Apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, which apparatus comprises a body ( 2; 102 ) connectable to said top drive, said body ( 2; 102 ) comprising at least one gripping element ( 5; 105 ) radially displaceable by hydraulic or pneumatic fluid to drivingly engage said tubular ( 30; 110 ) to permit a screw connection between said tubular and a further tubular to be tightened to the required torque.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, which apparatus comprises a body ( 2 ;  102 ) connectable to said top drive, said body ( 2 ;  102 ) comprising at least one gripping element ( 5 ;  105 ) radially displaceable by hydraulic or pneumatic fluid to drivingly engage a tubular ( 30 ;  110 ) to permit a screw connection between said tubular and a further tubular to be tightened to the required torque.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein said at least one gripping element ( 5 ;  105 ) has an elastomeric gripping surface incorporating projecting metal inserts or saw blades capable of transmitting said torque.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1    or    2   , wherein said at least one gripping element ( 5 ;  105 ) is movable radially outwardly from said body ( 2 ;  102 ) to engage the inside wall ( 31 ;  111 ) of said tubular ( 30 ;  110 )  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein said body ( 2 ;  102 ) is connectable to a rotor ( 35 ) of said top drive in order to rotate said apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1   ,    2   ,  3  or  4 , further comprising a sealing packer ( 107 ) for engagement with said tubular.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein said sealing packer ( 107 ) can be activated by hydraulic or pneumatic fluid.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said body ( 2 ;  102 ) is provided with a passage ( 3 ;  103 ) therethrough to allow excess fluid in said tubular to escape therefrom.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a support ( 12 ) for supporting the weight of said tubular during driving engagement of the tubular by said at least one gripping element ( 5 ;  105 ).  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 8   , wherein said support ( 12 ) is connectable to a stator of said top drive.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 8    or    9   , wherein said support ( 12 ) is carried by compensating pistons ( 26 ,  27 ) connectable to said top drive.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein said compensating pistons ( 26 ,  27 ) are pneumatically operable and are adjustable to compensate for different weights of tubular.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an upper part of said body ( 2 ) comprises a splined recess into which a splined rotor or splined connecting member ( 20 ) may be located.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 8   ,    9   ,  10  or  11 , wherein said support ( 12 ) is arranged circumjacent an upper part of said body ( 2 ) with a bearing ( 8 ,  9 ) arranged therebetween to allow said body ( 2 ) to rotate with respect to said support ( 12 ).  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a rotary transmission ( 7 ) to allow hydraulic or pneumatic fluid to pass through said body ( 2 ;  102 ).  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, said apparatus comprising a body ( 102 ) connectable to said top drive, said body ( 102 ) comprising at least one gripping element ( 105 ) radially displaceable to drivingly engage a tubular ( 110 ) and a sealing packer ( 107 ) to inhibit, in use, fluid in said tubular from escaping therefrom.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein said sealing packer can be actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic fluid.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus ( 201 ) for running tubulars ( 213 ) into a borehole, said apparatus comprising a body ( 202 ) provided with a wedge lock assembly ( 212 ) and a hydraulically operable grapple ( 210 ) to mechanically grip the inside wall of a tubular ( 213 ) to be run into, or withdrawn from, the borehole, said grapple incorporating positive locking means to prevent inadvertent release of said grapple, said body further comprising means ( 214 ) to prevent spillage of drilling fluid when the body is withdrawn from the tubular, a scaling packer ( 215 ) for engagement with the tubular to permit fluid to be circulated within the tubular, and a stabbing guide ( 216 ).  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 17   , wherein the grapple ( 210 ) is connected to a hydraulic piston assembly ( 204 ,  207 ) to permit engagement of the grapple with the inside walls of the tubular ( 213 ) to enable mechanical lift to be applied to the tubular.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 18   , wherein the hydraulic piston assembly ( 204 ,  207 ) is biased towards a failsafe position by a compression spring ( 209 ).  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 18    or    19   , wherein the hydraulic piston assembly incorporates a cylinder ( 204 ) which is either formed integrally with the body ( 202 ) or is attached thereto by threading or flanging.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 18   ,    19    or  20 , wherein the body ( 202 ) is provided with a slip-ring assembly to enable hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the hydraulic piston assembly ( 204 ,  207 ) whilst at the same time permitting rotation of the body ad the tubular ( 213 ) thereon.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 17    to    21   , which is adapted to be used with different sizes of tubular.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 17    to    22   , wherein the body ( 202 ) is fitted with a bull-nose guide ( 216 ) to prevent damage to the top of the tubular when the body is introduced into the tubular.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 17    to    23   , wherein the body ( 202 ) is provided with a through bore ( 217 ) to permit circulation of fluid.  
     
     
         25 . A top drive having an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim attached thereto.