US20140030046A1 - Pipe handling apparatus - Google Patents
Pipe handling apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140030046A1 US20140030046A1 US13/557,361 US201213557361A US2014030046A1 US 20140030046 A1 US20140030046 A1 US 20140030046A1 US 201213557361 A US201213557361 A US 201213557361A US 2014030046 A1 US2014030046 A1 US 2014030046A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- support frame
- pipe
- pipe handling
- intermediate support
- lifting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000003028 elevating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
- E21B19/15—Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position
- E21B19/155—Handling between horizontal and vertical position
Definitions
- This disclosure relates generally to the field of apparatus for moving segmented pipe joints between storage containers and drilling or workover units. More specifically, the disclosure relates to such apparatus having particular operational features to increase efficiency and safety.
- Drilling and workover hoisting systems (rigs), particularly those used on land, transport jointed pipe used in wellbore construction and workover operations in containers moved by truck to the place where the rig is disposed during operation.
- the segmented pipe containers hold the pipe segments generally horizontally.
- Devices known in the art for moving pipe segments to the rig typically accept one or more pipe segments into a channel or boom and raise the channel or boom to a selected angle from approximately ground level. Once the pipe segments are elevated to the selected angle, apparatus disposed on the rig may lift the elevated pipe segment to an approximately vertical orientation so that it can be used in the drilling or workover operation. The reverse procedure may be used to return the pipe segments to the container after they are no longer needed in the drilling or workover operation.
- Such apparatus for moving the pipe from the container to the rig and back are known in the art as “laydown machines.”
- a pipe handling apparatus includes a support base extending longitudinally and disposable proximate a pipe handling rig.
- a lifting base is movably attached to the support base.
- the apparatus has means for moving the lifting base longitudinally along the support base, an intermediate support frame coupled to the lifting base and a vertical lifting device coupled between the intermediate support frame and the lifting base.
- the vertical lifting device is configured such that through an entire lift motion thereof, the intermediate support frame remains in a same plane as the lifting base.
- a pipe handling channel is pivotally coupled at one end to the intermediate support frame. Means for elevating the other end of the pipe handling channel are coupled to the intermediate support frame and the pipe handling channel.
- FIG. 1 is an overview pipe handling apparatus disposed proximate a drilling rig.
- FIG. 2 shows an example pipe handling apparatus in oblique view.
- FIG. 3 shows the example pipe handling apparatus in end view.
- FIG. 1 shows an example pipe handling apparatus 10 in position to lift a segment 104 of jointed pipe or tubing onto the floor 106 of a drilling or workover rig 100 .
- the segment of pipe 104 may be lifted by a line ( 102 as shown), elevators from a top drive or other apparatus known in the art. Segments of pipe may be stored on a rack 103 .
- the rig illustrated in FIG. 1 may be used on the land surface, however, the components of the pipe handling apparatus described herein may also be used on any form of marine drilling unit, whether bottom supported or floating. Accordingly, the type of drilling or workover rig is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
- the example pipe handling apparatus 10 may be observed in more detail in FIG. 2 , with many of the components shown in the position they will be when a segment of pipe is moved to or from the rig ( 100 in FIG. 1 ) for clarity of the illustration.
- the pipe handling apparatus 10 components may be substantially entirely disposed on a transport track 12 .
- the transport track 12 may be lifted on to a truck (not shown) for movement to and from the position proximate the rig as shown in FIG. 1 .
- a lifting base track 14 may be engaged to the transport track 12 using rollers 14 A or other friction reducing device to enable longitudinal movement of the lifting base track 14 along the transport track 12 .
- Longitudinal movement of the lifting base track 14 relative to the transport track 12 may be performed, for example, using an hydraulic cylinder 14 B, although other devices, for example and without limitation, such as screw and ballnut assemblies may be used.
- the lifting base track 14 and other components are shown in FIG. 2 in the position they would be when moving a segment of pipe from the rig (as shown in FIG. 1 ) to a transport channel 26 , or vice versa.
- Vertical lifts such as scissors lifts, may be coupled to each lateral side the lifting base track 14 .
- the scissors lifts may each include a first scissors arm 20 A, coupled by a centrally located pivot 20 C to a second scissors arm 20 B.
- One end of the bottom of the first scissors arms 20 A may be fixedly, pivotally coupled to the lifting track 14 .
- the bottom of the second scissors arms 20 B may be movably connected to the lifting base track 14 , for example using rollers (not shown) or sliding bearings (not shown).
- An hydraulic cylinder 21 may be used to expand and contract the distance between the bottoms of the first 20 A and second scissors 20 B arms to cause the upper ends of the first and second scissors arms, 20 A, 20 B respectively to lift vertically out of the plane of the lifting base track 14 .
