Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it. One embodiment includes the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder along with upper and lower holders having wedge members also with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section. In this embodiment the drill pipe and wedge members can be rotatable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section. The shoulder of the drill pipe and the shoulders of the wedge members are rotatable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section.

Abstract: A drill pipe handling apparatus for oil and gas drilling rigs, the drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section positioned between the ends of the drill pipe. The enlarged diameter section of drill pipe has a shoulder which corresponds with and is engaged by a shoulder located on wedge members of lower and upper holders on a drilling rig for supporting the drill pipe without damaging it during and after addition or removal of joints of drill pipe.

Abstract: A drill pipe for oil and gas drilling rigs, the drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section positioned between the ends of the drill pipe. The enlarged diameter section of drill pipe has a shoulder which corresponds with and is engaged by a shoulder located on wedge members of a holder in a drilling rig for supporting the drill pipe without crushing or otherwise damaging the drill pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destabbing (disassembling) two vertically oriented drill pipe joint sections provides a two part clamp arrangement that holds the assembled joint at their interface. A lower end of the clamp arrangement is tightly clamped to the lower joint so that the upper joint rotates when the two joint are gripped with power tongs or like pipe handling devices and unthreaded or "destabbed".

Abstract: A method of detecting thread wear for drill pipe and drill casing that are connectable end-to-end at threaded joint connections includes the providing of a pair of pipe joints to be joined coming each having end portions with threads that engage upon assembly. A projection is place on a first of the pipe joints near the joint end portion, the projection facing a second pipe joint during assembly of the pair of pipe joints. The joints are connected together and observed after assembly to determine weather or not the projection has become mechanically deformed or has scratched the surface of the opposing joint to thereby indicating worn condition of the threads.