Casing running tool

Abstract

A device is taught for gripping casing joints comprising one or more first cylinders and one or more second cylinders actuated by a singular hydraulic system. A second device is taught comprising a gripping system, said gripping system comprising one or more slips cammed against one or more inclined recesses when the gripping system is rotated to maintain gripping engagement of the casing. A third device is taught comprising a gripping system, said gripping system comprising one or more slips received into one or more inclined recesses. A fourth device is taught comprising one or more dies supported on one or more said slips by means of mating load transfer profiles. A fifth device is taught comprising a tubular guide means. A sixth device is taught comprising an integral fluid compensator chamber. A seventh device is taught comprising a hydraulic swivel comprising one or more sealing means having predictable seal fluid leak rates.

1 . A device for gripping casing joints for making up or breaking out casing strings comprising one or more hydraulic cylinders comprising:
 a) one or more first cylinders to actuate gripping and releasing of casing joints; and   b) one or more second cylinders, retractable for maintenance and replacement of gripping elements of the device,   
       wherein said one or more hydraulic cylinders are actuated by a singular hydraulic system. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the singular hydraulic system comprises:
 a) one or more operation valves to control fluid flow to extend and retract the one or more first cylinders and to maintain the one or more second cylinders in an extended position during casing makeup and break out; and   b) one or more maintenance valves, openable to supply fluid to retract the one or more second cylinders.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first cylinders are long stroke cylinders and the one or more second cylinders are short stroke cylinders. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more first cylinders are arranged in series with the one or more second cylinders. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more first cylinders are located axially below the one or more second cylinders. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more first cylinders is arranged in a pair with each of the one or more second cylinders. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising three pairs of a first cylinder and a second cylinder in series. 
     
     
         8 . A device for gripping casing joints for making up or breaking out casing strings comprising a gripping system, said gripping system comprising one or more slips cammed against one or more inclined recesses when the gripping system is rotated to enhance gripping engagement of the casing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more inclined recesses capture at least a portion of the one or more slips. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein at least an axial portion of said one or more inclined recesses surrounds greater than 180 degrees of the one or more slips. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more slips have a smaller cross section than said one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the gripping system serves to rotate a front face of the one or more slips and to cam a rear face of the one or more slips against the one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein one or more recesses have a cross sectional geometry selected from the group consisting of partial circles, partial rectangles, partial squares, partial ovals, partial rhomboids and partial triangles. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more inclined recesses have a part cylindrical geometry and at least a portion of the one or more slips have a corresponding cylindrical geometry. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more inclined recesses are housed in a seat. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the seat has geometry selected from conical and cylindrical. 
     
     
         17 . The devices of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more inclined recesses are uniformly spaced around the seat. 
     
     
         18 . A device for gripping casing joints for making up or breaking out casing strings comprising a gripping system, said gripping system comprising one or more slips received into one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more slips are captured by the one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more recesses comprise a cross sectional geometry for at least a portion of the axial length thereof that surrounds greater than 180 degrees of the one or more slips. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more slips have a smaller cross section than said one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein rotation of the gripping system serves to rotate a front face of the one or more slips and to force a rear face of the one or more slips against the one or more inclined recesses. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein one or more recesses have a cross sectional geometry selected from the group consisting of partial circles, partial rectangles, partial squares, partial ovals, partial rhomboids and partial triangles. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more inclined recesses have a part cylindrical geometry and at least a portion of the one or more slips have a corresponding cylindrical geometry. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the axial length of the inclined recess has a cross sectional geometry that is more than a semi-circle. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more inclined recesses are housed in a seat. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the seat has geometry selected from conical and cylindrical. 
     
     
         28 . The devices of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more inclined recesses are uniformly spaced around the seat. 
     
     
         29 . A device for gripping casing joints for making up or breaking out casing strings, said device comprising one or more dies supported on one or more slips by means of mating axial load transfer profiles formed on said slips and on each of said dies. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the mating axial load transfer profile comprises a tongue and groove profile. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the tongue and groove profile comprises one or more tongues formed on said slip and one or more grooves formed on each of said dies. 
     
     
         32 . A device for gripping casing joints for making up or breaking out casing strings, said device comprising a tubular guide extending from a lower end of the device to receive and center the casing joint into a central bore of the device. 
     
     
         33 . A device for making up or breaking out casing strings comprising an integral fluid compensator chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the integral fluid compensator chamber is defined by one or more fixed walls and one or more movable walls. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the integral fluid compensator chamber is expandable and contractible to compensate for axial movement during casing make up or casing break out. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the integral fluid compensator chamber is a pneumatic compensator chamber. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the integral fluid compensator chamber is a hydraulic compensator chamber. 
     
     
         38 . A device for making up or breaking out casing strings comprising a hydraulic swivel to house fluids for hydraulic actuation of the device, wherein said hydraulic swivel comprises one or more sealing means having predictable and controllable seal fluid leak rates.