Abstract: A method of coupling a tool to a length of tubular comprises securing the tool in a basket; lowering a tong arrangement having a rotary part and a stationary part, relative to the basket to engage respective locking members of the tong arrangement and the basket, thereby fixing the basket and the tool relative to the stationary part of the tong arrangement; and rotating the length of tubular using the rotary part of the tong arrangement so as to couple the tool to the length of tubular. A torque measuring flange may be associated with the tong arrangement. The torque measuring flange comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and one or more cylinders disposed between one or more wedges, whereby rotating the top plate causes the wedges to compress a piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tubular gripping assembly for use with a top drive to handle a tubular includes a tubular gripping tool having a mandrel and gripping elements operatively coupled to the mandrel; and a link assembly attached to the mandrel, wherein a load of the link assembly is transferred to the mandrel. In another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a swivel having selectively actuatable seals. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a thread compensator to facilitate tubular make-up. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a wedge lock release apparatus to facilitate the release of gripping elements from the tubular.

Abstract: A method of coupling a tool to a length of tubular comprises securing the tool in a basket; lowering a tong arrangement having a rotary part and a stationary part, relative to the basket to engage respective locking members of the tong arrangement and the basket, thereby fixing the basket and the tool relative to the stationary part of the tong arrangement; and rotating the length of tubular using the rotary part of the tong arrangement so as to couple the tool to the length of tubular. A torque measuring flange may be associated with the tong arrangement. The torque measuring flange comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and one or more cylinders disposed between one or more wedges, whereby rotating the top plate causes the wedges to compress a piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying torque to a first tubular relative to a second tubular, the apparatus comprising a first tong for gripping the first tubular and a second tong for gripping the second tubular, wherein the first tong is provided with teeth around a peripheral surface thereof, the second tong is provided with at least one pinion, and the pinion meshes with the teeth in such a way that the first tong and the second tong can be rotated relative to one another when the pinion is rotated. The apparatus may include a positioning apparatus for determining the position of the tubular relative to the tong. The positioning apparatus comprising a plunger movably disposed on a base and coupled to a visual indicator. The plunger includes a contact member disposed at one end, whereby contact with the tubular causes the plunger to move along the base and the distance traveled is indicated by the visual indicator. The apparatus may further include a torque measuring flange.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong is provided. In one aspect, a positioning tool may be mounted on a lower portion of the tong. The positioning tool includes a positioning member for determining a position of the tubular and a centering member for engaging the tubular. The positioning tool further includes an actuation device for actuating the centering member. The position of the tubular may be actively adjusted by actuating the centering member.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying torque to a first tubular relative to a second tubular, the apparatus comprising a first tong for gripping the first tubular and a second tong for gripping the second tubular, wherein the first tong is provided with teeth around a peripheral surface thereof, the second tong is provided with at least one pinion, and the pinion meshes with the teeth in such a way that the first tong and the second tong can be rotated relative to one another when the pinion is rotated. The apparatus may include a positioning apparatus for determining the position of the tubular relative to the tong. The positioning apparatus comprising a plunger movably disposed on a base and coupled to a visual indicator. The plunger includes a contact member disposed at one end, whereby contact with the tubular causes the plunger to move along the base and the distance traveled is indicated by the visual indicator. The apparatus may further include a torque measuring flange.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying torque to a first tubular relative to a second tubular, the apparatus comprising a first tong for gripping the first tubular and a second tong for gripping the second tubular, wherein the first tong is provided with teeth around a peripheral surface thereof, the second tong is provided with at least one pinion, and the pinion meshes with the teeth in such a way that the first tong and the second tong can be rotated relative to one another when the pinion is rotated. The apparatus may include a positioning apparatus for determining the position of the tubular relative to the tong. The positioning apparatus comprising a plunger movably disposed on a base and coupled to a visual indicator. The plunger includes a contact member disposed at one end, whereby contact with the tubular causes the plunger to move along the base and the distance traveled is indicated by the visual indicator. The apparatus may further include a torque measuring flange.

Abstract: A gripping arrangement for gripping casing is both sufficiently flexible to conform to said casing and substantially inelastic. In a preferred embodiment the gripping arrangement comprises a sheet of zircon paper bonded to a flexible metal carrier plate which has side flanges which fit into an arcuate recess in a jaw holder and bear against the ends of an arcuate pad of resilient elastomeric material. In use, radial forces are applied uniformly through the arcuate paid whilst circumferential forces are transmitted through the flexible metal carrier plate and the side flanges to the arcuate pad and thus to the jaw holder.

Abstract: A new power tong for rotating tubular members for make-up (connection) and break-out (disconnection) operations. In one aspect such a tong has at least one movable jaw with a smooth surface gripping element thereon and pre-load apparatus for applying a pre-load force to a movable jaw so that the jaw does not slip on a tubular to be rotated and so it does not mark or damage the tubular. In one aspect the pre-load apparatus includes a first pre-load device at one end of a movable jaw for breakout operations and a second pre-load device at another end of the jaw for make-up operations. In one aspect a power tong which has unique smooth surfaced jaw inserts made, e.g., of aluminum. In one aspect a single pivotable pre-load cylinder, fixed to rotary, pivots for pivotable connection to one jaw or the other. This can be done manually or a powered smaller piston/cylinder may be used to pivot the pre-load cylinder.