WO2016157222A1

WO2016157222A1 - Pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units

Info

Publication number: WO2016157222A1
Application number: PCT/IT2015/000085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Spadoni
Original assignee: Ths Srl
Priority date: 2015-03-30
Filing date: 2015-03-30
Publication date: 2016-10-06
Also published as: EP3332082A1; CA3006223A1; US20180298703A1

Abstract

An apparatus for handling pipes (A) for supplying pipes (A) to snubbing units, comprising a footing (2), located on the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A), and a supporting structure (3), which is pivoted to the footing (2). The supporting structure (3) defines a conveyance line (4) for at least one pipe (A). Respective means (5) for grip and conveyance of at least one pipe (A) are arranged at the lateral portions of the structure (3) in order to transfer the pipe from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A) to the conveyance line (4). The supporting structure (3) comprises: - a guiding frame (6), which is pivoted to the footing (2); - a slider (7), which can slide along the guiding frame (6) and is interposed substantially between the guiding frame (6) and the footing (2), the slider (7) defining, on the face (7b) directed toward the footing (2), said conveyance line (4) for at least one pipe (A) and comprising elements (8) for gripping and retaining said pipe (A); - a first actuator (9), which is interposed between the footing (2) and the guiding frame (6) and is preset to rotate the guiding frame (6) with respect to its axis for pivoting to the footing (2), the guiding frame (6) being movable, by way of the action of the first actuator (9), from a configuration for picking up the pipes (A) from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A), in which the slider (7) is juxtaposed and parallel to the footing (2) and is surmounted by the guiding frame (6), to a pipe (A) delivery configuration, in which the guiding frame (6) forms an angle with the footing (2) that substantially corresponds to 90°±10°; - a second actuator ( 10), which is interposed between the slider (7) and the guiding frame (6), being preset for the translation of the slider (7) with respect to the guiding frame (6), with consequent elongation of the supporting structure (3) up to a length that is close to the sum of the lengths of the guiding frame (6) and of the slider (7).

Description

i

PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING PIPES TO SNUBBING UNITS

The present invention relates to a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units.

In particular, the apparatus is hydraulic with remote control and is adapted to supply pipes up to a height of 30 m, a height that can be reached by the most up-to-date snubbing systems used in the oil sector to operate with the well under pressure.

Current snubbing units use, in order to transfer the pipes from ground level to the work station, which is indeed located at a height of up to 30 m, cranes or winches which lift the pipe up to said work level.

With particular reference to tower-shaped drilling systems, the need is felt to supply the pipes to be handled in the well at a great height. The same requirements can be observed in so-called snubbing units that have towers with heights that can exceed even 25 m (possibly reaching even significantly greater heights). Due to the fact that currently there is no machine or system capable of handling pipes at these heights, it is known to resort to cranes, or similar machines, preset for the lifting of each pipe in order to bring it proximate to the top of the extraction tower, in which adapted grip means are adapted to grip it in order to install it.

This solution is particularly dangerous, since it provides for the continuous presence of hanging loads (the pipe is kept raised with respect to the ground, substantially suspended above the operators).

The fundamental requirement of this equipment is compliance, not only with the design specifications of the system in which they will be installed, but also and especially with the directives contained in international standards.

Currently applicable statutory provisions and forthcoming future revisions advise against (and in some case forbid) the presence of hanging loads in the areas where operators are located and therefore systems of the traditional type are destined to be scrapped.

Moreover, the installation of a crane (or other similar machine) is particularly onerous: the activation of this type of machine is often dependent on resorting to exceptional transport convoys (in view of their large size) and many of the known equipment items (cranes and the like) are unable, due to structural and operating limitations, to convey pipes of considerable length and with a large diameter (unless large special machines are used, which entail a considerable additional increase in transport and assembly costs).

Finally, it should be noted that a further severe problem that arises from the adoption of machines such as cranes and the like lies in the difficulty of delivering precisely the pipe to the grip means of the extraction tower. Delivery precision is in fact entirely entrusted to the skill of the operator who operates the crane, this forcing the use of highly specialized personnel (the costs of which are obviously very high).

It should be specified that in the presence of wind the delivery of pipes performed with cranes (or other similar devices that provide for hanging the pipe from a lifting cable) cannot be precise. In particular, in many cases the operation of the system has to be interrupted in relation to the excessive risk inherent in the handling of hanging loads in the presence of wind (generally a wind threshold value is defined above which it is not possible to work with cranes).

