Abstract: Methods for erecting a drilling structure on a drilling rig include hoisting a first end of a column racker with a support carried by a mast on the drilling rig while the column racker is in a first position, and advancing a second end of a column racker along a solid surface toward the mast while simultaneously hoisting the first end of the column racker to move the column racker toward a second position that is closer to vertical than the first position. Other methods include raising a first end of a column racker with a ground-based, powered lift structure, and introducing the first end of the column racker to the rig floor while supporting the weight of the column racker with the ground-based, powered lift structure.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for erecting drilling structures including drill floors and drilling masts include attaching a rigging line to the drilling structure and to a strand jack arranged with at least one hydraulic jack and a plurality of clamps that alternatingly secure onto the rigging line and pull the rigging line in tension. Pulling the rigging line with the strand jack raises the drilling structures to an upright or elevated position.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein describe a tubular retention system arranged over a mousehole. The tubular retention system includes load bearing plates that are mutually opposed, vertically aligned, and connected to an eternal support structure via upper and lower links that, together, form a parallelogram shape movable to engage tubulars of varying diameters. The load bearing plates are pulled down by a biasing system to engage the tubular and synchronized by a lifting ring connecting the load bearing plates together. Mutually opposing deflector plates are connected to the load bearing plates and move in response to the downward movement of the load bearing plates, providing a centering force against the tubular to assure proper retention once the load bearing links engage the tubular. An upward force enables the load bearing plates to return upward and outward to release the tubular.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for erecting drilling structures including drill floors and drilling masts include attaching a rigging line to the drilling structure and to a strand jack arranged with at least one hydraulic jack and a plurality of clamps that alternatingly secure onto the rigging line and pull the rigging line in tension. Pulling the rigging line with the strand jack raises the drilling structures to an upright or elevated position.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methods for an automated pipe doping apparatus. The apparatus may include a pump fluidly coupled to a reservoir and a dope manifold, the pump positioned to pump pipe dope from the reservoir to the dope manifold; an ejector coupled to the dope manifold, the ejector positioned to supply a fixed volume of pipe dope from the dope manifold to a dope distribution line; and a pipe dope applicator, the pipe dope applicator fluidly coupled to the dope distribution line positioned to deposit pipe dope on a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the pipe dope applicator may be a fan-pattern nozzle. In other embodiments, the pipe dope applicator may be a mold-type applicator. In other embodiments, the pipe dope applicator may be a brush-type applicator.

Abstract: A method for positioning a pipe stand in a fingerboard having fingers with a pipe racking apparatus includes gripping the pipe stand with an upper grabber and gripping the pipe stand with a lower grabber. The method also includes moving the pipe stand until it is aligned with a rack slot between two fingers of the fingerboard and extending the upper and lower grabbers to position the pipe stand in the rack slot. The method includes tilting the pipe stand in a first direction by moving one or both of the upper and lower grabbers in the first direction and tilting the pipe stand in a second direction. The method also includes lowering the pipe stand into contact with a setback of a drill floor, moving the pipe stand in the second direction until the pipe stand leans against the fingerboard, and releasing the pipe stand.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.

