Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TUBULAR HANDLING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an apparatus for
handling
tubulars using top drive systems. More particularly, the invention relates to
a tubular
handling apparatus for engaging a tubular and rotating at the same time.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] In the drilling and completion of wells, top drive systems are
used to rotate
a drill string to form a borehole. Top drive systems may also be used in a
drilling with
casing operation to rotate the casing. Top drives require a gripping element
to
facilitate the gripping of tubulars, whether the tubular is a drill string or
a casing, and
therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for adapting the top drive and
engaging
and rotating a tubular.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one embodiment, a tubular handling assembly for use with a top
drive
includes a mandrel coupled to the top drive; a gripping assembly for gripping
and
releasing a tubular, the gripping assembly coupled to and rotating with the
mandrel;
and an actuation assembly for actuating the gripping assembly, wherein the
gripping
assembly is rotatable relative to the actuation assembly.
[0004] In another embodiment, a tubular handling assembly for use with a
top
drive includes a mandrel coupled to the top drive; a gripping assembly for
gripping
and releasing a tubular, the gripping assembly coupled to and rotating with
the
mandrel; a link assembly rotationally coupled to the mandrel; an actuator
coupling
rotationally coupled to the gripping assembly; and a plurality of actuators
connected to
the link assembly and the actuator coupling, wherein the plurality of
actuators are
configured to actuate the gripping assembly and the gripping assembly is
rotatable
relative to the plurality of actuators.
[0005] In another embodiment, a tubular handling assembly for use with a
top
drive includes a mandrel coupled to the top drive; a gripping assembly for
gripping
and releasing a tubular, the gripping assembly coupled to and rotating with
the
mandrel; a link assembly coupled to the mandrel using a first bearing
assembly; and
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an actuation cylinder coupled to the link assembly and to a ring assembly,
wherein
the actuation cylinder axially moves the ring assembly relative to the link
assembly,
and wherein the gripping assembly is coupled to the ring assembly using a
second
bearing assembly.
[0006] In another embodiment, a method of handling a tubular using a top
drive
includes coupling a mandrel to the top drive; rotationally coupling a gripping
assembly
to the mandrel, wherein the gripping assembly is configured to grip a tubular;
coupling
an actuation assembly to the gripping assembly, wherein the actuation assembly
is
configured to actuate the gripping assembly; gripping the tubular using the
gripping
assembly; and rotating the gripping assembly and the tubular relative to the
actuation
assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the
invention can
be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention,
briefly
summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the
appended
drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are
therefore not to
be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other
equally
effective embodiments.
[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tubular
handling
apparatus adapted to engage an external surface of a tubular;
[0009] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tubular handling
apparatus shown
in Figure 1;
[0olo] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tubular
handling
apparatus adapted to engage an internal surface of a tubular; and
[0011] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tubular
handling apparatus
shown in Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Embodiments of the invention provide a tubular handling apparatus
for use
with a top drive to engage and rotate a tubular such as a casing. Figure 1 is
a
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perspective view of an embodiment of a tubular handling apparatus adapted to
engage an external surface of the tubular. The apparatus shown in Figure 1
will be
referred to herein as an external gripping tool 100. The external gripping
tool 100
generally includes a mandrel 110 for connecting to a top drive, a link
assembly 120,
an actuator coupling such as a leveling ring assembly 160, and a carrier 180
for
gripping a tubular, which is also connected to the mandrel 110. The link
assembly
120 and the leveling ring assembly 160 may assist with axial loads and support
actuation members such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders while the carrier
180
includes gripping elements 182 for gripping a tubular. The mandrel 110 is used
to
rotate the tubular via the carrier 180.
[0013] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tubular handling
apparatus shown
in Figure 1. The link assembly 120 includes a link support housing 122 and
links 124.
The link support housing 122 includes a central opening 126 for receiving the
mandrel
110, and the link support housing 122 is connected to the mandrel 110 via a
coupling
ring 128. The coupling ring 128 is attached to the mandrel 110 and rotates
with the
mandrel 110. In one embodiment, the coupling ring 128 could be a nut which
threadedly attaches to an exterior surface of the mandrel 110.
[0014] A first bearing assembly 130 and a second bearing assembly 132
are
coupled to the coupling ring 128 at an inner portion of the first and second
bearing
assemblies 130, 132, and the first and second bearing assemblies 130, 132 are
coupled to the link support housing 122 at an exterior portion of the first
and second
bearing assemblies 130, 132. The bearing assemblies 130, 132, in one
embodiment,
include an inner ring and an outer ring with balls disposed between the two
rings. In
such configuration, the coupling ring 128 is connected to the inner portion of
the inner
ring of the bearing assemblies 130, 132, and the link support housing 122 is
connected to the exterior portion of the outer ring of the bearing assemblies
130, 132.