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by devising a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that completely avoids the presence of hanging loads in the area of the extraction tower, producing a considerable increase in the safety of said area.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that is relatively simple to install and assemble. A further object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that can be controlled remotely, eliminating the presence of personnel in the affected area.

Another object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that is relatively simple to transport.

Another object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that is adapted for supplying substantially any type of pipe.

Another object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that is particularly stable and therefore adapted for supplying pipes to the level of the snubbing unit with high precision, in order to deliver them correctly to the grip means of the snubbing unit.

Another object of the invention is to devise a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that is not sensitive to atmospheric agents, in particular is insensitive to wind and therefore adapted to operate even in the presence of wind (up to a speed of 72 km/h).

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units of the type that comprises a footing, located on a surface of a pipe yard, and a supporting structure, which is pivoted to said footing and defines a conveyance line for at least one pipe, respective means for grip and conveyance of at least one pipe being arranged at the lateral portions of said structure in order to transfer said pipe from the surface of the pipe yard to accommodation surface of said conveyance line, characterized in that said supporting structure comprises:

- a guiding frame, which is pivoted to said footing; - a slider, which can slide along said guiding frame and is interposed substantially between said guiding frame and said footing, said slider defining, on the face directed toward said footing, said conveyance line for at least one pipe and comprising elements for gripping and retaining said pipe;

- a first actuator, which is interposed between said footing and said guiding frame and is preset to rotate said guiding frame with respect to its axis for pivoting to said footing, said guiding frame being movable, by way of the action of said first actuator, from a configuration for picking up the pipes from the pipe yard surface, in which said slider is juxtaposed and parallel to said footing and is surmounted by said guiding frame, to a pipe delivery configuration, in which said guiding frame forms an angle with said footing that substantially corresponds to 90°±10°;

- a second actuator, which is interposed between said slider and said guiding frame, being preset for the translation of said slider with respect to said guiding frame, with consequent elongation of said supporting structure up to a length that is close to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame and of said slider.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units, according to the invention, in the lowered configuration;

Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a partially raised configuration;

Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in the raised configuration;

Figure 5 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a different step of use.

With reference to the figures cited above, the numeral 1 generally designates a pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units.

The apparatus 1 comprises a footing 2, which is located on the surface C of the pipe yard A, and a supporting structure 3, which is hinged to the footing 2.

The surface C of the pipe yard A corresponds to the area where the pipes A intended to be transferred to the snubbing unit B (arranged higher up) are stored; these pipes A are the ones through which the duct inside the well will be formed.

The supporting structure 3 defines a conveyance line 4 intended for the transfer of at least one pipe A at a time from the level where the apparatus 1 is located (which corresponds substantially to the level of the yard C for collecting the pipes A) to the level where the pipes A can be handled by the snubbing unit B.

At the lateral portions of the structure 3 there are respective means 5 for gripping and conveying at least one pipe A, for the transfer thereof from the surface C of the pipe yard A to the accommodation surface of said conveyance line 4.

According to the invention, the supporting structure 3 comprises a guiding frame 6, which is hinged to the footing 2, and a slider 7, which can slide along the guiding frame 6 and is interposed substantially between said guiding frame 6 and the footing 2.

The term structure 3, therefore, references the assembly of the guiding frame 6 and of the slider 7.

Said slider 7 defines, on the face 7b directed toward the footing 2, said conveyance line 4 for at least one pipe A and comprises elements 8 for gripping and retaining said pipe A. In particular, the retention elements 8 ensure the alignment of at least one pipe A with the conveyance line 4 throughout the handling step.

The presence of said elements 8 therefore prevents the accidental fall of the pipes A, minimizing the risk to which the operators passing proximate to the apparatus 1 are subjected, constituting therefore a fundamental safety element.

The supporting structure 3 comprises a first actuator 9 that is interposed between the footing 2 and the guiding frame 6 and is intended to rotate said guiding frame 6 with respect to its axis for pivoting to the footing 2.

Said structure 3, and therefore said guiding frame 6, can move, by way of the action of the first actuator 9, from a configuration for picking up the pipes A from the surface C of the pipe yard A, in which the slider 7 is juxtaposed and parallel to the footing 2 and is surmounted by the guiding frame 6, to a configuration for delivery of the pipes A, in which the structure 3 forms an angle with the footing 2 that corresponds substantially to 90°±10°.

