PIPE HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A DRILLING RIG

Abstract

Provided is a pipe handling system including: a skid; a ramp rotatably attached to an end of the skid; a skate beam having a first surface, a slot formed in the first surface, a first end that is slidably attached to the skid, and an opposing second end disposed on the ramp; and a pipe indexer to store and transport multiple tubulars along the first surface of the stake beam. The pipe indexer may include belt indexers that have cleated belts to store and transport the tubulars. The pipe indexer may include inner and outer arms to store and transport the tubulars

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/324,933, filed Apr. 16, 2010 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, currently pending, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/301,069, filed Feb. 3, 2010 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, currently pending, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a pipe handling apparatus for well drilling operations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Rotary drilling operations usually involve rotating a drill string, composed of individual pipe sections (tubulars) each typically 30 to 40 feet in length, which carries a drill bit assembly at its lower end. During borehole-forming and completion operations, it is often necessary to make up and/or break down drill strings. In particular, during drilling, tubulars are transported from a pipe rack located adjacent a drilling rig, up to the rig floor, where they are added to the drill string. When being tripped out of the hole, the drill string is broken down into separate tubulars and returned to the pipe rack.

However, for a variety of reasons, tubulars often cannot be delivered from a pipe rack to a drill floor fast enough to keep up with drilling operations. Consequently, maximal drilling efficiencies are not always obtained. Therefore, an improved system for storing tubulars and supplying the tubulars to a drilling rig are needed.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention relate to a pipe handling system comprising: a skid; a skate beam having a first surface, a slot formed in the first surface, a first end that is slidably attached to the skid, and an opposing second end; a ramp rotatably attached to the skid, to move the second end of the skate beam with respect to the skid; and a pipe indexer to store and transport multiple tubulars along the first surface of the stake beam.

According to various embodiments, the pipe indexer may include belt indexers disposed on opposing sides of the skate beam, the belt indexers each comprising a cleated belt to transport and store the tubulars.

According to various embodiments, the pipe indexer may include an outer arm connected to a pipe rack, to move the tubulars from the pipe rack to the skate beam; a frame disposed in the skate beam; a first inner arm connected to the frame, to move the tubulars in a first direction, along the first surface of the skate beam; and a second inner arm connected to the frame, to move the tubulars in a second direction, along the first surface of the skate beam.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pipe handling system in a lowered configuration, according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the pipe handling system in an intermediate configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates the pipe handling system in a raised position;

FIG. 4 illustrates the pipe handling system in a contracted position;

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate sectional views of belt indexers, according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate perspective and plan views of beam kickers, according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7A-7B illustrate a tail-in-arm, according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate sectional and perspective views of a pipe indexer, according to aspects of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A-9G illustrate a method of operating the pipe indexer of FIGS. 8A-8C, according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference refer to like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below, in order to explain the present disclosure, by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pipe handling system 10 in a lowered configuration, disposed adjacent to a drilling rig 100, FIG. 2 illustrates the system 10 in an intermediate configuration, FIG. 3 illustrates the system 10 in a raised configuration, and FIG. 4 illustrates the system 10 in a contracted configuration, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the pipe handling system 10 includes a skid 20, a carrier ramp 30, a skate lifter 40, a skate beam 50, and a tail in arm 60. Referring to FIG. 1, the pipe handling system 10 is disposed in the intermediate configuration. In particular, the ramp 30 may be lifted or rotated about the pivotable connection to the skid 20, to or beyond a 90° angle with respect to the skid 20. For example, when the skid 20 is disposed on the ground (i.e., a flat surface), the ramp 30 may be rotated to about a 90° angle with respect to the skid 20 (i.e., the ramp 30 may be about vertical with respect to the ground). In the alternative, the ramp 30 may be rotated to a larger angle with respect to the skid 20 (i.e., the ramp 30 being rotated past vertical), so as to be disposed such that an angle between the skid and the ramp 30 is greater than 90° (for example, 135°) with respect to the skid 20. In other words, the ramp 30 may be rotated past vertical, so that the ramp 30 forms a 45° angle with respect to the ground, beyond the end of the skid 20. However, the ramp 30 may be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the skid 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the skate beam 50 is moved up the ramp 30, such that the pipe handling system 10 is disposed in the intermediate position. The skate beam 50 may be moved up the ramp 30 in any suitable manner. For example, the skate beam 50 may be pulled/pushed up the ramp by the skate lifter 40, by moving the skate lifter 40 towards the ramp 30. In the alternative, the skate beam 50 may be pulled up the ramp 30 by a cable extending from the skate beam 50, around the ramp 30, to a motor (not shown) disposed below the ramp 30, or through hydraulic mechanisms that force the skate beam 50 up the ramp 30. The skate beam 50 may extend past the end of the ramp 30, or may be disposed on the ramp 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the skate lifter 40 lifts the second end of the skate beam 50, such that the pipe handling system 10 assumes the lifted configuration. In particular, the skate beam 50 can be pivoted on the ramp 30, such that the skate beam 50 assumes a more horizontal position. As such, tubulars 12 can be more easily moved to the drilling rig 100. In addition, since a plurality of the tubulars 12 can be stored on the skate beam 50, as discussed below, the skate beam 50 may remain in the lifted configuration until the supply of tubulars 12 is depleted.

