Portable drill pipe handling apparatus for use with oil and gas well drilling rigs

Abstract

A pipe handling apparatus transfers successive lengths of drill pipe that are stored in a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack, to an elevated position on the rig deck of an oil and gas well drill rig. An elongated frame includes a base section with a folding section that can be inclined. Both the base and folding sections provide toothed racks. A trestle section travels from the base section toward the inclined section. Pinion gears at opposed end portions of the trestle section engage the toothed racks of the base and folding sections. The trestle section gradually increases in inclination as its front end portion travels toward and up hoisting rails of the inclined folding section. While the rear end of the trestle section remains on the base section, the front end portion of the trestle section climbs the toothed racks of the inclined rails.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 956,815, filed 20 Aug. 2007, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicableREFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”[0003]Not applicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to oil and gas well drilling and to an apparatus for handling pipe that is used during oil and gas well drilling (including geothermal and / or mineral drilling). More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved pipe handling apparatus for transferring successive lengths of drill pipe from a pipe rack to the deck of a drilling rig, wherein a moving section of the apparatus lifts pipe upwardly along an inclined path with a trestle that is driven to travel upon a base or supporting frame, the trestle gradually increasing in inclination as it moves between a low...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is an improved drill pipe conveyor that can transfer drill pipes from a horizontal position on a pipe rack to an elevated position on the rig deck of an oil and gas well drill rig. The apparatus includes a frame with a base section and a folding section that can be inclined, and a trestle section that travels from the base section to the inclined section. The trestle section has pinion gears that engage the toothed racks of the base and folding sections, and a trough that cradles a section of drill pipe. The apparatus can elevate the drill pipe to a generally horizontal position for better positioning by a hydraulically powered scissor lifting arrangement. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more efficient and safe way to transfer drill pipes in oil and gas well drill rigs."

Problems solved by technology

Many drillers face the problem of transferring drill pipe from the pipe rack to the elevated rig deck.

One of the problems with the transportation of drill pipe is that of maintaining a proper orientation of the section of the drill pipe relative to the rig floor, especially when it is about to be either removed from the pipe transportation unit to the rig floor or transferred from the rig floor back to the pipe transportation unit.

Another problem with the transportation of pipe racks to the drill floor is that the pipe is typically stacked in layers.

The truck mounted units are more diversified and portable, but take up more space because of the typically large truck portion of the apparatus.

Images