Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SINGLE UPSET LANDING STRING RUNNING SYSTEM
[00011
BACKGROUND
[0002] In oilfield applications, for example, in deep-sea locations, heavy
tubulars
extend downward from the platform and may be supported by engagement with a
landing string. Depending on the particular application (i.e., drilling,
completion,
etc.), the landing string may be provided by drill pipe or other high-tensile
tubulars.
Such landing strings are often required to support a heavy load, such that
traditional
running systems, which generally employ slips or bushings to hold the tubular
by
engaging the outer diameter thereof, are inadequate. Further, as offshore
drilling
operations continually push into deeper water, the tensile load transmission
from the
landing string to the rig continues to increase in order to support the
increased string
weight, which is increasingly causing "slip crushing," whereby the slips
and/or
bushings engage the tubular body with such force that the tubular body is
crushed or
otherwise damaged.
[0003] To avoid this, landing strings are typically lowered by engagement
with an
upset (i.e., a shoulder) on the tubular body of the landing string. One way to
do this is
to employ dual-upset tubulars, allowing the tubular to be lowered by engaging
one
upset with the elevator and the second with the spider. Another common method
shuttles or circulates a pair of elevators to ensure that only the upset is
engaged,
thereby obviating the need for special dual-upset tubulars. The first elevator
begins
suspended by the bails, while the second elevator acts as a spider, resting on
the rotary
table and supporting the landing string by the upset of the uppermost tubular
of the
landing string (i.e., the most recently run-in segment). The first elevator
engages a
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the exposed box of the landing string. The slips or bushings of the second
elevator are
then disengaged from the upset and the second elevator is removed; thus, the
weight
of the landing string is transmitted through the new tubular segment to the
first
elevator. The first elevator then lowers until it abuts the rotary table, and,
as such,
now acts as a spider. The bails are then switched to the second elevator,
which
engages another new tubular segment, and the process is repeated.
[0004] Such known processes have significant drawbacks, requiring special
dual-
upset tubulars or time-consuming switching of bails between elevators. What is
needed are faster, more cost-effective methods and apparatus for lowering such
heavy
tubulars, while avoiding slip crushing.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an exemplary tubular
running
system. The tubular running system may include an elevator suspended from a
rig and
including a body defining a bore to receive a tubular and wedges defining
channels
therebetween, with the wedges being configured to engage the tubular. The
tubular
running system may also include a spider including a body defining a bore to
receive
the tubular and wedges defining channels therebetween. The wedges of the
spider
may be configured to engage the tubular, and the wedges of the elevator may be
configured to slide axially at least partially in the channels of the spider.
The wedges
of the spider may be configured to slide axially at least partially in the
channels of the
elevator.
[0006] Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide an exemplary method
for
running a tubular. The method may include engaging an upset of the tubular
with an
elevator, and moving the tubular by vertically moving the elevator. The method
may
also include engaging the upset of the tubular with a spider while still
engaging the
upset with the elevator, and disengaging the upset of the tubular from the
elevator,
such that the upset is supported by the spider.
[0007] Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide an exemplary
apparatus
for longitudinally moving a tubular. The apparatus may include a first tubular
engagement device suspended from a rig and including a plurality of gripping
assemblies spaced apart and defining first channels therebetween. The first
gripping
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assemblies may be configured to engage at least an upset of the tubular to
support the
tubular. The apparatus may also include a second tubular engagement device
including second gripping assemblies spaced circumferentially apart and
defining
second channels therebetween. The second gripping assemblies may be configured
to
engage at least the upset of the tubular to support the tubular. The second
tubular
engagement device may be configured to engage the upset while the first
tubular
engagement device is also in engagement with the upset.
In one aspect, there is provided a tubular running system, comprising:
an elevator suspended from a rig and including a body defining a bore to
receive
a tubular and wedges defining channels therebetween, the wedges being
configured to
engage the tubular; and
a spider including a body defining a bore to receive the tubular and wedges
defining channels therebetween, the wedges of the spider being configured to
engage
the tubular, wherein the wedges of the elevator are configured to slide
axially at least
partially in the channels of the spider and the wedges of the spider are
configured to
slide axially at least partially in the channels of the elevator;
wherein at least one of the elevator and the spider further comprise alignment
features to align the elevator with the spider as the wedges of one of the
spider and the
elevator slide axially at least partially into the channels of the other of
the spider and the
elevator.
