Patents Assigned to Frank's International, LLC
  • Publication number: 20170370166
    Abstract: A pipe wrench for making-up or breaking-out a threaded connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member includes an upper wrench assembly with a pair of upper jaw assemblies configured to grip the first tubular member and a lower wrench assembly with a pair of lower jaw assemblies configured to grip the second tubular member. The upper and lower wrench assemblies are concentrically constrained, axially overlap, and radially engage with one another. Each of the upper and lower wrench assemblies independently includes a frame with a curved segment containing an arc at an angle of about 160° to about 200°. The upper and lower wrench assemblies are configured to rotate the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member and can have an angle of rotation in a range from about 75° to about 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Angelle, Robert L. Thibodeaux, Joshua J. Hebert, John E. Stelly, Logan E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9797208
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are usable for automatically engaging and setting slips of an automatic slip setting apparatus about a tubular, when the automatic slip setting apparatus is properly positioned relative to a desired section of the tubular for gripping, lifting and/or holding, and installing and/or removing the tubular, in or out from a wellbore, while preventing slippage and/or dropping of the tubular. The automatic slip setting apparatus is usable with an elevator or spider assembly, each comprising a main body having a central opening extending therethrough, a plurality of slips, and a yoke. An arm assembly, connected to the elevator or spider assembly, moves when contacted by a tubular moving through the central opening, and a latching member, which is connected to the yoke, can be moved by the arm assembly, thereby causing the plurality of slips to move to a closed position for gripping the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Vernon J. Bouligny, John E. Stelly, Timothy Bernard, Jacob Chu, Adrian Paval
  • Patent number: 9784050
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Logan E. Smith, Jeremy R. Angelle
  • Patent number: 9784056
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and a method to grip a tubular member and sense wear for a pipe handling apparatus. The system includes a pipe handling apparatus having a bore formed therein with an axis defined therethrough, a pipe guide disposed adjacent to an opening of the bore of the pipe handling apparatus, and a wear sensor coupled to the pipe guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Richard Angelle, Robert Thibodeaux, Jr., John Erick Stelly
  • Patent number: 9765580
    Abstract: An elevator to manipulate a tubular segment includes an elevator body with a bore formed therethrough having an axis therein, the elevator body including a first elevator segment and a second elevator segment, in which each of the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment includes a plurality of openings extending from an outer surface of the elevator body to the bore of the elevator body. The elevator also includes a plurality of slip assemblies disposed inside the plurality of openings of the first elevator segment and the second elevator segment and coupled to the elevator body, each of the plurality of slip assemblies including a slip, the slip including an engagement surface disposed orthogonal to the axis of the bore of the elevator body that engages the tubular segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Richard Angelle, John Erick Stelly, Tyler J. Hollier, Logan Essex Smith
  • Publication number: 20170211171
    Abstract: A gripping tool includes a gripping element and at least one gripping surface formed on the gripping element. The at least one gripping surface includes a plurality of teeth extending from the gripping element an outer layer. A method to surface process a gripping surface of a gripping tool includes providing the gripping surface in an environment comprising a source of additive material and heating the gripping surface at a temperature and a time to diffuse the additive material a depth into the gripping surface to form a diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Brennan S. Domec, Jeremy Richard Angelle
  • Patent number: 9702206
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for longitudinally moving or running a tubular, with the system including an elevator suspended from a rig. The elevator includes a body defining a bore to receive a tubular and wedges defining channels therebetween, with the wedges being configured to engage the tubular. The system may also include a spider including a body defining a bore to receive the tubular and wedges defining channels therebetween. The wedges of the spider may be configured to engage the tubular, and the wedges of the elevator may be configured to slide axially at least partially in the channels of the spider. The wedges of the spider may be configured to slide axially at least partially in the channels of the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Frank International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Richard Angelle, Robert Thibodeaux, Jr., Tyler J. Hollier
  • Patent number: 9695650
    Abstract: A gripping tool includes a gripping element and at least one gripping surface formed on the gripping element. The at least one gripping surface includes a plurality of teeth extending from the gripping element an outer layer. A method to surface process a gripping surface of a gripping tool includes providing the gripping surface in an environment comprising a source of additive material and heating the gripping surface at a temperature and a time to diffuse the additive material a depth into the gripping surface to form a diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Brennan S. Domec, Jeremy Richard Angelle
  • Patent number: 9677352
    Abstract: An assembly to grip a tubular member in a wellbore includes a main body, a plurality of jaw assemblies, and a cover plate to retain the jaw assemblies within the main body. The main body includes a chuck ring and at least one rotation assembly. The plurality of jaw assemblies are configured to simultaneously engage the tubular member in the wellbore as the chuck ring is rotated in a first direction about an axis of the main body by the at least one rotation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Richard Angelle, Logan Essex Smith, Robert Thibodeaux
  • Patent number: 9637984
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is adapted for easy disassembly and reassembly when the pipe slips within the spider are not engaged with the outer surface of the pipe string so that upon disassembly, a control line guide becomes vertically movable. The control line guide is adapted for being controllably elevated to a distance above the rig floor, thereby providing personnel access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated control line guide and above the rig floor for securing control line to the pipe string using a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Michael Webre, Vernon Joseph Bouligny, Jr., Brian David Begnaud, Mark Stephen Sibille
  • Patent number: 9638007