Referring to FIG. 4 the pipe handling system 10 is disposed in a transport configuration. In particular, the ramp 30 is disposed substantially parallel to the skid 20. Further, the skate beam 50 is disposed on the skid 20, between the skid 20 and the ramp 30. The tail-in-arm 60 is disposed in a storage position such that the arms 62 are disposed on and parallel to the skate beam 50. The skid 20 may include integrated wheels (not shown) and a hitch (not shown), such that the system 10 may operate as a trailer. In the alternative, the system 10 may be loaded on a separate trailer for transport. Accordingly, the system 10 can be easily transported.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the skid 20 includes side rails 24, a central channel 25 formed between the side rails 24, and support arms 22 disposed on the side rails 24. The arms 22 that adjust the height of the skid 20, such as when the system 10 is setup adjacent to a drilling rig 100. The arms 22 may rotate out from the skid 20 and may included actuators or supports sufficient to level the skid 20.

The system 10 includes a pipe indexer to store and transport the tubulars 12. In particular, the pipe indexer may include belt indexers 26 mounted on the side rails 24 of the skid 20, and belt indexers 56 mounted on the skate beam 50. The belt indexers 26, 56 each include a belt 28 to transport and/or store tubulars 12. In particular, the belt indexers 26 transport the tubulars 12 between the pipe racks 14 and the belt indexers 56, which transport and/or store the tubulars 12 on the surface of the skate beam 50. Although the pipe racks 14 are shown on only one side of the skid 20, the pipe racks 14 may be disposed on opposing sides of the skid 20. Accordingly, the belt indexers 26 transport the tubulars 12 between the pipe racks 14 and opposing sides of skate beam 50.

First ends of the belt indexers 26 may be hinged to the skid 20, such that the belt indexers 26 may be pivoted with respect to the skid 20. For example, actuators 27 attached to second ends of the belt indexers 26 may be used to pivot the belt indexers 26. Pairs of the belt indexers 26 on each side of the skid 20 may operate simultaneously, at the same speed (belt speed). For example, pairs of the belt indexers 26 may be commonly controlled by a control unit, or may be connected by a common drive shaft, such that the belt indexers 26 operate at the same speed. However, according to some aspects the belt indexers 26 may be omitted, and the racks 14 may be positioned to deliver the tubulars 12 directly to the skate beam 50 (i.e., to the belt indexers 56).