- An intermediate support frame 22 may be coupled to the upper ends of the scissors arms 20 A, 20 B.
- One of the upper ends of the scissors arms, for example first scissors arms 20 A may be pivotally coupled to an end of the intermediate support frame 22 .
- the other upper end of the other scissors arms, e.g., second scissors arms 20 B, may be movably coupled to the intermediate support frame 22 .
- the principle of operation is that the intermediate support frame moves vertically, i.e., in the same plane, as the lifting base track 14 from its fully lifted position as shown to its fully lowered position on top of the lifting base track 14 .
- the intermediate support frame 22 may support a pipe handling channel 26 .
- the pipe handling channel 26 may be coupled at one end by a pivot ( 30 in FIG. 3 ) to one end of the intermediate support frame 22 .
- An hydraulic cylinder 24 may connect the pipe handling channel 26 to the intermediate support frame 22 to enable elevating one end of the pipe handling channel 26 .
- one or more segments of pipe FIG. 1
- the hydraulic cylinder may be lowered so that the channel 26 is horizontal, as is the intermediate support frame 22 .
- the lifting base track 14 may be moved away from the rig, e.g., using the hydraulic cylinder 14 B so that the end of the channel 26 clears the rig ( FIG. 1 ).
- the intermediate support frame 22 may then be lowered by operating the hydraulic cylinder 21 connected to the scissors arms 20 A, 20 B (or other vertical lifting device).
- the channel 26 is maintained in a horizontal orientation for safety. It should also be noted that by maintaining the intermediate support frame in the described orientation, motion of the channel is limited so that the pipe segment(s) therein cannot fall out of the open end of the channel 26 , thus limiting risk of dropping the pipe segment(s) therein.
- one or more friction elements 32 disposed proximate the back end of the channel may help slow the rate of movement of the pipe segment(s) for safety purposes.
- the back end of the pipe handling channel 26 may include a stop ( 28 A in FIG. 2 ) to prevent further movement of the pipe segment(s) out of the back of the pipe handling channel 26 .
- the pipe handling channel 26 may be rotated to enable removing the pipe segment(s) to pipe handling device.
- Locking pins 31 A, 31 B may be selectively removed to enable rotation of the pipe handling channel 26 so that the pipe segment(s) may be rolled onto the pipe handling device
- the pipe handling device may include L-shaped arms 16 operated by respective hydraulic cylinders 18 .
- the handling device may be used for both removing segment(s) of pipe from the container ( 103 in FIG. 1 ) to be moved to the rig ( FIG. 1 ) and to return such segment(s) the container ( 103 in FIG. 1 ).
- Power to operate the various hydraulic cylinders, e.g., 24 , 21 , 14 B may be provided by a remotely located pump and reservoir, and coupled to control valves 27 used to operate the pipe handling apparatus. Similar configuration may be used in the case of an electrically powered apparatus, e.g., using motors, jack screws and ball nuts.
- a pipe handling apparatus may provide increased safety and efficiency when transferring segments of pipe between a storage container (pipe rack) and a drilling or workover rig.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
A pipe handling apparatus includes a support base extending longitudinally and disposable proximate a pipe handling rig. A lifting base is movably attached to the support base. The apparatus has means for moving the lifting base longitudinally along the support base, an intermediate support frame coupled to the lifting base and a vertical lifting device coupled between the intermediate support frame and the lifting base. The vertical lifting device is configured such that through an entire lift motion thereof, the intermediate support frame remains in a same plane as the lifting base. A pipe handling channel is pivotally coupled at one end to the intermediate support frame. Means for elevating the other end of the pipe handling channel are coupled to the intermediate support frame and the pipe handling channel.
Description
- Not applicable.
- Not applicable.
- This disclosure relates generally to the field of apparatus for moving segmented pipe joints between storage containers and drilling or workover units. More specifically, the disclosure relates to such apparatus having particular operational features to increase efficiency and safety.
- Drilling and workover hoisting systems (rigs), particularly those used on land, transport jointed pipe used in wellbore construction and workover operations in containers moved by truck to the place where the rig is disposed during operation. The segmented pipe containers hold the pipe segments generally horizontally. Devices known in the art for moving pipe segments to the rig typically accept one or more pipe segments into a channel or boom and raise the channel or boom to a selected angle from approximately ground level. Once the pipe segments are elevated to the selected angle, apparatus disposed on the rig may lift the elevated pipe segment to an approximately vertical orientation so that it can be used in the drilling or workover operation. The reverse procedure may be used to return the pipe segments to the container after they are no longer needed in the drilling or workover operation. Such apparatus for moving the pipe from the container to the rig and back are known in the art as “laydown machines.”
