Pivoting Pipe Handler for Tender Assisted Drilling Rigs

Abstract

A pivoting pipe handler for tender assisted drilling rigs is provided that includes a main support structure configured for attaching to a drilling rig at an angle between a drilling rig floor at an upper and a lower platform adjacent thereto. The pipe handler includes a V-door that is pivotally attached to the main support structure at an upper end and further includes an elevating mechanism to raise the lower end of the V-door so that the V-door can move from an inclined position to a horizontal position. The V-door can further include a pipe carrier slidably disposed thereon to extend outwardly from the V-door to the drilling rig floor. The V-door can also include pipe indexers to move tubulars from a storage area on the V-door onto the pipe carrier in addition to pipe kickers to eject tubulars from the pipe carrier to the storage area.

Description

PRIORITY STATEMENT & CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/328,425 entitled “Pivoting Pipe Handler for Tender Assisted Drilling Rigs” and filed on Apr. 27, 2010; which is hereby incorporated for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is related to the field of pipe handlers, in particular, pipe handlers for tender assisted drilling rigs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use pipe handlers on land-based drilling rigs. The pipe handler described in U.S. Publication No. 2006/0285941 is a land rig type handler and shows the use of a pipe carrier to extend over the drill rig floor to deliver and receive tubulars or sections of drill pipe to the well bore, however, the system in whole is designed for a land rig, and is not suitable for use on a tender assisted drilling rig (“TAD”); it is designed to be loaded from horizontal pipe racks instead of from a high-line.

There are other similar systems to U.S. Publication No. 2006/0285941 available commercially, which are also designed to be loaded in the same fashion. The pipe handler described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,228,919, and in U.S. Publication No. 2007/0240884 has a stationary horizontal V-door with a pivotally mounted section designed to deliver single tubulars vertically to a stand building device. It is not adapted to deliver tubulars horizontally over the drill rig floor by mechanical means to the pick-up elevators. It also does not pivot to receive a bundle of multiple tubulars from the high-line at an inclined angle.

U.S. Publication No. 2009/0136326 describes a system that can move tubulars directly from the tender vessel to the vertical orientation in the mast of the drilling rig derrick directly in line with the well bore. This system bypasses the V-door entirely in its movement and operation, however, since by design it can only move a single tubular at a time between the tubular storage location on the tender vessel and the rig, it directly links the horizontal pipe handling to the critical path of rig operations when running in or pulling pipe out of the well bore. It does not have the tubular storage or staging capability of a V-door that allows rig operations to be not critically dependent on the horizontal tubular movement operations to or from the tender vessel.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a pipe handler that overcomes the shortcomings in the prior art for use on tender assisted drilling rigs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pivoting pipe handler for tender assisted drilling rigs is provided. In one embodiment, the pipe handler can comprise an entire V-door that is pivotally mounted, powered and controlled by electromechanical means whereby the V-door can be inclined at a predetermined angle to receive bundles of tubulars from a high-line mechanism that transports the tubulars from a tender vessel to the pipe handler. The V-door can then rotate upwards to a substantially horizontal position to facilitate a safer orientation and position for the manual work in disconnecting and unbundled the tubular payload. The V-door angle can be adjusted for optimal delivery and retrieval of tubulars to the pick up elevators at the well bore. In another embodiment, the V-door can comprise a pipe carrier, which can be powered to cantilever over the drill rig floor to the optimal working position for latching or unlatching the pick up elevators on the tubulars. In another embodiment, the V-door can comprise pipe handling devices that can push the tubulars off of the pipe carrier, or at one at a time onto the carrier to facilitate pick up and lay down operations. All of the devices can be electrically powered and controlled from a remote operator station at a safe vantage point. The V-door can also comprise a walkway along its length to provide an operator with a safe walking space when performing the manual functions connecting or disconnecting the tubular payload from the high-line.

