Abstract: A powered unit with a reeving system for supporting a load associated with operation of the powered unit. The reeving system has a first cylinder with a first rod movingly disposed therein. There is a movable sheave spreader engaged with the first rod, and having a first spreader sheave, the movable sheave spreader also movably engaged with the powered unit.

Abstract: A sonic tooling handling apparatus includes a gantry support structure with a base frame structure and an overhead frame structure operatively coupled to the base frame structure. The overhead frame structure has a pair of longitudinal beams and a transverse beam coupled to the pair of longitudinal beams. The transverse beam is movable along each of the pair of longitudinal beams. The gantry support structure includes a lifting device coupled to the transverse beam and is movable along part of the transverse beam. The lifting device includes a sonic tooling clamp. The lifting device may raise or lower sonic tooling held by the sonic tooling clamp. The sonic tooling apparatus further includes a removable sonic tooling holding rack having a plurality of stanchions creating at least one sonic tooling holding space for holding sonic tooling. A method of handling sonic tooling and a pipe tong is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ground drilling device having a drilling carriage, which defines a drill string axis, a rod magazine for a plurality of different rod sections and a transfer device for the transfer of a rod section between the rod magazine and the drill string axis, wherein the rod magazine is adapted for a horizontal arrangement of the rod sections in adjacent compartments for access by means of the transfer device from above, wherein a control unit of the transfer device is designed to select a particular rod section in the rod magazine depending on at least one borehole parameter and/or at least one rod section parameter.

Abstract: An autonomous roof bolter includes a material handling system having a storage pod with a plurality of spaced, fixed holders, each receiving at least one of a plurality of roof bolts. A guidance system may automatically guide the roof bolter to a location for installing a roof bolt, such as by using a manipulator for retrieving the roof bolt from the storage pod and delivering it to a drill mast. The guidance provided by the guidance system may be distance or direction. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a catwalk system that includes a base, a plurality of columns extending from the base, where each of the plurality of columns is rigid in an erected position, and a carriage and trough assembly configured to translate along the plurality of columns to lift a tubular element from a lowered position to a raised position in a substantially horizontal orientation, where the plurality of columns is configured to remain stationary as the carriage and trough assembly is translated from the lowered position to the raised position.

Abstract: A handling device for handling drill string components in a rock drill rig which includes a rotator device being arranged for rotation and driving of a drill string component and being supported movable to and fro on a feed beam. The handling device includes an introducing unit configured to introduce drill string components into respectively remove drill string components from a drill string position of the rock drill rig. A guiding beam includes a longitudinal guide. A gripper shuttle is drivingly displaceable along the longitudinal guide. The gripper shuttle includes a pivotally arranged guiding gripper for gripping a first end region of a drill string component. The gripper shuttle carries a drive motor for driving a drive wheel. The drive wheel is disengageable to allow essentially free movement of the gripper shuttle along the longitudinal guide. Also, a rock drill rig.

Abstract: A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.

Abstract: A drive system for a catwalk skate that uses a hydraulic skate-cable drive system. The system includes two counteracting hydraulic cylinders, each with a sheave connected to the cylinder rods, and a cable that winds around each of the sheaves and connects to both ends of the skate.

Abstract: Equipment for moving tubular members from a storage rack to an elevated platform floor and back to the storage rack is disclosed. A base-mounted articulated support structure has a pipe trough mounted on top thereof. The support structure elevates the trough using a pair of struts and a plurality of articulated lifting arms mounted between the base and the support structure. Loading arms are secured to a side of the pivotal trough for picking up one tubular member from the rack and moving to the platform floor. Unloading arms detachably securable to the trough facilitate movement of the tubular members from the platform floor onto the rack.

Abstract: A system for delivering a downhole tubular from a rack at an oilfield surface to a rig floor thereat. The system includes a trough for accommodating the tubular that is slidably engaged with a lift frame in a sledded fashion. Thus, for delivery of the tubular, the trough may be sleddingly extended from the lift frame. That is, as opposed to a roller type of coupling between the trough and tubular, a sledded coupling is utilized that may require comparatively less maintenance and mobilization time. This may be particularly the case where lighter weight tubulars of less than about 1,000 lbs., preferably under about 500 lbs., are being delivered.

Abstract: A pipe handling catwalk is provided for moving tubulars or pipe to and from a work floor of well drilling or service rigs. The catwalk includes a variable height V-door for guiding pipe to the work floor. The V-door is made of a series of sequential pivotally attached segments that can extend from, and retract into, the catwalk at an angle relative to the catwalk along a guide track disposed at an end of the catwalk.

Abstract: A kicker/indexer is provided for a pipe handler for moving pipe to and from the drill floor of a drilling rig. The kicker/indexer includes a frame that is configured to attach to a catwalk, a push block drive assembly for receiving and pushing pipe towards a trough located on the catwalk, and a kicker drive assembly for pushing pipe out of the trough. A pipe handler is provided that includes a catwalk attached to a lower frame with a pair of scissor-legs and a trough nested therein, the trough having an end that can be raised and moved towards the drill floor. The trough can further have a skate slidably disposed thereon to pushing pipe on the trough towards to the drill floor.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in delivering tubulars to an elevated work area is described. A slideway for receiving a tubular is mounted on the leading end of an extendable carriage. The opposing end of the carriage is pivotally fixed to a frame assembly. Extension of the carriage drives the leading end towards a work area. A carriage support ramp receives the leading end of the carriage as it is extended, and guides the leading end towards the elevated work area for discharge of the tubular from the slideway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pipe handling assembly is disclosed. A pipe handling assembly is provided that has a pusher member, trough, and elevation feature. A pipe component is transported from a first position of the trough to a second position with the pusher member. The pipe component is elevated to a predetermined height through engagement with the elevation feature that is stationary during the pipe component's movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a tubular to a well center, which apparatus comprises means which, in use, inhibit swinging motion of the tubular while it is suspended from an elevator.

