Pipe handling device, method and system

1. A pipe handling device for mounting onto a pipe engaging apparatus, the pipe engaging apparatus including a main body and a pipe gripping mechanism to grip a pipe for rotational and axial movement thereof and being connectable to a top drive, the pipe handling device comprising: a link arm having a first end pivotally connected to the pipe engaging apparatus and an outboard end pivotally connectable to a pipe elevator segment, the link arm being sized to present a pipe lifted by the pipe elevator segment into a position to be gripped by the pipe engaging apparatus.

2. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a drive system to drive the link arm about its pivotal connection on the pipe engaging apparatus.

3. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the pipe elevator segment is remotely actuable to open and close.

4. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is pivotally connected to a bracket on the pipe engaging apparatus, the bracket including a channel key.

5. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is pivotally mounted on an axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus.

6. The pipe handling device of claim 5 further comprising a second link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to the pipe engaging apparatus and an outboard end pivotally connectable to the pipe elevator segment, the second link arm being pivotally mounted on a second axle supported on the pipe engaging apparatus and wherein the axles are spaced apart and axially aligned.

7. The pipe handling device of claim 6 wherein the outboard ends are mounted to remain substantially equidistant from the pipe gripping mechanism.

8. The pipe handling device of claim 5 further comprising a drive system including a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm about the axle, the hydraulic cylinder connected between the link arm and a support offset horizontally from a vertical plane aligned with the long axis of the axle shaft.

9. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is laterally stabilized to rotate substantially in a plane.

10. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a connection to an elevator control mechanism.

11. The pipe handling device of claim 1 further comprising a drive system including a hydraulic cylinder to drive the link arm about its pivotal connection on the pipe engaging apparatus, the hydraulic cylinder selected to move the link arm in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal connection.

12. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is fitted for anti-rotation relative to the rotational movement applied by the pipe gripping mechanism to a pipe gripped thereby.

13. The pipe handling device of claim 1 wherein the link arm is pivotally connected to a bracket on the pipe engaging apparatus, the bracket fitting to an anti-rotation bracket extending from the top drive.

14. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow and a link arm on the pipe engaging apparatus and capable of pivoting relative to the pipe engaging apparatus, the method comprising: using the link arm to pick up a pipe from a pipe supply, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arm, positioning a lower end of the pipe onto a joint positioned in a rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidably holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

15. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

16. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 further comprising driving the link arm in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

17. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 further comprising driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.

18. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 17 wherein during the step of driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, the link arm is fitted for anti-rotation relative to any rotational drive of the pipe engaging apparatus.

19. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 , wherein the pipe in the pipe supply is substantially angled from vertical.

20. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 , wherein the pipe for pick up is positioned on the V-door.

21. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 14 , wherein the pipe is a casing section.

22. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow to define a main axis of the rig, the method comprising: providing a link arm mounted by a pivotal connection to move with the top drive, the link arm driven to pivot about its pivotal connection through a plane of rotation at least between a lowered position and a raised position and substantially stabilized when in the lowered position against moving out of the plane of rotation, using the link arm to pick up a pipe from a pipe supply, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arm, positioning a lower end of the pipe section onto a joint positioned in a rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidably holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

23. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 22 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while lowering the top drive.

24. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 22 further comprising driving the link arm in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

25. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 22 further comprising driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.

26. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 25 wherein during the step of driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, the link arm is fitted for anti-rotation relative to any rotational drive of the pipe engaging apparatus.

27. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a V-door, a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow and a link arm on the pipe engaging apparatus and capable of pivoting relative to the pipe engaging apparatus, the method comprising: using the link arm to pick up a pipe from the V-door, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arm, positioning a lower end of the pipe onto a joint positioned in a rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidabJy holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and, lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

28. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 27 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while lowering the top drive until the upper portion of the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

29. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 27 further comprising driving the link arm in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

30. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 27 further comprising driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.

31. A method for handling pipe in a rig, the rig including a top drive with a pipe engaging apparatus secured therebelow and a link arm on the pipe engaging apparatus and capable of pivoting relative to the pipe engaging apparatus, the method comprising: using the link arm to pick up a pipe from a pipe supply, hoisting the top drive in the rig such that the pipe is rotated to a substantially vertical position while remaining engaged by the link arm, positioning a lower end of the pipe onto a joint positioned in a rotary table such that the pipe is supported thereby, slidably holding an upper portion of the pipe with the link arm and, thereafter, moving the top drive until the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus.

32. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 31 further comprising substantially stabilizing the link arm against lateral movement while moving the top drive.

33. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 31 further comprising driving the link arm in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction to align the upper portion of the pipe with the pipe engaging apparatus.

34. The method for handling pipe in a rig as in claim 31 , wherein after moving the top drive until the pipe is engaged by the pipe engaging apparatus, the method further comprises driving the pipe to connect it to the joint, lowering the pipe until it is supported in the rotary table and disengaging the pipe engaging apparatus from the pipe.