Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock
View Patent ↗Apparatus and methods used to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods may be used for running in wellbore components or for a drill string.
1. A method of connecting casing sections by using a top drive, comprising:
closing a first member around a first casing section;
gripping and supporting a weight of a second casing section with the top drive;
rotating the second casing section with the top drive to join the second casing section to the first casing section to form a joint and a casing string;
sending data from the top drive to a controller, wherein the controller is preprogrammed with an acceptable torque value of the joint;
stopping rotation of the second casing section based on the acceptable torque value of the joint;
supporting a weight of the casing string with the top drive; and
opening the first member.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
lowering the casing string through the first member.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
closing the first member around the casing string.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
disengaging the top drive from the casing string.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further preprogrammed with an acceptable rotation value.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acceptable torque value is a value limit.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a spider.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending comprises transmitting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is indicative of a torque value of the joint.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top drive comprises at least one adapter for gripping a casing.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises an elevator.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises a spear.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises a torque head.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises movable slips.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises an elevator and a gripping member having movable slips.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top drive comprises a torque sub.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top drive comprises a rotation counter.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping and supporting comprises gripping and supporting with movable slips.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a data storage device.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one device connected to it.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a display unit.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a clock, a cache, an input control unit and an input/output circuit.
23. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing at least a portion of the data with the acceptable torque value using the controller.
24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising initiating remedial action using the controller.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the initiating comprises sending a signal to an operator.
26. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preprogramming the controller with an acceptable axial load value of the joint; and
comparing at least a portion of the data with the acceptable axial value using the controller.
27. A system for connecting casing sections comprising:
a top drive comprising at least one adapter for gripping a casing section;
a processing unit for receiving data indicative of a torque value of a casing connection between the casing section and a casing string; and
an user interface for conveying the value of the casing connection to an operator.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit is programmable.
29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit comprises a data storage device.
30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit comprises a memory.
31. The system of claim 27 wherein the user interface comprises a display unit.
32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit contains at least one acceptable torque value of the casing connection.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the processing unit further comprises a comparator for comparing the data with the at least one acceptable torque value.
34. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive data indicative of a rotation value.
35. The system of claim 27 , wherein the adapter comprises movable slips.
36. The system of claim 27 , wherein the adapter comprises an elevator.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the elevator is suspended by at least one movable bail.
38. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a torque sub for measuring the torque value.
39. The system of claim 38 , further comprising a rotation counter for measuring a rotation value.
40. The system of claim 39 , further comprising a compensator for compensating movement of the casing section during connection.
41. The system of claim 40 , further comprising a sensor for measuring an axial load on the compensator.
42. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a rotation counter for measuring a rotation value.
43. The system of claim 42 , further comprising a compensator for compensating movement of the casing section during connection.
44. The system of claim 43 , further comprising a sensor for measuring an axial load of the casing connection.
45. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive an axial load value of the casing connection.
46. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a spider for retaining the casing string.
47. The system of claim 27 , wherein the adapter comprises a gripping member having movable slips.
48. The system of claim 47 , further comprising an elevator.
49. The system of claim 48 , further comprising a torque sub operatively coupled to the gripping member.
50. The system of claim 49 , wherein the torque sub is adapted to collect data relating to the casing connection.
51. The system of claim 50 , wherein the gripping member engages an interior surface of the casing section.
52. The system of claim 50 , wherein the gripping member engages an exterior surface of the casing section.
53. The system of claim 50 , wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive data indicative of a rotation value.
54. A method of connecting casing sections, comprising:
closing a spider around a first casing;
engaging a second casing with a top drive having a casing gripping apparatus connected thereto;
moving the second casing to a well center;
threading the second casing to the first casing to form a joint and a casing string;
sending data from the top drive to a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is preprogrammed with at least one acceptable torque value of the joint;
opening the spider;
lowering the casing string through the spider;
closing the spider around the casing string; and
disengaging the top drive from the casing string.
55. The method of claim 54 , wherein the top drive further comprises an elevator operatively coupled thereto.
56. The method of claim 55 , wherein moving the second casing comprises:
moving with the second casing using the elevator.
57. The method of claim 54 , further comprising raising the top drive and thereby raising the casing string.
58. The method of claim 54 , further comprising ensuring that a threaded connection has been made.
59. A method of connecting casing sections, comprising:
closing a first member around a first casing;
engaging a second casing with a second member;
moving the second casing to a well center;
threading the second casing to the first casing to form a joint and a casing string;
sending data from the second member to a controller, wherein the controller is preprogrammed with an acceptable torque value of the joint;
opening the first member;
lowering the casing string through the first member;
closing the first member around the casing string; and
disengaging the second member from the casing string.
60. The method of claim 59 , wherein the controller is further preprogrammed with an acceptable rotation value.
61. The method of claim 60 , wherein the acceptable torque and rotation values are value limits.
62. The method of claim 59 , wherein the first member comprises a spider.
63. The method of claim 59 , wherein sending comprises transmitting.
64. The method of claim 59 , wherein the data is indicative of at least one value of the joint.
65. The method of claim 64 , wherein the at least one value is torque.
66. The method of claim 59 , wherein the second member comprises a top drive comprising at least one adapter for gripping a casing.
67. The method of claim 66 , wherein the top drive comprises a torque sub.
68. The method of claim 66 , wherein the adapter comprises an elevator.
69. The method of claim 66 , wherein the adapter comprises a spear.
70. The method of claim 66 , wherein the adapter comprises a torque head.
71. The method of claim 66 , wherein the adapter comprises movable slips.
72. The method of claim 66 , wherein the adapter comprises an elevator and a gripping member having movable slips.
73. The method of claim 66 , wherein the top drive comprises a rotation counter.
74. The method of claim 59 , wherein engaging comprises gripping with movable slips.
75. The method of claim 59 , wherein the controller includes a data storage device.
76. The method of claim 59 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one device connected to it.
77. The method of claim 59 , wherein the controller includes a display unit.
78. The method of claim 59 , wherein the controller includes a clock, a cache, an input control unit and an input/output circuit.
79. The method of claim 59 , further comprising comparing at least a portion of the data with the acceptable torque value using the controller.
80. The method of claim 79 , further comprising initiating remedial action using the controller.
81. The method of claim 80 , wherein the initiating comprises sending a signal to an operator.