Apparatus and Method for Gripping and/or Handling Tubulars

Abstract

Gripping tool ( 10 ) and method to assemble tubular strings comprising a shaft ( 51 ) having first and second externally and oppositely threaded portions ( 52, 54 )); and first and second generally frusto-conical cams ( 32, 34 ) threadably received on the first and second threaded portions. Cams ( 32, 34 ) adduct and abduct upon rotation of the shaft ( 51 ) in the first and second directions, respectively. Tool can comprise a plurality of jaws ( 42, 44 ) disposed within the variable space intermediate the cams ( 32, 34 ). Jaws ( 42, 44 ) cam radially outwardly upon adduction of cams ( 32, 34 ) to grip the wall of a tubular ( 90 ), and jaws ( 42, 44 ) can retract radially inwardly upon abduction of the cams ( 32, 34 ) to release. Tool ( 10 ) may comprise a shaft ( 101 ) having a bore ( 152 ) to facilitate fluid flow into tubular ( 118 ), and may cooperate with a fill-up and circulation tool and/or a cementing assembly.

1 . An internally gripping apparatus to releasably grip a tubular member, comprising:
 a drive shaft having a first portion and a second portion, each with external threads, the first portion oppositely threaded from the second portion;   a first camming body and a second camming body, separated one from the other by a variable jaw space, the first camming body threadably engaging the first portion of the drive shaft and the second camming body engaging the second threaded portion of the drive shaft, each camming body having at least one sliding contact portion that is positionable by rotation of the drive shaft within the camming body; and   a plurality of dual-tapered gripping jaws disposed at least partially within the variable jaw space between the first camming body and second camming body, each dual-tapered gripping jaw having a tapered contact surface disposed in sliding engagement with the contact surface of the first camming body and a second contact surface in sliding engagement with the contact surface of the second camming body;   wherein axial rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction simultaneously adducts the first camming body and the second camming body, one toward the other, to slidably displace the dual-tapered gripping jaws radially outwardly from the variable jaw space therebetween and to a gripping position, and   wherein axial rotation of the drive shaft in the second, opposite direction abducts the first camming body and second camming body, one from the other, to increase the variable jaw space therebetween to facilitate retraction of the dual-tapered gripping jaws radially inwardly from a gripping position and toward the drive shaft.   
   
   
       2 . A gripping assembly to internally grip a tubular member comprising:
 a first axial cam and a second axial cam, in a variably spaced-apart relationship, each having a bore to threadably engage a camshaft, and together having opposed sliding contact surfaces forming a variable jaw space there between; and   a plurality of gripping jaws, each received at least partially within the variable jaw space, each gripping jaw having generally convergent sliding contact surfaces, one to engage the second axial cam and one to engage the first axial cam, and a radially outwardly disposed gripping surface;   wherein axial rotation of the camshaft adducts the first cam and the second cam, one towards the other, to reduce the variable jaw space and to slidably displace the gripping jaws radially outwardly from the jaw space.   
   
   
       3 . A tool to grip a tubular member comprising:
 a drive shaft having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion;   a drive motor operatively coupled to rotate the drive shaft;   a first camming body threadably received on the first threaded portion of the drive shaft;   a second camming body threadably received on the second threaded portion of the drive shaft; and   a plurality of gripping jaws slidably deployed by adduction of the first camming body and the second camming body toward a gripping position when the drive motor rotates the drive shaft in a first direction.   
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the gripping jaws retract from the gripping position when the drive motor rotates the drive shaft in the second, opposite direction; 
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein:
 the first camming body has an exterior generally frusto-conical surface that diverges outwardly from the drive shaft in a first longitudinal direction; and   the second camming body has an exterior generally frusto-conical surface that diverges outwardly from the drive shaft in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction.   
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 3  further comprising at least one guide member rotatably securing the first camming body to the second camming body such that the first camming body and the second camming body are movable longitudinally one relative to the other, but the guide member prevents the first camming body and the second camming body from rotating one relative to the other. 
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 3  further comprising a motor coupled to rotate the drive shaft. 
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 3  further comprising a pair of bail attachment ears. 
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein the drive shaft has a bore to provide a fluid passageway extending longitudinally therethrough to allow a fluid to be delivered into the bore of a tubular member gripped by the tool. 
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 9  further comprising a valve coupled to the bore of the drive shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 9  wherein the tool includes a sealing element to sealing against said interior wall of a tubular member gripped by the tool. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 9  further comprising a nozzle coupled to the bore of the drive shaft to extend the fluid passage. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus to grip a tubular member comprising:
 a gripping assembly including a rotatable drive shaft having a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion with the threads of the first threaded portion pitched oppositely from the threads of the second threaded portion, a fluid passageway extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the drive shaft, at least one drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, a first threaded camming body threadably received on the first threaded portion of the drive shaft, and a second threaded camming body threadably received on the second threaded portion of the drive shaft,   wherein the first camming body and the second camming body are positionable along the drive shaft by rotation of the drive shaft within the first camming body and the second camming body to adduct the first camming body and the second camming body one toward the other upon rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction to reduce a variable annular space therebetween and to thereby cam a plurality of gripping jaws radially outwardly against the interior wall of a tubular member in which the gripping assembly is inserted.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a pair of ears to receive bail arms from which the apparatus is suspended.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising one or more generally flat surfaces on the camming bodies to slidably engage one or more generally flat surfaces on the gripping jaws. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a seal disposed on the exterior of the apparatus to seal with the interior wall of a tubular segment. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a valve in communication with the fluid passageway, the valve having an open position to permit fluid flow through the passageway and a closed position to substantially prevent flow through the passageway. 
   
   
       18 . A method of connecting a tubular segment to a tubular string comprising the steps of:
 inserting a gripping tool into an end of a tubular segment, said gripping tool comprising a drive shaft having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, the second threaded portion having threads that are pitched oppositely from the threads of the first threaded portion, at least one drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, a first camming body threadably received on the first threaded portion of the drive shaft, a second camming body threadably received on the second threaded portion of the drive shaft, wherein the first camming body and the second camming body are positionable along the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion, respectively, of the drive shaft to adduct one toward other when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction, and to abduct one from the other when the drive shaft is rotated in the second, opposite direction, and a plurality of gripping jaws cammed by said first camming body and said second camming body when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction to deploy the gripping jaws radially outwardly from the drive shaft; and   operating the drive motor to rotate the drive shaft in the first direction to engage the gripping jaws with the interior wall of the tubular segment.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 rotating the gripping tool using a top drive quill to make-up a threaded connection between the tubular segment and a tubular string.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive shaft comprises a bore through the apparatus. 
   
   
       21 . The gripping assembly of  claim 2  wherein the drive shaft comprises a bore through the apparatus. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the apparatus comprises an external seal to seal with the interior wall of a tubular segment. 
   
   
       23 . The gripping assembly of  claim 21  wherein the gripping assembly is coupled to a seal to sealably engage with the interior wall of a tubular segment to be gripped using the gripping assembly. 
   
   
       24 . The gripping assembly of  claim 2  wherein the camshaft has a bore to permit fluid flow through the camshaft. 
   
   
       25 . The gripping assembly of  claim 24  further comprising a seal to engage the interior wall of a tubular segment gripped by the gripping assembly.