The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2007
Richard L. Giroux, Cypress, TX (US);
David Shahin, Houston, TX (US);
Adrian Vuyk, Jr., Houston, TX (US);
Gary Thompson, Katy, TX (US);
Kevin Leon Gray, Friendswood, TX (US);
John Timothy Allen, Katy, TX (US);
Randy Gene Snider, Houston, TX (US);
Richard L. Giroux, Cypress, TX (US);
David Shahin, Houston, TX (US);
Adrian Vuyk, Jr., Houston, TX (US);
Gary Thompson, Katy, TX (US);
Kevin Leon Gray, Friendswood, TX (US);
John Timothy Allen, Katy, TX (US);
Randy Gene Snider, Houston, TX (US);
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body.