Elevator for Heavy Load Pipe Lifting, Pipe for Such Elevator and Pipe Handler Assembly Comprising Such Elevator

Abstract

A pipe having suspendable from an elevator in a drill tower. The pipe includes an end portion which, in operational use, is suspended from a hole of the elevator, wherein the end portion has a minimum diameter that is greater than a minimum diameter of the hole of the elevator. The end portion of the pipe includes sidewalls shaped with an engagement surface for engagement with correspondingly-shaped sidewalls of the hole. The engagement surface of the pipe includes a first part and a second part neighbouring the first part, the first part defining a frustoconical shape having a non-zero first taper angle, and the second part defining a shape having at least partially a non-zero second taper angle that is less than the first taper angle.

1 . A pipe having suspendable from an elevator in a drill tower, the pipe comprising:
 an end portion which, in operational use, is suspended from a hole of the elevator, wherein the end portion has a minimum diameter that is greater than a minimum diameter of the hole of the elevator;   wherein the end portion of the pipe comprises sidewalls shaped with an engagement surface for engagement with correspondingly-shaped sidewalls of the hole; and   wherein the engagement surface of the pipe comprises a first part and a second part neighbouring the first part, the first part defining a frustoconical shape having a non-zero first taper angle, and the second part defining a shape having at least partially a non-zero second taper angle that is less than the first taper angle.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the first taper angle is such that sidewalls make an angle with a centreline of the pipe between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe according to  claim 2 , wherein the second part of the engagement surface defines a further frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe according to  claim 3 , wherein the second taper angle is such that sidewalls at least locally make an angle with a centreline of the pipe between 14 degrees and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the engagement surface defines a thoroïde shape which transitions from the first taper angle at a side facing the first part to the second taper angle at an opposite side. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the engagement surface defines a further frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second taper angle is such that sidewalls at least locally make an angle with a centreline of the pipe between 14 degrees and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transition part in between the second part and a cylindrical middle part of the pipe. 
     
     
         9 . A pipe handler assembly comprising the pipe in accordance  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A drill tower comprising the pipe handler assembly according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         11 . A pipe handler assembly, comprising:
 the pipe of  claim 1 ; and   an elevator comprising a hole from which, in operational use, the pipe is suspended by the end portion thereof, wherein the hole comprises a minimum diameter that is smaller than the minimum diameter of the end portion of the pipe, and wherein the hole further comprises sidewalls shaped with a receiving surface for receiving the sidewalls of the end portion of the pipe: and   wherein the receiving surface of the elevator comprises a first part and a second part neighbouring the first part of the receiving surface, the first part of the receiving surface defining a frustoconical shape having a non-zero first taper angle, and the second part of the receiving surface defining a shape having at least partially a non-zero second taper angle less than the first taper angle of the receiving surface.   
     
     
         12 . The pipe handler assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the first taper angle of the receiving surface of the elevator is equal to the first taper angle of the engagement surface of the pipe, and the second taper angle of the receiving surface is equal to the second taper angle of the engagement surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method for handling a pipe using a pipe handling assembly, the method comprising:
 (a) providing an elevator of the pipe handling assembly comprising a hole hat comprises sidewalls shaped with a receiving surface; and   (b) suspending an end portion of a pipe from the hole of the elevator, the end portion comprising sidewalls shaped with an engagement surface for engagement with the sidewalls of the hole, wherein the engagement surface of the pipe comprises a first part and a second part neighbouring the first part, the first part defining a frustoconical shape having a non-zero first taper angle, and the second part defining a shape having at least partially a non-zero second taper angle that is less than the first taper angle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first taper angle of the pipe is such that sidewalls make an angle with a centreline of the pipe between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second part of the engagement surface of the pipe defines a thoroïde shape which transitions from the first taper angle at a side facing the first part to the second taper angle at an opposite side. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second part of the engagement surface of the pipe defines a further frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second taper angle of the pipe is such that sidewalls at least locally make an angle with a centreline of the pipe between 14 degrees and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the pipe comprises a transition part in between the second part and a cylindrical middle part of the pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewalls of the elevator are shaped with a receiving surface comprising a first part and a second part neighbouring the first part of the receiving surface, the first part of the receiving surface defining a frustoconical shape having a non-zero first taper angle, and the second part of the receiving surface defining a shape having at least partially a non-zero second taper angle less than the first taper angle of the receiving surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first taper angle of the receiving surface of the elevator is equal to the first taper angle of the engagement surface of the pipe, and the second taper angle of the receiving surface is equal to the second taper angle of the engagement surface.