In some embodiments, a pipe handler is provided for a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the pipe handler comprising: a main support structure having upper and lower ends, the upper end configured to operatively coupled to the drilling rig near the drilling rig floor, the lower end configured to operatively couple to the lower platform wherein the main support structure is disposed at an incline thereto; a V-door operatively coupled to the main support structure, the V-door comprising an upper end pivotally attached to the upper end of the main support structure; means for elevating the lower end of the V-door operatively disposed between the main support structure and the V-door; and a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door, the pipe carrier configured to extend from a seated position to an extended position that places the pipe carrier nearer the drilling rig floor.

In some embodiments, a method is provided for handling tubulars on a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the method comprising the steps of: providing the pipe handler of claim 1 disposed between the drilling rig floor and the lower platform; delivering a plurality of tubulars to the pipe handler from a tender vessel using a high-line mechanism and placing the tubulars in a storage area on a V-door disposed on the pipe handler; moving the V-door to a substantially horizontal position relative to the drilling rig floor; indexing one tubular onto a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door; extending the pipe carrier towards the drilling rig floor; and pushing the tubular along the pipe carrier further towards the drilling rig floor with a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier wherein the tubular can be presented for connection with a drill string.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view depicting a drilling rig with a pipe handler and a high-line mechanism for delivering tubulars to the pipe handler;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the pipe handler of FIG. 1 with its V-door in a horizontal position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view depicting the piper handler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view depicting the piper handler of FIG. 3 with its V-door in a horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view depicting the piper handler of FIG. 4 with its V-door in a horizontal position and its pipe carrier extended towards the drilling rig floor;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view depicting the piper handler of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view depicting the V-door of the pipe handler of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view depicting a tubular being ejected from the pipe carrier of the V-door of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view depicting an indexer moving a tubular onto the pipe carrier of the V-door of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view depicting alternate embodiments of the kicker of FIG. 8 and the indexer of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an end elevation cross-section view depicting the kicker of FIG. 10 ejecting a tubular from the trough of the pipe carrier;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation cross-section view depicting the kicker of FIG. 10 retracted;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation cross-section view depicting the indexer of FIG. 10 indexing a tubular into the trough of the pipe carrier;

FIG. 14 is a perspective bottom view depicting the pipe carrier mechanism of the V-door of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective top cut-away view depicting the skate mechanism of the V-door of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A pivoting pipe handler for tender assisted drilling rigs is provided. Referring to FIG. 1, pivoting pipe handler 25 is shown disposed on drilling rig 30 at an incline between drilling rig floor 32 and lower platform 36. In this illustration, tubulars 34 are being delivered to pipe handler 25 from a tender (not shown) using high-line mechanism 13, which is a well-known mechanism to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of pipe handler 25 is shown with V-door 2 in a horizontal position. In this embodiment, pipe handler 25 can comprise main support structure 1 further comprising V-door 2 pivotally attached to the upper end of main support structure 1. Lower end 38 of V-door 2 can be raised with an elevating mechanism or means for elevating lower end 38. In some embodiments, the elevating mechanism can comprise lift arm 7 pivotally attaching at an upper end thereof to V-door 2, and a lower end thereof slidably disposed on main support structure 1, as well known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the lower end of lift arm 7 can be slidably disposed in roller channels 14 disposed on main support structure 1. In this embodiment, lift arm 7 can comprise horizontal crosshead 9 having rollers disposed in roller channels 14. Crosshead 9 can further comprise roller screw nut disposed thereon for receiving roller screw 6 that, in turn, is operatively coupled to motor 10 disposed at a lower end of main support structure 1. When motor 10 operates, roller screw 6 can turn clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on whether lower end 38 of V-door 2 is to be raised or lowered. When lower end 38 is to be raised, motor 10 is operated to turn roller screw 6 in the direction that causes the lower end of lift arm 7 to move upwards in roller channels 14. In so doing, the upper end of lift arm 7 raises causing lower end 38 of V-door 2 to pivot upwards until V-door 2 is in a substantially horizontal position. To lower V-door 2, motor 10 is operated in the opposite direction to cause the lower end of lift arm 7 to move downwards along roller channels 14 until V-door 2 is seated within main support structure 1. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that other suitable and equivalent mechanism can be used to elevate and lower lower end 38 of V-door 2.

