Abstract: A toothed pipe gripping die insert has textured surfaces on the die surface opposite the pipe gripping teeth to reduce the insert-to-insert carrier contact surface area to increase unit loading such that selected loads forcing the die insert against its carrier impresses the textured pattern into the carrier surface to reduce the tendency for the die insert to slide on the die carrier surface.

Abstract: A U-shaped elevator having no doors is provided with first and second latching mechanisms which when contacted by the tubular to be entrapped within the elevator move from a closed position to an open position and which then return to a closed position as soon as the tubular is entrapped within the elevator. The latching mechanisms have a safety catch which prevents the tubular from being inadvertently removed from the elevator. The safety latch mechanism can only be activated by a handle which is manipulated by hand by personnel working on the derrick utilizing the elevator. The elevator has an open throat to receive tubulars that have couplers or other features with a lower flange surface for lifting a pipe string. The throat access has blocking members that are movable to allow tubulars to move out of the gap unless the blocking members are locked to prevent such movement. The blocking members have latches biased toward a position to immobilize the members.

Abstract: A wellbore tubular handling system and method is provided for operation in holding and lowering tubulars, such as casing strings, at a rig site. The handling system utilizes a plurality of interchangeable gripping modules for use with both the elevator slips and the spider. Because the gripping modules are completely interchangeable, only one additional gripping module is needed to provide redundancy at the well site to thereby reduce the equipment normally required. An elevator module receives the interchangeable gripping module therein. An interchangeable gripping module may also preferably be flush mounted in many standard rotary table types. Alternatively a top mount spider module is provided to receive a gripping module for other rig floor and/or rotary table constructions. The gripping module has three inner support rings and slips between approximately one and two feet in length to permit load support while protecting any thin walled casing that is used in the casing string.

Abstract: A base is supported on adjustable jacks for aligning with a pile driver hammer body for removal or installation of the hammer piston. A terminal tube on the base clamps to the hammer and a powered ram moves the piston.

Abstract: Multi-piece elevator links, which may be of variable length or capacity or both, are produced by cutting a unitary link into two parts and connecting different combinations of shanks and link ends to form the desired elevator link. Rotation of the link ends with respect to the shank may be prevented. Adapters may be employed between the shank and the link ends to provide varying connections.

Abstract: A fluid flow control apparatus for use in a mid-string location in a pipe string being run into a well has an open fluid flow route to the annulus above the apparatus to provide more flow area for upwardly moving fluid. Flow up the upper pipe string bore is resisted to reduce fluid overflow from the top of the pipe string. Fluid flow down the pipe string bore closes the fluid channel between the lower pipe string bore and the upper annulus and blows out a pipe bore flow resisting element for free down flow of fluids in the pipe string bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping tubular members in a single or multi-string arrangement about their outer diameter without causing surface damage or structural deformation to the tubular members, so that they may be axially rotated or secured against axial rotation. A generally cylindrical internal sleeve is contained within a molded flexible liner. One side of the internal sleeve is releasably attached to the flexible liner, forming an annular bladder-like structure within the flexible liner. Introduction of pressure into the bladder-like structure causes the flexible liner to inflate radially inward causing the flexible liner and torque transmitting bushing to thereby grip the tubular work piece within the new improved friction grip.

Abstract: A connector for connecting large tubulars of the type used in oil well tubing, casing and the like, without resorting to welding, to form a pipe string for use in drilling. The connector comprises a pin and box threaded connection having guiding surfaces integral with the pin and box members to facilitate the threaded connection of large tubulars. Alignment indicators may be used to provide that initial thread contact is near 360° around the circumference of the connector to provide a more even distribution of the initial contact forces on the threads rather than substantially all force acting on a smaller area of thread. This alignment also speeds the makeup of the pipe. A thread factor is provided with a desired axial length and radial length to avoid deformation of the threads. The tubular alignment using alignment indicators, centralizing effect of guidance surfaces, and thread factor may work in combination to improve the reliability, durability, and speed of making the connection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for achieving single-sided girth welds which adapt to and compensate for inherent geometrically induced difficulties in single-side girth welding applications. The inherent geometrically induced difficulties include those caused by axial misalignment, angular misalignment, and mismatched ovality. The present invention's apparatus and method minimize root defects due to undercut, incomplete penetration, excess penetration, or lack of fusion. The present invention provides accordingly limits defects introduced during the welding process and thus limiting fatigue failures. The present invention does not require the use of backing strips. The present invention further utilizes an improved lineup clamp for use in single-sided girth welding which does not cause damage to the interior of the pipes being welded.

Abstract: Shaped plates are provided, one above each side of a spider, to replace the bails and links used to suspend the spider and its pipe payloads. The load applied to the housing suspension hard points, whether ears or lugs, to suspend the spider is transferred to the rig floor by the plates. The plates are preferably shaped to balance about a cross pin situated in a cross bore in the plates. The plates are not inclined to tilt whether being hoisted or loaded by the spider. The spider is submerged into the rotary opening and results in reduced height of pipe string connections to be worked.

