IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,377,914
Granted Patent B2
US 11,377,914 · App. 17/321,141 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

System and method for conducting subterranean operations

Inventors: Kenneth Mikalsen (Sandnes, NO); Kjetil Naesgaard (Roeyneberg, NO)
Assignee: CANRIG ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES AS
E21B19/155E21B19/161
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,377,914
App. No.
17/321,141
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for conducting subterranean operations is disclosed and can include a support structure, a first tubular handler coupled to the support structure, and a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure and distinct from the first tubular handler. The system can further include a tool system coupled to the support structure and adapted to perform an operation on a first tubular.

Claims (38)

1. A system comprising:

a support structure rotationally coupled to a rig floor;

a first tubular handler coupled to the support structure, the first tubular handler configured to manipulate a first tubular; and

a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure and distinct from the first tubular handler, wherein the second tubular handler is configured to move along the support structure relative to the first tubular handler, and wherein the second tubular handler is configured to manipulate a second tubular, and wherein the first tubular handler is configured to spin an end of the first tubular into or out of an end of the second tubular that is configured to be gripped by the second tubular handler.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a first torque wrench coupled to the support structure and adapted to apply makeup torque to the first tubular and the second tubular to makeup a connection between the first tubular and the second tubular, or apply breakup torque to the first tubular and the second tubular to break a connection between the first tubular and the second tubular.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first torque wrench is statically coupled with the support structure.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a second torque wrench that is statically coupled to the support structure.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first tubular handler is disposed circumferentially between the first and second torque wrenches.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first torque wrench is disposed at a first location along the support structure and the second torque wrench is disposed at a second location along the support structure, and wherein the first and second locations are disposed at a same vertical elevation.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first torque wrench is disposed at a first location along the support structure and the second torque wrench is disposed at a second location along the support structure, and wherein the first and second locations are disposed at different vertical elevations.

8. A system comprising:

a support structure rotatable about a first rotational axis;

a first tubular handler coupled to the support structure, the first tubular handler being moveable along a vertical axis of the support structure;

a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure, the second tubular handler being moveable along the vertical axis of the support structure, wherein the second tubular handler is adapted to move along the vertical axis independent of the first tubular handler;

a first torque wrench statically coupled to the support structure; and

a second torque wrench statically coupled to the support structure, wherein the first tubular handler is disposed circumferentially between the first torque wrench and the second torque wrench, wherein the first torque wrench is adapted to receive a first tubular of a first diameter and the second torque wrench is adapted to receive a second tubular of a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first tubular handler is adapted to spin the first tubular or the second tubular and the second tubular handler is adapted to spin a third tubular or a fourth tubular.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first torque wrench is adapted to apply makeup or breakup torque between the first tubular and the third tubular, and the second torque wrench is adapted to apply makeup or breakup torque between the second tubular and the fourth tubular.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first tubular handler comprises:

a first portion coupled to the support structure and configured to move vertically along the vertical axis; and

a second portion rotationally coupled to the first portion and configured to rotate about a second vertical axis.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second tubular handler is disposed at a vertical elevation above the first tubular handler.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first tubular handler further comprises:

a third portion rotationally coupled to the second portion and configured to rotate relative to the second portion about a first horizontal axis; and

a fourth portion rotationally coupled to the third portion and configured to rotate about a second horizontal axis.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first tubular handler further comprises first and second grippers, with the second horizontal axis being positioned in the fourth portion between the first and second grippers.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first tubular handler and the second tubular handler are disposed circumferentially between the first torque wrench and the second torque wrench.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second tubular handler comprises at least three different pivot points.

17. A method of handling tubulars comprising:

engaging a first tubular disposed in a generally horizontal orientation with a first tubular handler, the first tubular handler being vertically adjustable with respect to a support structure;

reorienting the first tubular to a generally vertical orientation;

engaging the first tubular with a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure;

releasing the first tubular from the first tubular handler;

engaging a second tubular disposed in a generally horizontal orientation with the first tubular handler;

reorienting the second tubular to a generally vertical orientation;

axially aligning the first and second tubulars with respect to one another; and

threadably engaging the first and second tubulars together to form a stand of tubulars, wherein threadably engaging the first and second tubulars is performed with the first tubular engaged with the second tubular handler and the second tubular engaged with the first tubular handler.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: moving the stand of tubulars to a first torque wrench coupled to the support structure; and engaging the first torque wrench to secure the first and second tubulars together.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 16396315 · Apr 26, 2019
Provisional Application 62663987 · Apr 27, 2018
Related Publication 20210270095A1 · Sep 2, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,270,264 US 12,378,829 US 12,618,298