In another aspect, there is provided a method for running a tubular,
comprising:
engaging an upset of the tubular with an elevator;
moving the tubular by vertically moving the elevator;
engaging the upset of the tubular with a spider while still engaging the upset
with the elevator;
disengaging the upset of the tubular from the elevator, such that the upset is
supported by the spider;
engaging the upset with the elevator includes engaging the upset with gripping
assemblies of the elevator, the gripping assemblies being spaced apart
circumferentially
and defining first channels therebetween;
engaging the upset with the spider includes engaging the upset with second
gripping assemblies of the spider, the second gripping assemblies being spaced
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circumferentially apart and defining second channels therebetween, wherein
moving the
tubular comprises receiving the first gripping assemblies into the second
channels and
the second gripping assemblies into the first channels prior to disengaging
the elevator
from the upset; and
maintaining radial alignment of the elevator with the spider with an alignment
feature.
In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for longitudinally moving a
tubular, comprising:
a first tubular engagement device suspended from a rig and including a
plurality
of gripping assemblies spaced apart and defining first channels therebetween,
the first
gripping assemblies configured to engage at least an upset of the tubular to
support the
tubular; and
a second tubular engagement device including second gripping assemblies
spaced circumferentially apart and defining second channels therebetween, the
second
gripping assemblies configured to engage at least the upset of the tubular to
support the
tubular, wherein the second tubular engagement device is configured to engage
the upset
while the first tubular engagement device is also in engagement with the
upset;
wherein the first gripping assemblies are received into the second channels
and
the second gripping assemblies are received into the first channels, such that
the second
gripping assemblies are configured to engage the upset while the upset is also
engaged
by the first gripping assemblies; and
wherein at least one of the first and the second tubular engagement device
further comprises an alignment feature to radially align the first and second
tubular
engagement device as the first gripping assemblies are received into the
second channels
and the second gripping assemblies are received into the first channels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present disclosure is best understood from the following
detailed
description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in
accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are
not drawn
to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily
increased or
reduced for clarity of discussion.
[0009] Figure I illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary running
system,
according to an aspect of the disclosure.
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[0010] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary elevator
engaging a
tubular, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
100111 Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the elevator of Figure 2,
according to an
aspect of the disclosure.
[0012] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the running system of
Figure 1
engaging a tubular, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0013] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the tubular being
transferred from the
elevator to the spider, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0014] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of the running system as shown in
Figure 5.
[0015] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the spider engaging the
tubular,
according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0016] Figure 8 illustrates a top view of the spider of Figure 7,
according to an aspect
of the disclosure.
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[0017] Figure 9 illustrates a simplified, side, cross-sectional view of a
tubular
engagement device engaging a tubular, according to an aspect of the
disclosure.
[0018] Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for moving
a tubular,
according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0019] Figure 11 is a top view drawing of an elevator in accordance with
embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0020] Figure 12 is a perspective view drawing of the elevator of Figure
11.
[0021] Figure 13 is a top view drawing of a spider in accordance with
embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0022] Figure 14 is a perspective view drawing of the spider of Figure 13.
[0023] Figure 15 is a sectioned profile view of a spider in accordance
with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0024] Figure 16 is a bottom-view drawing of the spider of Figure 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes
several
exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or
functions
of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and
configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure;
however, these
exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to
limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may
repeat
reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and
across
the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity
and clarity
and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary
embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various Figures. Moreover,
the
formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description
that follows
may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in
direct
contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be
formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and
second
features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments
presented
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below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one
exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without
departing from the scope of the disclosure.
[0026] Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following
description and
claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will
appreciate,
various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as
such, the
naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit
the scope
of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the
naming
convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that
differ
in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the
claims,
the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and
thus
should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to." All numerical
values in
this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise
specifically
stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from
the
numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the
intended
scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term
"or" is
intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e., "A or S" is
intended to
be synonymous with "at least one of A and S," unless otherwise expressly
specified
herein.
[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary running
system 10,
according to an embodiment described. The exemplary running system 10 may be
particularly useful for running landing strings; however, it will be
appreciated that the
running system 10 disclosed herein may be equally applicable to running,
lowering,
raising, making-up, breaking-out, or otherwise moving any type of tubulars for
any
purpose. The running system 10 generally includes first and second tubular
engagement devices 12, 14. In at least one embodiment, the first tubular
engagement
device 12 is movable, and may be referred to as an elevator 12. The second
tubular
engagement device 14, on the other hand, may be stationary and may be referred
to as
a spider 14.
[0028] As shown, the elevator 12 includes a body 16, which may have a
generally
cylindrical shape and opposing flats 18, 20. Ears 22, 24 for engagement with
bails
(not shown) extend from the flats 18, 20, for example outward, such that the
elevator
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12 may be suspended from the rig (e.g., via a traveling block and/or top
drive, not
shown) and movable vertically toward or away from the spider 14. The body 16
defines a central bore 26 therethrough, in which gripping assemblies 28, 30,
32, 34 are
positioned. As the term is used herein, "gripping assembly" is intended to be
broadly
defined to include any configuration of one or more slips, bushings, or any
other
device(s) used to engage a tubular, whether including teeth or not. Channels
36, 38,
40, 42 are defined by the bore 26, between adjacent gripping assemblies 28,
30, 32,
34.
[0029] As indicated for the gripping assembly 28, each of the gripping
assemblies 28,
30, 32, 34 may generally include a tapered housing 44, a bracket 46, a piston
48, and a
wedge 50. As the term is used herein, "wedge" is intended to be broadly
defined to
include slips, bushings, bushing segments, or any like structures capable of
applying a
gripping force to a tubular, whether including teeth or not. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the wedge 50 is free from teeth or other marking structures. The
tapered
housing 44 is generally positioned in the bore 26 and bears on the body 16;
further,
the tapered housing 44 may be integral with a remainder of the body 16 and/or
may be
coupled thereto. The tapered housing 44 is tapered such that it extends
radially
inward, proceeding downwards, and provides a channel 45 in which the bracket
46
and piston 48 are at least partially disposed. The bracket 46 is moved in the
channel
45 by movement of the piston 48. In various embodiments, the piston 48 may be
moved or articulated by a hydraulic assembly, as is well-known in the art. In
other
embodiments, the piston 48 may be driven by pneumatics, motors, springs,
linkages,
combinations thereof, or the like. Further, the bracket 46 may be configured
to
transmit longitudinal, for example, upward, force on the wedge 50, to
disengage the
wedge 50 from a tubular (not shown), as will be described in greater detail
below.
Although four gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 are shown, it will be
appreciated
that fewer or additional gripping assemblies, for example, two, three, five,
six or more
gripping assemblies, may be used without departing from the scope of the
disclosure.
[0030] Turning to the spider 14, the spider 14 includes a body 100, which
may be
generally cylindrical in shape and may have an increased-radius shoulder 101
defining at least a portion of the top of the body 100. The shoulder 101 of
the body
100 defines flats (three are visible: 102, 104, 106) on its outer diameter for
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engagement with various tools or other structures, as will be described in
greater
detail below. Further, the shoulder 101 may define a landing surface 108 on
the upper
side thereof. The body 100 may also define a bore 103 extending axially
therethrough,
for receiving a tubular (not shown). Proximal the top of the bore 103, the
body 100
may define an annular seat 105, which is recessed from the landing surface
108.
[0031] In at least one embodiment, the body 100 may be split, as shown,
defining two
or more generally arc-shaped segments 109a, 109b. As will be described in
greater
detail below, the segments 109a,b may be held together by an interior surface
defined
in the rotary table (not shown), as is known in the art. In other embodiments,
however, other structures such as a retaining collar or the like may be used
to secure
the position of the body 100. Additionally, in still other embodiments, the
segments
109a,b may be coupled together via a hinge (not shown) or any other coupling
mechanism.
[0032] Gripping assemblies (e.g., bushing or slip assemblies) 110, 112,
114, 116 may
extend upward from the landing surface 108 and the seat 105 and inward from
the
bore 103. Channels 118, 120, 122, 124 are defined between adjacent gripping
assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116. As indicated for the gripping assembly 110,
each
gripping assembly 110, 112, 114, 116 may include a tapered housing 126, a
bracket
128, a wedge 130, and a piston 132. Further, the housing 126 provides a
channel 135
therein for guiding longitudinal movement of the bracket 128. The bracket 128
is
coupled to the wedge 130 and may be configured to transfer longitudinal force
from
the piston 132 to the wedge 130, for example, to raise or lower the wedge 130
into or
out of engagement with a tubular (not shown). The piston 132 may be driven to
move
the bracket 128 by pneumatics, hydraulics, motors, mechanical linkages,
springs,
combinations thereof, or the like.