The rotation of the structure 3 with respect to its axis of pivoting to the footing 2 (when at least one pipe A is accommodated on the conveyance line 4) is the first movement to which the pipe A is subjected during the operations for transferring it to the snubbing uni B.

The supporting structure 3 also comprises a second actuator 10, which is interposed between the slider 7 and the guiding frame 6 and is intended for the translation of the slider 7 with respect to the guiding frame 6, with consequent elongation of the supporting structure 3 to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of the guiding frame 6 and of the slider 7.

The sliding of the slider 7 on the guiding frame 6 (when at least one pipe A is accommodated on the conveyance line 4) is the second movement to which the pipe A is subjected during the operations for its transfer to the snubbing unit B.

Following the rotation of the supporting structure 3 with respect to the footing 2, imposed by the first actuator 9, the supporting structure 3 moves from a horizontal configuration to a vertical configuration.

Once the vertical configuration of the supporting structure 3 has been reached, the sliding of the slider 7 with respect to the guiding frame 6, imposed by the second actuator 10, entails the lifting of the pipe A accommodated within the conveyance line 4 until it reaches the pickup height provided by the snubbing unit B.

In order to facilitate pickup of the pipe A by the grip means of said snubbing unit, the free end of the slider 7 can be inclined so as to face and be proximate to the snubbing unit B (the distance between the free end of the slider 7 and the unit B can be on the order of a few centimeters).

According to a solution that is particularly useful and practical, the grip and retention elements 8 of the at least one pipe A can comprise at least one arm 1 1 that is pivoted in a portion of the guiding frame 6.

A first end to 12 of the arm 1 1 can be contoured and intended to accommodate the at least one pipe A.

The arm 1 1 can have, for example, a predefined concavity that conforms to the diameter of the pipe A in order to facilitate its grip.

The arm 1 1 can therefore be able to rotate, about its axis of pivoting to the guiding frame 6, from a lowered arrangement, in which said first end 12 is arranged below the footing 2 at the conveyance line 4, to a raised arrangement, in which the first end 1 2 is raised in order to keep the at least one pipe A in a position in which it faces and is proximate to the slider 7 at the conveyance line 4.

The arm 1 1 initially picks up the at least one pipe A from the footing 2 and then, by rising, moves said pipe A to a position that faces and is proximate to the slider 7 at the conveyance line 4, keeping it in said position during all the various steps of handling until arrival at the operating level of S

the snubbing unit B.

The arm 1 1 , furthermore, can have a second end 13 that is controlled by a respective third actuator 14 that is interposed between the guiding frame 6 and the at least one arm 1 1 .

The actuator 14 is therefore preset to move the second end 13 from a passive configuration, in which the first end 12 is arranged below the footing 2 at the conveyance line 4, to an active configuration, in which the first end 12 is raised in order to keep the at least one pipe A in a position that faces and is proximate to the slider 7 at the conveyance line 4.

The arms 1 1 can be a plurality, arranged along the slider 7, thus constituting a fundamental safety element that prevents the accidental fall of the pipes A, eliminating the risk to which the operators who pass near the apparatus 1 are subjected.

For example, the possibility is not ruled out that the arms 1 1 might be two in number, one arm 1 1 arranged in a substantially intermediate position of the guiding frame 6 (at the base of the pipe A) and the other one at its free end (at the top of the pipe A).

According to the particularly efficient solution shown in the accompanying figures, the footing 2 can comprise a pre-lifting assembly 15 for the at least one pipe A that is aligned with the line 4.

Said pre-lifting assembly 15 can be movable from a position in which it is substantially coplanar with the footing 2, to a position in which it is raised with respect to the footing 2 in order to allow the easy unloading of the at least one pipe A from the footing 2 to the pipe yard C in case of pipe extraction.

Said assembly 1 5 can be constituted by a platform 15a, which by rising, for example, by means of respective pistons 15b, moves the pipe A to a position that is raised and inclined with respect to the footing 2, facilitating the rolling of the pipe A toward the grip and conveyance means 5 that will rest it on the pipe yard C. If the apparatus 1 is used to supply the pipes A to particularly tall snubbing units B, the slider 7 can comprise an auxiliary end bracket 16, which is mounted substantially in a cantilever manner with respect to a free end 17 of said slider 7 (which coincides with the end of the structure 3).

Said bracket 1 6 can comprise optionally respective retention assemblies for at least one accommodated pipe A.