The skate beam 50 includes a slot 52 formed in an upper surface thereof. Beam kickers 54 are formed on opposing sides of the slot 52. Pipe indexers 56 are also disposed on opposing sides of the slot 52. A pipe rest 58 is adjustably disposed on the upper surface of the skate beam, and a tail-in-arm 60 disposed at a first end of the skate beam 50. An opposing second end of the skate beam 50 may be slideably disposed in the central channel 25 of the skid 20, such that the first end of the skate beam 50 can be moved along the ramp 30. The pipe rest 58 is moveable along the upper surface of the skate beam 50, so as to accommodate tubulars 12 of different sizes on the upper surface of the skate beam 50.

The belt indexers 56 are disposed in pairs, on opposing sides of the skate beam 50. The belt indexers 56 move the tubulars 12 between the belt indexers 26 and the beam kickers 54. The belt indexers 56 on the same sides of the skate beam 50 may be driven at the same speed, in a manner similar to the belt indexers 26. The belt indexers 56 also store the tubulars 12 on the upper surface of the skate beam 50, as discussed below. The shown belt indexers 56 include pins 57 disposed at outside ends thereof, to prevent the tubulars 12 from rolling out of the belt indexers 56 and off of the skate beam 50, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The shown skate beam 50 further includes a tubular mover 59 disposed adjacent to the slot 52. The tubular mover 59 may be a ram that moves along the slot 52, to push the tubulars 12 from a staging position to a delivery position, so that the tubulars 12 may be picked up by a collar of the drilling rig 100. However, the present invention in not limited thereto, as that the tubular mover 59 may include a belt or belts disposed along the slot 52 that move the tubulars 12 along the skate beam 50. In the alternative, the skate beam 50 may include wheels over which the tubulars 12 slide, or may include a combination of belts and wheels. The tubular mover 59 may also be used to pull tubulars 12 down the skate beam 50, such as when a drill string is being disassembled.

The first end of the skate beam 50 may be pivotably and slidably connected to the ramp 30 or may include wheels that roll along a side of the ramp 30. The connection between the skate beam 50 and the ramp 30 need not be limited thereto. For example, the two may not be connected, but may only be in contact, or the ramp 30 may include tracks or rails in which rollers of the skate beam 50 roll, or the ramp 30 and the skate beam 50 may be connected, via ball bearing slides. Further, the second end of the skate beam 50 may simply slide along a surface the ramp 30, as the first end is moved towards the drill rig 100.

The ramp 30 is pivotably mounted to the skid 20. The ramp 30 is generally planar. An actuator may be included to rotate the ramp 30 with respect to the skid 20. The actuator may include, for example, lifting extensions 36 extending from the ramp 30 and hydraulic lifters 34 connected to the ramp 30, the skid 20, and free ends of the lifting extensions 36. As referred to herein, “hydraulic lifters” include hydraulic cylinders that extend and contract, and which may be under compression or under tension.

The lifting extensions 36 may be pivotably connected to a central portion of the ramp 30, or may be fixed to the ramp 30. The hydraulic lifters 34 and the lifting extensions 36 apply pressure to the ramp 30 sufficient to lift the ramp 30 past vertical with respect to the skid 20, as described below. However, according to some embodiments, the hydraulic lifters 34 and the lifting extensions 36 may be replaced with rotational actuators, which may be lockable.

Referring to FIG. 3, the skate lifter 40 may be a rigid body or may be a hydraulic cylinder. The skate lifter 40 may have a first end disposed toward the ramp 30 and a second end disposed away from the ramp 30. The first end of the skate lifter 40 may be pivotably connected to the skid 20 or may be pivotably and slidably connected to the skid 20 (i.e., the pivotable connection to the skid 20 may slide along a length of the skid 20, or at least a portion of the length of the skid 20). The second end of the skate lifter 40 may be pivotably connected to the second end of the skate beam 50.

Hydraulic cylinders may be disposed between the skate lifter 40 and the skid 20, and/or between the skate lifter 40 and the skate beam 50. Such hydraulic cylinders may rotate the skate lifter 40 about the pivotable connection to the skid 20, so as to lift the second end of the skate beam 50, while the first end of the skate beam 50 slides along the surface of the ramp 30. Such hydraulic cylinders, disposed between the skate lifter 40 and the skate beam 50, may be included to support the movement of the skate beam 50 on the ramp 30.

FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the skate beam 50, taken through two of the belt indexers 56, and FIG. 5B illustrates one of the belts 28. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, each of the belt indexers 56 includes pulleys 29 to apply tension to and rotate the belt 28. The belt 28 includes cleats 28A extending from the outer surface thereof. The distances between the cleats 28A may be varied, such that different portions of the belt 28 can accommodate tubulars 12 of different sizes. For example, a first group of the cleats 28A are each spaced apart a first distance, and a second group of the cleats 28A are each spaced apart a second distance. The first and second distances can be set according to the diameters of different sizes of tubulars 12. In other words, the cleats 28A form grooves in the belt 28, which can be configured according to different tubular diameters. The shape and/or number of the cleats 28A are not particularly limited. The above disclosure also applies to the belt indexers 26.

FIG. 6A illustrates the beam kicker 54 and the skate beam 50. FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view of the beam kicker 54, and FIGS. 6B-6D illustrate side views of the beam kicker 54, while in operation. The skate beam 50 generally includes two of the beam kickers 54, which move the tubulars 12 from the belt indexers 56 to the slot 51. The beam kickers 54 also move the tubulars 12 from the slot 51 to the belt indexers 56.

The beam kickers 54 are disposed within the skate beam 50. The beam kickers 54 each include a cam follower 55 that extends out of the skate beam 50, to raise/lower the tubulars 12 and to move the tubulars 12 into and out of the slot 52 formed in the skate beam 50. However, the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of beam kicker 54.

FIG. 7A illustrates a sectional view of the tail-in-arm 60, and FIG. 7B illustrates the manipulation of a tubular 12 by the tail-in-arm 60. Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tail-in-arm 60 may be pivotably connected to the skate beam 50, at or near the first end of the skate beam 50. The tail-in-arm 60 may include two arms 62 each pivotably connected to the skate beam 50. A roller 64 is shown disposed between the other ends of the arms 62 having an hourglass shape (i.e., decreasing diameter and a minimum diameter at a central axis of the slot 52) so as to help maintain the tubular 12 along the central axis. However, aspects are not limited thereto, as the roller 64 may only be a rod or a connecting member that connects the arms 62 without a specific cross section shape. Alternately, only one arm 62 need to be used in other aspects such that the roller 64 is not connected at both ends. The tail-in-arm 60 may be rotated about the pivotable connection by actuators 66, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The tubulars 12 are delivered to the drilling rig 100 as follows. The ramp 30 is rotated about the pivotable connection to the skid 20 and delivered to a proper position for delivering tubulars 12 to the drilling rig 100 (FIG. 1). Tubulars 12 are picked up from the racks 14 by the belt indexers 26. The belt indexers 26 then move the tubulars 12, which are disposed parallel to the skate beam 50, to the belt indexers 56. The belt indexers 56 then pick up a number of the tubulars 12. The beam kicker 54 moves one of the tubulars 12 stored on the belt indexers 56 to the slot 52, which may be referred to as a staging position. However, the delivery of the tubular 12 to the slot 52 may occur later, such as when the skate beam 50 is moved up the ramp 30, or is disposed in the intermediate configuration (FIG. 2).

The skate beam 50 is next lifted up, so that the first end of the skate beam 50 is sufficiently positioned to deliver the tubulars 12 to the drilling rig 100 (FIG. 3). If the skate lifter 40 is a hydraulic member, the hydraulic member may be compressed, so as to begin the movement of the first end up the ramp 30. If the skate lifter 40 is pivotably and slideably mounted, the skate lifter 40 may move toward the drilling rig, or toward the ramp 30, to begin the movement of the first end up the ramp 30. However, aspects are not limited thereto, such that the skate lifter 40 may be rotated by actuators, while the skate beam 50 is also lifted by actuators. As the skate lifter 40 rotates about the pivotable connection to the skid 20, the first end of the skate beam 50 moves up the ramp 30. Further, as the first end of the skate beam 50 moves up the ramp 30, the second end of the skate beam 50 may be lifted by the skate lifter 40. In this way, the skate beam 50 maintains an angle relative to horizontal that is less than an angle of the ramp 30 relative to horizontal, during the lifting process.