- Because of the angle required to elevate the pipe segments to gain access to the rig, a number of safety issues are of concern to the rig operator, not least of which is the elevation angle itself. The required lifting angle may also slow down pipe movement operations in order to increase safety. There exists a need for a pipe laydown machine that is more efficient and increases safety over those laydown machines known in the art.
- A pipe handling apparatus according to one aspect includes a support base extending longitudinally and disposable proximate a pipe handling rig. A lifting base is movably attached to the support base. The apparatus has means for moving the lifting base longitudinally along the support base, an intermediate support frame coupled to the lifting base and a vertical lifting device coupled between the intermediate support frame and the lifting base. The vertical lifting device is configured such that through an entire lift motion thereof, the intermediate support frame remains in a same plane as the lifting base. A pipe handling channel is pivotally coupled at one end to the intermediate support frame. Means for elevating the other end of the pipe handling channel are coupled to the intermediate support frame and the pipe handling channel.
- Other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the description and claims which follow.
-
FIG. 1 is an overview pipe handling apparatus disposed proximate a drilling rig. -
FIG. 2 shows an example pipe handling apparatus in oblique view. -
FIG. 3 shows the example pipe handling apparatus in end view. -
FIG. 1 shows an examplepipe handling apparatus 10 in position to lift asegment 104 of jointed pipe or tubing onto thefloor 106 of a drilling orworkover rig 100. The segment ofpipe 104 may be lifted by a line (102 as shown), elevators from a top drive or other apparatus known in the art. Segments of pipe may be stored on arack 103. The rig illustrated inFIG. 1 may be used on the land surface, however, the components of the pipe handling apparatus described herein may also be used on any form of marine drilling unit, whether bottom supported or floating. Accordingly, the type of drilling or workover rig is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. - The example
pipe handling apparatus 10 may be observed in more detail inFIG. 2 , with many of the components shown in the position they will be when a segment of pipe is moved to or from the rig (100 inFIG. 1 ) for clarity of the illustration. Thepipe handling apparatus 10 components may be substantially entirely disposed on atransport track 12. Thetransport track 12 may be lifted on to a truck (not shown) for movement to and from the position proximate the rig as shown inFIG. 1 . A lifting base track 14 may be engaged to thetransport track 12 usingrollers 14A or other friction reducing device to enable longitudinal movement of the lifting base track 14 along thetransport track 12. Longitudinal movement of the lifting base track 14 relative to thetransport track 12 may be performed, for example, using anhydraulic cylinder 14B, although other devices, for example and without limitation, such as screw and ballnut assemblies may be used. - The lifting base track 14 and other components are shown in
FIG. 2 in the position they would be when moving a segment of pipe from the rig (as shown inFIG. 1 ) to atransport channel 26, or vice versa. Vertical lifts, such as scissors lifts, may be coupled to each lateral side the lifting base track 14. The scissors lifts may each include afirst scissors arm 20A, coupled by a centrally locatedpivot 20C to asecond scissors arm 20B. One end of the bottom of thefirst scissors arms 20A may be fixedly, pivotally coupled to the lifting track 14. The bottom of thesecond scissors arms 20B may be movably connected to the lifting base track 14, for example using rollers (not shown) or sliding bearings (not shown). Anhydraulic cylinder 21 may be used to expand and contract the distance between the bottoms of the first 20A andsecond scissors 20B arms to cause the upper ends of the first and second scissors arms, 20A, 20B respectively to lift vertically out of the plane of the lifting base track 14. Anintermediate support frame 22 may be coupled to the upper ends of thescissors arms first scissors arms 20A may be pivotally coupled to an end of theintermediate support frame 22. The other upper end of the other scissors arms, e.g.,second scissors arms 20B, may be movably coupled to theintermediate support frame 22. Other types of vertical lifts may be used in other examples, however, the principle of operation is that the intermediate support frame moves vertically, i.e., in the same plane, as the lifting base track 14 from its fully lifted position as shown to its fully lowered position on top of the lifting base track 14. - The
intermediate support frame 22 may support apipe handling channel 26. Thepipe handling channel 26 may be coupled at one end by a pivot (30 inFIG. 3 ) to one end of theintermediate support frame 22. Anhydraulic cylinder 24 may connect thepipe handling channel 26 to theintermediate support frame 22 to enable elevating one end of thepipe handling channel 26. When elevated as shown inFIG. 2 , one or more segments of pipe (FIG. 1 ) may be removed from thepipe handling channel 26 by suitable equipment on the rig (seeFIG. 1 ) or returned thereto. After transfer of the segment(s) of pipe (seeFIG. 1 ), the hydraulic cylinder may be lowered so that thechannel 26 is horizontal, as is theintermediate support frame 22. The lifting base track 14 may be moved away from the rig, e.g., using thehydraulic cylinder 14B so that the end of thechannel 26 clears the rig (FIG. 1 ). Theintermediate support frame 22 may then be lowered by operating thehydraulic cylinder 21 connected to thescissors arms intermediate support frame 22, thechannel 26 is maintained in a horizontal orientation for safety. It should also be noted that by maintaining the intermediate support frame in the described orientation, motion of the channel is limited so that the pipe segment(s) therein cannot fall out of the open end of thechannel 26, thus limiting risk of dropping the pipe segment(s) therein. - When one or more segments of pipe are returned to the