Furthermore, in order to allow the apparatus 1 to reach an even greater height, the slider 7 can comprise a pusher 18, which is arranged on the face 7a thereof that is directed toward the footing 2 at the conveyance line 4, which accommodates the at least one pipe A.

Said pusher 18 can comprise in turn a shoulder 19 for resting the bottom of the at least one pipe A, which can be retained below the slider 7.

The shoulder 19 can slide along the slider 7 for the translation of the at least one pipe A in a configuration that protrudes from the slider 7 and from the auxiliary end bracket 16.

From a constructive standpoint, it is specified that the first actuator 9 can comprise a piston 20 that has a first end 21 that is pivoted proximate to the end of the footing 2 that is pivoted to the guiding frame 6, and a second end 22 that is pivoted in a substantially intermediate position to the guiding frame 6.

The extension of the piston 20 therefore causes a mutual spacing of the two ends 21 and 22 of said piston 20, accordingly, of the guiding frame 6 from the footing 2, with respective rotation of the guiding frame 6 with respect to its pivoting point to the footing 2.

It should be specified that the second actuator 10 can comprise a motor provided with a winding drum for a first traction element that is coupled to the slider 7.

Said traction element can be of the type of a cable, a belt, a rope and the like.

The motor and the winding drum are integral with the guiding frame 6; accordingly, the winding of the first traction element on the drum, by way of the action of the motor, causes the translation of the slider 7 on the guiding frame 6, with consequent elongation of the supporting structure 3 up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of the guiding frame 6 and of the slider 7.

In any case, the possibility is not excluded that the second actuator 10 might comprise a motor provided with a movement pinion 23 for a second traction element 24 that is coupled to the slider 7.

Said second traction element 24 can be the type of a toothed belt, a chain and the like.

In this case, the motor and the movement pinion 23 are integral with the guiding frame 6 and therefore the winding of the second traction element 24 on the pinion 23 by way of the action of the motor causes the translation of the slider 7 on the guiding frame 6, with consequent elongation of the supporting structure 3 up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of the guiding frame 6 and of the slider 7.

The elongation of the slider 7 with respect to the guiding frame 6 can in any case be obtained in a different manner with respect to what has been described above.

It is in fact possible to use, as a second actuator 10, a fluid-operated cylinder (which is integral with the guiding frame 6) to the end of which a cable is connected which in turn is integral with the slider 7.

A variation of the length of the fluid-operated cylinder 10 causes a variation of the mutual position of the slider 7 and of the guiding frame 6, with consequent sliding of the slider 7 on the guiding frame 6.

The possibility is not excluded to equip the stem of the fluid-operated cylinder 10 with a guiding pulley, so as to guide the cable (in which the end that is opposite the one coupled to the slider 7 is coupled to said guiding frame 6).

In this manner, the arrangement of the pulleys and of the loads is that of a tackle (or hoist) and it is therefore possible to reduce the force that must be applied by the fluid-operated cylinder 10 in order to move the slider 7 (even when the at least one pipe A is accommodated thereon).

More particularly, the guiding frame 6 and the slider 7 can have a length of no more than 13.5 meters, in accordance with the maximum dimensions that can be transported with road vehicles, so that they can be transported on roads.

In this manner, the entire apparatus 1 can be transported by using trucks, without having to resort to exceptional transports, allowing rapid delivery thereof in any area reached by a road.

Furthermore, the bracket 16 can have a length of no more than 8 m, preferably comprised between 2 and 4 m.

Said bracket 16 can be coupled detachably to the slider 7 by way of coupling elements such as screws, bolts, pivots, interlocking elements, pins and the like.

Said removable coupling allows to mount the bracket 16 on the slider 7 exclusively when the entire apparatus 1 has already been provided and therefore has already been unloaded from the truck, ensuring that the maximum dimensions of the slider 7, which conform to the prescriptions of applicable statutory provisions on transports, are not modified in any way.

It is believed useful to specify that the grip and conveyance means 5 of at least one pipe A can comprise respective lateral tracks, which are associated functionally with the footing 2 and are provided with protruding movable supporting tabs for at least one pipe A.

As an alternative, the grip and conveyance means 5 for at least one pipe A can comprise respective movable lateral walkways 25, which are hinged to the footing 2 and are provided with a terminal cradle 26 for supporting at least one pipe A.

In the pickup configuration, the walkways 25 are lowered, with the cradle 26 arranged proximate to the pipes A. In the configuration for conveyance of the pipes A, the walkways 25 are instead raised from the surface C for the delivery of the at least one pipe A to the grip and retention elements 8.