When the first end of the skate beam 50 is disposed to deliver the tubular 12 to the drilling rig 10, the tubular mover 59 moves the tubular 12 toward tail-in-arm 60, where one end of the tubular 12 is connected to a collar (not shown) of the drilling rig 100. The collar secures the tubular 12 and begins to lift the first end of the tubular 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tail-in-arm 60 maintains the roller 64 above the skate beam and engages the tubular 12 when the tubular 12 is largely out of the slot 52. The tail-in-arm 60 then rotates towards the well center.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tail-in-arm 60 is largely maintained parallel with the slot 52 and the tubular 12 slides across the roller 64. When the collar secures the tubular 12, the tail-in-arm 60 is then rotated back to contact and support the tubular 12 with the roller 64. Then, the tail-in-arm 60 is extended from the skate beam 50 and rotated, so as to align the second end of the tubular 12 with the well center of the rig 100 while allowing the end of tubular 12 not secured by the collar to rotate between the arms 62 and the end secured by the collar to roll across the roller 64. The collar then lowers the tubular 12 into the well center. The roller 64 disconnects from one of the arms 62 and rotates about the other of the arms 62, and the tail-in-arm 60 is retracted back toward the skate beam 50. In other words, the disconnection of the roller 64 allows the tubular 12 to pass between the arms 62. Thus, as the tubular 12 is being lowered to the drill center, the tail-in-arm 60 may be contracted back toward the first end of the skate beam 50 to receive a subsequent tubular 12. The tail-in-arm 60 is rotated about the pivotable connection to the skate beam 50. However, the tail-in-arm 60 may be rotated before or after such time, such that the tail-in-arm 60 may rotate while the skate beam 50 is moving up the ramp 30. Moreover, while not required, the tail-in-arm 60 can include a sliding mechanism which allows the arms 62 to extend from the skate beam 60 without further rotating to align the tubular 12 with the well center.

When the skate beam 50 raised to deliver the tubulars 12 to the collar of a drilling rig, the tubulars 12 are sequentially disposed above the roller 64, i.e., the tail-in-arm 60 rotates past a point level with the upper surface of the skate beam 50. When the collar lifts a first end of the tubular 12, a second end of the tubular 12 may be dragged along, or may continue to move along, the skate beam 50. As the tubular 12 is being lifted by the collar, the tail-in-arm 60 may be rotated back toward the tubular 12, so as to contact the tubular before the second end of the tubular 12 loses contact with the skate beam 50.

The next tubular 12 is then delivered to the rig, by repeating the above process, until all of the tubulars 12 disposed in the pipe indexer 26 are connected to the drill string. The tail-in-arm 60 is then rotated back to an original or storage position, and the skate beam 50 is lowered down the ramp 30, by the skate lifter 40 and associated actuators and/or rotational actuators. Then, the belt indexers 56 are loaded with additional tubulars 12, or the ramp 30 is lowered, so the system 10 may be stored or transported.

It is noted that these operations described may occur in different orders or may not occur individually at a time, i.e., some of the processes described may overlap in progression or may occur before or after others described. Further, aspects of the pipe handling system 10 may be controlled manually or using a computer controller. As such, aspects of the invention may be implemented using software and/or firmware executed using one or more processors. Further, the apparatus may include an anti-collision system by which collisions between a loaded tubular 12 or the skate beam 50 or the ramp 30 and the drilling apparatus, or other structure, are prevented.

