Apparatus and method for handling pipe
A pipe handling catwalk is provided for moving tubulars or pipe to and from a work floor of well drilling or service rigs. The catwalk includes a variable height V-door for guiding pipe to the work floor. The V-door is made of a series of sequential pivotally attached segments that can extend from, and retract into, the catwalk at an angle relative to the catwalk along a guide track disposed at an end of the catwalk.
1. A pipe handling apparatus, comprising:
a) a substantially horizontal catwalk further comprising first and second ends and a top surface disposed therebetween, the catwalk further comprising a horizontal guide track disposed within the catwalk extending from the first end at least partially towards the second end;
b) a pipe trough disposed on the top surface between the first and second ends;
c) a V-door comprising a plurality of trough segments, the V-door slidably disposed in the catwalk, the V-door further configured to move along the horizontal guide track to extend from, and retract into, the first end of the catwalk;
d) a V-door guide track disposed at the first end of the catwalk and aligned with the horizontal guide track, the V-door guide configured to guide the V-door from a substantially horizontal position when disposed in the catwalk to an angled position relative to the catwalk when the V-door is extended from the catwalk along the horizontal guide track, the plurality of trough segments pivotally attached to each other to form a sequential series of segments wherein adjacent trough segments can pivot relative to one another when the V-door is guided through the V-door guide track; and
e) a V-door drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the V-door drive mechanism configured to move the V-door along the horizontal and V-door guide tracks.
2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising at least one indexer/kicker unit disposed in the trough, the indexer/kicker unit configured for moving pipe into and out of the trough.
3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of indexer/kicker units disposed in the trough in a spaced-apart configuration between the first and second ends.
4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the trough segments further comprise rollers configured to move along the horizontal guide track and the V-door guide track.
5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the trough segments are configured to lock together when the trough segments are extended beyond the V-door guide track.
6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each trough segment further comprises a V-door section top plate disposed on the top thereof, each top plate further comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge.
7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the trailing edge of each V-door section top plate is configured to move under the leading edge of the adjacent V-door section top plate when the V-door is extended from, and retracted into, the catwalk through the V-door guide track.
8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a) a skate configured to move along the trough between the second and first ends along a skate guide track, the skate configured to move pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door, and to retrieve pipe from the V-door and move the pipe along the trough towards the second end; and
b) a skate drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the skate drive mechanism configured to move the skate along the skate guide track.
9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the skate further comprises a push plate for pushing pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door.
10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end.
11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end.
12. A method for handling pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a pipe handling apparatus, comprising:
i) a substantially horizontal catwalk further comprising first and second ends and a top surface disposed therebetween, the catwalk further comprising a horizontal guide track disposed within the catwalk extending from the first end at least partially towards the second end,
ii) a pipe trough disposed on the top surface between the first and second ends,
iii) a V-door comprising a plurality of trough segments, the V-door slidably disposed in the catwalk, the V-door further configured to move along the horizontal guide track to extend from, and retract into, the first end of the catwalk,
iv) a V-door guide track disposed at the first end of the catwalk and aligned with the horizontal guide track, the V-door guide configured to guide the V-door from a substantially horizontal position when disposed in the catwalk to an angled position relative to the catwalk when the V-door is extended from the catwalk along the horizontal guide track, the plurality of trough segments pivotally attached to each other to form a sequential series of segments wherein adjacent trough segments can pivot relative to one another when the V-door is guided through the V-door guide track, and
v) a V-door drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the V-door drive mechanism configured to move the V-door along the horizontal and V-door guide tracks;
b) extending the V-door from the catwalk and up the V-door guide track to a desired height wherein the V-door is adjacent to a work floor of a well drilling or service rig;
c) placing a section of pipe in the trough; and
d) moving the section of pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door wherein the section of pipe is presented to the work floor.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises at least one indexer/kicker unit disposed in the trough, the indexer/kicker unit configured for moving pipe into and out of the trough.
14. The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises a plurality of indexer/kicker units disposed in the trough in a spaced-apart configuration between the first and second ends.
15. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the trough segments further comprise rollers configured to move along the horizontal guide track and the V-door guide track.
16. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the trough segments are configured to lock together when the trough segments are extended beyond the V-door guide track.
17. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein each trough segment further comprises a V-door section top plate disposed on the top thereof, each top plate further comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge.
18. The method as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the trailing edge of each V-door section top plate is configured to move under the leading edge of the adjacent V-door section top plate when the V-door is extended from, and retracted into, the catwalk through the V-door guide track.
19. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:
a) a skate configured to move along the trough between the second and first ends along a skate guide track, the skate configured to move pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door, and to retrieve pipe from the V-door and move the pipe along the trough towards the second end; and
b) a skate drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the skate drive mechanism configured to move the skate along the skate guide track.
20. The method as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the skate further comprises a push plate for pushing pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door.
21. The method as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end.
22. The method as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end.