[0033] Figures 2-8 illustrate an exemplary operation of the running system
10,
whereby a sequence of the elevator 12 engaging and moving a tubular 200,
lowering
the tubular 200 through the spider 14, transferring load to the spider 14, and
disengaging from the tubular 200 is illustrated. It will be appreciated that
this
sequence may be reversed, or otherwise rearranged without departing from the
scope
of this disclosure.
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100341 Referring now specifically to Figures 2 and 3, there is illustrated
a perspective
view and a top view, respectively, of the elevator 12, according to an
embodiment
described. As shown, the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, particularly the
wedges
50 (Figure 3) thereof, are configured to releasably engage the tubular 200.
The
wedges 50 may be drawn downward by engagement with the tubular 200 or by
driving the piston 48 downward, as described above. The tapered housing 44 is
generally prevented from moving radially outward by the body 16, and thus the
wedges 50 sliding downward causes the wedges 50 to move inward, toward the
tubular 200, until the wedges 50 securely engage the tubular 200. The bails
(not
shown) coupled to the ears 22, 24 may thus enable the rig (not shown) to carry
the
weight of the tubular 200. As will be appreciated, the tubular 200 is
generally free
from engagement with the elevator 12 in the channels 36, 38, 40, 42.
100351 Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the running system 10,
with the
elevator 12 and the spider 14 being moved vertically into close proximity with
one
another, according to an embodiment described. As the elevator 12 is lowered,
the
gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 of the elevator 12 may be angularly aligned
with
the channels 118, 120, 122, 124 (channels 120 and 122 are viewable in Figure
4) of
the spider 14, while the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 engage the tubular
200 and
transmit its weight via the body 16 of the elevator 12 to the rig (not shown).
During
this time, the spider 14 generally does not engage the tubular 200 to bear its
weight,
although in some instances, it is contemplated that the spider 14 may provide
guidance for the lowering of the tubular 200. In at least one specific
embodiment, the
elevator 12 is lowered toward the spider 14 while engaging an upset (not
shown) of
the tubular 200, as will be described in greater detail below.
100361 As also illustrated in Figure 4, the body 100 of the spider 14 is
surrounded by
the rotary table 134. In one embodiment, the rotary table 134 defines a
generally
rectangular inner surface 136, with the generally cylindrical body 100 being
inscribed
therein. The flats 102, 104, 106 (flats 104 and 102 are viewable in Figure 4)
of the
shoulder 1 01 of the body 100 may bear on the inner surface 136. Accordingly,
the
segments 109a,b of the body 100 may be restrained from separating by the
rotary
table 134, thereby preventing the gripping assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116 of
the spider
14 from moving radially-outward. As discussed above, however, it will be
appreciated
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that the body 100 of the spider 14 may, in some embodiments, not be segmented,
may
be hinged, and/or may include more than two segments.
[0037] With continuing reference to Figure 4, Figures 5 and 6 illustrate
perspective
and top views, respectively, of the running system 10, showing the elevator 12
transferring the load of the tubular 200 to the spider 14, according to an
embodiment
described. The gripping assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116 extend upward, toward
the
elevator 12 and are sized to slide axially and fit at least partially in the
channels 36,
38, 40, 42 of the elevator 12. Correspondingly, the gripping assemblies 28,
30, 32, 34
of the elevator 12 are positioned and sized so as to align with and slide at
least
partially in the channels 118, 120, 122, 124 of the spider 14 (best shown in
Figure 1).
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the elevator 12 is thus received into the spider
14, such
that, in an exemplary embodiment, the elevator 12 rests on the landing surface
108
(Figure 4) of the spider 14. The enmeshed gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34
and 110,
112, 114, 116 of the elevator 12 and the spider 14, respectively, are thus
both
positioned about the tubular 200 at approximately equal axial locations.
[0038] Accordingly, the gripping assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116 of the
spider 14 may
be engaged when the elevator 12 comes into proximity with, for example lands
on, the
landing surface 108 (Figure 4). As such, the gripping assemblies 110, 112,
114, 116
of the spider 14 are at approximately the same axial location on the tubular
200 as are
the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 of the elevator 12. The gripping
assemblies
110, 112, 114, 116 may then engage the tubular 200, for example, the upset
(not
shown) to which the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 of the elevator 12 are
also
engaged, though at different circumferential locations about the tubular 200.