pipe handling channel 26, and referring toFIG. 3 , one ormore friction elements 32 disposed proximate the back end of the channel may help slow the rate of movement of the pipe segment(s) for safety purposes. The back end of thepipe handling channel 26 may include a stop (28A inFIG. 2 ) to prevent further movement of the pipe segment(s) out of the back of thepipe handling channel 26. When theintermediate support frame 22 is fully lowered, thepipe handling channel 26 may be rotated to enable removing the pipe segment(s) to pipe handling device.Locking pins pipe handling channel 26 so that the pipe segment(s) may be rolled onto the pipe handling device - The pipe handling device may include L-
shaped arms 16 operated by respectivehydraulic cylinders 18. The handling device may be used for both removing segment(s) of pipe from the container (103 inFIG. 1 ) to be moved to the rig (FIG. 1 ) and to return such segment(s) the container (103 inFIG. 1 ). - Power to operate the various hydraulic cylinders, e.g., 24, 21, 14B may be provided by a remotely located pump and reservoir, and coupled to
control valves 27 used to operate the pipe handling apparatus. Similar configuration may be used in the case of an electrically powered apparatus, e.g., using motors, jack screws and ball nuts. - A pipe handling apparatus according to the present disclosure may provide increased safety and efficiency when transferring segments of pipe between a storage container (pipe rack) and a drilling or workover rig.
- While the invention 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 can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Claims (6)
1. A pipe handling apparatus, comprising:
a support base extending longitudinally and disposable proximate a pipe handling rig;
a lifting base movably attached to the support base;
means for moving the lifting base longitudinally along the support base
an intermediate support frame coupled to the lifting base;
a vertical lifting device coupled between the intermediate support frame and the lifting base such that through an entire lift motion thereof, the intermediate support frame remains in a same plane as the lifting base;
a pipe handling channel pivotally coupled at one end to the intermediate support frame, the pipe handling channel rotatable disposed within the intermediate support frame to enable rotation of the pipe handling channel with reference to its longitudinal axis with respect to the intermediate support frame;
a lock selectively disengageable when the vertical lifting device is fully retracted such that longitudinal rotation of the pipe channel is enabled only when the vertical lifting device is fully retracted; and
means for elevating the other end of the pipe handling channel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the lifting base comprises an hydraulic cylinder.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vertical lifting device comprises a pair of scissor arms on each side of the lifting track and intermediate support frame, and an hydraulic cylinder to move the scissors arms along the lifting track.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for elevating comprises an hydraulic cylinder.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising pipe handing device to move segments of pipe between the pipe handling channel and a storage rack.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pipe handling device comprises a plurality of L-shaped arms each coupled to a respective hydraulic cylinder, each cylinder coupled at one end to the lifting base.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/557,361 US20140030046A1 (en) | 2012-07-25 | 2012-07-25 | Pipe handling apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/557,361 US20140030046A1 (en) | 2012-07-25 | 2012-07-25 | Pipe handling apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140030046A1 true US20140030046A1 (en) | 2014-01-30 |
Family
ID=49995041
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/557,361 Abandoned US20140030046A1 (en) | 2012-07-25 | 2012-07-25 | Pipe handling apparatus |
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US (1) | US20140030046A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190145192A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Forum Us, Inc. | Tubular transfer system with variable presentation height and presentation angle |
US10734760B2 (en) | 2015-04-14 | 2020-08-04 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp | Magnetic fluid connector |
US11865960B2 (en) * | 2019-10-09 | 2024-01-09 | New Heights, Llc | Material delivery and waste removal trailer |
-
2012
- 2012-07-25 US US13/557,361 patent/US20140030046A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10734760B2 (en) | 2015-04-14 | 2020-08-04 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp | Magnetic fluid connector |
US20190145192A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Forum Us, Inc. | Tubular transfer system with variable presentation height and presentation angle |
US10508507B2 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-12-17 | Forum Us, Inc. | Tubular transfer system with variable presentation height and presentation angle |
US11865960B2 (en) * | 2019-10-09 | 2024-01-09 | New Heights, Llc | Material delivery and waste removal trailer |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SUNSET OILFIELD SERVICES LLC, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PERIO, DUDLEY;REEL/FRAME:028632/0001 Effective date: 20120725 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |