Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and a die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate (7) onto its seating surface (2). Both vertical (4) and horizontally (6) aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. The vertical splines are interrupted along on at the end of their lengths by gaps (5a). Grooves (11) along with the protrusions (10) on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments and gaps to stabilize, or anchor the die plate on the seating surface against vertical displacement and to absorb rotational torque forces. The portion of the protrusions on the die plate that are positioned to extend into the gaps in the vertical splines support the die plate against vertical shearing forces, resisting disengagement of the die plate from its seating surface.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and a die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate (7) onto its seating surface (2). Both vertical (4) and horizontally (6) aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. The vertical splines are interrupted along on at the end of their lengths by gaps (5a). Grooves (11) along with the protrusions (10) on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments and gaps to stabilize, or anchor the die plate on the seating surface against vertical displacement and to absorb rotational torque forces. The portion of the protrusions on the die plate that are positioned to extend into the gaps in the vertical splines support the die plate against vertical shearing forces, resisting disengagement of the die plate from its seating surface.

Abstract: A guide tube for continuous rod has a sections pivotably connected together by at least one translatable pivot. The tube connects to a rig at a fixed pivot and is initially folded on the rig for transport. To unfold and raise the tube for operation, a rig operator pivots a support rod pivotably connected to the tube away from the rig using a rope. This pivoting support rod moves the attachment point of a winchline extending from the rig to the rod beyond the tube's fixed pivot. Also, the pivoting rod tensions a sling having a fixed length that extends from the rod to the tube's translatable pivot. In this way, the winchline can be tensioned without the need for rig operators to perform a substantial amount of manual labor as conventionally done. Once the outer sections of the guide tube are lowered to the ground, the entire guide tube can be unfolded and raised with the tensioned winchline.

Abstract: A shear coupling assembly utilizes a second coupling member, a first coupling member and a locking member which is inserted into a bore in the first coupling member to connect between the second coupling member and the first coupling member. In embodiments where a pretension is applied to the shear neck, the locking member maintains the pretension in the shear neck. The bore of the first coupling member has a profiled section which corresponds to a profiled section on the second coupling member which when mated together permit torque to be transferred for co-rotating the second coupling member with the first coupling member for use in rotary pump operations. Advantageously, the profiled portions and the shear neck are encased in the bore of the shear coupling assembly and are protected from corrosive wellbore fluids.

Abstract: A continuous rod transport system has a reel with a cage and a removable hub. The cage has support members interconnected by rings to hold the rod coiled in the cage. The removable hub has extending arms that removably attach to the cage's support members. Locks on the ends of the arms can removably lock the hub to the cages. Because the hub is removable, the cage with coiled rod can be shipped separate from the hub, thereby significantly reducing the transportation weight. Preferably, the cage has a diameter of 14-ft so two cages can be held on a stand and can be transported in overseas containers. In this way, the coiled rod in the cage can be transported to various areas in less costly and time-consuming ways than currently available.

Abstract: A transport system has a dedicated trailer for transporting a small transport reel (i.e., <18-ft in diameter) of continuous rod to the field. The trailer has a pedestal that can pivot the reel. A hub motor on the pedestal can turn the reel, and a transfer unit and rod bender on the trailer can curve or straighten the rod when being fed into or out of the reel. A power and hydraulic system operates the various hydraulic components on the trailer. In other aspects, the transport system includes stands that can hold the small transport reels on a trailer within a defined transport envelope. When empty, these stands can be stacked on top of one another on the trailer for return to a facility.

Abstract: An open-throat power tong for making up or breaking apart an oilfield tubular connection, includes a cage plate lock system. The lock system connected to each cage plate extends across the space provided by the open throat in the cage plate when locked in the closed position. This provides support for the cage plates, resisting their tendency for expansion. The cage plates are mounted on the ring gear for rotation about a common center. The support provided to the cage plates for resisting expansion is communicated to the ring gear, thus providing support to the ring gear against expansion.

Abstract: A guide tube for continuous rod has a sections pivotably connected together by at least one translatable pivot. The tube connects to a rig at a fixed pivot and is initially folded on the rig for transport. To unfold and raise the tube for operation, a rig operator pivots a support rod pivotably connected to the tube away from the rig using a rope. This pivoting support rod moves the attachment point of a winchline extending from the rig to the rod beyond the tube's fixed pivot. Also, the pivoting rod tensions a sling having a fixed length that extends from the rod to the tube's translatable pivot. In this way, the winchline can be tensioned without the need for rig operators to perform a substantial amount of manual labor as conventionally done. Once the outer sections of the guide tube are lowered to the ground, the entire guide tube can be unfolded and raised with the tensioned winchline.

Abstract: An open-throat power tong for making up or breaking apart an oilfield tubular connection, includes a cage plate lock system. The lock system connected to each cage plate extends across the space provided by the open throat in the cage plate when locked in the closed position. This provides support for the cage plates, resisting their tendency for expansion. The cage plates are mounted on the ring gear for rotation about a common center. The support provided to the cage plates for resisting expansion is communicated to the ring gear, thus providing support to the ring gear against expansion.

Abstract: A power tong (1) or back-up tong has a sliding jaw assembly (6) that may be advanced into the throat (4) of the tong for engagement with a pipe. A camming surface (11) on the inside circumference of the ring gear (10) advances the sliding jaw assembly into full engagement with the well pipe when the ring gear (10) is rotated with respect to the jaw assembly.

Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged. In an alternate variant the cam follower includes an indexing guide that maintains the cylindrical roller bearings in proper alignment.

Abstract: A power tong (1) or back-up tong has a sliding jaw assembly (6) that may be advanced into the throat (4) of the tong for engagement with a pipe. A camming surface (11) on the inside circumference of the ring gear (10) advances the sliding jaw assembly into full engagement with the well pipe when the ring gear (10) is rotated with respect to the jaw assembly.

Abstract: A tong assembly having a powered tong mounted over a backup tong is supported at its rear by a post with torque measuring means. The powered tong is supported at its front, near its throat, by one or more struts that extend downwardly to the backup tong. Such strut (s) provide support for the powered tong when the assembly is placed on a support surface for storage. The struts each have a joint with a retracted condition in which the joint is rigid when the tong is placed on a support surface, and an extended condition in which the joint allows a degree of lateral displacement when the tong assembly is applying torque to a pipe string. This maximizes the amount of torque passing through the rearward post, and therefore ensures a more accurate sensing of applied torque by the torque-measuring device.

Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged. In an alternate variant the cam follower includes an indexing guide that maintains the cylindrical roller bearings in proper alignment.

Abstract: A tong assembly having a powered tong mounted over a backup tong is supported at its rear by a post with torque measuring means. The powered tong is supported at its front, near its throat, by one or more struts that extend downwardly to the backup tong. Such strut(s) provide support for the powered tong when the assembly is placed on a support surface for storage. The struts each have a joint with a retracted condition in which the joint is rigid when the tong is placed on a support surface, and an extended condition in which the joint allows a degree of lateral displacement when the tong assembly is applying torque to a pipe string. This maximizes the amount of torque passing through the rearward post, and therefore ensures a more accurate sensing of applied torque by the torque-measuring device.

Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged.

Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate onto its seating surface. Both vertical and horizontally aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. Grooves between the protrusions on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments to stabilize the die plate and to absorb both rotational torque forces and vertical shearing forces without disengagement from its seating surface.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate onto its seating surface. Both vertical and horizontally aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. Grooves between the protrusions on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments to stabilize the die plate and to absorb both rotational torque forces and vertical shearing forces without disengagement from its seating surface.