External grip tubular running tool

1. A tubular running tool, the tubular running tool comprising:

a carrier connected to traveling block of a drilling rig;

a body having a tapered surface, the body rotationally connected to the carrier;

slips moveably disposed along the tapered surface for selectively gripping a tubular;

the slips moveable to a first engaged position with respect to the tapered surface of the body such that the slips grip the tubular at a first outer diameter thereof; and

the slips moveable to a second engaged position with respect to the tapered surface of the body such that the slips grip a second tubular at a second outer diameter thereof substantially different from the first outer diameter; and

a rotational device connected to the slips, the rotational device selectively rotating the slips and gripped tubular relative to the carrier.

2. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator selectively moving the slips relative to the tapered surface.

3. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is connectable to a quill of a top drive connected to the traveling block of the drilling rig.

4. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , wherein the slips comprise gripping elements extending from a surface directed away from the tapered surface.

5. The tubular running tool of claim 4 , wherein each slip comprises a single column of gripping elements.

6. The tubular running tool of claim 4 , wherein each slip comprises only two columns of gripping elements.

7. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , further comprising a fill-up device to fluidically connect to the bore of the tubular.

8. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , further comprising a thread compensator disposed between the slips and the traveling block.

9. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational device comprises an actuator and drive assembly supported by the carrier.

10. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , further comprising a reaction member connected to a rotational driver to react the torque generated by the rotational driver to the carrier.

11. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , wherein the tapered surfaces is formed on a bowl formed by the body.

12. The tubular running tool of claim 1 , further comprising a pipe guide connected to the carrier proximate to the bowl.

13. A tubular running tool, the tubular running tool comprising:

a carrier connected to traveling block of a drilling rig;

a body having a tapered surface, the body rotationally connected to the carrier;

slips moveably disposed along the tapered surface for selectively gripping a tubular;

a rotational device connected to the slips, the rotational device selectively rotating the slips and gripped tubular relative to the carrier; and

a reaction member connected to a rotational driver to react the torque generated by the rotational driver to the carrier;

wherein the reaction member comprises a load cell for measuring the torque applied from the rotational driver.

14. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular such that the slips grip the tubular at a first outer diameter thereof;

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith;

releasing the slips from gripping engagement with the tubular;

positioning an end of a second tubular for gripping with the slips; and

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the second tubular such that the slips grip the second tubular at a second outer diameter thereof substantially different from the first outer diameter.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of rotating the tubular comprises rotating the top drive to rotate the connected carrier and the gripping assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of holding the gripping assembly rotationally stationary with the carrier.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the body comprises a bowl and the slips are moveable relative to the bowl.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the body comprises a bowl; and

the step of positioning an end of a tubular for gripping comprises positioning the end of the tubular for gripping into the bowl.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of rotating the tubular comprises actuating a rotational driver disposed with the carrier to rotate the gripping assembly relative to the carrier; and further comprising:

measuring the torque applied to the gripping assembly from the rotational driver via a reaction member connecting the carrier and the rotational driver.

20. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular; and

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith;

wherein the step of rotating the tubular comprises rotating the gripping assembly relative to the carrier.

21. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular; and

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith;

wherein the step of rotating the tubular comprises actuating a rotational driver disposed with the carrier to rotate the gripping assembly relative to the carrier.

22. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular;

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith;

wherein the body comprises a bowl; and

the step of positioning an end of a tubular for gripping comprises positioning the end of the tubular for gripping through a pipe guide into the bowl.

23. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular;

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith; and

measuring the torque applied in to rotate the tubular.

24. A method for running a tubular string in wellbore operations, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular running tool comprising gripping assembly rotationally connected to a carrier, the gripping assembly comprising a body and slips;

connecting the carrier to a quill of a top drive of a drilling rig;

positioning an end of a tubular for gripping with the slips;

actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the tubular;

rotating the tubular with the slips in gripping engagement therewith;

wherein the step of rotating the tubular comprises actuating a rotational driver disposed with the carrier to rotate the gripping assembly relative to the carrier; and

measuring the torque applied to the gripping assembly from the rotational driver.

25. A method for running a tubular string with at least one outer diameter transition into a wellbore, the method comprising:

suspending a tubular running device from a drilling rig, the tubular running device comprising a carrier, a body forming a bowl, the body rotationally connected to the carrier, slips moveably disposed in the bowl, an actuator for at least one of raising and lowering the slips relative to the bowl, and a rotational actuator for selectively rotating the slips;

gripping a tubular string with a spider to suspend the tubular string in the wellbore, the tubular string having a first outside diameter;

gripping a first add-on tubular with the slips of the tubular running device, the add-on tubular having a first outside diameter;

threadedly connecting the add-on tubular to the tubular string;

releasing the grip of the spider on the tubular string and suspending the tubular string in the wellbore from the tubular running device;

lowering the tubular string into the wellbore by lowering the tubular running device toward the spider;

engaging the spider into gripping engagement of the tubular string;

releasing the tubular running device from the tubular string;

gripping a second add-on tubular with the tubular running device, the second add-on tubular gripped at a location thereof having a second outside diameter different from the first outside diameter of the tubular string; and

threadedly connecting the add-on tubular to the tubular string.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of threadedly connecting comprises rotating the slips by actuating the rotational actuator.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein releasing the tubular running device comprises powering the actuator to raise the slips relative to the bowl.

28. The method of claim 25 , further comprising rotating the tubular string with the rotational actuator while the spider is not gripping the tubular string and the tubular string is suspended from the tubular running device.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein rotating the tubular string comprises rotating the slips relative to the carrier.

30. The method of claim 25 , further comprising rotating the tubular string with a top drive while the spider is not gripping the tubular string and the tubular string is suspended from the tubular running device.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein rotating the tubular string comprises rotating the top drive, the carrier and the slips.