TUBULAR DRIVE SYSTEM

1 . A tubular drive system, comprising:

a gripping device configured to couple with a length of tubular;

a rotational system configured to drive rotation of the gripping device; and

a load support feature coupled to the gripping device and the rotational system and configured to support the gripping device and the rotational system.

2 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , wherein the gripping device comprises:

a main body configured to extend over and at least partially around a distal end of the length of tubular;

torsional clamp devices configured to engage an outer circumferential surface of the length of tubular with frictional engagement features that extend radially inward from the main body; and

at least one seal configured to engage with the distal end of the length of tubular and facilitate fluid flow through the gripping device into the length of tubular.

3 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , wherein the gripping device comprises elevators configured to radially engage an outer circumferential area of the length of tubular to establish support for a pulling load without establishing a threaded engagement with threads of the length of tubular.

4 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , wherein the rotational system comprises:

at least one motor configured to generate a rotational force; and

a transmission configured to transfer the rotational force to the gripping device.

5 . The tubular drive system of claim 4 , wherein transmission comprises a gear fixed to a main body of the gripping device.

6 . The tubular drive system of claim 5 , wherein the gear is fixed to the main body of the gripping device by bolting, welding, brazing, threading, or any combination thereof.

7 . The tubular drive system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one motor comprises a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, or a combination thereof.

8 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of yoke links coupled to the load support feature and configured to transfer weight from the load support feature to a traveling block.

9 . The tubular drive system of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of yoke links are coupled to the load support feature via a respective pivotable connection.

10 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , comprising a thrust bearing disposed between the gripping device and the load support feature, wherein the thrust bearing is arranged within the drive system to transfer a weight of the gripping device and of the length of tubular to the load support feature.

11 . The tubular drive system of claim 1 , comprising a centralizer bearing disposed between the gripping device and the load support feature, wherein the centralizer bearing is configured to maintain a vertical alignment of the gripping device relative to the load support feature.

12 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a control feature configured to monitor operational parameters of the gripping device.

13 . A method, comprising:

gripping a distal end of a length of tubular with a gripping device;

driving rotation a gear fixed to the gripping device with at least one motor; and

coupling the length of tubular to a drill string stump,

wherein the gripping device and the at least one motor are supported by a load plate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising transferring a load from the gripping device to the load plate with a thrust bearing disposed between the gripping device and the load plate.

15 . The method of claim 13 , comprising transferring a load from the load plate to a traveling block with a plurality of yoke links pivotably coupled to the load plate.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein gripping the distal end of the length of tubular with the gripping device comprises radially engaging an outer circumference of the distal end of the length of tubular with a plurality of elevators of the gripping device without establishing a threaded engagement with threads of the length of tubular.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein gripping the distal end of the length of tubular with the gripping device comprises positioning a seal against the distal end of the length of tubular to facilitate fluid flow through the gripping device into the length of tubular.

18 . A system, comprising:

a gripping device configured to couple with a distal end of a length of tubular;

a rotational system comprising a plurality of motors configured to drive rotation of a gear fixed to the gripping device;

a load plate coupled to the gripping device and the rotational system and configured to support the gripping device and the rotational system; and

a thrust bearing disposed between the gripping device and the load plate, wherein the thrust bearing is configured to transfer a load from the gripping device to the load plate.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the gripping device comprises a plurality of elevators configured to radially engage an outer circumference of the length of tubular to grip the length of tubular without establishing a threaded engagement with threads of the length of tubular.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of motors comprises four motors, each of the four motors comprises an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, and each of the four motors is configured to drive rotation of the gear fixed to the gripping device.