In other embodiments, motor 10 can be operated with reducer 12 to lower the rotational speed of motor 10, which can also have the effect of increasing the torque applied to roller screw 6 by motor 10. Couplers 11 can also be used to couple motor 10 to reducer 12, and to couple reducer 12 to roller screw 6.

In this illustrated embodiment, the lower end of main support structure 1 can be coupled to lower platform 36 with coupling tabs 21. In other embodiments, pipe handler 25 can comprise stairwell 16 to allow personnel to move between drilling rig floor 32 and lower platform 36. Pipe handler 25 can also comprise walkway 15 disposed on V-door to allow personnel to move along V-door 2 when it is in a substantially horizontal position.

In this illustrated embodiment, V-door 2 can further comprise pipe carrier 3 that can be slidably disposed on V-door 2 such that it can slidably extend from V-door 2 towards drilling rig floor 32. In other embodiments pipe carrier 3 can also comprise skate 4 slidably disposed thereon. Skate 4 can further slide along pipe carrier 3. V-door 2 can also comprise pipe indexers 5 that can move or “index” tubulars from storage area 40 on V-door 2 onto pipe carrier 3. In some embodiments, V-door 2 can comprise two or more pipe indexers 5 disposed on the off-driller side of V-door 2. In some embodiments, V-door 2 can further comprise two or more kicker mechanisms 44 disposed on the on-driller side of V-door 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, V-door 2 of pipe handler 25 is shown in an inclined position. Referring to FIG. 4, V-door 2 has been elevated by lift arm 7 so that V-door 2 is now in a substantially horizontal position. Referring to FIG. 5, pipe carrier 3 has been extended from V-door 2 towards drilling rig floor 32.

Referring to FIG. 6, a top view of pipe handler 25 is shown. In this figure, V-door 2 is in a substantially horizontal position with tubular 34 positioned on pipe carrier 3, which is shown in a retracted position on V-door 2. A plurality of tubulars 34 are also shown in storage area 40.

Referring to FIG. 7, a tubular 34 is shown sitting on elongate indentation 20 disposed on the top surface of pipe carrier 3. A plurality of tubulars 34 are also shown sitting on inclined surface 19 of storage area 40 of V-door 2.

In one embodiment, a tubular can be ejected from the pipe carrier. Referring to FIG. 8, a tubular 34 is shown being ejected from pipe carrier 3 onto inclined surface 19 by pipe kicker arm 17 that can be extended from kicker mechanism 44. Kicker arm 17 can further comprise kicker roller 22 that can roll on top of pipe carrier 3. In another embodiment, kicker arm 17 can pivot about pivot point 23.

In another embodiment, a tubular can be indexed onto the pipe carrier. Referring to FIG. 9, a tubular 34 is pushed, or “indexed”, onto trough 20 disposed on pipe carrier 3 by pipe indexer 5 pushing tubulars 34 up inclined surface 19 until a tubular 34 is seated in trough 20 on pipe carrier 3.