[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the first bearing assembly 130 is
positioned at an
upper portion of the link support housing 122 and an upper portion of the
coupling ring
128. In one embodiment, the coupling ring 128 includes an upper shoulder or
groove
for accepting the first bearing assembly 130. An optional retainer 134 may be
used to
retain the bearing assembly. The second bearing assembly 132 is positioned at
a
lower portion of the link support housing 122 and a lower portion of the
coupling ring
128. In one embodiment, the coupling ring 128 includes a lower shoulder or
groove
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for accepting the second bearing assembly 132. Because the link support
housing
122 is connected to the mandrel 110 via the coupling ring 128 and first and
second
bearing assemblies 130, 132, the link support assembly 120 does not rotate
with the
mandrel 110. However, axial loads experienced by the links 124 may be
transferred
to the mandrel 110 via the bearing assemblies 130, 132. Further, because the
bearing assemblies 130, 132 are positioned at a top and bottom portion of the
link
support housing 122, the first and second bearing assemblies 130, 132 balance
the
loads acting on the assemblies 130, 132.
[0016] In one embodiment, a torque reaction bracket may be attached to
the link
support assembly 120 to prevent the link support housing 122 from rotating in
relation
to the mandrel 110 and the coupling ring 128. One end of the torque reaction
bracket
may be coupled to the link support assembly 120 and the other end of the
torque
reaction bracket may be coupled to a rotationally fixed location, such as a
rail on a
drilling derrick or part of the top drive. In another embodiment, the torque
reaction
bracket may be attached to the leveling ring member 162 of the leveling ring
assembly 160 to prevent rotation of the leveling ring member 162. One end of
the
torque reaction bracket may be coupled to the leveling ring member 162 and the
other
end of the torque reaction bracket may be coupled to a rotationally fixed
location,
such as a rail on a drilling derrick or part of the top drive.
[0017] Actuation cylinders 136 are coupled to the link support assembly 120
and to
the leveling ring assembly 160. In one embodiment, the actuation cylinders 136
are
coupled to the link support housing 122 of the link support assembly 120 and a
leveling ring member 162 of the leveling ring assembly 160. The actuation
cylinders
136 allow the leveling ring assembly 160 to be axially moved relative to the
link
support assembly 120. In addition, torque support bars 138 (shown in Fig. 1),
which
in one embodiment are telescoping torque support bars, may optionally be
connected
to the link support assembly 120 and the leveling ring assembly 160 in order
to
provide structural support to the tubular handling apparatus 100. The torque
support
bars 138 may also keep the link support assembly 120 aligned with the leveling
ring
assembly 160.
[0018] The leveling ring assembly 160 includes a leveling ring member
162 that is
connected to a slip link coupling 164. The leveling ring member 162 and slip
link
coupling 164 are connected by a first and second leveling ring bearing
assembly 170,
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172. As shown, the leveling ring 160 forms an outer ring and the slip link
coupling
164 forms an inner ring. The slip link coupling 164 is coupled a slip link
assembly
176, which is coupled to the carrier 180. Because the carrier 180 is connected
to the
mandrel 110, which rotates, the slip link assembly 176 and the slip link
coupling 164
also rotate. However, the leveling ring member 162, which does not rotate, is
connected to the slip link coupling 164 by the first and second leveling ring
bearing
assemblies 170, 172. Further, the leveling ring member 162 may be prevented
from
rotating by the actuation cylinders 136 and the optional torque support bars
138.
[0019] The slip link assembly 176 may include one or more links 178 that
are
connected to gripping elements 182, which are disposed in a window of the
carrier
180. As the slip link assembly 176 axially moves with the leveling ring
assembly 160,
the links 178 move the gripping elements 182 within the carrier 180. The
leveling ring
assembly 160 helps ensure that the gripping elements 182 move in unison. The
actuation cylinders 136 can be retracted to move the leveling ring assembly
160
upwards relative to the link assembly 120. In turn, the links 178 of the slip
link
assembly 176 move upwards with the leveling ring assembly 160, thereby lifting
the
gripping elements 182 upward to the non-gripping position. In one embodiment,
the
links keep the gripping elements 182 in the proper position relative to the
window.
When the actuation cylinders 136 are in an extended position, the leveling
ring
assembly 160 is furthest down axially, and the links 178 position the gripping
elements 182 in a gripping position. Once the tubular is clamped, the top
drive may
rotate the mandrel 110 and the clamped tubular. To unclamp the tubular, the
actuation cylinders 136 may be actuated to move back to their retracted
position,
which in turn will move the leveling ring assembly 160 and slip link assembly
176 up
relative to the carrier 180, thereby causing the gripping elements 182 to
release the
tubular. Optionally, the internal gripping tool 200 may be equipped with a
fill-up tool
290.
