Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Shell Research Limited

Jimmy Lawrence Hollingsworth

Bernd Reinholdt

David Michael Haugen

Bernd-Georg Pietras

David Shahin

Jeff Habetz

Gary Thompson

Michael W Hayes

Troy F Hill

Timothy Bedore

Michael C Hayes

A top drive system includes a top drive, top drive adapter, and a tubular positioning apparatus. In another aspect, the top drive adapter includes a housing operatively connected to the top drive and a plurality of retaining members disposed in the housing for gripping the tubular. In another aspect, the tubular positioning apparatus includes a gripping member for engaging a tubular and a conveying member for positioning the gripping member. A spinner may be provided to rotate the tubular.

Method and apparatus for drilling with casing

The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a control line to a tubular string. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide boom pivotable around a location adjacent the string and with a guide member at an end thereof to guide the control line. The apparatus further includes a clamp boom that is independently pivotable and includes a clamp housing at an end thereof for clamping the control line against the tubular string. The guide boom and the clamp boom each have a center line which is substantially aligned with the center line of the tubing string permitting the control line to be aligned adjacent the tubular string prior to clamping.

Method and device to clamp control lines to tubulars

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for connecting a first tubular with a second tubular. The apparatus includes a gripping member for engaging the first tubular and a conveying member for positioning the gripping member. The apparatus also includes a spinner for rotating the first tubular. In one embodiment, the spinner includes a motor and one or more rotational members for engaging the first tubular. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a rotation counting member biased against the first tubular. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of connecting a first tubular to second tubular. The method includes engaging the first tubular using a gripping member connected to a conveying member and positioning the gripping member to align the first tubular with the second tubular. Thereafter, the first tubular is engaged with the second tubular, and the first tubular is rotated relative to the second tubular using the gripping member.

Positioning and spinning device

The inventions relates to an apparatus for connecting a control line to a tubular string. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide boom pivotable around a location adjacent the string and with a guide member at an end thereof to guide the control line. The apparatus further includes a clamp boom that is independently pivotable and includes a clamp housing at an end thereof for clamping the control line against the tubular string. The guide boom and the clamp boom each have a center line which is substantially aligned with the center line of the tubing string permitting the control line to be aligned adjacent the tubular string prior to clamping.

Methods and apparatus for drilling with a top drive system are provided. In one aspect, a top drive system includes a top drive, top drive adapter, and a tubular positioning apparatus. In another aspect, the top drive adapter is pivotably connected to the top drive for pivoting the top drive adapter toward the casing string with respect to the top drive. In another aspect, the system includes a telescopic link system connected to a lower portion of the top drive adapter to move the casing string into engagement with the top drive adapter. In another aspect, the top drive adapter includes a housing operatively connected to the top drive and a plurality of retaining members disposed in the housing for gripping the tubular. In another aspect, the tubular positioning apparatus includes a gripping member for engaging a tubular and a conveying member for positioning the gripping member. A spinner may be provided to rotate the tubular.

An apparatus is provided with position sensors. When the apparatus has moved one tubular into alignment with another tubular a button on a remote control console is pressed to memorize the position. After the next tubular has been gripped by the apparatus a 'recall' button is pressed and the apparatus automatically moves the next tubular to the memorized position. This saves vital seconds in joining tubulars and also reduces the likelihood of threads being damaged due to misalignment of the tubulars.

Method for aligning tubulars

There is provided a method of testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars, which method comprises the steps of holding a first tubular; applying a force to displace a second tubular relative to the first tubular; and removing the force. The final position of the second tubular is then compared with the position which it occupied prior to the application of the force by means of a sensor mounted remotely from the second tubular.

Method and apparatus for testing bonded tubular joints

An apparatus is provided with position sensors. When the apparatus has moved one tubular into alignment with another tubular a button on a remote control console is pressed to memorize the position. After the next tubular has been gripped by the apparatus a &ldquo;recall&rdquo; button is pressed and the apparatus automatically moves the next tubular to the memorized position. This saves vital seconds in joining tubulars and also reduces the likelihood of threads being damaged due to misalignment of the tubulars.

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Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Jimmy Lawrence Hollingsworth