Tubular Gripping Die With Improved Torque and Axial Load Handling Capabilities

Abstract

A tubular gripping die is presented, the die comprising one or more axial load teeth and one or more torqueing teeth. A method of manufacturing a tubular gripping die is also presented. The method includes forming one or more axial load teeth extending from a base of the die; forming one or more torqueing teeth extending from the base of the die; and defining a gripping front face of the die, at least a portion of the gripping front face having a concave curvature to align with an outside diameter of the tubular to be gripped. The portion of the gripping front face formed with the curvature comprises any one of said axial load teeth, said torqueing teeth or both. A method of making up a tubular string from a plurality of tubular joints is also presented. A tubular handing tool comprising one of more tubular gripping dies, each die comprising one or more axial load teeth and one or more torqueing teeth arranged thereon.

1 . A tubular gripping die, the die comprising one or more axial load teeth and one or more torqueing teeth. 
     
     
         2 . The tubular gripping die of  claim 1  wherein the one or more axial load teeth form a first section and the one or more torqueing teeth form a second section of a gripping front face, wherein at least a portion of the front face is concavely curved to align with an outside diameter of a tubular to be gripped. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular gripping die of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of concave curvature of the gripping front face corresponds to at least one of the first section or the second section. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular gripping die of  claim 3 , wherein both the first section and the second section define the concave curvature of the front face. 
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing a tubular gripping die, said method comprising the steps of:
 d) forming one or more axial load teeth extending from a base of the die;   e) forming one or more torqueing teeth extending from the base of the die; and   f) defining a gripping front face of the die, at least a portion of the gripping front face having a concave curvature to align with an outside diameter of the tubular to be gripped   
       wherein the portion of the gripping front face formed with the curvature comprises any one of said axial load teeth, said torqueing teeth or both. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the base of the die is flat and wherein the torqueing teeth extend from the base such that one or more torque teeth near an outer edge of the die extend further from the base than one or more torque teeth near a central portion of the die. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the base is flat and wherein the axial teeth extend from the base such that axial load teeth or parts of axial load teeth near an outer edge of the die extend further from the base than axial load teeth or parts of axial load teeth in a central portion of the die. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the base is formed with a concave curved orientation from which all torqueing teeth and axial teeth extend equally. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the base, the one or more torqueing teeth and the one or more axial load teeth are all formed integrally from the die body. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making up a tubular string from a plurality of tubular joints, said method comprising the steps of:
 e) gripping a tubular string comprising one or more joints of tubular at an uphole end of the tubular string with a handling tool, said handling tool comprising one or more dies, each die comprising one or more axial load teeth and one or more torqueing teeth arranged thereon,   f) threading a subsequent tubular joint into the uphole end of the tubular string;   g) preventing rotation of the tubular string by the gripping action of the one or more torqueing teeth;   h) simultaneously supporting weight of the tubular string by the gripping action of the one or more axial load teeth;   wherein the step of preventing rotation of the tubular string is performed in the absence of the use of a backup tong to grip the tubular string.   
     
     
         11 . A tubular handing tool comprising one of more tubular gripping dies, each die comprising one or more axial load teeth and one or more torqueing teeth arranged thereon.