Abstract: A pipe handling catwalk comprising: a deck including an upper surface, a first end, an opposite end and a tubular support surface on the upper surface, the tubular support surface being elongate and extending between the first end and the opposite end; a deck guide including a wall extending up from the deck upper surface and drivable along tubular support surface of the deck; a ramp mounted on the deck adjacent its first end and positionable extending at an angle from the deck; a carrier connected to the ramp to remain on the ramp and being moveable such that an end thereof can be lifted away from the ramp to reduce the inclination of the carrier relative to the angle of the ramp, the carrier including an upper surface and a tubular retaining surface thereon extending along the carrier substantially in line with the tubular support surface of the deck; and a carrier guide including an upstanding tubular engaging surface extending up from the carrier upper surface and drivable along tubular retaining surface

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for moving a tubular member to and from an elevated drilling rig floor. A support structure has an elongate indentation in its upper surface. A ramp assembly comprises telescoping assemblies having nested tubular elements extendable between retracted and deployed positions, thus forming a guide extending from the elongate indentation towards the drilling rig floor. Indexers may urge the tubular member towards or away from the elongate indentation. Kickers may urge the tubular member into or out of the elongate indentation, and may be operable via actuators which also operate the indexers.

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.

Abstract: A pipe handling system is disclosed with an elongated base that is dimensioned to receive and support a movable tray in a position parallel to the base with at least two degrees of freedom of movement. The movable tray is also dimensioned to receive at least one section of pipe, and one end of the movable tray is separable from the base with a pipe positioner slidably disposed in the movable tray for transporting pipe and with a loader disposed adjacent to the movable tray that receives and feeds a section of pipe into the tray. The pipe handling system may include a movable tray having at least three degrees of freedom of movement The pipe handling system may include loaders that are extendable from the base.

Abstract: A trailer-mounted pipe-handling apparatus has an elongate cradle swivelable about a longitudinal swivel axis for loading or offloading pipe at a well site. With the cradle horizontal, and swiveled into a loading position, loading arms receive a pipe from a loading rack, whereupon kicker members move the pipe from the loading arms into the cradle. With the cradle swiveled into a neutral position supporting the pipe, a swing arm raises one end of the cradle while simultaneously drawing its other end horizontally along a base track, thus placing the cradle in a tilted configuration. The raised end of the pipe can thus be positioned above the floor of a drilling rig or service rig for connection to the rig hoist, which can then lift the pipe out of the cradle. Pipe may be removed from the well using a similar, reverse procedure. The rig hoist positions a removed pipe in the tiltingly elevated cradle, which is then lowered to the horizontal position.

Abstract: This application relates to a pipe storage and handling system having a stationary frame, a tilting frame moveably coupled to the stationary frame, a pipe rack moveably coupled to the tilting frame and an arm. The pipe rack includes a storage end configured to support a plurality of pipes. The tilting frame includes a loading end and is moveable between a loading position where the loading end is positioned at a higher elevation than the storage end and an unloading position wherein the storage end is positioned at a higher elevation than the loading end. The system includes an arm to engage a single pipe and move the single pipe onto or off of the tilting frame. The pipe rack may move the pipes vertically relative to the tilting frame. The pipe rack may support a cartridge for retaining the pipes. The system may include a pipe erector.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: Stands (43) of multiple lengths of drill pipe, for oil and gas drilling are individually supported in a storage bin (28, 29) in an array of plural layers of plural numbers of stands. The individual stands are held in cooperating notches (41, 42) in vertically aligned support sleepers (38, 39) so that each stand experiences loads due only to its own weight and motions of a bin frame (13) where, as preferred, the frame is supported on a drillship deck (12). Sleepers between stand layers are indexable between positions in the array and outside the array. A bridge crane (32, 33) spans the length of the bin and is moveable transversely above it. The bridge crane carries vertically movable magnetic lifting heads (47) for lifting, holding and releasing an individual pipe stand. The crane can move a stand between a supported position in the bin array and a supported position on a power-driven carriage (18, 49) which is movable along a path along an upper part of a side of the bin (28, 29).

Abstract: The trailer is operative to carry tubulars (drill collars or drill pipe) to a service rig and raise them to the level of the rig floor so that the rig elevators can latch onto them and stand them up in the derrick. The trailer has a roller-equipped carriage operative to move along tracks supported by and extending lengthwise of the trailer frame. An elongate flat bed is pivotally mounted at its front end to the trailer frame. The bed's rear end can be raised by a scissor hoist connected between the carriage and the rear end of the bed. The bed has grooves extending lengthwise thereof in which the tubulars sit. Thus the trailer can be backed up to within a few feet from the well. The rear end of the bed can be raised and the carriage and bed can be advanced rearwardly to bring the rear ends of the tubulars within reach of the rig elevators.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a tubular (9) to a well centre, which apparatus comprises means (13, 14) which, in use, inhibit swinging motion of the tubular (9) whilst it is suspended from an elevator.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for transporting a joint of pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A drive unit (1) for a subsoil drilling rig comprises a drive unit (5), an engagement unit (12) for releasably engaging a tube section (13) extending therefrom in a drilling direction and a gripper (15) movable relative to the engagement unit (12) between a first position for gripping a tube engaged by the engagement unit (12) and a second position for gripping a tube section (13) in a transfer position. Supplied tube sections (13) can be handled reliably and movements of supplied tube section (13) can be controlled accurately. Co-ordination of positions and movements between the supplied tube sections (13) and the drive unit (1) is simplified. A drilling rig incorporating such a drive unit (1) and a method employing such a drive unit (1) are described as well.