FIG. 8A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second pipe indexer, which may be substituted for the pipe indexer of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an aspect of the present invention. FIG. 8B illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the second pipe indexer, and FIG. 8C illustrates a perspective view of the portion of the second pipe indexer installed on the skate beam 50, according to aspects of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8C, the second pipe indexer includes: a frame 82; inner loading arms 84 attached to the frame 82; an outer loading arm 86 disposed on a pipe rack 90 and adjacent to the frame 82; and actuators 88 to independently actuate the inner and outer loading arms 84, 86. The second pipe indexer also includes inner and outer pins 92, 94 that extend from the upper surface of the frame 82, and a rack pin 96 extending from the upper surface of the rack 90.

As shown in FIG. 8B, one end of each of the inner loading arms 84 is pivotably attached to the frame 82, such that the inner loading arms 84 are each hinged to a different side of the frame 82. One end of the outer loading arm 86 is hinged to the rack 90, such that the opposing end thereof may be rotated toward the skate beam 50, by a corresponding one of the actuators 88. When the actuators 88 corresponding to the inner loading arms 84 are operated, the inner loading arms 84 are rotated in different directions, with respect to the skate beam 50. Accordingly, as discussed below, the inner loading arms 84 include a loading arm 84A that operates during tubular loading, and a loading arm 84B that operates during tubular unloading.

The center of the frame 82 forms a portion of the slot 52, and the loading arms 84 are configured so as not to interfere with the movement of the tubular mover 59 and tubulars 12 (FIG. 2) there through. The inner pins 92 are disposed adjacent to the slot 52, and the outer pins 94 are disposed adjacent the edges of the skate beam 50. The vertical extension of the pins 92, 94 (away from the upper surface of the skate beam 50) may be adjusted, in accordance with a particular tubular size. In addition, the horizontal position of the pins 92, 94 (in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the skate beam 50) may also be adjusted. Specifically, the outer pins 94 may be disposed on slides 95 that are horizontally, and the inner pins 92 may be disposed in one of several different holes 93 formed in the frame 82. The holes 93 may have different depths, so as to control the vertical extension of the inner pins 92. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, as any suitable adjustment structure can be used.

FIGS. 9A-9G illustrate a method of using the second pipe indexer to load tubulars 12 onto the skate beam 50, according to an aspect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9A, the tubulars 12 are initially disposed on the rack 90 and held in position by the rack pin 96. The inner and outer loading arms 84, 86 are disposed in contracted positions, so as to be generally parallel to the upper surface of the stake beam 50. The location of the rack pin 96 can be set according to the number of tubulars 12 to be loaded onto the outer loading arm 86 at a time. As shown, the rack pin 96 is located to allow four tubulars 12 on the rack 90 to be disposed above the outer loading arm 86.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the outer loading arm 86 is rotated away from the rack 90, thereby elevating the four tubulars 12 disposed thereon. The pin 96 can be retracted, or the outer loading arm 86 can be rotated such that the tubulars 12 are not obstructed by the pin 96. The tubulars 12 then roll toward the inner loading arms 84, which remain flat. In addition, the closest one of the outer pins 94 to the outer loading arm 86 is retracted, so as not to obstruct the tubulars 12. As shown in FIG. 9C, the tubulars 12 are held in position on the skate beam 50, by one of the inner pins 92.

As shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E, the loading arm 84A is rotated, such that the tubulars 12 move until stopped by the other outer pin 94. During this time, the inner pin 92 can be retracted, or the rotation of the inner loading arm 84A can lift the tubulars 12, such that the tubulars 12 are not obstructed by the pin 92. Meanwhile, the outer loading arm 86 is lowered, to allow more of the tubulars 12 to be loaded thereon.

As shown in FIG. 9F, the inner loading arm 84A is retracted, such that one of the inner pins 92 protrudes there above, to secure the tubulars 12. Meanwhile, the outer loading arm 86 is raised, such that the tubulars 12 disposed thereon move to the stake beam 50.

