art
will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited, as the present
disclosure
contemplates multiple structures and arrangements for protectors within a
gripping
apparatus. For example, in one embodiment, a protector may be disposed on only
one
side of a (e.g., each) slip assembly within the apparatus, or, in another
embodiment,
only one protector may be included within the apparatus altogether. As such,
multiple
structures and arrangements may be used for the protectors of an apparatus
without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
1001001 Referring now to Figure 10A-10D, multiple views of a portion of a
gripping
apparatus 1001 in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein are shown.
Specifically, Figures 10A-10D show a portion of gripping apparatus 1001 with a
tubular member 1093 disposed therein.
[00101] The gripping apparatus 1001 may be used to guide the tubular member
1093
with one or more guiding members 1041, in which the guiding members 1041 may
be
movably connected to the apparatus 1001. For example, the guiding members 1041
may be able to rotate with respect to the apparatus 1001. However, as
discussed
above, the guiding members 1041 may be able to move with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1001, such as move radially with respect to
the
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longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1001. As such, in Figures 10A and 10B, the
guiding members 1041 are disposed at a first radial position with respect to
the
longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1001, and in Figures 10C and 10D, the
guiding
members 1041 are shown as disposed at a second radial position with respect to
the
longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1001. Accordingly, one or more of the
guiding
members 1041 may be movable between multiple radial positions, such as movable
between the first radial position shown in Figures 10A and 10B and the second
radial
position shown in Figures 10C and 10D.
[00102] In one embodiment, as the guiding members may be radially movable
with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the guiding members may be
moved
radially to prevent damage to a tubular member, to prevent damage to a tool,
to
prevent damage to a floatation module attached to a tubular member, and/or to
prevent damage to any other component that may be disposed within and/or
through a
gripping apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed
herein. As
such, as shown in Figures 10A and 10B, the guiding members 1041 are shown as
disposed in the first radial position, in which in this radial position, the
floatation
module 1095 attached to the tubular member 1093 may interfere with one or more
of
the slip assemblies 1021 within the apparatus 1001. Further, this interference
may
cause a component of or attached to the tubular member 1093 to be damaged. For
example, a collar 1097 of the tubular member 1093 (e.g., casing), which may
have a
larger outer diameter than the tubular member 1093, may interfere with the
slip
assemblies 1021, even though the tubular member 1093 is being guided by guide
member 1041. Furthermore, the axial length of the component, which may have a
larger diameter than the tubular member, may be shorter than the axial length
between
the guide members. This may enable the component attached to the tubular
member
to interfere with one or more slip assemblies of the apparatus, even though
the tubular
member is being guided by the guiding members.
[00103] As such, the guiding members 1041 may be moved further radially
inward
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1001, and/or the slip
assemblies
1021 may be moved further radially outward, to prevent interference (e.g.,
damage) to
the tubular member 1093 and components thereof, such as the collar 1097 or a
floatation module. For example, the guiding members 1041 may be disposed in a
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second radial position, which is closer to the longitudinal axis than the
first radial
position. In this radial position, the tubular member 1093, and any component
attached thereto, may be prevented from interfering with the slip assemblies
1021
within the apparatus 1001. Further, in one or more embodiments, the slip
assemblies
1021 may be moved radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis of
the
apparatus 1001 such that the tubular member 1093, and any component attached
thereto, may be prevented from interfering with the slip assemblies 1021
within the
apparatus 1001. Accordingly, even though a component may be attached to a
tubular
member when in use with an apparatus or method in accordance with the present
disclosure, the guiding members and/or the slip assemblies may be used to
prevent
interference with the tubular member (and components thereof) and the slip
assemblies of the apparatus. For example, in one embodiment, even though a
tubular
member may have a component attached thereto, as the component passes within,
into, and/or through the apparatus, the guiding members and/or the slip
assemblies
may be positioned to prevent interference with the component of the tubular
member
and the slip assemblies.