Abstract: A tubular running tool and method adapted for use on a rotary or top drive drilling rig of the type for inserting and selectively, internally gripping a tubular which may be utilized to lift, lower, rotate, and torque tubulars, and which may be used to fill and or circulate fluid in and through tubulars and to cement tubulars within a wellbore is provided. The internal tubular running tool may be used as or in conjunction with fill-up and circulating tools and with cementing heads wiper plug assemblies among other tools. The tubular running tool includes: a barrel forming an axial fluid pathway therethrough, the barrel having a top end and a bottom end, the barrel forming a lower connecting section; at least one slip movably connected to the connecting section for selectively engaging an interior portion of a tubular member; and a moving mechanism functionally connected between the slips and the barrel for moving the slips in engaging contact with and from the tubular member.

Abstract: A pile driving adapter having at least one surface provided to abut the driven piling with the driver surface profiled to match the surface profile on the end of the piling. A tubular portion is arranged to receive the hammer blows. A transition portion provides rework material for the driver surface and a choice of a guide sleeve or a guide plug, extending downward from the transition portion, helps guide the adapter onto the piling.

Abstract: A spider, preferably a flush mounted spider, and powered lead tong are coupled by a rotationally rigid structure so that torque reaction forces apply no side load to pipe. The tong preferably tilts upward to clear larger objects approaching the spider. An optional grabber is mounted, preferably atop the lead tong, and may tilt with the lead tong. Fluid powered motors, linear or rotary, provide the tilting energy and extend and retract the grabber. The tong and related structure has quick coupler provisions for removal from the spider.

Abstract: A connector for connecting large tubes of the type used in oil well tubing, casing and the like, without resorting to welding, to form a pipe string for use in drilling. The connector comprises a pin and box threaded connection having guiding surfaces integral with the pin and box members to facilitate the threaded connection of large tubes. The connection is designed so that large tubes, for example tubes comprising an external diameter of two or more feet, may be joined by threaded connection facilitated by the integral guiding surfaces of the pin and box threaded members. The integral guiding surfaces allow large tubes, which are otherwise too cumbersome to position and manipulate for threaded connection to be practical, to be quickly and safely connected by threaded engagement of the pin and box members without the use of a weld between the tubes.

Abstract: A spider for use within the rotary table opening has all movable elements flush with or below the rig floor. The conventional wedge shaped slips are supported and aligned by a slip carrier that has a spherical outer surface that slideably mates with a spherical bowl inner surface in the spider such that the pipe, slip, and slip carrier can tilt as a unit about any horizontal axis that passes through the spherical surface center.

Abstract: An apparatus for optionally gripping and releasing a tube, said apparatus having an elevator with a set of slips for optionally gripping and releasing a tube and a spider with a set of slips for optionally gripping and releasing the other end of said tube, said elevator and spider slips being in communication one to the other by pressurized conduits, said conduits forming a pressure circuit to supply pressure to release one set of slips only when the other set of slips is gripping said tube, wherein said apparatus has improved response time, said spider may be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated and said elevator maybe pneumatically operated, and wherein said spider may be flush mounted; and methods.

Abstract: A pipe gripping apparatus for angularly adapting to misaligned pipe on one or more pipe strings, said apparatus comprising: a housing having internal, opposing, downwardly curved surfaces therein and forming a longitudinal opening for passing a portion of at least one tubing string therethrough; a plurality of slip carriers each having an exterior surface contoured to match said downwardly curved surface and having a downwardly inclined interior surface, each said slip carrier being in movable connection with one of said curved surfaces of said housing; a plurality of slips having downwardly inclined exterior surfaces and longitudinal channels formed on an internal surface for holding gripping elements for gripping a portion of the pipe, each said slip being in sliding engagement with one of said slip carriers; and a lifting mechanism having a securing arm in connection between each pair of said opposing slips.

Abstract: A multi-sectioned, bidirectional gripping ring for a closed-head power tong is disclosed of the inventive gripping ring have an open position in which a pipe may be placed within or removed from the gripping ring and a closed position in which the gripping ring completely encircles the pipe. The inventive gripping ring uses radially moveable dies in circumferentially moveable die carriers to grip the pipe. The dies are synchronously moved in the radial direction to grip or release the pipe by changing their circumferential position with respect to the cams in the gripping ring housing.

Abstract: A backup tong having an inner throat sized to accommodate a second pipe string while a first pipe string is held within the jaws of the tong is disclosed. The inventive backup tong facilitates operations on dual pipe strings by allowing the tong to grip not only the closer of two pipe strings, but also the farther of the pipe strings by allowing the nearer pipe string to reside in an inner throat of the backup tong, between the gripping members of the tong and the body of the backup tong, while the farther pipe string is held between the gripping members. The inventive backup tong thereby allows the operator to grip either of the pipe strings from a single side, eliminating the side-to-side movement (and corresponding time and risk of harm) which is required when using prior art backup tongs.

Abstract: A new and improved casing thread protector that has a toroidal body of elastomer with a bore to accept a pipe end, thread engagement pads, and a metal band and clamp arrangement extending around its periphery. The bore accepts the end of a pipe with threads to be protected when the thread engagement pads are allowed a certain degree of movement due to the open position of the clamp, which pads subsequently grip the pipe within the bore when the clamp is closed. The pads, which are replaceable, come into contact with the tubular inserted in the bore when the clamp is in the closed position, isolating the tubular good from the body of the improved device and creating greater pressure on the contact points of the threads of the tubular good which increases the force required to dislodge the improved protector from the threads.