[0020] In one embodiment, a bracket 190 (shown in Figure 1) is connected
to two
of the links 124. The bracket 190 keeps the links 124 aligned during
operation. For
example, during pick up of a tubular, the bracket 190 prevents the links 124
from
twisting relative to each other.
[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tubular
handling
apparatus adapted to engage an internal surface of the tubular, and will be
referred to
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herein as an internal gripping tool 200. The internal gripping tool 200
generally
includes a mandrel 210 for connecting to a top drive and rotating the tubular,
a link
assembly 220 for supporting bails, a hydraulic actuator 218, which is in part
supported
by the link assembly 220, and gripping elements 280 for gripping a tubular
from the
internal surface of the tubular when actuated by the hydraulic actuator 218.
Optionally, the internal gripping tool 200 may be equipped with a fill-up tool
290.
[0022] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a top portion of the
internal gripping
tool 200 shown in Figure 3. The link assembly 220 includes a link support
housing
222 that includes a central opening 226 for receiving the mandrel 210, and the
link
support housing 222 is connected to the mandrel 210 via a coupling ring 228.
The
coupling ring 228 is attached to the mandrel 210 and rotates with the mandrel
110. In
one embodiment, the coupling ring 228 could be a nut which threadedly attaches
to
an exterior surface of the mandrel 210.
[0023] A first bearing assembly 230 and a second bearing assembly 232
are
coupled to the coupling ring 228 at an inner portion of the first and second
bearing
assemblies 230, 232, and the first and second bearing assemblies 230, 232 are
coupled to the link support housing 222 at an exterior portion of the first
and second
bearing assemblies 230, 232. The bearing assemblies 230, 232, in one
embodiment,
include an inner ring and an outer ring with balls disposed between the two
rings. In
such configuration, the coupling ring 228 is coupled to the inner portion of
the inner
ring of the bearing assemblies 230, 232, and the link support housing 222 is
coupled
to the exterior portion of the outer ring of the bearing assemblies 230, 232.
As shown
in Figure 4, the first bearing assembly 230 is positioned at an upper portion
of the link
assembly 220 and at an upper portion of the coupling ring 228. In one
embodiment,
the coupling ring 228 includes an upper shoulder or groove for accepting the
first
bearing assembly 230. The second bearing assembly 232 is positioned at a lower
portion of the link assembly 220 and a lower portion of the coupling ring 228.
In one
embodiment, the coupling ring 228 includes a lower shoulder or groove for
accepting
the second bearing assembly 232. Because the link support housing 222 is
connected to the mandrel 210 via the coupling ring 228 and first and second
bearing
assemblies 230, 232, the link support assembly 220 does not rotate with the
mandrel
210. A torque reaction bracket may be provided to attach the non-rotating
components to a fixture, such as a rail on a drilling derrick.
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[0024] The hydraulic actuator 218 includes one or more actuation
cylinders 236,
which are coupled to the link support assembly 220 at an upper end, and
coupled to
an engagement plate 240 at a lower end. Bolts 224 or any other suitable
fastening
mechanism known to one skilled in the art, such as a pin connection, may be
used to
fasten the actuation cylinders 236 to the link support assembly 220 and the
engagement plate 240. Optionally, torque support bars 238 shown in Figure 3,
which
in one embodiment are telescoping torque support bars, may optionally be
connected
to the link assembly 220 and the engagement plate 240 in order to provide
structural
support to the tubular handling apparatus 200.
[0025] An actuator coupling 242 is positioned between the actuation
cylinders 236
and the engagement plate 240, and extends from the actuation cylinders 236 to
an
actuator pipe 250. The actuator pipe 250 is connected to the gripping elements
280.
The actuator coupling 242 is connected to the actuator pipe 250 by a third
bearing
assembly 244. As shown, the actuator coupling 242 is disposed around the
actuator
pipe 250. Because the actuator pipe 250 is connected to the gripping elements
280,
which in turn are coupled to the mandrel 210, the actuator pipe 250 rotates
with the
mandrel 210. However, because the actuator pipe 250 is connected to the
actuator
coupling 242 via the third bearing assembly 244, the actuator coupling 242
remains
stationary along with the actuation cylinders 236 and the engagement plate
240.
[0026] Actuation of the actuation cylinders 236 urges axial movement of the
actuator coupling 242 and actuator pipe 250. When the actuation cylinders 236
are
actuated to expand, a portion of the cylinders move downwards relative to the
link
support assembly 220. The gripping elements 280 are moved axially downwards
relative to the mandrel 110 and result in the internal gripping tool 200
gripping the
internal portion of the tubular. When the actuation cylinders 236 are actuated
to
contract, a portion of the cylinders move upwards relative to the link support
assembly
220. The gripping elements 280 are moved axially upwards relative to the
mandrel
110 and result in the internal gripping tool 200 releasing the internal
portion of the
tubular.