The walkways 25 can be lowered arid raised by means of a fourth actuator 25a, for example of the type of a hydraulic piston.

In practice, the apparatus 1 , once the pipe A has been positioned footing 2, automatically positions it, by way of the grip and retention elements 8, at the conveyance line 4 and then the movements of the apparatus 1 (i.e., the rotation of the supporting structure 3 with respect to the footing 2, the sliding of the slider 7 with respect to the guiding frame 6 and the stroke of the pusher 18) allow consequently to transfer the pipe A (or pipes A) to the height at which the snubbing unit B will be able to pick them up for their use.

The footing 2 can comprise internally all the motors, the control and management units, the pumps and any transceiver units in order to allow the remote control of the entire apparatus 1.

More specifically, it is believed that it is useful to point out that the footing 2 can comprise at least one hydraulic circuit constituted by at least one tank for the working fluid, at least one pump for conveying the fluid and a plurality of ducts for the interconnection of the pump to the respective user devices, of the type of the at least one first actuator 9, the second actuator 10, the third actuator 14, the pusher 1 8 and the optional fourth actuator 25a.

Furthermore, the footing 2 can also comprise, at one of its ends, a removable head 27 for increasing the stability of the apparatus 1 .

Said removable head 27 allows to increase the length of the apparatus 1 and therefore its stability (in particular when the guiding frame 6 is in the raised configuration) exclusively when it has already been installed and therefore has already been unloaded from the truck, ensuring that its maximum dimensions are not modified in any way and comply with applicable statutory provisions regarding transport.

Furthermore, if it is necessary to move with the apparatus 1 pipes A of considerable length, for example 13 m long, the presence of the removable head 27 allows to increase the length of the footing 2 and therefore the resting surface for the at least one pipe A, preventing the portion of the at least one pipe A that cantilevers out from the footing 2 from being such as to compromise the stability of said pipe A during the step of delivery of the at least one pipe A to the grip and retention elements 8, or during the step for unloading the at least one pipe A from the footing 2 to the pipe yard C in case of extraction of the pipes A.

If the apparatus 1 is fixed permanently on the system, the footing 2 can comprise anchoring means, arranged at one of its ends, for detachable coupling to the snubbing unit B, with consequent increase in the stability of the apparatus 1 .

For example, the footing 2 can have, at its end that is pivoted to the structure 3, at least one ring for the fixing of an element for connection to the platform B such as a chain, a cable, a belt, a bar and the like.

As shown previously, all the internal systems, both hydraulic and electric, are installed within the footing 2, so that it is possible to carry everything with a single tractor-semitrailer rig, reducing handling costs, whereas with apparatuses of the known type it was necessary to use at least two vehicles.

The hydraulic lines are usually rigid, preferably made of steel, allowing a reduction of installation times (they do not need to be connected/disconnected at each assembly/disassembly of the apparatus 1 but are in a mutual arrangement that is adapted for operation and also allows easy transport) and the reduction of the risk of contamination of the work oil with dirt and sand during connections (rigid pipes are less subject to ruptures and/or leaks).

The waste of oil, which would then have to be replaced regularly more frequently in order to safeguard operation and said valves, is also avoided.

All the handling units (actuators, pushers and the like) described so far can be replaced with other equivalent units of an electrical, hydraulic and/or other type, substantially fully conforming with those of the known type.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described earlier, providing an apparatus 1 for handling pipes A for supplying pipes A to snubbing units that avoids completely the presence of hanging loads in the area of the snubbing unit B, causing a considerable increase in the safety of said area.

The pipes A, during their aerial transfer, are in fact always kept on the conveyance line 4, clamped by the grip and retention elements 5, and rest their lower end on the shoulder 19 of the pusher 1 8.

By way of this constructive solution it is therefore possible to deliver pipes A even at very great heights (for example 30-35 m and more), ensuring high safety of the personnel located in said area.

Conveniently, the apparatus 1 is simple to assemble, since it can be unloaded from the truck on which it was transported already in the configuration for use; it is optionally necessary to assemble additionally only the bracket 16.

Conveniently, the pipe handling apparatus 1 for supplying pipes to snubbing units can be controlled remotely, eliminating the presence of personnel in the affected area.

Efficiently, the apparatus 1 can be transported simply since, as shown earlier, the assembly of the footing 2 and the structure 3 is shorter than the maximum length that can be transported on a truck and therefore can be simply loaded thereon without the need for any specific preliminary operation.