As shown in FIG. 9G, once the tubulars 12 are disposed on the skate beam, the inner and outer pins 92, 94 are extended, such that the tubulars are secured between the outer pins 94 and the inner pins 92. Accordingly, the tubulars 12 are stored on the upper surface of the skate beam 50, where the beam kicker 54 can load the tubulars 12 into the slot 52. While four of the tubulars 12 are shown on each side of the slot 52, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, by adjusting the locations of the inner and outer pins 92, 94, different numbers of the tubulars 12 can be loaded on the skate beam 50.

When unloading the tubulars 12, the above process is reversed, except that the loading arm 84B is actuated, instead of the loading arm 84A. Accordingly, the tubulars 12 can be moved from the skate beam 50 to the rack 90, for storage.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments, without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A pipe handling system for use in handling tubulars, comprising:

a skid;

a ramp rotatably attached to the skid to an end of the skid;

a skate beam having a first surface, a slot formed in the first surface and sized to hold one of the tubulars, a first end that is slidably attached to, and liftable from, the skid, and an opposing second end disposed on the ramp; and

a pipe indexer to store and transport the tubulars simultaneously along the first surface of the skate beam.

2. The pipe handling system of claim 1, wherein the pipe indexer comprises belt indexers disposed on the skate beam, the belt indexers each comprising a cleated belt to transport and store the tubulars.

3. The pipe handling system of claim 2, wherein the pipe indexer comprises a pair of the belt indexers disposed on a first side of the skate beam and a pair of the belt indexers disposed on an opposing second side of the skate beam.

4. The pipe handling system of claim 2, wherein:

the belts each comprise first and second cleats extending from the outer surface thereof;

adjacent ones of the first cleats are space apart by a first distance; and

adjacent ones of the second cleats are spaced apart by a different second distance.

5. The pipe handling system of claim 4, wherein the first distance corresponds to a first tubular diameter and the second distance corresponds to a second tubular diameter.

6. The pipe handling system of claim 2, wherein the belt indexers further comprise pins to selectively prevent the tubulars from rolling off the first surface of the skate beam.

7. The pipe handling system of claim 3, wherein each pair of the belt indexers is physically or electrically connected, such that the belts of each pair of belt indexers are rotated at the same speed.

8. The pipe handling system of claim 2, further comprising secondary belt indexers disposed on the skid, to transport the tubulars between a pipe rack and the belt indexers disposed on the skate beam.

9. The pipe handling system of claim 8, wherein the secondary belt indexers are pivotably attached to the skid, such that the secondary belt indexers can be rotated away from the skid, into a pipe loading position, and rotated toward the skid, into a storage position.

10. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a pipe rest adjustably disposed on the first surface of the skate beam, to support ends of the tubulars stored on the first surface of the skate beam.

11. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a tubular mover to move the tubulars along the slot.

12. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising beam kickers disposed in the skate beam, to move the tubulars between the slot and the pipe indexer.

13. The pipe handling system of claim 1, wherein the beam kickers further comprise cam followers that extend out of the skate beam, to raise and lower the tubulars, to move the tubulars into and out of the slot.

14. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a pipe rack connected to the skid, to store the tubulars,

wherein the pipe indexer comprises: an outer arm connected to the pipe rack, to move the tubulars from the pipe rack to the skate beam; a frame disposed in the skate beam, extending across the slot; a first inner arm connected to the frame, to move the tubulars in a first direction, along the first surface of the skate beam; and a second inner arm connected to the frame, to move the tubulars in an opposing second direction, along the first surface of the skate beam.

15. The pipe handling system of claim 14, wherein:

the first inner arm is pivotably connected to a first side of the skate beam, so as to rotate in a first direction, to move the tubulars away from the outer arm; and

the second inner arm is pivotably connected to an opposing second side of the skate beam, so as to rotate in a second direction, to move the tubulars toward the outer arm.

16. The pipe handling system of claim 14, wherein the pipe indexer further comprises:

inner pins extending from the frame, disposed adjacent to the slot, to prevent the tubulars from rolling into the slot; and

outer pins extending from the frame, disposed adjacent to edges of the skate beam, to prevent the tubulars from rolling off of the skate beam.

