Nabors Industries, Inc.

Nabors Drilling Technologies Usa, Inc.

Steven K Deel

Christopher Magnuson

Predrag Radovanovic

Djuric Miodrag

The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to a modular gripperhead system for a drilling rig. The system includes a gripper having a first gripper arm and a second opposing gripper arm, each gripper arm having an inwardly facing gripping surface that forms at least a portion of a chamber sized to receive a portion of a cylindrical tubular, wherein the portion of the chamber has a longitudinal axis. The system also includes a grabber having a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm. Each grabber arm may be displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in a direction along a first axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first and second grabber arms may be pivotable about a first and second pivot point between an open position sized to permit a portion of a cylindrical tubular to enter between the first and the second grabber arms and a closed position sized to secure a portion of a cylindrical tubular between the first and the second grabber arms.

Modular gripperhead with effector for a racker system

Apparatuses and methods for erecting drilling structures including drill floors and drilling masts include attaching a rigging line to the drilling structure and to a strand jack arranged with at least one hydraulic jack and a plurality of clamps that alternatingly secure onto the rigging line and pull the rigging line in tension. Pulling the rigging line with the strand jack raises the drilling structures to an upright or elevated position.

Methods for elevating drilling rig components with a strand jack

The systems, devices, and methods described herein describe a valve cover assembly that enables the easy removal and insertion of a screw gland into a threaded ring. The valve cover assembly includes an outside housing that provides an offset between a fluid end module and a top end of the valve cover assembly. A spring is positioned between the top end and the threaded ring and biased to provide a downward force on the threaded ring. The screw gland applies a reaction force against a valve plug. A piston is positioned at a base of the threaded ring in contact with the fluid end module. When actuated, the piston overcomes the downward force and lifts the threaded ring from the fluid end module. This reduces the force on the plug and allows a user to remove the screw gland by hand (and install as well) and without additional machinery required.

Hydraulic valve cover assembly

Methods for erecting a drilling structure on a drilling rig include hoisting a first end of a column racker with a support carried by a mast on the drilling rig while the column racker is in a first position, and advancing a second end of a column racker along a solid surface toward the mast while simultaneously hoisting the first end of the column racker to move the column racker toward a second position that is closer to vertical than the first position. Other methods include raising a first end of a column racker with a ground-based, powered lift structure, and introducing the first end of the column racker to the rig floor while supporting the weight of the column racker with the ground-based, powered lift structure.

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Cypress, TX, United States of America

Steven K Deel