Swivel joint system and method

Abstract

A system includes a top drive system, a swivel joint system coupled to the top drive at a position axially below the top drive system, wherein the swivel joint system comprises a first subunit and a second subunit rotatably coupled together, wherein the first sub unit is coupled to the top drive system, and wherein the swivel joint system is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, and a tubular gripping system coupled to the second subunit of the swivel joint system.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a top drive system;   a swivel joint system coupled to the top drive at a position axially below the top drive system, wherein the swivel joint system comprises a first subunit and a second subunit rotatably coupled together, wherein the first sub unit is coupled to the top drive system, and wherein the swivel joint system is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position; and   a tubular gripping system coupled to the second subunit of the swivel joint system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first subunit comprises a first central passage and the second subunit comprises a second central passage. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first central passage of the first subunit and the second central passage of the second subunit are axially aligned when the swivel joint system is in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a tubular engaging surface of the tubular gripping system is directed toward a vertical axis of a wellbore when the swivel joint system is in the first position, and wherein the tubular engaging surface of the tubular gripping system is directed toward a centerline of a tubular element on a catwalk system when the swivel joint system is in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the swivel joint system comprises a plug valve configured to separate the second central passage from the first central passage when the swivel joint system is in the second position, wherein the plug valve is rotatably coupled within a radial passage of the second subunit, and wherein the radial passage of the second subunit extends radially from the second central passage of the second subunit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , comprising an actuator coupled to the plug valve configured to rotate the plug valve within the radial passage. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the swivel joint system comprises a lock sleeve disposed within the first central passage, wherein the lock sleeve is configured to actuate axially downward when the swivel joint system is in the first position such that an axial bottom of the lock sleeve extends into the second central passage to lock the swivel joint system in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the swivel joint system comprises a mud saver valve, wherein the mud saver valve is disposed within the first central passage and the lock sleeve such that a first axial top of the mud saver valve extends axially above a second axial top of the lock sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an actuator coupled to the swivel joint system, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot the swivel joint system between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . A swivel joint system, comprising:
 a first subunit and a second subunit rotatably coupled together, wherein the first subunit comprises a first central passage and the second subunit comprises a second central passage, wherein the second subunit is configured to rotate within an annulus of the first subunit such that the second central passage moves between a first position and a second position relative to a central axis of the swivel joint system, and wherein the first central passage is aligned with the second central passage when the swivel joint system is in the first position;   an actuator coupled to the first subunit and the second subunit, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot the swivel joint system between the first position and the second position; and   a control system communicatively coupled to the actuator, wherein the control system is configured to control the actuator to adjust a pivot angle of the swivel joint system, wherein the control system comprises an encoder configured to measure an angular position of a top drive system coupled to the swivel joint system.   
     
     
         11 . The swivel joint system of  claim 10 , wherein the encoder is coupled to the top drive system. 
     
     
         12 . The swivel joint system of  claim 10 , wherein the encoder comprises a first sensor configured to measure the pivot angle of the swivel joint system, wherein the control system is configured to control the actuator based at least in part on the measured pivot angle from the first sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The swivel joint system of  claim 10 , comprising a lock sleeve disposed within the first central passage and configured to translate axially such that an axial bottom of the lock sleeve extends into the second central passage to lock the swivel joint system in the first position, wherein the control system comprises a sensor configured to measure an axial position of the lock sleeve, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the axial position of the lock sleeve based at least in part on the measured axial position of the lock sleeve from the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The swivel joint system of  claim 10 , comprising an axial seal disposed within the first central passage and configured to actuate axially when the swivel joint system is in the second position to separate the second central passage from the first central passage, wherein the control system comprises a third sensor configured to measure an axial position of the axial seal, and wherein the control system is configured to control the axial position of the axial seal based at least in part on the measured axial position of the axial seal from the third sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The swivel joint system of  claim 10 , wherein the pivot angle is an angle between the first central passage and the second central passage when the second subunit is pivoted from the central axis of the swivel joint system, wherein the second central passage is aligned with the central axis in the first position. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a first subunit of a swivel joint system to a top drive system;   coupling a tubular gripping system to a second subunit of the swivel joint system, wherein the first subunit and the second subunit of the swivel joint system are pivotally coupled to one another, wherein a first central passage of the first subunit and a second central passage of the second subunit are aligned in a first position, and wherein the first central passage and the second central passage are crosswise in a second position;   pivoting the second subunit relative to the first subunit from the first position to the second position; and   gripping a tubular element with the tubular gripping system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising lifting the top drive system, the swivel joint system, the tubular gripping system, and the tubular element after gripping the tubular element with the tubular gripping system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising pivoting the second subunit relative to the first subunit from the second position to the first position after gripping the tubular element with the tubular gripping system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising axially translating a lock sleeve of the swivel joint system into the second central passage to block pivoting of the second subunit relative to the first subunit after pivoting the second subunit relative to the first subunit from the second position to the first position and after gripping the tubular element with the tubular gripping system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising closing a mud saver valve of the swivel joint system after pivoting the second subunit relative to the first subunit from the first position to the second position.