17. The pipe handling system of claim 16, wherein the outer pins are retractable, so as not to inhibit the movement of the tubulars onto the skate beam, from the pipe rack, when retracted.

18. The pipe handling system of claim 16, wherein the length of the inner pins is set such that the rotation of the inner arms raises the tubulars above the inner pins, such that the inner pins do not inhibit the movement of the tubulars.

19. The pipe handling system of claim 14, wherein the outer arm is pivotably connected to the pipe rack, so as to rotate away from the pipe rack, to move the tubulars from the pipe rack towards the skate beam.

20. The pipe handling system of claim 19, wherein the pipe indexer further comprises a rack pin extending from the rack above the outer arm, to limit the number of tubulars that can be simultaneously disposed on the rack above the outer arm.

21. The pipe handling system of claim 1, further comprising a tail assembly rotatably connected at an end of the skate beam and having a roller element and which, while one of the tubulars is being lifted from the slot of the skate beam to a vertical orientation over a well center, the tubular slides along the roller element as the tail assembly moves relative to the skate beam to align the tubular with the well center and stops moving when the tubular is centered over the well center.

22. The pipe handling system of claim 21, wherein:

the tail assembly further comprises a first arm on one side of the slot and a second arm on another side of the slot,

the first arm is detachably connected to the roller element,

the second arm is rotatably connected to the roller element, and

when the tubular is over the well center, the roller element detaches from the first arm and rotates about the second arm to release the tubular.

23. A pipe handling system for use with a tubular, comprising:

a skid;

a ramp rotatably attached to the skid to an end of the skid;

a skate beam having a first surface, a slot formed in the first surface and which holds the tubular, a first end that is slidably attached to, and liftable from, the skid, and an opposing second end disposed on the ramp; and

a tail assembly rotatably connected at an end of the skate beam and having a roller element and which, while the tubular is being lifted from the slot of the skate beam to a vertical orientation over a well center, the tubular slides along the roller element as the tail assembly moves relative to the skate beam to align the tubular with the well center.

24. The pipe handling system of claim 23, wherein:

the tail assembly further comprises an arm on one side of the slot and which is rotatably connected to the roller element,

while the tubular is being lifted from the slot of the skate beam to the vertical orientation, the arm rotates towards the well center while the tubular slides along the roller element, and

when the tubular is over the well center, the roller element rotates about the arm to release the tubular.

25. The pipe handling system of claim 24, wherein:

the tail assembly further comprises another arm on another side of the slot and which is detachably connected to the roller element,

while the tubular is being lifted from the slot, an end of the tubular slides between the arm and the another arm, and

when the tubular is over the well center, the roller element detaches from the another arm and rotates about the arm to release the tubular.

26. The pipe handling system of claim 23, wherein:

the tail assembly further comprises an arm on one side of the slot and which is rotatably connected to the roller element,

prior to the tubular being lifted from the slot, the arm is extended towards the well center so as to allow the tubular to roll across the roller while sliding in the slot,

while the tubular is being lifted from the slot, the arm rotates away from the well center while the tubular slides along the roller element, and

when the tubular is over the well center, the roller element rotates about the arm to release the tubular.

27. The pipe handling system of claim 26, wherein:

the tail assembly further comprises another arm on another side of the slot and which is detachably connected to the roller element,

while the tubular is being lifted from the slot, an end of the tubular slides between the arm and the another arm, and

when the tubular is over the well center, the roller element detaches from the another arm and rotates about the arm to release the tubular.

28. The pipe handling system of claim 23, wherein the roller has an hourglass shape with a thin central area which receives the tubular.

29. The pipe handling system of claim 23, wherein prior to the tubular being lifted from the slot, the tubular slides across the roller element, and while the tubular is being raised to the vertical orientation, the tubular slides along the roller element as the tail assembly rotates relative to the well center.

30. The pipe handling system of claim 23, further comprising a pipe indexer to store and transport multiple tubulars simultaneously along the first surface of the skate beam.