[00104] Accordingly, in one embodiment, one or more of the guiding members
of the
present disclosure may be disposed at a location that is radially closer to
the
longitudinal axis of the apparatus than the location of one or more slip
assemblies of
the apparatus. As such, the guiding members of the present disclosure may be
used to
prevent damage to a tubular member, a tool, a floatation module, and/or any
other
component that may be disposed within and/or through a gripping apparatus in
accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein. As discussed above,
the
guiding members may be movable through the use of an actuator coupled thereto.
Further, as discussed above, one or more protectors may be disposed adjacent
to one
or more of the slip assemblies, such as to prevent contact between the slip
assemblies
and a tubular member and/or a component attached thereto. However, those
having
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not
so limited, as
other embodiments, arrangements, and components may be used for an apparatus
in
accordance with embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the scope
of
the present disclosure.
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[00105] As discussed above, one or more (or all) of the guiding members may
be
driven by an actuator, e.g., driven towards and/or away from the longitudinal
axis of
the bore of the gripping apparatus. As such, in one embodiment, the guiding
members may comprise an actuator to move the guiding members between the first
position, shown in Figures 10A and 10B, and the second position, shown in
Figures
10C and 10D. Further, as also discussed above, the guiding members having
actuators connected thereto may be controlled by a processor or other control
system
to dispose one or more of the guiding members at a desired location (e.g., a
desired
distance from the axis of the bore of the tool).
[00106] Accordingly, aspects of embodiments disclosed herein, such as
controlling
and/or moving one or more guiding members, slip assemblies, actuators and/or
controlling and moving any other components of a gripping apparatus, may be
implemented on any type of control system, e.g., hydraulic, pneumatic,
electric and/or
mechanical system. A control system may comprise sensor(s) and/or actuator(s).
A
control system may comprise a computer regardless of the platform being used.
For
example, as shown in Figure 11, a networked computer system 1110 that may be
used
in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein includes a processor 1120,
associated memory 1130, a storage device 1140, and numerous other elements and
functionalities typical of today's computers (not shown). The networked
computer
system 1110 may also include input means, such as a keyboard 1150 and a mouse
1160, and output means, such as a monitor 1170. The depicted networked
computer
system 1110 is connected to a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network
(e.g.,
the Internet) (not shown) via a network interface connection (not shown).
Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that these input and output means may take
many
other forms. Additionally, the computer system may not be connected to a
network.
Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more elements of
aforementioned computer 1110 may be located at a remote location and connected
to
the other elements over a network. As such, a computer system, such as the
networked computer system 1110, and/or any other computer system known in the
art
may be used in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.
[00107] It should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates a
method to
guide a tubular member, such as when assembling a string of tubular members
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together, e.g., using a gripping apparatus. One or more of the tubular members
may
have a floatation module disposed thereabout, in which the tubular member with
the
floatation device may be guided through a bore of the apparatus. The present
disclosure also contemplates a method to assemble an apparatus used to guide a
tubular member.
[00108] Further, it should be understood that the present disclosure
contemplates using
an apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein within one, or
multiple, drilling rigs. For example, embodiments disclosed herein provide an
apparatus that may be used to guide a tubular member. As such, when assembling
a
string of tubular members to each other, such as within a drilling rig, the
apparatus
may be used to assist and support the string of tubular members.
[00109] Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for one or more of the
following
advantages. First, embodiments disclosed herein may provide for an apparatus
that
may be used to guide a tubular member, such as a tubular member having a
floatation
module connected thereto. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may provide
for an
apparatus that may be used to support a tubular member and/or a string of
tubular
members. In such embodiments, the apparatus may be used to prevent damage, at
least partially, from occurring to a tubular member and/or a floatation module
connected to the tubular member.
[00110] While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a
limited
number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this
disclosure, will
appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the
scope of the disclosure as described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention
should be limited only by the attached claims.
