Exit Side Tool For Makeup And Breakout Of Pipe

Abstract

A tool for making up and breaking out a drill string at an exit side of a bore. The tool includes a fixed wrench assembly and a moveable wrench assembly for torqueing a pipe joint. The tool also includes a drill pipe retainer assembly that is mounted indirectly of the frame and is adapted to receive and release a pipe section. A roller assembly is provided at a special hydraulically-adjustable table to allow low-torque unthreading and threading of pipe segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the makeup and breakout of drill pipe comprising:
 a tool frame;   a pair of retainers supported on the frame, the pair of retainers defining a retainer axis;   a first wrench supported on the frame; and   a second wrench supported on the frame and independently movable relative to the first wrench;   wherein the first and second wrench define a wrench axis which is not collinear to the retainer axis.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a spinner assembly comprising:
 a spinner frame; 
 a plurality of spinners supported on the spinner frame; 
 a tray proximate the plurality of spinners; 
 a means for tilting the tray and plurality of spinners relative to the frame. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the spinner assembly further comprises a wrench storage support. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of spinners are movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the tray. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of spinners are movable due to operation of a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tool frame is rotatably and tiltably connected to a construction machine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the tool frame is rotated relative to the construction machine by a cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . A tool for making up and breaking out a pipe joint on the exit side of a bore and attachable to a construction machine, said tool comprising:
 a frame comprising a first end and a second end and pivotable relative to the construction machines;   a first wrench assembly and a second wrench assembly mounted proximate the first end of the frame, each adapted to grip a pipe section on opposing sides of a pipe joint distal from an entry side of the bore, the first wrench assembly and second wrench assembly defining a wrench axis;   wherein the second wrench assembly is moveable with respect to the first wrench assembly; and   a retainer assembly supported at the second end of the frame and adapted to hold a pipe section, the retainer assembly defining a retainer axis;   wherein the wrench axis and retainer axis are not collinear.   
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the frame is pivoted by a cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the wrench axis and retainer axis are parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the frame is pivotable about three pivot axes relative to the construction machines. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the retainer assembly comprises movable tines and fixed tines. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the first wrench assembly comprises two movable jaws. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13  wherein the first wrench assembly further comprises one stationary jaw. 
     
     
         15 . A method for breakout of pipe sections from a drill string comprising multiple pipe joints using a tool comprising a first wrench, a second wrench, and a retainer assembly, the method comprising:
 pushing the drill string through the ground with a drill rig located at an entry side of a borehole until a pipe section extends from the ground at an exit side of the borehole;   providing a spinner assembly proximate the exit side of the borehole, the spinner assembly comprising a spinner and a tray;   aligning the spinner assembly to the pipe section;   gripping a pipe joint between the pipe section and an adjacent pipe section with the first wrench and the second wrench such that the first wrench is located on a first side of the pipe joint and the second wrench is located on a second side of the pipe joint;   rotating the second wrench relative to the first wrench to break the at least one pipe section from adjacent pipe section;   releasing the at least one pipe section;   spinning the at least one pipe section with the spinner;   grasping the at least one pipe section with the retainer assembly; and   removing the at least one pipe section from the tray.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein gripping the pipe joint with the first wrench comprises extending two jaws to contact the first side of the pipe joint 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising moving the spinner into an engaged position using a linear actuator prior to spinning the at least one pipe section with the spinner. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 adding a new pipe section to the tray with the retainer assembly; 
 spinning the at least one new pipe section onto the adjacent pipe section; 
 gripping the adjacent pipe section with the first wrench and the new pipe section with the second wrench such that the first wrench is located on a first side of a new pipe joint and the second wrench is located on a second side of the new pipe joint; and 
 rotating the second wrench relative to the first wrench to provide a torqued-up connection between the adjacent pipe section and the new pipe section. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the new pipe section is connected to a backreamer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising backreaming the borehole.