Tubular Grip Interlock System

Abstract

A tubular grip interlock system for ensuring that a tubular string is gripped by at least one of a first tubular gripping device and a second tubular gripping device includes a console having a panel forming a track having a first leg and a second leg; a first actuator operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; a second actuator operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; and a single control device movable along the track, the single control device operationally connected to the first actuator and operationally disconnected from the second actuator when the single control device is disposed along the first leg and wherein the single control device is operationally disconnected from the first actuator and operationally connected to the second actuator when the single control device is disposed in the second leg.

1 . A tubular grip interlock system, the system comprising:
 a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position;   a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position; and   an interlock gate preventing manual operation of the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device simultaneously.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interlock gate comprises:
 a track defining a first leg and a second leg; and   a single interlock device operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device, the single interlock device moveable along the track; wherein movement of the single interlock device along the first leg operates the first tubular gripping device between its open and closed position and wherein movement of the single interlock device along the second leg operates the second tubular gripping device between its open and closed position.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the track comprises a cross-over leg separating the first and the second leg, wherein when the single interlock device is disposed at the cross-over leg the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are in the closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device;   a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device;   a first actuator operationally connected to the first valve, the first actuator moveable along an operational path between the open position and the closed position of the first tubular gripping device; and   a second actuator operationally connected to the second valve, the second actuator moveable along an operational path between the open and the closed position of the second tubular gripping device.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the interlock gate comprises a single interlock device that is selectively connectable to the first actuator and the second actuator. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises:
 a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device;   a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device;   a track having a first leg and a second leg; and   a single interlock device moveable along the track, wherein the interlock device is operationally connected to the first valve and operationally disconnected from the second valve when the single interlock device is in the first leg and the interlock device is operationally disconnected from the first valve and operationally connected to the second valve when the interlock device is in the second leg.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the track further comprises a cross-over leg, wherein the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are actuated to their respective closed positions when the interlock control device is disposed along the cross-over leg. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the interlock gate further comprises a member selectively positioned to block movement of the interlock device along the track. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the member is actuated to a position in the track in response to a tubular grip assurance signal. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first actuator operationally connected to the first valve, the first actuator moveable along an operational path between the open position and the closed position of the first tubular gripping device; and   a second actuator operationally connected to the second valve, the second actuator moveable along an operational path between the open and the closed position of the second tubular gripping device.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are positioned inside of the operational paths of the respective first actuator and the second actuator; and
 the single interlock device is operationally connected to the first valve via the first actuator and the single interlock device is operationally connected to the second valve via the second actuator.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the interlock gate further comprises a member selectively positioned to block movement of the interlock device between a closed position and an open position. 
   
   
       13 . A tubular grip interlock system for ensuring that a tubular string is gripped by at least one of a first tubular gripping device and a second tubular gripping device, the system comprising:
 a console having a panel providing a track having a first leg and a second leg;   a first actuator operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position;   a second actuator operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position; and   a single control device movable along the track, the single control device operationally connected to the first actuator and operationally disconnected from the second actuator when the single control device is disposed along the first leg and wherein the single control device is operationally disconnected from the first actuator and operationally connected to the second actuator when the single control device is disposed in the second leg.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch; and
 the second actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first control valve operationally connecting the first actuator to the first tubular gripping device; and   a second control valve operationally connecting the second actuator to the second tubular gripping device.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch; and
 the second actuator comprises one selected from a lever, a button, or an electric switch.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a member selectively actuated to a blocking position relative to the track, wherein the single control device is blocked from passing the member in the blocking position. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the member is operationally connected to a tubular grip assurance system, the member removed from the blocking position in response to a signal from the tubular grip assurance system. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the track includes cross-over leg, wherein the first tubular gripping device and the second tubular gripping device are in the closed positioned when the single control device disposed in the cross-over leg. 
   
   
       20 . A method for running tubular strings, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position and a second tubular gripping device operable between an open and a closed position;   providing a single control device to actuate the first and the second tubular gripping devices from a control console, the single control device moveable along a track comprising a first leg and a second leg;   moving the single control device along the first leg to actuate the first tubular gripping device between the open and the closed position when the second tubular gripping device is in the closed position; and   moving the single control device along the second leg to actuate the second tubular gripping device between the open and closed position when the first tubular gripping device is in the closed position.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the single control device is operationally connected to the first tubular gripping device and operationally disconnected from the second tubular gripping device when the single control device is in the first leg. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of blocking movement of the single control device to operate the first tubular gripping device to the open position in response to the second tubular gripping device being in the closed position. 
   
   
       23 . A method for maintaining a grip on a tubular string in wellbore tubular running operations with at least one of a first or a second tubular gripping device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first valve operating the first tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position and a second valve operating the second tubular gripping device between an open and a closed position;   actuating the first valve and the second valve with a single interlock device; and   preventing simultaneous operational connection of the single interlock device to the first valve and the second valve.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of requiring actuation of the first valve to the closed position before disconnecting the single interlock device from the first valve. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of limiting movement of the single interlock device in response to one of the first tubular gripping member or the second tubular gripping member being in the open position.