The possibility is not excluded to provide a footing 2 that has telescopic feet that might be actuated by way of hydraulic jacks.

In this manner, once the truck has reached the area of future installation of the apparatus 1 , it is possible to activate the extension of the telescopic feet until resting on the ground occurs and the subsequent lifting of the apparatus 1 from the loading bed of the truck occurs. At this point the truck can move away. One then proceeds with the subsequent reduction of the length of the telescopic feet until the bottom of the footing 2 is proximate to the ground, in the configuration for use.

Conveniently, the apparatus 1 is adapted for the handling of substantially any type of pipe, since the conveyance line 4 is shaped to accommodate pipes A of any diameter (in compliance with the requirements of use of snubbing units B).

Advantageously, the apparatus for handling pipes A for supplying pipes A to snubbing units is particularly stable and is therefore adapted to supply the pipes A to the level of the snubbing unit B with high precision in order to deliver them correctly to the grip means of said snubbing unit.

As already mentioned, the pipes A are retained on the conveyance line 4 by way of the retention elements 8 and therefore their arrangement is extremely precise, in compliance with the requirements of the grip means of the snubbing unit B.

Furthermore, the presence of the removable head 27 allows a further increase in the stability of the apparatus 1 .

Validly, the apparatus 1 can be manufactured at substantially low costs and is relatively simple to provide in practice and safe in application.

It is noted that the present invention, therefore, is ideally suited to be associated with snubbing units, i.e., extraction towers, that are very tall and have a small footprint. These units normally use cranes for supplying the pipes A: the apparatus 1 according to the invention is therefore substantially the only existing device that is adapted to facilitate the operations for supplying the pipes A to this type of unit, further increasing significantly the safety of the operators who are in the vicinity of said extraction towers.

Considering that this type of unit has a considerable height (even more than 25 m), using the apparatus 1 according to the invention in such systems is an enormous competitive advantage for those who need to manage and install them.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1 . An apparatus for handling pipes (A) for supplying pipes (A) to snubbing units (B) of the type that comprises a footing (2), located on a surface (C) of a pipe yard (A), and a supporting structure (3), which is pivoted to said footing (2) and defines a conveyance line (4) for at least one pipe (A), respective means (5) for grip and conveyance of at least one pipe (A) being arranged at the lateral portions of said structure (3) in order to transfer said pipe from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A) to said conveyance line (4), characterized in that said supporting structure (3) comprises:

- a guiding frame (6) , which is pivoted to said footing (2);

- a slider (7), which can slide along said guiding frame (6) and is interposed substantially between said guiding frame (6) and said footing (2), said slider (7) defining, on the face (7a) directed toward said footing (2), said conveyance line (4) for at least one pipe (A) and comprising elements (8) for gripping and retaining said pipe (A);

- a first actuator (9), which is interposed between said footing (2) and said guiding frame (6) and is preset to rotate said guiding frame (6) with respect to its axis for pivoting to said footing (2), said guiding frame (6) being movable, by way of the action of said first actuator (9), from a configuration for picking up the pipes (A) from the pipe yard (A) surface (C), in which said slider (7) is juxtaposed and parallel to said footing (2) and is surmounted by said guiding frame (6), to a pipe (A) delivery configuration, in which said guiding frame (6) forms an angle with said footing (2) that substantially corresponds to 90°±10°;

- a second actuator ( 10), which is interposed between said slider (7) and said guiding frame (6), being preset for the translation of said slider (7) with respect to said guiding frame (6), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure (3) up to a length that is close to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame (6) and of said slider (7).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said grip and coupling elements (8) of said pipe (A) comprise at least one arm ( 1 1 ) that is pivoted on said guiding frame (6) in a portion thereof, a first end (12) of said arm ( 1 1 ) being contoured and intended to accommodate said at least one pipe (A), said arm ( 1 1 ) being able to rotate, about its axis for pivoting to said guiding frame (6), from a lowered position, in which said first end (12) is arranged below said footing (2) at the conveyance line (4), to a raised arrangement, in which said first end (12) is raised in order to keep said pipe (A) in a position that faces and is proximate to said slider (7) at said conveyance line (4).