In operation, and referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, tubulars 34 can be delivered to pipe handler 25 from a tender vessel (not shown) using high-line mechanism 13. Tubulars 34 delivered to pipe handler 25 can be placed in storage area 40 of V-door 2. Tubulars 34 can then be presented to drilling rig floor 32 by raising V-door 2 to a substantially horizontal position, indexing a tubular 34 onto pipe carrier 3 with pipe indexer 5, extending pipe carrier 3 towards drilling rig floor 32 and pushing tubular 34 along pipe carrier 3 with skate 4 further towards drilling rig floor 32 so that the tubular 34 can be tripped into the drill string as well known to those skilled in the art. This operation can be reversed to trip tubulars 34 out of the drill string by placing tubulars 34 on extended pipe carrier 3, retracting pipe carrier 3 into V-door 2 and ejecting tubulars 34 off of pipe carrier 3 with kicker 17 towards storage area 40. Lower end 38 of V-door 2 can then be lowered to the inclined position so that tubulars 38 can be delivered to the tender vessel using high-line mechanism 13.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13, alternate embodiments of indexer 5 and kicker mechanism 44 are shown. In some embodiments, kicker mechanism 44 can comprise kicker arm 17 operatively coupled to attachment plate 60 that can extend through slot 61 and attach or clamp to drive belt 54. In some embodiments, kicker arm 17 can comprise two rollers 22: one rotatably disposed on kicker arm 17 itself and one rotatably disposed on pivoting arm 74 pivotally attached to kicker arm 17. Kicker arm 17 can further comprise guide block 70 slidably disposed on guide shaft or rail 66 wherein kicker arm 17 can extend from and retract into kicker mechanism 44 as guide block 70 moves along guide shaft or rail 66. Kicker drive belt 54 can pass over idler pulleys 58 and be driven by drive pulley 56. Drive pulley 56 can be operated by kicker drive motor 62, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. As kicker drive belt 54 is moved clockwise or counter clockwise by motor 62 operating drive pulley 56, kicker arm 17 can be extended from or retracted into kicker mechanism 44, respectively. Referring to FIG. 11, kicker arm 17 is shown being extended from kicker mechanism 44 to push tubular 34 from trough 20 onto inclined surface 19. Referring to FIG. 12, kicker arm 17 has been retracted into kicker mechanism 44 and tubular 34 is disposed on inclined surface 19.

In some embodiments, indexer 5 can comprise push block 46 operatively coupled to attachment plate 51 that can extend through slot 49 and attach or clamp to drive belt 48. In some embodiments, push block 46 can extend through slot 45. Push block 46 can further comprise guide block 72 slidably disposed on guide shaft or rail 68 wherein push block 46 can move along inclined surface 19 as guide block 72 moves along guide shaft or rail 68. Indexer drive belt 48 can pass over idler pulleys 52 and be driven by drive pulley 50. Drive pulley 50 can be operated by indexer drive motor 64, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. As indexer drive belt 48 is moved counter clockwise or clockwise by motor 64 operating drive pulley 50, push block 46 can be moved towards or from trough 20, respectively. Referring to FIG. 13, push block 46 is illustrated pushing tubular 34 up inclined surface 19 towards trough 20 wherein tubular 34 can be pushed or “indexed” into trough 20. In some embodiments, indexer 5 and kicker mechanism 44 can comprise some or all of the elements of the indexer/kicker disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2010/001186 having International Publication Number WO 2011/011887 A1, which is incorporated into this application by reference in its entirety.

Referring to FIG. 14, an embodiment of the mechanism that can be used for operating pipe carrier 3 is illustrated. In some embodiments, pipe carrier 3 can comprise a chain or belt and pulley system to extend and retract pipe carrier 3 within V-door 2. In some embodiments, pipe carrier 3 can comprise guide rails 78 that can travel along guide slots 80. In further embodiments, pipe carrier 3 can comprise slider pads 82 disposed underneath thereunder that can slide along the frame of V-door 2. Slider pads 82 can be comprised of a low-friction material as well known to those skilled in the art, such as Teflon, high-density polyethylene plastic or any other functional equivalent material. To move pipe carrier 3 within V-door 2, pipe carrier 3 can comprise chain 94 anchored at front anchor point 88 and rear anchor point 96. Chain 94 can pass over idler sprockets 84 and drive sprocket 86. Gear motor 92, operatively attached to gear motor mount 90 disposed underneath V-door 2 can rotate drive sprocket 86 to move pipe carrier 3 in and out of V-door 2. In other embodiments, a belt or wire rope or other functionally equivalent mechanism as well known to those skilled in the art can be substituted for chain 94. In some embodiments, pipe carrier 3 can further comprise pipe roller 76 rotatably attached thereto to allow pipe or tubulars to move on and off of pipe carrier 3.