Once the
engagement between the spider 14 and the tubular 200 is secured, the gripping
assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 of the elevator 12 may be disengaged. As such, the
elevator
12 releases the tubular 200, and the weight of the tubular 200 is transferred
seamlessly
to the spider 14. To remove the elevator 12 from the tubular 200, the elevator
12 may
be raised upwards, may have a hinge (not shown) that can open to allow the
elevator
12 to be laterally removed, or may be otherwise configured for removal. As
will be
appreciated, this enmeshing of the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, 110,
112, 114,
116 allows the spider 14 and the elevator 12 to engage a single upset,
transfer the load
between the two (e.g., from the elevator 12 to the spider 14), and release the
elevator
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12 so that it may be used to engage another tubular (not shown), to repeat the
engaging and lowering process.
[0039] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate perspective and top views, respectively,
of the spider
14 engaging the tubular 200, according to an embodiment described. After the
upset
of the tubular 200 has been lowered onto the spider 14, and the weight of the
tubular
200 has been transferred to the spider 14, the elevator 12 (e.g., Figure 6)
may be
removed. As such, the gripping assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116 of the spider 14
engage
and maintain the position of the tubular 200, while the rotary table 134
maintains the
radial position of the body 100, and thus of the gripping assemblies 110, 112,
114,
116.
[0040] Referring to Figures 1-8, although the gripping assemblies 110,
112, 114, 116
of the spider 14 are illustrated as extending upward for being received into
the
channels 36, 38, 40, 42 of the elevator 12, while the gripping assemblies 28,
30, 32,
34 are generally disposed within the bore 26 of the elevator 12, it will be
appreciated
that variations of this arrangement are within the scope of this disclosure.
For
example, the gripping assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34 may extend downward, such that
they
are received in the channels 118, 120, 122, 124 of the spider 14. In such
embodiments, the gripping assemblies 110, 112, 114, 116 may still extend
generally
upward from the landing surface 108, may reside partially within the bore 103
and
partially extending upward from the landing surface 108, or may extend at
least
partially, or even entirely, down from the landing surface 108, or from a
point in the
bore 103 below the landing surface 108.
[0041] Moreover, it will be appreciated that either or both of the tubular
engagement
devices 12, 14 may be movable, without departing from the scope of the
disclosure.
Furthermore, in various embodiments, the first tubular engagement device 12
may be
stationary, while the second tubular engagement device 14 is movable.
Additionally,
the illustrated views of running system 10 may be flipped, such that the first
tubular
engagement device 12 is moved upward to the second tubular engagement device
14,
or the second tubular engagement device 14 is lowered to the first tubular
engagement
device 12.
[0042] Turning now to Figure 9, there is illustrated a simplified, side,
cross-sectional
view of a portion of the tubular 200 being engaged by a tubular engagement
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300, according to an embodiment described. The tubular engagement device 300
may
be generally representative of the structure and operation of the elevator 12
and/or the
spider 14 described above. Accordingly, the tubular engagement device 300
generally includes gripping assemblies 301, 302. Although two gripping
assemblies
301, 302 are shown, it will be appreciated that additional gripping assemblies
may be
employed, for example two additional gripping assemblies, without departing
from
the scope of this disclosure. The gripping assemblies 301, 302 each generally
include
a tapered housing 304, 306 and a wedge 308, 310, respectively. The wedges 308,
310
are slidable with respect to the housings 304, 306, respectively, and are
reverse
tapered with respect thereto. Accordingly, as the wedges 308, 310 are drawn
downward, for example, by friction from engagement with the tubular 200 and/or
by
pneumatics, hydraulics, motors, linkages, or the like, the wedges 308, 310 are
pushed
inwards into engagement with the tubular 200. The tapered housing 304, 306
supplies
the reactionary axial and horizontal force against the wedges 308, 310. As
such, the
base 312 transfers the weight of the tubular 200, either by resting on a
platform (e.g.,
for a spider), by hanging from the rig via bails (e.g., for an elevator), or
in any other
suitable manner.