[0027] In use, the internal gripping tool 200 is positioned within an inner
diameter
of a tubular. The upper end of the tubular may engage or is proximate a bottom
portion of the engagement plate 240. The gripping elements 280 may be actuated
by
the non-rotating actuation cylinders 236 to grip an internal surface of the
tubular. As
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discussed above, the actuation cylinders 236 are isolated from rotation by
first,
second, and third bearing assemblies 230, 232, 244 that provide a connection
between the link support assembly 220 to the mandrel 210 and the connection
between the actuator coupling 242 and engagement plate 240 to the mandrel 210.
The engagement plate 240 may act to limit the vertical position of the tubular
relative
to the internal gripping tool 200. After the internal gripping tool 200 grips
the internal
surface of the tubular, the mandrel 210 may be rotated by the top drive to
thread one
joint of the gripped tubular to another tubular. As the mandrel 210 and the
gripping
elements 280 rotate, the actuation cylinders 236 that position the gripping
elements
280 relative to the tubular do not rotate and are able to maintain the
appropriate
tension on the gripping elements 280. After the tubulars are made up or
threaded
together, the top drive may stop rotation of the mandrel 210, and the gripping
elements 280 may be actuated by the actuation cylinders 236 to release the
internal
surface of the tubular.
[0028] In one embodiment, a tubular handling assembly for use with a top
drive
includes a mandrel coupled to the top drive; a gripping assembly for gripping
and
releasing a tubular, the gripping assembly coupled to and rotating with the
mandrel; a
link assembly rotationally coupled to the mandrel; an actuator coupling
rotationally
coupled to the gripping assembly; and a plurality of actuators connected to
the link
assembly and the actuator coupling, wherein the plurality of actuators are
configured
to actuate the gripping assembly and the gripping assembly is rotatable
relative to the
plurality of actuators.
[0029] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, a slip link
coupling is
disposed around the actuator coupling.
[0030] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the plurality of
actuators are connected to the actuator coupling and the gripping assembly is
coupled to the slip link coupling.
[0031] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
assembly
is configured to grip an exterior surface of a tubular.
[0032] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the actuator
coupling
is disposed around an actuator pipe.
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[0033] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
assembly
is configured to grip an interior surface of a tubular.
[0034] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the plurality
of
actuators are configured to axially move the actuator coupling.
[0035] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the actuator
coupling
comprises a leveling ring.
[0036] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, one or more
bearing
assemblies couples the actuator coupling to the gripping assembly.
[0037] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the plurality
of
actuators comprise a piston and cylinder assembly.
[0038] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the actuator
coupling
is axially moved relative to the link assembly.
[0039] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, one or more
bearing
assemblies rotationally couples the link assembly to the mandrel.
[0040] In another embodiment, a tubular handling assembly for use with a
top
drive includes a mandrel coupled to the top drive; a gripping assembly for
gripping
and releasing a tubular, the gripping assembly coupled to and rotating with
the
mandrel; a link assembly coupled to the mandrel using a first bearing
assembly; and a
plurality of actuation cylinders coupled to the link assembly and to a ring
assembly,
wherein the plurality of actuation cylinders axially move the ring assembly
relative to
the link assembly, and wherein the gripping assembly is coupled to the ring
assembly
using a second bearing assembly.
[0041] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, a torque
reaction
bracket is coupled to the link assembly and to a rotationally fixed location
to prevent
the link assembly from rotating.
[0042] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, a torque
support bar
is coupled to the link assembly and the ring assembly to provide structural
support.
[0043] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
assembly
includes a plurality of gripping elements coupled to a housing.
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[0044] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
elements
engage an external surface of the tubular.
[0045] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
assembly
includes a plurality of gripping elements coupled to an actuator pipe.
[0046] In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the gripping
elements
engage an internal surface of the tubular.
[0047] In another embodiment, a method of handling a tubular using a top
drive
includes coupling a mandrel to the top drive; rotationally coupling a gripping
assembly
to the mandrel, wherein the gripping assembly is configured to grip a tubular;
coupling
a link assembly to the mandrel; disposing a plurality of actuation assemblies
between
the link assembly and a slip coupling, wherein the plurality of actuation
assemblies
are configured to actuate the gripping assembly; actuating the gripping
assembly to
grip the tubular by moving the slip coupling axially relative to the link
assembly; and
rotating the gripping assembly and the tubular relative to the plurality of
actuation
assemblies.
[0048] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the invention,
other and
further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the
basic
scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