3. The apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said arm ( 1 1 ) has a second end (13) that is controlled by a respective third actuator ( 14) that is interposed between said guiding frame (6) and said at least one arm ( 1 1 ), said actuator ( 14) being preset to move said second end ( 1 3) from a passive configuration, in which said first end ( 12) is arranged below said footing (2) at the conveyance line (4), to an active configuration, in which said first end ( 12) is raised in order to keep said pipe (A) in a position that faces and is proximate to said slider (7) at said conveyance line (4).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said footing (2) comprises a preliminary lifting unit (15) for said at least one pipe (A) that is aligned with said line (4), said preliminary lifting unit ( 15) being movable from a position in which it is substantially coplanar with said footing (2) to a position that is raised with respect to said footing (2) in order to allow the easy unloading of the at least one pipe (A) from the footing (2) towards the pipe yard (C) in case of extraction of the pipes (A).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said slider (7) comprises an auxiliary end bracket ( 16), which is mounted substantially in a cantilever manner with respect to a free end ( 1 7) of said slider (7), said bracket ( 16) comprising optionally respective coupling assemblies for the at least one accommodated pipe (A).

6. The apparatus according to at least one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slider (7) comprises a pusher ( 1 8), which is arranged on said face (7a) thereof that is directed toward said footing (2) at said conveyance line (4), which accommodates the at least one pipe (A), said pusher ( 18) comprising a shoulder ( 19) for resting the bottom of the at least one pipe (A), said pusher ( 1 8) being coupled in a downward region to said slider (7) and said shoulder ( 19) being able to slide along said slider (7) for the translation of the at least one pipe (A) in the configuration for protrusion from said slider (7) and from said auxiliary end bracket ( 16).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first actuator (9) comprises a piston (20) that has a first end (21 ) that is pivoted proximate to the end of said footing (2) that is pivoted to said guiding frame (6) and a second end (22) that is pivoted in a substantially intermediate position of said guiding frame (6), the extension of said piston (20) causing a mutual spacing of said two ends (21 and 22) of said piston (20), consequently of said guiding frame (6) from said footing (2) with respective rotation of said guiding frame (6) with respect to its point of pivoting to said footing (2).

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second actuator ( 1 0) comprises a motor provided with a winding drum for a first traction element such as a cable, a belt, a rope, a chain and the like that is coupled to said slider (7), said motor and said winding drum being integral with said guiding frame (6), the winding of said first traction element on said drum by way of the action of said motor causing the translation of said slider (7) on said guiding frame (6), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure (3) up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame (6) and said slider (7).

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second actuator ( 10) comprises a motor provided with a movement pinion (23) for a second traction element (24) such as a toothed belt, a chain and the like that is coupled to said slider (7), said motor and said movement pinion (23) being integral with said guiding frame (6), the winding of said second traction element (24) on said opinion (23) by way of the action of said motor causing the translation of said slider (7) on said guiding frame (6), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure (3) up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame (6) and said slider (7).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said guiding frame (6) and said slider (7) are no longer than 13.5 m, in compliance with the maximum dimensions that can be transported with road vehicles, so that they can be transported on roads.

1 1 . The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bracket (16) is no longer than 8 m, preferably between 2 and 4 m long, said bracket ( 16) being detachably associable with said slider (7) by way of coupling elements such as screws, bolts, pins, interlocking couplings, dowels and the like.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said means (5) for gripping and conveying at least one pipe (A) comprise respective lateral tracks that are associated functionally with said footing (2) and are provided with protruding movable tabs for supporting at least one pipe (A).

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said means (5) for gripping and conveying at least one pipe (A) comprise respective movable lateral walkways (25), which are pivoted to said footing (2) and are provided with a supporting end cradle (26) for at least one pipe (A), in the pickup configuration said walkways (25) being lowered, with said cradle (26) arranged proximate to said pipes (A), in the configuration for conveyance of the pipes (A) said walkways (25) being raised from said surface (C) to deliver said at least one pipe (A) to said grip and coupling elements (8).

14. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one hydraulic circuit that is constituted by at least one tank of the working fluid, at least one pump for the conveyance of said fluid and a plurality of ducts for the interconnection of said pump to the respective user devices such as the at least one first actuator (9), said second actuator (10), said third actuator ( 14) and said pusher ( 1 8).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said footing (2) comprises, and one of its ends, a head (27) that can be removed in order to increase the stability of said apparatus ( 1 ).

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that said footing (2) comprises anchoring means, arranged at one of its ends, for detachable coupling to said extraction platform (B), with consequent increase in the stability of said apparatus ( 1 ).