Referring to FIG. 15, one embodiment of the mechanism that can be used for operating skate 4 on pipe carrier 3 is illustrated. In some embodiments, the operating mechanism for skate 4 can comprise gear motor 108 operatively disposed within pipe carrier 3. Gear motor 108 can rotate drive sprocket 106 that can, in turn, rotate drum sprocket 102 and capstan drum 100 via chain 104. Capstan drum 100 can reel in and out wire rope 110 that can pass over idler sheave 98 disposed near pipe roller 76, and can further pass over idler sheave and tensioner 112 and attach to skate rudder 116 via open spelter sockets 114 disposed thereon. Upon operation of gear motor 108, wire rope 110 can pull skate 4 along skate slot 118 disposed on trough 20 to push pipe or tubulars along pipe carrier 3.

While the illustrated embodiments of kicker mechanism 44 and indexer 5 can comprise belts and pulleys, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that belts 48 and 54, and pulleys 50, 52, 56 and 58, can be replaced with functional equivalents. These equivalents can comprise chains and sprockets, cables and pulleys, intermeshing gears, rack and pinion gears or any combinations thereof. The operating mechanisms of pipe carrier 3 and skate 4 can also be suitably substituted with such functionally equivalent mechanisms as listed above. It is also obvious to those skilled in the art that motors 62, 64, 92 and 108 can be electric motors of any applicable variant, such as AC fixed frequency motors, AC variable frequency motors, DC motors, stepper motors or any other functionally equivalent motor including, but not limited to, hydraulic motors or pneumatic motors. In some embodiments, one or more of motors 62, 64, 92 and 108 can comprise a transmission or gear reducer to reduce or step down the rotation speed of the motors, respectively. In some embodiments, motors 62, 64, 92 and 108 can comprise internal or external transmissions or gear reducers that can comprise worm gear mechanisms, planetary gear mechanisms, intermeshing gear mechanisms, ring and pinion gear mechanisms, any combinations thereof or any other functionally equivalent mechanisms as known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the control and operation of one or more of kicker mechanism 44, indexer 5 and the operating mechanisms of pipe carrier 3 and skate 4 can further comprise operational controls (not shown) that can permit the manual operation of one or more kicker mechanisms 44 and/or indexers 5 in tandem to move kicker arm 17 in and out of kicker mechanism 44, to move push block 46 along inclined surface 19, to move pipe carrier 3 in and out of V-door 2 and to move skate 4 along trough 20. If one or more of motors 62, 64, 92 and 108 comprise electric motors, then the controls can comprise an electrical control panel to control the operation of the motors as known to those skilled in the art. If one or more of motors 62, 64, 92 and 108 comprise hydraulic or pneumatic motors, then the controls can comprise hydraulic or pneumatic control systems as known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, one or more of kicker mechanism 44, indexer 5 and the operating mechanisms of pipe carrier 3 and skate 4 can further comprise at least one automated control mechanism (not shown), such as general purpose computers, programmable logic controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, hydraulic fluid control systems, pneumatic control systems or other functionally equivalents systems as known to those skilled in the art to monitor, control and operate one or more of kicker mechanism 44, indexer 5 and the operating mechanisms of pipe carrier 3 and skate 4, singly or in tandem, manually or as part of an automated system.

