Drill pipe handling and moving system

Abstract

A pipe handling system includes a frame removably coupled to a drilling mast, a gripping arm moveably coupled to the frame, and a grip jaw extending from the gripping arm to engage a drill pipe, wherein the gripping arm and the grip jaw are operable to move a drill pipe from within the drilling mast to a pipe storage area adjacent the drilling mast. Other embodiments include a pipe racker and a setback handling system disposed below the pipe racker to engage a lower end of the drill pipe, the setback handling system including a moveable pipe guide and a rotating table supporting the pipe guide. In some embodiments, the rotating table also supports a pipe mover for moving the drill pipe to desired storage positions in a setback rack. Pipe handling methods are also disclosed.

1 . A pipe handling system comprising:
 a pipe racker to engage an upper end of a drill pipe; and   a setback handling system disposed below the pipe racker to engage a lower end of the drill pipe, the setback handling system comprising:
 a moveable pipe guide; and 
 a rotating table supporting the pipe guide. 
   
   
   
       2 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator coupled to at least one of the pipe guide and the rotating table. 
   
   
       3 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  including an actuator coupled to each of the pipe guide and the rotating table, thereby making the setback handling system operable automatically. 
   
   
       4 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  wherein the rotating table is slidably disposed on tracks. 
   
   
       5 . The pipe handling system of  claim 4  wherein the tracks extend through a setback rack having a plurality of slots for receiving the drill pipe. 
   
   
       6 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  wherein the pipe guide includes rollers, and the pipe guide is extendable to engage the rollers with a drill pipe on a pipe ramp. 
   
   
       7 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  further comprising a pipe mover including:
 a drill pipe engagement finger;   a lift cylinder;   a push or pull mechanism; and   a sled.   
   
   
       8 . The pipe handling system of  claim 7  wherein the sled is slidably coupled to the rotating table such that the sled is horizontally moveable by the push or pull mechanism, and the table is rotatable to place the sled at different rotational positions. 
   
   
       9 . The pipe handling system of  claim 7  wherein the engagement finger is moveably mounted to the sled such that the engagement finger is vertically moveable by the lift cylinder. 
   
   
       10 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  wherein the rotating table is rotatable to place the pipe guide at different rotational positions. 
   
   
       11 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  further comprising a guide funnel. 
   
   
       12 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  wherein the pipe racker includes a frame removably coupled to a drilling mast and an articulated gripping arm operable to engage and move the upper end of the drill pipe. 
   
   
       13 . The pipe handling system of  claim 1  further comprising a pipe erector and a vertical support structure disposed below the setback handling system for providing drill pipe to the setback handling system. 
   
   
       14 . A pipe handling system comprising:
 a setback rack disposed on a rig floor, the setback rack including a plurality of support beams and slots providing a plurality of drill pipe storage positions; and   a moveable table supporting a plurality of moveable members;   wherein the moveable table and the moveable members are operable to move a drill pipe between a drill string and the plurality of storage positions.   
   
   
       15 . The pipe handling system of  claim 14  wherein the moveable table and the moveable members are operable to place the drill pipe in a desired storage position. 
   
   
       16 . The pipe handling system of  claim 14  wherein the operability of the moveable table and the moveable members is automated. 
   
   
       17 . The pipe handling system of  claim 14  wherein the table is moveable on tracks disposed adjacent the support beams and slots. 
   
   
       18 . The pipe handling system of  claim 14  wherein the table rotatably supports an extendable pipe guide, a vertically moveable drill pipe engagement finger, a push or pull mechanism and a sled horizontally moveable by the push or pull mechanism. 
   
   
       19 . A pipe handling method comprising:
 extending a pipe guide from a table toward a drill pipe at a first location;   engaging the pipe guide with the drill pipe;   moving the table along with the pipe guide and the drill pipe to a second location; and   transferring the drill pipe to the second location.   
   
   
       20 . The pipe handling method of  claim 19  wherein:
 the first location is at a pipe ramp; and   the moving the table includes sliding the table along a drill floor and rotating the table to move the pipe guide and the drill pipe to the second location adjacent a drill string.   
   
   
       21 . The pipe handling method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 supporting the drill pipe in a guide funnel;   disengaging the pipe guide from the drill pipe;   rotating the table to align a pipe mover with the drill pipe;   engaging the pipe mover with the drill pipe;   further rotating the table to align the pipe mover engaged with the drill pipe with a desired storage location; and   wherein the second location is the desired storage location.   
   
   
       22 . A pipe handling system comprising:
 a frame removably coupled to a drilling mast;   a gripping arm moveably coupled to the frame; and   a grip jaw extending from the gripping arm to engage a drill pipe;   wherein the gripping arm and the grip jaw are operable to move a drill pipe from within the drilling mast to a pipe storage area adjacent the drilling mast.   
   
   
       23 . The pipe handling system of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a carriage pivotally and slidably coupled to a track on the frame; and   a column extending down from the carriage and coupled to the gripping arm.   
   
   
       24 . The pipe handling system of  claim 23  wherein:
 the column includes a vertically moveable post and a rotation mechanism to rotate the post and the gripping arm; and   the gripping arm is an articulated arm operable to move the grip jaw horizontally.   
   
   
       25 . The pipe handling system of  claim 24  further comprising:
 a first control cylinder coupled to the carriage to control the slidable movement of the carriage;   a second control cylinder coupled to the post to control the vertical movement of the post; and   a third control cylinder to control the extension and retraction of the articulated arm.   
   
   
       26 . The pipe handling system of  claim 22  wherein the pipe storage area includes a fingerboard, and the gripping arm and the grip jaw are operable to move a drill pipe from a drill string to a desired position within the fingerboard. 
   
   
       27 . The pipe handling system of  claim 22  wherein the movement of the drill pipe is automated. 
   
   
       28 . The pipe handling system of  claim 22  wherein the frame is removable to a truck for transport. 
   
   
       29 . The pipe handling system of  claim 22  further comprising a setback handling system disposed below the frame and operable to engage and move a lower end of the drill pipe. 
   
   
       30 . A pipe handling method comprising:
 moving a grip jaw from a drilling mast toward a drill pipe in a drill string;   engaging the grip jaw with the drill pipe;   moving the drill pipe to a desired storage position adjacent the drilling mast; and   retracting the grip jaw away from the drill string.   
   
   
       31 . The pipe handling method of  claim 30  further comprising:
 transporting a frame having the grip jaw on a truck; and   coupling the frame to the drilling mast.   
   
   
       32 . The pipe handling method of  claim 30  further comprising:
 extending an articulated arm coupled to the grip jaw; and   rotating the articulated arm.   
   
   
       33 . The pipe handling method of  claim 30  further comprising:
 engaging a lower end of the drill pipe with a setback handling system; and   using the setback handling system to control the lower end of the drill pipe during the moving of the drill pipe.