IP Library Granted Patent US 9,784,050
Granted Patent B2
US 9,784,050 · App. 15/461,746 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Transfer sleeve for completions landing systems

Inventors: Logan E. Smith (Youngsville, LA); Jeremy R. Angelle (Youngsville, LA)
Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
E21B19/00B66C1/44E21B19/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,784,050
App. No.
15/461,746
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tubular handling system and method for handling tubulars are provided. The tubular handling system includes a load transfer sleeve. The load transfer sleeve includes a body defining an inner diameter and a tapered bowl extending outward from the inner diameter, with the bowl defining a landing surface. The load transfer sleeve also includes a load bushing comprising a plurality of load bushing segments that are slidable along the bowl. The load bushing radially expands and contracts by axial translation of the plurality of load bushing segments relative to the body. Further, the plurality of load bushing segments each define an axial engagement surface configured to engage an upset of a tubular and a landing surface that engages the landing surface of the bowl when the axial engagement surface engages the upset.

Claims (51)

1. A method for handling a tubular, comprising:

positioning a load transfer sleeve around the tubular;

contracting a radially-expandable load bushing of the load transfer sleeve, such that a plurality of load bushing segments of the radially-expandable load bushing abut a landing surface of a bowl defined in a body of the load transfer sleeve;

moving the radially-expandable load bushing relative to the tubular, after contracting the radially-expandable load bushing, until an upset of the tubular abuts an axial engagement surface of the radially-expandable load bushing; and

lifting the tubular by lifting the load transfer sleeve.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a spear; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear, such that the spear supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear comprises receiving a portion of the spear into a groove extending from an inner diameter of the body of the load transfer sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a landing structure or a shock table; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table, such that the landing structure or the shock table supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table comprises receiving a feature of the load transfer sleeve using a feature of the landing structure or shock table so as to coaxially align the load transfer sleeve with the landing structure or shock table.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pivoting two arcuate portions of the body of the load transfer sleeve apart; and

removing the load transfer sleeve from the tubular in a lateral direction.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radially-expandable load bushing radially expands and contracts by axial translation of the plurality of load bushing segments relative to the body.

8. A method for handling a tubular, comprising:

positioning a load transfer sleeve around the tubular;

expanding a radially-expandable load bushing of the load transfer sleeve prior to positioning the load transfer sleeve around the tubular, wherein positioning the load transfer sleeve around the tubular comprises receiving the load transfer sleeve over a box end of the tubular;

contracting the radially-expandable load bushing of the load transfer sleeve, such that a plurality of load bushing segments of the radially-expandable load bushing abut a landing surface of a bowl defined in a body of the load transfer sleeve;

moving the radially-expandable load bushing relative to the tubular, after contracting the radially-expandable load bushing, until an upset of the tubular abuts an axial engagement surface of the radially-expandable load bushing; and

lifting the tubular by lifting the load transfer sleeve.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a spear; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear, such that the spear supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear comprises receiving a portion of the spear into a groove extending from an inner diameter of the body of the load transfer sleeve.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a landing structure or a shock table; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table, such that the landing structure or the shock table supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table comprises receiving a feature of the load transfer sleeve using a feature of the landing structure or shock table so as to coaxially align the load transfer sleeve with the landing structure or shock table.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the radially-expandable load bushing radially expands and contracts by axial translation of the plurality of load bushing segments relative to the body.

14. A method for handling a tubular, comprising:

positioning a load transfer sleeve around the tubular, wherein positioning the load transfer sleeve around the tubular comprises:

pivoting two arcuate portions of the body of the load transfer sleeve apart; and

receiving the tubular between the two arcuate portions;

contracting a radially-expandable load bushing of the load transfer sleeve, such that a plurality of load bushing segments of the radially-expandable load bushing abut a landing surface of a bowl defined in a body of the load transfer sleeve;

moving the radially-expandable load bushing relative to the tubular, after contracting the radially-expandable load bushing, until an upset of the tubular abuts an axial engagement surface of the radially-expandable load bushing; and

lifting the tubular by lifting the load transfer sleeve.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a spear; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear, such that the spear supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the spear comprises receiving a portion of the spear into a groove extending from an inner diameter of the body of the load transfer sleeve.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

lowering the tubular through a landing structure or a shock table; and

setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table, such that the landing structure or the shock table supports a weight of the tubular via the load transfer sleeve.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein setting the load transfer sleeve onto the landing structure or shock table comprises receiving a feature of the load transfer sleeve using a feature of the landing structure or shock table so as to coaxially align the load transfer sleeve with the landing structure or shock table.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

pivoting the two arcuate portions of the body of the load transfer sleeve apart after the tubular is lifted; and

removing the load transfer sleeve from the tubular in a lateral direction after the tubular is lifted.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the radially-expandable load bushing radially expands and contracts by axial translation of the plurality of load bushing segments relative to the body.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 057778/0707 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: DNB BANK ASA, LONDON BRANCH
To: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 073324/0554 →
SHORT-FORM PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 4, 2021
From: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: DNB BANK ASA, LONDON BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057778/0707 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: SMITH, LOGAN E.; ANGELLE, JEREMY R.
To: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 046896/0913 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14184956 · Feb 20, 2014
Related Publication 20170191322A1 · Jul 6, 2017