End stop apparatus and methods

Abstract

An adjustable end stop may selectively include one or more of the following elements: at least one guide member, a collapsible member, a movable assembly, a drive mechanism, and a position adjustment mechanism. The guide member may have the collapsible member and/or movable assembly attached thereto. The collapsible member may be configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction and resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction. The movable assembly may be movably attached to the at least one guide member, in which the movable assembly is configured to move along at least a portion of the length of the at least one guide rail. Further, the drive mechanism may be used to selectively position the collapsible member and/or movable assembly along the at least one guide member.

1 . An adjustable end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 at least one guide member;   a collapsible member movably attached to the at least one guide member; and   a drive mechanism to selectively position the collapsible member along the at least one guide member.   
   
   
       2 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sloped member adjacent to the collapsible member, wherein the at least one sloped member is configured to align the end of the tubular member with the collapsible member as it engages the collapsible member in the first direction. 
   
   
       3 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide member is connected to a base plate, wherein the collapsible member is configured to move in a direction along the base plate. 
   
   
       4 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing mechanism configured to secure the guide member relative to a lifting component of a drilling rig. 
   
   
       5 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 4 , wherein the lifting component comprises at least one of a pipe rack, a v-door, a rig floor, an access opening, a derrick, an elevator, and a traveling block. 
   
   
       6 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible member is configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction and resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction. 
   
   
       7 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 6 , wherein the collapsible member is biased towards a non-collapsed position. 
   
   
       8 . An adjustable end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 a movable abutment assembly comprising a collapsible member; and   at least one guide member, wherein the abutment assembly is movably attached to the at least one guide member and configured to move along at least a portion of the at least one guide member.   
   
   
       9 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one sloped member comprising an upper surface that slopes toward the collapsible member. 
   
   
       10 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 8 , wherein the collapsible member is configured to operate between an open position and a closed position. 
   
   
       11 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 10 , wherein the collapsible member comprises an actuator to operate between the open position and the closed position. 
   
   
       12 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 10 , wherein the collapsible member is biased toward the closed position. 
   
   
       13 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the collapsible member is configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction; and   the collapsible member is configured to resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction.   
   
   
       14 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 8 , further comprising a drive mechanism to selectively position the collapsible member along the portion of the length of the at least one guide member. 
   
   
       15 . An adjustable end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 at least one guide member;   a movable assembly attached to the at least one guide member;   wherein the movable assembly is configured to move along at least a portion of the at least one guide member.   
   
   
       16 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a drive mechanism to selectively position the collapsible member along a length of at least one guide member.   
   
   
       17 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a collapsible member movably attached to the movable assembly;   wherein the collapsible member is configured to operate between an open position and a closed position.   
   
   
       18 . An adjustable end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 at least one guide member;   a collapsible member attached to the at least one guide member;   the collapsible member configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction; and   the collapsible member configured to resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction.   
   
   
       19 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 18 , wherein the collapsible member is movably attached to the at least one guide member, the adjustable end stop further comprising:
 a drive mechanism to selectively position the collapsible member along a length of the at least one guide member.   
   
   
       20 . An adjustable end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 a position adjustment mechanism;   a movable assembly attached to the position adjustment mechanism;   the position adjustment mechanism configured to displace the movable assembly; and   the movable assembly configured to support the end of the tubular member.   
   
   
       21 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 20 , wherein the position adjustment member is configured to move the movable assembly in at least one of a lateral direction and a vertical direction. 
   
   
       22 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 20 , wherein the movable assembly is movably attached to the at least one guide member, the adjustable end stop further comprising:
 a drive mechanism to selectively position the movable assembly along a length of the at least one guide member.   
   
   
       23 . The adjustable end stop of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a collapsible member movably attached to the movable assembly;   wherein the collapsible member is configured to operate between an open position and a closed position.   
   
   
       24 . A method to make-up a first tubular with a second tubular, the method comprising:
 securing the first tubular with a drilling rig;   adjusting an end stop to engage a first end of the second tubular;   positioning the second tubular to the drilling rig; and   making-up a threaded connection between the first and second tubulars.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 grasping a second end of the second tubular with an elevator; and   raising the second tubular above the first tubular with the elevator.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising;
 positioning the second tubular on a pipe rack comprising the end stop;   retracting the end stop to a position behind the first end of the second tubular; and   extending the end stop to raise the second tubular up a v-door of the drilling rig.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the end stop comprises a collapsible member. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the end stop further comprises a controller and a sensor, wherein the adjusting the end stop to engage the first end of the second tubular comprises:
 detecting a presence of a tubular member with the sensor; and   moving the collapsible member of the end stop assembly with the controller.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the end stop comprises a drive mechanism to adjust the end stop to engage the first end of the second tubular. 
   
   
       30 . A method to assemble a plurality of tubulars to each other, the method comprising:
 positioning a first end of a first tubular adjacent to an end stop;   adjusting the end stop to engage the first end of the first tubular;   moving the first end of the first tubular with the end stop;   positioning a second end of the first tubular adjacent to a drilling rig; and   grasping the second end of the first tubular.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the end stop comprises a collapsible member movably attached thereto, wherein the collapsible member is configured to operate between an open position and a closed position. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the end stop comprises a movable assembly movably attached to a guide member, wherein the movable assembly moves the first end of the first tubular. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the end stop comprises a position adjustment mechanism to move the first end of the first tubular. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the second end of the first tubular is positioned at a desired location on the drilling rig. 
   
   
       35 . An end stop to support an end of a tubular member, comprising:
 a collapsible member configured to operate between an open position and a closed position.   
   
   
       36 . The end stop of  claim 35 , wherein the collapsible member is configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction and resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction. 
   
   
       37 . The end stop of  claim 35 , further comprising at least one guide member. 
   
   
       38 . The end stop of  claim 35 , further comprising a position adjustment mechanism, the position adjustment mechanism configured to displace the end stop. 
   
   
       39 . A method to assemble a first tubular with a second tubular, the method comprising:
 traversing the second tubular across an end stop in a first direction;   collapsing a collapsible member of the end stop with the second tubular in the first direction; and   engaging the collapsible member to stop the second tubular from passing the end stop in a second direction.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 securing the first tubular with a drilling rig;   grasping a second end of the second tubular with an elevator;   raising the second tubular above the first tubular with the elevator; and   making-up a threaded connection between the first and the second tubulars.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising moving the second tubular with a positioning system of the end stop. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising guiding the second tubular across the collapsible member with at least one guide member.