Abstract: A jaw assembly for gripping tubular goods in a power tong. The jaw assembly has at least three (3) jaw members: a first primary jaw member, a second primary jaw member, and at least one intermediate jaw member disposed between the first and second primary jaw members. The jaw assembly can be easily and conveniently installed within a conventional 2-jaw power tong without extensive modification thereto, and increases the pipe gripping capacity of the tong (and particularly small size pipe) without damaging the pipe.

Abstract: According to one or more aspects of the invention, a method for use with assembling and disassembling a tubular string formed by a first tubular and a second tubular may comprise engaging the first tubular with a first device; engaging the second tubular with a second device; connecting the first tubular to the second tubular by applying torque to the first tubular; determining a true torque applied in connecting the first tubular and the second tubular; ensuring that at least the first device or the second device is engaging the tubular string; disengaging the second device from the tubular string; and lowering the tubular string. The first device may be a top drive and the second device may be a spider. The top drive may comprise a tubular running tool. The top drive may comprise a tubular running tool and an elevator.

Abstract: According to one or more aspects of the invention, a method for use with assembling and disassembling a tubular string formed by a first tubular and a second tubular may comprise engaging the first tubular with a first device; engaging the second tubular with a second device; connecting the first tubular to the second tubular by applying torque to the first tubular; determining a true torque applied in connecting the first tubular and the second tubular; ensuring that at least the first device or the second device is engaging the tubular string; disengaging the second device from the tubular string; and lowering the tubular string. The first device may be a top drive and the second device may be a spider. The top drive may comprise a tubular running tool. The top drive may comprise a tubular running tool and an elevator.

Abstract: Multi-piece elevator links, which may be of variable length or capacity or both, are produced by cutting a unitary link into two parts and connecting different combinations of shanks and link ends to form the desired elevator link. Rotation of the link ends with respect to the shank may be prevented. Adapters may be employed between the shank and the link ends to provide varying connections.

Abstract: An apparatus for making up or breaking out of two members having mating threaded connections, such as pipe joints or bolts for avoiding undesirable transverse forces relative to the two members during tightening (or loosening), thereby insuring the connection is made up (or broken out) by essentially pure torque loads.The apparatus includes a power-driven lead tong, a back-up tong, a load cell which cooperates with either tong to produce a torque measurement and an interconnecting frame and isolation apparatus which eliminates transverse forces relative to the two threaded members. The power-driven lead tong rotatingly drives the first threaded member about its axis either clockwise or counterclockwise, as required. The back-up tong secures the second threaded member against axial rotation in response to the rotation of the first member.

Abstract: An apparatus for making up and breaking out of pipe, bolts or other threaded members, and for measuring the amount of torque being applied to the threaded connection, without causing the application of undesirable transverse forces during the tightening or loosening process.The apparatus includes a conventional power-driven lead tong, a back-up tong with a pivotal mounted inner frame which cooperates with a load cell, and an isolated torsional transfer structure which interconnects the lead tong and back-up tong through pairs of three mutually peripendicular linear slides. The load cell, pivotally mounted inner frame and external housing of the back-up tong cooperate to produce a torque measurement without creating any unpaired linear forces against the connection being made.