IP Library Granted Patent US 9,598,916
Granted Patent B2
US 9,598,916 · App. 13/953,128 · Granted Mar 21, 2017

Top drive stand compensator with fill up tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,598,916
App. No.
13/953,128
Granted
Mar 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compensation and fill up assembly comprises a slip assembly for engaging a tubular and a compensation assembly for supporting a weight of the tubular when engaged by the slip assembly. The compensation and fill up assembly further comprises a fluid swivel and a fill up tool coupled to the fluid swivel by a fluid shaft. The fill up tool is insertable into and rotatable with the tubular using the fluid swivel.

Claims (47)

1. A compensation and fill up assembly, comprising:

a slip assembly for engaging a tubular;

an actuator for actuating the slip assembly;

a leveling ring coupled to the actuator, wherein the leveling ring and slip assembly are rotatable relative to the actuator;

a compensation assembly for supporting a weight of the tubular when engaged by the slip assembly;

a fluid swivel; and

a fill up tool coupled to the fluid swivel by a fluid shaft, wherein the fill up tool is insertable into and rotatable with the tubular using the fluid swivel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slip assembly includes a slip member disposed in a slip housing, wherein the slip member is coupled to the actuator by the leveling ring, and wherein the leveling ring is rotatable relative to the actuator using a bearing member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is supported by a frame, and further comprising a swivel joint supported by the frame, where the slip housing is supported by the frame by the swivel joint.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the slip member, the slip housing, and the leveling ring are rotatable relative to the actuator and the frame using the bearing member and the swivel joint.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fluid shaft is disposed through the swivel joint and the slip housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an upper frame coupled to a middle frame by a piston/cylinder of the compensation assembly, wherein the tubular is rotatable relative to the upper frame, the middle frame, and the compensation assembly while the compensation assembly supports the weight of the tubular.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the fluid swivel is supported by at least one of the upper frame and the middle frame to enable rotation of the fluid shaft, the fill up tool, and the tubular relative to the upper frame and middle frame.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a slip joint disposed between the upper frame and the middle frame and coupled to the fluid swivel.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the slip assembly includes a slip member disposed on an outer tapered shoulder of the fluid shaft, wherein the slip member is coupled to the actuator by a swivel joint and the leveling ring.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the slip member is rotatable relative to the actuator using the swivel joint.

11. The compensation and fill up assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a piston and cylinder assembly.

12. A method of making up a tubular connection, comprising:

lowering a compensation and fill up assembly into engagement with a tubular, wherein the compensation and fill up assembly comprises a slip assembly, a compensation assembly, a fluid swivel, and a fill up tool coupled to the fluid swivel by a fluid shaft;

inserting the fill up tool into the tubular;

actuating the slip assembly using an actuator, wherein the actuator is coupled to a leveling ring;

engaging the tubular using the slip assembly;

supporting a weight of the tubular using the compensation assembly; and

rotating the tubular, the slip assembly, the fluid swivel, the leveling ring, and the fill up tool relative to the actuator to connect the tubular to a tubular string.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supplying a working fluid through the fluid swivel and the fill up tool into the tubular string.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the slip assembly comprises a slip member disposed in a slip housing, and the actuator for actuating the leveling ring to move the slip member into and out of engagement with the tubular.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising rotating the slip member, the slip housing, and the leveling ring with the tubular relative to the actuator.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the slip assembly comprises a slip member disposed on an outer tapered surface of the fluid shaft, and the actuator for actuating the leveling ring to move the slip member into and out of engagement with the tubular.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising rotating the slip member with the tubular relative to the actuator using a swivel joint that connects the slip member to the leveling ring.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sensing a position of the tubular relative to the slip assembly.

19. A compensation and fill up assembly adapted for connection to a traveling member, comprising:

a slip assembly for engaging a tubular;

an actuator for actuating the slip assembly;

a leveling ring coupled to the actuator, wherein the leveling ring and the slip assembly are rotatable relative to the actuator;

a compensation assembly for supporting a weight of the tubular when engaged by the slip assembly;

a swivel; and

a fill up tool coupled to the swivel by a fluid shaft, wherein the fill up tool is insertable into and rotatable with the tubular relative to the traveling member using the swivel.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising an upper frame coupled to a middle frame by a piston/cylinder of the compensation assembly, wherein the tubular is rotatable relative to the upper frame, the traveling member, the middle frame, and the compensation assembly while the compensation assembly supports the weight of the tubular.

21. A method of making up a tubular connection, comprising:

lowering a compensation and fill up assembly into engagement with a tubular using a traveling member, wherein the compensation and fill up assembly comprises a slip assembly, a compensation assembly, a swivel, and a fill up tool coupled to the swivel by a fluid shaft;

inserting the fill up tool into the tubular;

actuating the slip assembly using an actuator; wherein the actuator is coupled to a leveling ring;

engaging the tubular using the slip assembly;

supporting a weight of the tubular using the compensation assembly; and

rotating the tubular, the slip assembly, the swivel, the leveling ring, and the fill up tool relative to the actuator and the traveling member to connect the tubular to a tubular string.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the slip assembly comprises a slip member disposed in a slip housing, further comprising rotating the slip member, the slip housing, and the leveling ring with the tubular relative to the actuator and the traveling member.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the slip assembly comprises a slip member disposed on an outer tapered surface of the fluid shaft, further comprising rotating the slip member with the tubular relative to the actuator and the traveling member.

Assignments (9)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 037653/0604 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: WOOD, KEVIN; HOLLINGSWORTH, JIM; HILL, TROY F.
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 030896/0510 →