Tubular member adaptor apparatus

1. A system to connect a top drive drilling assembly to a tubular member, the system comprising:

a gripping tool operatively connected to and suspended from the top drive assembly, wherein the gripping tool comprises an axis defined therethrough and a gripping member;

an adaptor apparatus comprising a first end and a second end and a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a nominal outer diameter larger than a nominal outer diameter of the tubular member;

wherein the gripping member engages the adaptor apparatus; and

wherein the second end comprises a connection member to connect with the tubular member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gripping member of the gripping tool grips an internal surface of the adaptor apparatus.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the gripping member of the gripping tool moves radially outward with respect to the axis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gripping member of the gripping tool grips an external surface of the adaptor apparatus.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gripping member of the gripping tool moves radially inward with respect to the axis.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gripping tool is operatively connected to and suspended from a quill of the top drive assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the adaptor apparatus comprises one of a male threaded connection member and a female threaded connection member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor apparatus further comprises a bell guide disposed adjacent to the connection member of the adaptor apparatus.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the axes of the gripping tool, adaptor apparatus, and tubular member are coaxial.

10. An apparatus to allow a gripping tool of a top drive assembly to connect to a tubular member, the apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical body having a nominal outer diameter larger than a nominal outer diameter of the tubular member;

wherein the first end is configured to be engaged by the gripping tool; and

wherein the second end comprises a connection member to threadably connect to the tubular member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a bore at least partially formed therethrough, wherein the gripping tool is at least partially disposed within the bore, wherein a gripping member grips an inner wall surface of the cylindrical body.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the connection member of the adaptor apparatus comprises one of a male thread and a female thread.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the adaptor apparatus further comprises a bell guide disposed adjacent to the connection member of the adaptor apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second end of the apparatus comprises a hole formed therein such that the apparatus is in fluid communication with the tubular member.

15. A method to run a tubular member with a top drive assembly, the method comprising:

providing a gripping tool between the top drive assembly and the tubular member, the gripping tool having a gripping member and an axis defined therethrough;

gripping an adaptor apparatus with the gripping member of the gripping tool, the adaptor apparatus comprising a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a nominal outer diameter larger than a nominal outer diameter of the tubular member; and

connecting the adaptor apparatus to the tubular member.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

rotating the gripping tool using the top drive assembly, wherein the gripping tool is operatively connected to a quill of the top drive assembly;

wherein the adaptor apparatus is rotated with gripping tool; and

wherein the tubular member is rotated with the adaptor apparatus.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein gripping the adaptor apparatus comprises:

moving the gripping member of the gripping tool radially inward with respect to the axis of the gripping tool to grip the adaptor apparatus.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein gripping the adaptor apparatus comprises:

moving the gripping member of the gripping tool radially outward with respect to the axis of the gripping tool to grip the adaptor apparatus.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

disconnecting the adaptor apparatus from the tubular member;

disengaging the gripping member of the gripping tool from the adaptor apparatus; and

gripping another tubular member with the gripping member of the gripping tool.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the adaptor apparatus comprises one of a male connection member and a female connection member to connect to the tubular member.