Granted Patent B2

US 12,345,105 · App. 18/005,321 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Inventor: Andrew Ian McKenzie (Cypress, TX)

Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.

E21B19/155E21B19/20

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system, comprising:

a pipe rack;

a delivery system configured to receive horizontally arranged pipe stands from a horizontal stand building system and deliver them to a drill rig;

the horizontal stand building system arranged between the pipe rack and the delivery system, the horizontal stand building system configured to receive tubulars from the pipe rack, construct pipe stands in a horizontal orientation, and pass the pipe stands on to the delivery system, the horizontal stand building system comprising:

a plurality of driving devices, adjustable in height, and configured for driving a tubular horizontally along a longitudinal axis of the tubular, the plurality of driving devices each comprising a powered v-roller having a rolling axis arranged substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;

a plurality of guiding devices, fixed in height, and configured for passively holding the tubulars and allowing the tubulars to rotate, the plurality of guiding devices each comprising a pair of v-shaped brackets spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis and having a plurality of passive rollers extending therebetween, where the plurality of passive rollers have a rolling axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

a tubular coupling device; and

a pipe stand rack arranged adjacent the delivery system and opposite the horizontal stand building system and having a length configured for receiving at least a two-pipe stand, wherein the plurality of driving devices are adjustable in height to vertically adjust and align axes of adjacent tubular in the horizontal stand building system and to set tubulars on and lift tubulars off the guiding devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal pipe storing and stand building system has a first end and the delivery system comprises a ramp arranged at the first end.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pipe rack is arranged proximate to the first end.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the horizontal stand building system is configured to build pipe stands by translating pipes in an outboard direction away from the first end and adding pipes to at a first end.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular coupling device is a roughneck.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery system comprises a ramp, a base portion, and a first extension and a second extension.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the delivery system comprises a pusher translatable along each of the base portion, the first extension, and the second extension.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (161)