Top feed of control lines to table-elevated spider

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is supported by a table elevated above the rig floor. Supporting the spider on an elevated table provides personnel with access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated spider and above the rig floor for applying a fastener to secure the control line to the pipe string. The control line is supplied from above the spider and is positioned by a control line guide supported on the spider or a sleeve to pass through the spider outside the path of the pipe gripping members, such as slips.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for running well pipe into a well with control lines attached to the pipe, comprising:
 a support structure for supporting a spider at a distance above a rig floor sufficient to provide an accessible work space between the support structure and the floor; 
 a spider supported by the support structure for holding a pipe string extending through the support structure and into the well, wherein the spider has a plurality of movable pipe gripping members; and 
 a control line passage through the spider and outside the path of adjacent pipe gripping members. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control line guide passage is selected from a shaped guide, a roller guide, a cable funnel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective control line sleeve extending through the passage and receiving the control line through the protective sleeve. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control line passage is formed between a control line gate and a spider door. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control line gate is hinged connected to the spider door. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control line gate is slidably receivable by the spider door. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control line guide positioned above the spider to direct control line downward into the control line passage. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for running a well pipe into a well with control lines attached to the pipe, comprising:
 securing a spider having a passage above a rig floor; 
 supplying the control line downward through the passage adjacent slips in the spider and along the pipe to a location below the spider and above the rig floor; 
 securing the control line to the well pipe below the spider; and 
 lowering the pipe and secured control line into the well. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the passage includes a protective sleeve that prevents damage to the control line passing through the sleeve. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for running well pipe into a well with control lines attached to the pipe, comprising:
 a support structure for supporting a spider at a distance above a rig floor sufficient to provide an accessible work space between the support structure and the floor; 
 a spider supported by the support structure for holding a pipe string extending through the support structure and into the well; 
 a clamp between the rig floor and the spider for securing a control line to the well pipe; and 
 one or more control lines extending from a supply source downward through a passage in the spider and to the clamp and along the pipe. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a protective sleeve extending through the passage and receiving the control line through the protective sleeve. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of inserting an axially extending pipe string and one or more control lines into a well, comprising the steps of:
 providing an elevated support structure over a floor opening on a rig floor whereby an access area is formed between the support structure and the rig floor; 
 supporting the pipe from the elevated support structure using a spider whereby the pipe extends axially through the access area and through the floor opening; 
 feeding, from a supply source, one or more control lines downward through a passage in the spider and to the pipe; and 
 lowering the pipe and the control lines through the floor opening while feeding control lines from the supply source through the passage in the spider. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , comprising the further step of adding pipe to the pipe string above the support structure. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , comprising the further step of elevating a work area of the personnel adding pipe to the string above that of a work area of the personnel securing the control lines to the pipe. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of moving a power tong away from the pipe string when the power tong is not in a working position. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the passage includes a protective sleeve that prevents damage to the control line passing through the sleeve. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control lines are fed through the passage in the spider by guides to orient the control lines with the pipe. 
     
     
       18. A system for inserting a pipe string and one or more control lines into a well, comprising:
 an elevated support floor spaced above a rig floor having a rig floor opening; 
 an access opening defined between the elevated support floor and the rig floor; 
 a spider carried by the support floor for holding a pipe string extending through the rig floor opening; 
 a pipe makeup area carried by the support floor for adding pipe to or removing pipe from the pipe string; 
 a control line supply source for supplying control line to the well; 
 a control line extending from the supply source downward through a passage in the spider and along the pipe string; and 
 a clamp securing the control line to the well pipe. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the pipe makeup area includes a power tong. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18  wherein the pipe makeup area comprises a personnel work area having tools for making up and breaking out pipe connections in the pipe string. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 18  wherein the access opening provides an area sufficiently large to permit personnel entry for manual application of a clamp and control line to the pipe string below the support floor. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 18  wherein the control line supply source comprises a reel of control line feeding the control line downward through the spider and along the pipe adjacent the access opening. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a protective sleeve extending through the passage and receiving the control line through the protective sleeve. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the control line gate is generally vertically slidably receivable in the spider door. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the protective control line sleeve comprises two circumferentially slidable members, one received within the other, and each having an elongated slot that is slidably alienable with the slot of the other member for opening the sleeve. 
     
     
       26. A method to attach a control line to a tubular member, the method comprising:
 moving the control line toward the tubular member with a control line arm;   attaching the control line to the tubular member;   lowering the tubular member with the control line attached thereto through a pipe engaging apparatus;   moving the control line away from the tubular member; and   engaging the tubular member with the pipe engaging apparatus such that the pipe engaging apparatus supports the tubular member.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
 connecting a second tubular member to the first tubular member;   disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the first tubular member;   moving the control line toward the second tubular member with the control line arm;   attaching the control line to the second tubular member;   lowering the second tubular member through the pipe engaging apparatus;   moving the control line away from the second tubular member; and   engaging the second tubular member with the pipe engaging apparatus such that the pipe engaging apparatus supports the second tubular member.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26, further comprising at least one of:
 moving the control line arm in a radial direction with respect to an axis of the pipe engaging apparatus; and   moving the control line arm in a longitudinal direction with respect to an axis of the pipe engaging apparatus.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, wherein the control line arm comprises an actuator coupled thereto, wherein the actuator is used to move the control line toward the tubular member. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26, wherein the engaging the tubular member with the pipe engaging apparatus comprises:
 moving a plurality of slip assemblies of the pipe engaging apparatus towards the tubular member such that the plurality of slip assemblies engage the tubular member.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 26, wherein a clamp is used to attach the control line to the tubular member. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 26, wherein the control line arm comprises a guide attached at an end thereof. 
     
     
       33. A method to attach a control line to a tubular member, the method comprising:
 attaching the control line to the tubular member;   lowering the tubular member with the control line attached thereto through a pipe engaging apparatus;   moving the control line into a control line passage formed within the pipe engaging apparatus;   securing the control line within the control line passage with a control line securing mechanism disposed within the control line passage; and   engaging the tubular member with the pipe engaging apparatus such that the pipe engaging apparatus supports the tubular member.   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, wherein the engaging the tubular member with the pipe engaging apparatus comprises:
 moving a plurality of slip assemblies of the pipe engaging apparatus towards the tubular member such that the plurality of slip assemblies engage the tubular member.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 34, wherein the pipe engaging apparatus comprises a tapered inner surface, wherein moving the plurality of slip assemblies comprises:
 contacting the tapered inner surface of the pipe engaging apparatus with the plurality of slip assembles.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein the pipe engaging apparatus comprises a bowl having the tapered inner surface. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
 connecting a second tubular member to the first tubular member; and   supporting the first tubular member and the second tubular member with an elevator.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:
 disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the first tubular member;   releasing the control line from the control line securing mechanism;   moving the control line out of the control line passage of the pipe engaging apparatus; and   attaching the control line to the second tubular member.   
     
     
       39. The method of claim 33, wherein the control line securing mechanism comprises one of a trap, a catch, and a drum. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 33, wherein securing the control line within the control line passage with the control line securing mechanism comprises moving the control line securing mechanism.