Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

Abstract: A system for continuously circulating fluid to and through a tubular string either of coiled tubing or made up of a plurality of tubulars connected end-to-end while an upper tubular is added to or removed from a top tubular of the plurality of tubulars, all tubulars having a top-to-bottom fluid flow channel therethrough, the system having an upper chamber with a bottom opening, a top opening, and an upper sealing apparatus for sealingly encompassing a portion of the upper tubular, a lower chamber with a bottom opening, a top opening and a lower sealing apparatus for sealingly encompassing a portion of the top tubular, one of the upper chamber and the lower chamber sized for accommodating connection and disconnection therein of the upper tubular and the top tubular, and gate apparatus between and in fluid communication with the upper chamber and the lower chamber.

Abstract: A tong for rotating tubulars, the tong having, in certain embodiments, a tong outer case, a rotary movably mounted in the case for rotating a tubular, apparatus for rotating the rotary to rotate the tubular, at least one gripper or jaw movably mounted in the case and movable by the rotary for gripping the tubular, the at least one gripper or jaw having at least one cam following member or roller, and at least one non-circular cam surface on the rotary, the at least one cam following member or roller contacting and movable on the at least one non-circular cam surface for maintaining a desired position of the at least one gripper or jaw with respect to the tubular. In certain embodiments a specific cam angle, within certain tolerances, is maintained substantially the entire length along a cam surface.