Abstract: Methods for erecting a drilling structure on a drilling rig include hoisting a first end of a column racker with a support carried by a mast on the drilling rig while the column racker is in a first position, and advancing a second end of a column racker along a solid surface toward the mast while simultaneously hoisting the first end of the column racker to move the column racker toward a second position that is closer to vertical than the first position. Other methods include raising a first end of a column racker with a ground-based, powered lift structure, and introducing the first end of the column racker to the rig floor while supporting the weight of the column racker with the ground-based, powered lift structure.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a racker device and a catwalk structurally arranged to move a tubular or stand about a drilling rig site. A sensing arrangement is cooperatively associated with at least one of the racker device and the catwalk and is configured to sense an aspect of a tubular while the tubular is being handled at the drilling rig and output a signal representative of the aspect of the tubular. A tubular validation system is configured to receive the sensed aspect of the tubular obtained by the sensing arrangement and determine a specification characteristic of the tubular based on the sensed aspect. This may be compared to specification standards to determine whether the tubular or stand should be discarded.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for erecting drilling structures including drill floors and drilling masts include attaching a rigging line to the drilling structure and to a strand jack arranged with at least one hydraulic jack and a plurality of clamps that alternatingly secure onto the rigging line and pull the rigging line in tension. Pulling the rigging line with the strand jack raises the drilling structures to an upright or elevated position.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a racker device and a catwalk structurally arranged to move a tubular or stand about a drilling rig site. A sensing arrangement is cooperatively associated with at least one of the racker device and the catwalk and is configured to sense an aspect of a tubular while the tubular is being handled at the drilling rig and output a signal representative of the aspect of the tubular. A tubular validation system is configured to receive the sensed aspect of the tubular obtained by the sensing arrangement and determine a specification characteristic of the tubular based on the sensed aspect. This may be compared to specification standards to determine whether the tubular or stand should be discarded.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein describe a tubular retention system arranged over a mousehole. The tubular retention system includes load bearing plates that are mutually opposed, vertically aligned, and connected to an eternal support structure via upper and lower links that, together, form a parallelogram shape movable to engage tubulars of varying diameters. The load bearing plates are pulled down by a biasing system to engage the tubular and synchronized by a lifting ring connecting the load bearing plates together. Mutually opposing deflector plates are connected to the load bearing plates and move in response to the downward movement of the load bearing plates, providing a centering force against the tubular to assure proper retention once the load bearing links engage the tubular. An upward force enables the load bearing plates to return upward and outward to release the tubular.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to a modular racker system for a drilling rig. The modular racker includes transportable modules including a lower track module comprising a drilling rig floor that includes a lower track arranged and configured to accommodate a lower carriage. The lower track is permanently fixed to the drilling rig floor so as to form a part of the drilling rig floor and is transportable as part of the drilling rig floor. An upper track module comprises a fingerboard and an upper track arranged and configured to accommodate an upper carriage moveable along the upper track. The upper track is permanently fixed to the fingerboard and is transportable in a connected configuration. The lower and upper track modules are attachable to a racker column module.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include a racker device for moving tubular stands on a drilling rig, a fingerboard cooperatively disposed to receive tubular stands from the racker device and to support the tubular stands in a vertical arrangement, and a racking control system in communication with the racker device and configured to control the racker device. The racking control system may include a tubular management system that receives data relating to a well plan and driller settings, assesses the well plan and driller settings, and based on the well plan and driller settings, develops a racking plan setting out proposed racking locations for the tubular stands to be used in a drilling procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include a well-center drilling opening in a drilling rig floor of a mobile drilling rig and a v-door to the drilling rig. A mast is disposed about the well-center drilling opening and carrying drilling components of a drilling system. The mast supports a fingerboard that includes a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending fingers having openings between ends thereof and being arranged to receive tubulars therebetween. The plurality of fingers extending in the same direction as a line between the well-center drilling opening and the v-door. A racker device is moveable in a lateral direction relative to the direction of the line between the well-center drilling opening and the v-door.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a racker device and a catwalk structurally arranged to move a tubular or stand about a drilling rig site. A sensing arrangement is cooperatively associated with at least one of the racker device and the catwalk and is configured to sense an aspect of a tubular while the tubular is being handled at the drilling rig and output a signal representative of the aspect of the tubular. A tubular validation system is configured to receive the sensed aspect of the tubular obtained by the sensing arrangement and determine a specification characteristic of the tubular based on the sensed aspect. This may be compared to specification standards to determine whether the tubular or stand should be discarded.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include a parking system for a drilling rig. The parking system includes a first track portion extending along a pathway between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and a second track portion extending in a transverse direction relative to the first track portion. A trolley is configured to carry a racking device and move along at least a portion of the first track portion and the second track portion between a position in the pathway between well center and the V-door on a drilling rig and a position offline and out of the pathway between well center and the V-door on a drilling rig.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods include a racker device for moving tubular stands on a drilling rig, a fingerboard cooperatively disposed to receive tubular stands from the racker device and to support the tubular stands in a vertical arrangement, and a racking control system in communication with the racker device and configured to control the racker device. The racking control system may include a tubular management system that receives data relating to a well plan and driller settings, assesses the well plan and driller settings, and based on the well plan and driller settings, develops a racking plan setting out proposed racking locations for the tubular stands to be used in a drilling procedure.