Top drive powered differential speed rotation system and method

Abstract

Certain embodiments include a system having a first grip configured to couple to a first tubular, a second grip configured to couple to a second tubular, where the first and second tubulars are connected by a threaded connection, and a gear assembly coupling the first and second grips, wherein the gear assembly has a speed ratio greater than 1.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first clamping mechanism configured to couple to a first tubular, wherein the first clamping mechanism comprises a first opening extending from a first outer circumference of the first clamping mechanism to a first central passage of the first clamping mechanism;   a second clamping mechanism configured to couple to a second tubular,   wherein the second clamping mechanism comprises a second opening extending from a second outer circumference of the second clamping mechanism to a second central passage of the second clamping mechanism; and   a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second clamping mechanism, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gear assembly having a speed ratio greater than 1.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gear assembly comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the first clamping mechanism is configured to drive the top portion, the top portion is configured to drive the bottom portion, and the bottom portion is configured to drive the second clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion comprises a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a third sprocket, and a first chain drivingly engaged with the first, second, and third sprockets, the bottom portion comprises a fourth sprocket, a fifth sprocket, and a second chain drivingly engaged with the fourth and fifth sprockets, and the first and fourth sprockets are rotationally fixed to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first clamping mechanism comprises a first open mouth sprocket, the second clamping mechanism comprises a second open mouth sprocket, the first chain is drivingly engaged with the first open mouth sprocket, and the second chain is drivingly engaged with the second open mouth sprocket. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping mechanism comprises a first plurality of hydraulic cylinders configured to be actuated radially inward toward the first central passage, and the second clamping mechanism comprises a second plurality of hydraulic cylinders configured to be actuated radially inward toward the second central passage. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping mechanism comprises a first plurality of open mouth sprockets rotationally fixed to one another, the second clamping mechanism comprises a second plurality of open mouth sprockets rotationally fixed to one another, each open mouth sprocket of the first plurality of open mouth sprockets comprises the first opening, and each open mouth sprocket of the second plurality of open mouth sprockets comprises the second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a first open mouth sprocket of the first plurality of open mouth sprockets comprises a first latch pivotably coupled to the first open mouth sprocket of the first plurality of open mouth sprockets, wherein the first latch is configured to selectively enclose the first opening, wherein a second open mouth sprocket of the second plurality of open mouth sprockets comprises a second latch pivotably coupled to the second open mouth sprocket of the second plurality of open mouth sprockets, wherein the second latch is configured to selectively enclose the second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first latch comprises a first toothed portion comprising first teeth configured to radially align with second teeth of the respective open mouth sprocket of the first plurality of open mouth sprockets, and the second latch comprises a second toothed portion comprising third teeth configured to radially align with fourth teeth of the respective open mouth sprocket of the second plurality of open mouth sprockets. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising the first tubular, the second tubular, and a top drive configured to drive rotation of the first tubular in a clockwise direction. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 radially receiving a first tubular and a second tubular with a joint rotation system;   rotating the first tubular at a first angular velocity in a radial direction with a top drive such that a first clamping mechanism of the joint rotation system coupled to the first tubular is rotated;   rotating a first sprocket of the joint rotation system, the first sprocket engaged with the first clamping mechanism and configured to rotate as a result of rotating of the first clamping mechanism;   rotating a second sprocket of the joint rotation system, the second sprocket fixedly coupled with the first sprocket and configured to rotate as a result of rotating of the first sprocket;   rotating a second clamping mechanism of the joint rotation system, the second clamping mechanism engaged with the second sprocket and configured to rotate as a result of rotating the second sprocket; and   rotating the second tubular at a second angular velocity in the radial direction, the second angular velocity being different from the first angular velocity, wherein the second tubular is rotated by the second clamping mechanism of the joint rotation system via coupling of the second clamping mechanism with the second tubular.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising driving rotation of the first sprocket with a first chain drivingly engaged with the first sprocket and a first open mouth sprocket of the first clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising driving rotation of the second clamping mechanism with a second chain drivingly engaged with the second sprocket and a second open mouth sprocket of the second clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising adjusting a tension of the first chain by adjusting a position of a third sprocket drivingly engaged with the first sprocket and the first open mouth sprocket of the first clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising enclosing an opening of the first open mouth sprocket with a pivotable latch coupled to the first open mouth sprocket, wherein the opening extends from an outer circumference of the first open mouth sprocket to a central passage of the first open mouth sprocket, and wherein the pivotable latch comprises first teeth configured to circumferentially align with second teeth of the first open mouth sprocket. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising gripping the first tubular with a first plurality of hydraulic cylinders of the first clamping mechanism, and gripping the second tubular with a second plurality of hydraulic cylinders of the second clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a joint rotation system, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a first clamping mechanism configured to clamp to a first pipe, wherein the first clamping mechanism comprises a first open mouth sprocket; 
 a second clamping mechanism configured to clamp to a second pipe, wherein the second clamping mechanism comprises a second open mouth sprocket; 
 a first chain-driven sprocket configured to be driven by rotation of the first clamping mechanism; and 
 a second chain-driven sprocket fixed to the first chain-driven sprocket, wherein a speed ratio of the first and second chain-driven sprockets is greater than one, and the second chain-driven sprocket is configured to drive rotation of the second clamping mechanism, wherein the housing supports the first clamping mechanism, the second clamping mechanism, the first chain-driven sprocket, and the second-chain driven sprocket. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a top drive configured to drive rotation of the first pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the joint rotation system comprises a first chain drivingly engaged with the first open mouth sprocket and the first chain-driven sprocket, wherein the first chain is engaged with at least 60 degrees of a circumference of the first open mouth sprocket. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first open mouth sprocket comprises an opening extending from an outer circumference of the first open mouth sprocket to a central passage of the first open mouth sprocket, and the first open mouth sprocket comprises a pivotable latch configured to enclose the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the outer circumference of the first open mouth sprocket comprises a first plurality of teeth, the pivotable latch comprises a second plurality of teeth, and the first and second pluralities of teeth are circumferentially aligned when the pivotably latch is in a closed position.