In some embodiments, one or more of kicker mechanism 44, indexer 5 and the operating mechanisms of pipe carrier 3 and skate 4 can comprise one or more position sensors disposed thereon that can be operatively connected to a control system, as known to those skilled in the art (not shown), the sensors can be configured to monitor the position and movement of kicker arm 17, push block 46, pipe carrier 3 or skate 4, respectively, for use in the control and operation of kicker mechanism 44, indexer 5, pipe carrier 3 or skate 4. Suitable examples can include motion detectors or rotary encoders disposed thereon that can be monitored by a control system, or disposed within one or more of motors 62, 64, 92 and 108. Other examples can include one or more of electro-optical and magnetic components, as known to those skilled in the art, operatively connected to a control system.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A pipe handler for a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the pipe handler comprising:

a main support structure having upper and lower ends, the upper end configured to operatively coupled to the drilling rig near the drilling rig floor, the lower end configured to operatively couple to the lower platform wherein the main support structure is disposed at an incline thereto;

a V-door operatively coupled to the main support structure, the V-door comprising an upper end pivotally attached to the upper end of the main support structure;

means for elevating the lower end of the V-door operatively disposed between the main support structure and the V-door; and

a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door, the pipe carrier configured to extend from a seated position to an extended position that places the pipe carrier nearer the drilling rig floor.

2. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elevating means comprises a lift arm further comprising upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotally attached to the V-door, the lower end slidably disposed on the main support structure.

3. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lift arm further comprises a roller screw nut for receiving a roller screw operatively coupled to a motor for rotating the roller screw.

4. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pipe carrier further comprises a trough for receiving pipe thereon.

5. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier.

6. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pipe indexer configured to move tubulars from a storage area disposed on the V-door onto the pipe carrier.

7. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 6, wherein the pipe indexer comprises a plurality of pipe pushers slidably disposed in the storage area.

8. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pipe kicker configured to move tubulars from the pipe carrier to a storage area disposed on the V-door.

9. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pipe kicker comprises a plurality of kicker mechanisms, each kicker mechanism comprising a kicker arm.

10. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 9, wherein each kicker arm further comprises a kicker roller configured to roll on top of the pipe carrier.

11. A method for handling tubulars on a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pipe handler disposed between the drilling rig floor and the lower platform, the pipe handler comprising: i) a main support structure having upper and lower ends, the upper end configured to operatively coupled to the drilling rig near the drilling rig floor, the lower end configured to operatively couple to the lower platform wherein the main support structure is disposed at an incline thereto, ii) a V-door operatively coupled to the main support structure, the V-door comprising an upper end pivotally attached to the upper end of the main support structure, iii) means for elevating the lower end of the V-door operatively disposed between the main support structure and the V-door, and iv) a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door, the pipe carrier configured to extend from a seated position to an extended position that places the pipe carrier nearer the drilling rig floor;

b) delivering a plurality of tubulars to the pipe handler from a tender vessel using a high-line mechanism and placing the tubulars in a storage area on a V-door disposed on the pipe handler;

c) moving the V-door to a substantially horizontal position relative to the drilling rig floor;

d) indexing one tubular onto a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door;

e) extending the pipe carrier towards the drilling rig floor; and

f) pushing the tubular along the pipe carrier further towards the drilling rig floor with a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier wherein the tubular can be presented for connection with a drill string.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the elevating means comprises a lift arm further comprising upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotally attached to the V-door, the lower end slidably disposed on the main support structure.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the lift arm further comprises a roller screw nut for receiving a roller screw operatively coupled to a motor for rotating the roller screw.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pipe carrier further comprises a trough for receiving pipe thereon.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pipe handler further comprises a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier.

16. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pipe handler further comprises a pipe indexer configured to move tubulars from a storage area disposed on the V-door onto the pipe carrier.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the pipe indexer comprises a plurality of pipe pushers slidably disposed in the storage area.

18. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pipe handler further comprises a pipe kicker configured to move tubulars from the pipe carrier to a storage area disposed on the V-door.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the pipe kicker comprises a plurality of kicker mechanisms, each kicker mechanism comprising a kicker arm.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein each kicker arm further comprises a kicker roller configured to roll on top of the pipe carrier.