[0043] The wedges 308, 310 each define upper and lower interior surfaces
314, 316
and 318, 320, respectively. The upper interior surfaces 314, 318 may be
tapered,
converging toward a central axis 322, proceeding downwardly. The lower
interior
surfaces 316, 320 may be generally parallel to the axis 322. In other
embodiments,
however, the lower interior surfaces 316, 320 may also be tapered, converging
toward
the central axis 322, proceeding downward. In some embodiments, one, some, or
all
of the upper and/or lower interior surfaces 314, 316, 318, 320 may be free
from teeth
or other marking structures; however, in various other embodiments, any of the
surfaces 314, 316, 318, 320 may include such teeth or other marking structures
(none
shown) to facilitate engagement with the tubular 200.
[0044] The upper interior surfaces 314, 318 may be shaped to abut and
engage an
upset 324 of the tubular 200. The upset 324 may be a radial protrusion
extending
radially outward from a remaining tubular body 326, as shown, but in other
embodiments may extend radially inward. In various embodiments, the upset 324
may be disposed on (e.g., fastened, welded, brazed, or otherwise connected to,
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integral with, or otherwise part of) the tubular 200. The upset 324 may be
capable of
withstanding greater tensile forces than the tubular body 326 and transmitting
such
axial forces to the gripping assemblies 301, 302. Accordingly, the upset 324
may
represent an area desirable for the gripping assemblies 301, 302 to engage, to
avoid
slip crushing the tubular 200.
[0045] To provide further load distribution, the lower interior surfaces
316, 320 may
engage the tubular body 326, as shown. Accordingly, some of the axial load of
the
tubular 200 weight is transmitted via the radial gripping force applied by the
gripping
assemblies 301, 302 onto the tubular body 326. By simultaneously engaging the
upset
324 with the upper interior surfaces 314, 318, and the tubular body 326 with
the lower
interior surfaces 316, 320, the gripping assemblies 301 , 302, the tubular
engagement
device 300, and ultimately the rig may be able to support and run the tubular
200,
while supporting strings having a greater weight than that which a simple
engagement
with the upset 324, let alone engagement only with the tubular body 326 by
itself, is
capable of safely handling.
[0046] Figure 10 illustrates a method 400 for lowering a tubular,
according to an
embodiment described. The method 400 may proceed by operation of the running
system 10 and/or the tubular engagement device 300 described above with
reference
to Figures 1-9 and may be best understood with reference thereto. The method
400
includes engaging an upset of the tubular with gripping assemblies of a first
tubular
engagement device, as at 402. More particularly, in at least one embodiment,
such
engagement may include simultaneously engaging the upset and a body of the
tubular
to support a weight of the tubular via engagement with both the upset and the
body.
The tubular supported by the first tubular engagement device, as at 402, may
then be
lowered into and made-up to a tubular string, such that the method 400
includes
supporting the weight of the string of tubulars with the first engagement
device.
[0047] The method 400 further includes vertically moving, for example,
lowering the
tubular through a second tubular engagement device by lowering the first
tubular
engagement device, as at 404. The method 400 may also include receiving
gripping
assemblies of the second tubular engagement device into channels defined
between
gripping assemblies of the first tubular engagement device, as at 406. The
method 400
may also include engaging the upset of the tubular with the gripping
assemblies of the
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WO 2014/189693 PCT/US2014/037500
second tubular engagement device, as at 408. The method 400 may further
include
disengaging the upset of the tubular from the gripping assemblies of the first
tubular
engagement device, such that the upset is supported by the second tubular
engagement device, as at 410.
[0048] Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, a first engagement device, or
elevator
512, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is
shown
in top (Figure 11) and perspective (Figure 12) views. Similar to elevators 12
depicted
in Figures 1-6, elevator 512 of Figures 11 and 12 includes a main body 516, a
pair of
flats 518, 520, a pair of lifting ears 522, 524, a plurality (six shown) of
gripping
assemblies 528, and a plurality of channels (not visible) configured to
receive
plurality of gripping assemblies (e.g., 550 of Figures 13 and 14) of a
corresponding
spider (e.g., 514 of Figures 13 and 14).
[0049] Referring now to Figures 13 and 14 together, a second engagement
device, or
spider 514, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present
disclosure is
shown in top (Figure 13) and perspective (Figure 14) views. Similar to spider
14 of
Figures 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8, spider 514 includes a main body 540, a plurality of
gripping
assemblies 550 and a plurality of channels 552 configured to receive plurality
of
gripping assemblies 528 of corresponding elevator 512 (Figures 11 and 12).
