Abstract: A tong assembly comprising a power tong and a backup assembly. The backup assembly comprises a pair of rotating jaws, each of which carries a jaw die which is rotated into and out of engagement with a tubular being gripped by the backup. The jaw die has a base portion and a gripping surface portion. The gripping surface portion has a profile shape, the profile shape being non-symmetric around a center line through the base portion and normal to the base portion. The non-symmetric profile shape permits an increased range of tubular diameters to be gripped by the backup.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for positioning a power makeup/breakout device, commonly referred to as a “power tong unit,” along the longitudinal axis of a tubular, with respect to the end of a connection. A probe having an electric coil is mounted on the power tong. An alternating electric current is flowed through the coil, creating an electromagnetic field emanating from the coil. Positioning the coil such that the tubular connection is within the magnetic field, then moving the coil such that the connection end moves within the magnetic field, permits the connection end to be seen as a discontinuity, by the principles of eddy current testing. The location of the connection end is used to manually position the tong, or is input to a processor and then to a power positioner, which properly positions the power tong with respect to the connection end.