    Abstract: An interlock device for connection within a load path of a tubular support device to lock the tubular support device in a closed position in response to detecting a load suspended from the tubular support device. The interlock device includes a first member moveably connected to a second member and a biasing mechanism operationally connected to the first member and the second member providing a load setting resisting movement of the first member and the second member relative to one another. The first and the second member may be rotationally locked with one another to transmit rotation across the interlock device to the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Vernon Bouligny, Phillip M. Theriot, Reese Comeaux
  • Patent number: 9630811
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Logan E. Smith, Jeremy R. Angelle
  • Patent number: 9605497
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling one or more tubulars includes a body defining at least a portion of a tapered bowl. A plurality of slips may be disposed at least partially within the bowl and configured to slide along a surface of the bowl. Each of the slips includes a radial engaging surface and a tapered engaging surface. The radial engaging surface may have a plurality of gripping structures extending inwardly therefrom that are configured to engage an outer surface of a first tubular having a substantially constant outer diameter. The tapered engaging surface may be configured to engage a tapered outer surface of a second tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Angelle, Robert L. Thibodeaux, James Fontenot, Jacob Chu
  • Patent number: 9598914
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to cut a control line and/or to run a control line on a rig may include a movable cutting apparatus to cut a control line, a load transfer member to engage a control line, a load measuring device to measure a load imparted to a load transfer member, and a drive member to engage and drive a control line. The apparatuses and methods may be used with a control line positioning apparatus, a pipe engaging apparatus, and/or may be used by themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventor: Dougal Hugo Brown
  • Publication number: 20170074058
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are usable for automatically engaging and setting slips of an automatic slip setting apparatus about a tubular, when the automatic slip setting apparatus is properly positioned relative to a desired section of the tubular for gripping, lifting and/or holding, and installing and/or removing the tubular, in or out from a wellbore, while preventing slippage and/or dropping of the tubular. The automatic slip setting apparatus is usable with an elevator or spider assembly, each comprising a main body having a central opening extending therethrough, a plurality of slips, and a yoke. An arm assembly, connected to the elevator or spider assembly, moves when contacted by a tubular moving through the central opening, and a latching member, which is connected to the yoke, can be moved by the arm assembly, thereby causing the plurality of slips to move to a closed position for gripping the tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Vernon J. Bouligny, John E. Stelly, Timothy Bernard, Jacob Chu, Adrian Paval
  • Patent number: 9567815
    Abstract: A load lifting apparatus comprises a first housing, a second housing and a mechanical obstruction structure(s). The first housing is sized to slide over an upset tubular having a given diameter, wherein the first housing comprises the mechanical obstruction structure(s) that is designed to move radially inward when engaged with the second housing. The compressed internal diameter of the mechanical obstruction structure(s) can contact the upset tubular, wherein the upset tubular can then be supported by the mechanical obstruction structure(s) and the second housing, for safely lifting the upset tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Burney J. Latiolais, Jr., Keith T. Lutgring, Braxton I. Moody, V, John K. M. Saichuk, Samuel P. Hawkins, III
  • Publication number: 20170030151
    Abstract: Apparatus for reducing torque on a drill string includes a first bearing assembly, a second bearing assembly, and a bearing sleeve. The first and second bearing assemblies are disposed on and clamped onto a tubular portion of a drill pipe of the drill string, and each include a first and second section. The bearing sleeve is disposed on the drill pipe such that the bearing sleeve is maintained in an axial position relative to the drill pipe by the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly. Each of the first and second bearing assemblies have a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion that is smaller than the first diameter portion. The second diameter portion of the first bearing assembly and the second diameter portion of the second bearing assembly are disposed adjacent to each other and the bearing sleeve is disposed around the adjacent second diameter portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Lutgring, Matthew Weber, Burney Latiolais, Ira Hining, Jean Buytaert
  • Patent number: 9546525
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are usable for automatically engaging and setting slips of an automatic slip setting apparatus about a tubular, when the automatic slip setting apparatus is properly positioned relative to a desired section of the tubular for gripping, lifting and/or holding, and installing and/or removing the tubular, in or out from a wellbore, while preventing slippage and/or dropping of the tubular. The automatic slip setting apparatus is usable with an elevator or spider assembly, each comprising a main body having a central opening extending therethrough, a plurality of slips, and a yoke. An arm assembly, connected to the elevator or spider assembly, moves when contacted by a tubular moving through the central opening, and a latching member, which is connected to the yoke, can be moved by the arm assembly, thereby causing the plurality of slips to move to a closed position for gripping the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Frank's International, LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Vernon J. Bouligny, John E. Stelly, Timothy Bernard, Jacob Chu, Adrian Paval
  • Patent number: 9523248
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein relating to an apparatus to support a tubular member. The apparatus includes a bowl having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, in which the bowl includes an inner wall formed about the longitudinal axis that is tapered with respect to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes a plurality of slip assemblies movably disposed within to the bowl and having a tapered outer surface and a tapered inner surface with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tapered outer surface of the plurality of slip assemblies is configured to engage the tapered inner wall of the bowl. Further, the bowl may include a shoulder disposed on the inner wall that extends towards the longitudinal axis with respect to the inner wall. Each of the plurality of slip assemblies may be configured to engage the shoulder of the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Thibodeaux, Jr., Jeremy Richard Angelle
  • Patent number: 9518431
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adapting an elevator for use with a tubular are provided. The apparatus includes one or more axial extensions configured to engage one or more slip bodies of the elevator. The one or more axial extensions include a radial contact surface configured to slide along the tubular and an axial engagement surface configured to bear on an upset of the tubular. The one or more axial extensions are flexible such that the radial contact surface is radially displaceable with respect to the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Webre, Scott Arceneaux