Thus, as
elevator 512 supporting a tubular member with gripping assemblies 528 is
lowered to
spider 514, the protruding gripping assemblies 528 may be received into
channels 552
of spider 514 so that collision and/or interference between gripping
assemblies 528
and 550 may be avoided as elevator 512 axially approaches spider 514, as
described
above in reference to Figures 1-10.
[0050] Referring now to Figures 11-14 together, elevator 512 and spider
514 further
comprise one or more alignment features to ensure that gripping assemblies 528
of
elevator 512 properly engage channels 552 of spider 514, and gripping
assemblies
550 of spider 514 properly engage channels (not visible) within elevator 512.
As used
herein, the phrase "proper engagement" refers to an axial engagement of
elevator 512
with spider 514 such that gripping assemblies (528 and 550, respectively) are
allowed
to engage with their corresponding channels without engaging, interfering, or
otherwise impacting each other as elevator 512 is lowered proximate to and on
top of
spider 514.
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CA 02912756 2016-08-02
[0051] As can
be best viewed in top view Figures 11 and 13, elevator 512 is shown
comprising two alignment features in the form of bore holes 560 and 562, while
spider 514 is shown comprising two alignment features in the form of bore
holes 564
and 566. Alignment feature bore holes 560, 562, 564, and 566 may be used in
combination with alignment rods (not shown) to ensure that as elevator 512 is
lowered to spider 514 by a rig's draw works, proper radial alignment of
gripping
assemblies 528 and 550 is maintained. In selected embodiments, alignment rods
may
be rigidly affixed within holes 564 and 566 of spider 514 to allow slidable
engagement with holes 560 and 562 of elevator 512, and in other embodiments,
alignment rods may be rigidly affixed within holes 560 and 562 of elevator 512
to allow
slidable engagement with holes 564 and 566 of spider 514.
[0052]
Additionally, in selected embodiments, alignment rods may be tapered at a
free end to facilitate engagement within alignment features (i.e., holes) 560
and 562,
or 564 and 566, and in other embodiments alignment feature bore holes may be
tapered to facilitate engagement with free ends of alignment rods.
Additionally,
alignment rods used in conjunction with alignment features 560, 562, 564, and
566
may extend the entire length of the draw works to maintain radial alignment of
elevator 512 with spider 514 along the entire lifting stroke of elevator 512
or, in
alternative embodiments, alignment rods may only be of sufficient length to
maintain
radial alignment of elevator 512 with spider 514 for a portion of the lifting
stroke of
elevator 512.
[0053]
Referring now to Figures 15 and 16, a spider assembly 614 in accordance
with embodiments disclosed herein includes a main body 640 split into two
sections
640A and 640B, a pair of retaining bolts 670 and 672 to retain halves 640A and
640B
together, and a pair of alignment feature holes 664 and 666. As with spiders
14 and
514 of Figures 1-14, spider assembly 614 is shown having a plurality (six
shown) of
gripping assemblies 650A¨F and a plurality of channels 652 configured to
receive a
plurality of gripping assemblies from a corresponding elevator (e.g., 512 of
Figures
11 and 12). As shown in Figure 15, gripping assemblies 650A¨F each include a
wedge 655A¨C driven by a corresponding piston 680A¨C.
[0054]
Additionally, in accordance with selected embodiments, spider assembly 614
further comprises a timing ring split into two sections 682A, 682B
corresponding to
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CA 02912756 2016-08-02
main body halves 640A and 640B. As such, timing ring 682A, connected to
pistons
680A, 680B, and 680C, ensures that wedges 655A, 655B, and 655C move to engage
and/or disengage a tubular (or other device) simultaneously at the same rate
and
relative position as timing ring section 682A is moved by an actuator 684A.
Similarly, timing ring section 682B ensures that wedges of gripping assemblies
650D¨F within main body half 640B move to engage and/or disengage a tubular
simultaneously as timing ring section 682B is thrust by actuator 684B. As
would be
appreciated by those having ordinary skill, timing ring sections 682A and 682B
and
actuators 684A and 684B allow gripping assemblies 650A¨F to simultaneously
engage a tubular located within the bore of spider assembly 614 such that the
tool is
centrally positioned within the bore of spider 614 and so that radial and
axial loads
may be more evenly applied to the tubular.
100551 The
foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those
skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled
in the art
should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis
for
designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the
same
purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced
herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent
constructions
do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that
they may
make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing
from the
spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
