Large diameter tubular lifting apparatuses and methods

1. A lifting elevator to receive and lift a joint of pipe having no shoulder or lifting features and an outer diameter between about 20 inches and 72 inches, the elevator comprising:

a first elevator segment having a first timing ring segment and a first plurality of slips;

a second elevator segment having a second timing ring segment and a second plurality of slips;

a hinge about which both the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment are rotatable with respect to each other such that the first and second elevator segments are movable between an open position and a closed position; and

a powered actuator assembly to move and retain the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment about the hinge between the open position and the closed position,

wherein the elevator is configured to laterally receive the joint of pipe between the first and second elevator segments when in the open position and the joint of pipe is disposed in a non-vertical position,

wherein the powered actuator assembly is configured to close the first and second elevator segments about the hinge and around the joint of pipe such that the first and second elevator segments comprise a swept angle of about 360° when in the closed position,

wherein the elevator is configured to grip and reorient the joint of pipe from the non-vertical position to a vertical position when the first plurality of slips and the second plurality of slips are engaged with the joint of pipe, and

wherein the elevator is configured to support a string of pipe connected to an end of the joint of pipe.

2. The lifting elevator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a latch pivotably connected to one of the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment, the latch to connect the first elevator segment to the second elevator segment, wherein the latch is continuously biased by a torsion spring.

3. The lifting elevator of claim 1 , wherein the first timing ring segment and the second timing ring segment are configured to be actuated using one of electrical power, hydraulic power, pneumatic power, and mechanical power.

4. The lifting elevator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first lifting lug directly coupled to the first elevator segment and a second lifting lug directly coupled to the second elevator segment.

5. The lifting elevator of claim 1 , wherein the powered actuator assembly comprises a first cylinder that moves the first elevator segment and a second cylinder that moves the second elevator segment.

6. A method to receive and lift a joint of pipe having no shoulder or lifting features and an outer diameter between about 20 inches and 72 inches, the method comprising:

opening a first and a second segment of a segmented ring elevator about a hinge connecting the first and second segments;

maintaining the first and second segments in an open and non-vertical position using a powered actuator assembly;

lowering the segmented-ring elevator in the open and non-vertical position over a non-vertical joint of pipe;

closing the first and second segments of the segmented-ring elevator around the non-vertical joint of pipe using the powered actuator assembly, wherein the first and second segments comprise a swept angle of about 360° when closed;

activating a plurality of slips of the segmented-ring elevator using a timing ring;

raising the joint of pipe from a non-vertical position to a vertical position using the closed activated segmented-ring elevator;

positioning the vertical joint of pipe atop a conductor string;

attaching the joint of pipe to the conductor string; and

supporting the joint of pipe and the conductor string with the segmented-ring elevator.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

connecting the first elevator segment to the second elevator segment using a latch, wherein the latch is continuously biased by a torsion spring.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first timing ring segment and the second timing ring segment are activated using one of electrical power, hydraulic power, pneumatic power, and mechanical power.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the segmented-ring elevator further comprises:

a first lifting lug directly coupled to the first elevator segment and a second lifting lug directly coupled to the second elevator segment.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the powered actuator assembly comprises a first cylinder coupled to the first elevator segment and a second cylinder coupled to the second elevator segment.

11. A lifting elevator, comprising:

a first elevator segment having a first plurality of slips;

a second elevator segment having a second plurality of slips;

a hinge about which both the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment are rotatable with respect to each other;

a powered actuator assembly to move and retain the first and second elevator segments about the hinge between an open and a closed position,

wherein the first and second elevator segments comprise a swept angle of about 360° when in the closed position; and

a latch pivotably connected to one of the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment, the latch to connect the first elevator segment to the second elevator segment, wherein the latch is continuously biased by a torsion spring,

wherein each of the first plurality of slips and the second plurality of slips comprises a die configured to grip an external surface of a pipe,

wherein the elevator is configured to laterally receive the joint of pipe between the first and second elevator segments when in the open position and the joint of pipe is disposed in a non-vertical position, and

wherein the elevator is configured to grip and reorient the joint of pipe from the non-vertical position to a vertical position when the first plurality of slips and the second plurality of slips are engaged with the joint of pipe,

wherein the first elevator segment has a first timing ring segment, and wherein the second elevator segment has a second timing ring segment.