Pipe handling column racker with retractable arm

1. An apparatus for moving a tubular, comprising:

a column vertically extending from a drill floor, the column defining an axis;

an upper arm assembly movable along the column, the upper arm assembly being configured to connect with a tubular; and

a lower arm assembly having a lower gripper head configured to attach to the tubular, the lower arm assembly being movable to displace the lower gripper head between a first position on a first side of the axis and a second position on a second side of the axis, wherein the lower arm assembly is movable through a motion range, and the upper arm assembly selectively extends into the motion range.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a lower carriage connected to the column, the lower carriage being arranged to rotate at least 180 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the lower carriage is configured to carry the column along the drill floor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the column comprises two vertical struts, the lower gripper head being movably disposed to pass between the two vertical struts.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further wherein the upper arm assembly comprises:

a carriage movable along the struts forming the column; and

an upper manipulator arm, the upper manipulator arm attached to and extending from the carriage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower arm assembly comprises a lower manipulator arm configured to pivot relative to the column to displace the lower gripper head between the first position on the first side of the axis and the second position on the second side of the axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper arm assembly comprises an upper gripper head, the upper gripper head being movable to a location adjacent the drill floor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the upper gripper head of the upper arm assembly comprises an opening configured to receive a tubular, the opening facing upward when the upper gripper head is disposed adjacent the drill floor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the lower arm assembly comprises a lower manipulator arm pivotable through a motion range greater than 90°.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a catwalk configured to introduce a tubular to the drill floor, the upper arm assembly comprising an upper gripper head movable to a position having an elevation lower than an elevation of the catwalk to receive the tubular.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to: measure a length of a tubular by securing a first end of the tubular with the upper arm assembly while a second end of the tubular rests on a measuring plate; determine a distance of the upper arm assembly from the measuring plate; and calculate the length of the tubular based on the distance of the upper arm assembly from the measuring plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the measuring plate is the drill floor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drill floor is a track, the lower arm assembly comprising a carriage movable along the track.

14. An apparatus for moving a tubular, comprising:

a column vertically extending from a drill floor, the column defining an axis;

a lower manipulator arm having a gripper head configured to attach to the tubular; and

an upper arm assembly movable along the column, the upper arm assembly being configured to connect with a tubular, the upper arm assembly being movable to a position adjacent the floor, wherein the lower manipulator arm is movable through a motion range, and a portion of the upper arm assembly selectively extends into the motion range of the lower manipulator arm.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a lower carriage connected to the column, the lower carriage being arranged to rotate at least 180 degrees.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the lower carriage is configured to carry the column along the drill floor.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a catwalk configured to introduce a tubular to the drill floor, the upper arm assembly comprising an upper gripper head movable to a position having an elevation lower than an elevation of the catwalk to receive the tubular.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the upper arm assembly comprises a gripper head, the gripper head being movable to a location adjacent the drill floor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the gripper head of the upper arm assembly comprises an opening configured to receive the tubular, the opening facing upward when the gripper head is disposed adjacent the drill floor.

20. A method of moving a tubular, comprising:

lowering an upper arm to a position below a catwalk;

introducing the tubular to the upper arm;

raising the upper arm;

moving a lower arm to a position previously occupied by the upper arm; and

securing the tubular with the lower arm tubular so that the tubular is held simultaneously with the upper arm and the lower arm.

21. The method of claim 20 , comprising:

moving a gripper head of the lower arm from a position on a first side of an axis of a vertical column racker to a second opposing side of the axis.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the vertical column racker comprises spaced vertical struts, and moving the gripper head of the lower arm comprises pivoting the lower arm between the spaced vertical struts.