Mousehole Assembly for Manipulating Tubulars for Subterranean Operations

Abstract

A system for manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations includes a mousehole assembly having a cavity including a first mousehole, a second mousehole spaced apart from the first mousehole, a mechanism configured to change a position of at least one of the first mousehole and second mousehole within the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use in subterranean operations comprising:
 a mousehole assembly comprising a cavity including:
 a first mousehole; 
 a second mousehole spaced apart from the first mousehole; and 
 a mechanism configured to change a position of at least one of the first mousehole and second mousehole within the cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system for use in in subterranean operations comprising:
 a mousehole assembly having a first position and a second position, the mousehole assembly further comprising a first mousehole and a second mousehole different from each other, wherein in the first position the first mousehole defines a first central axis and in the second position the first mousehole defines a second central axis different than the first central axis.   
     
     
         3 . A system for use in subterranean operations comprising:
 a predetermined vertical axis configured to be associated with a longitudinal axis of a tubular; and   a mousehole assembly comprising at least a first mousehole and a second mousehole, wherein the mousehole assembly is configured to selectively move and align one of a first central axis of the first mousehole and the second central axis of the second mousehole with the predetermined vertical axis.   
     
     
         4 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly comprises a cavity in a rig floor and a mousehole structure comprising the first mousehole and second mousehole. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the mousehole structure is configured to be moved with the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first mousehole and the second mousehole are configured to be moved simultaneously with respect to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole is configured to translate a distance of at least about 0.1 (CL), wherein CL represents a length of the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the mousehole is configured to translate a distance of not greater than about 0.8 (CL). 
     
     
         9 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly comprises at least one actuator configured to move at least a portion of the mousehole. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator is configured to selectively move a mousehole structure comprising the first mousehole and the second mousehole from a first position to a second position within the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly is configured to have relative movement to a surface in a work zone, the relative movement including at least one of rotation, translation, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly is disposed within a work zone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly is configured to have controlled movement operated as an automated system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claims 1 ,  2  and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly comprises a cover configured to cover a portion of the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cover is configured to moved between a first position and a second position relative to a first position and second position of the mousehole assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the mousehole assembly comprises a first position wherein the first mousehole is aligned with a predetermined vertical axis and a second position wherein the first mousehole is displaced a distance from the predetermined vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein in the second position the second mousehole is aligned with the predetermined vertical axis. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein in the first position the second mousehole is displaced a distance from the predetermined vertical axis. 
     
     
         19 . The system for any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the first mousehole comprises a first sensor configured to detect a size of a tubular configured to be disposed within the first mousehole. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first mousehole is configured to adapt to tubulars of different sizes.