WO2000073176B1 - Pipe loading device and method for a directional drilling apparatus - Google Patents

Pipe loading device and method for a directional drilling apparatus

Info

Publication number
WO2000073176B1
WO2000073176B1 PCT/US2000/014124 US0014124W WO0073176B1 WO 2000073176 B1 WO2000073176 B1 WO 2000073176B1 US 0014124 W US0014124 W US 0014124W WO 0073176 B1 WO0073176 B1 WO 0073176B1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipe
drive
transfer member
drilling apparatus
orientation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/014124
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2000073176A3 (en
WO2000073176A2 (en
Inventor
Matthew A Mills
Gregg A Austin
Steven C Erickson
Original Assignee
Vermeer Mfg Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vermeer Mfg Co filed Critical Vermeer Mfg Co
Priority to DE60017390T priority Critical patent/DE60017390T2/en
Priority to EP00932714A priority patent/EP1183439B1/en
Priority to AU50397/00A priority patent/AU5039700A/en
Publication of WO2000073176A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000073176A2/en
Publication of WO2000073176A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000073176A3/en
Publication of WO2000073176B1 publication Critical patent/WO2000073176B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/14—Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole
    • E21B19/15—Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head. The drilling apparatus further includes a magnet for magnetically attracting a pipe received at the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member at least when the pipe member is in the second orientation. The magnet is adapted to magnetically hold the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drive axis while the drive member of the drive head is being coupled to the pipe or uncoupled from the pipe.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 04 May 2001 (04.05.01 ); original claims 19-29 amended; remaining claims unchanged (6 pages)]
1. A drilling apparatus comprising: a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes; a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis; a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis; a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis; a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member de ining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation iv which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head; and a magnet for magnetically attracting a pipe received at the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member at least when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, the magnet being adapted to magnetically hold the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drive axis while the drive member of the drive head is being coupled to the pipe or uncoupled from the pipe.
2. The drilling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is connected to the pipe transfer member at a position adjacent the pipe receiving region.
3. The drilling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is free to float relative to the pipe transfer member.
4. The drilling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the magnet floats in a pivotal motion.
5. The drilling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises an electromagnet.
0. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a switch for causing the magnet to be activated at least when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, and Tor causing the magnet to be de-activated at least when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation.
7. The drilling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pipe receiving region is retracted beneath the magazine when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation.
8. The drilling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, the pipe transfer member defines only a partial pocket at the pipe receiving region, the partial pocket including a closed side positioned opposite from an open side.
9. The drilling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the magnet is connected to the pipe transfer member and is positioned at the closed side of the partial pocket.
10. The drilling apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an assist arm including a pipe stop that opposes the closed side of the partial pocket to form a full pocket when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation.
1.. The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pipe stop docs not oppose the closed side of the partial pocket when the pipe transfer member is moved to the second orientation.
12. The drilling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the assist arm is coupled to a switch that activates and de-activates the magnet.
13. The drilling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet includes a contoured magnetic gripping surface shaped to complement an outer surface of the pipe.
14. The drilling apparatus of claim 13, wherein the contoured magnetic gripping surface has a concave curvature.
15. A method for coupling a pipe to a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus including a drive head havmg a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drilling apparatus also including a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about a drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive head axially along the drive axis, the method comprising: moving the pipe into coaxial alignment with the drive axis; magnetically attracting the pipe against a magnetic gripping surface to hold the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drive axis; and coupling the pipe to the drive member while the pipe is magnetically held in coaxial alignment with the drive axis.
6. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic gripping surface is contoured to complement an outer shape of the pipe.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic gripping surface has a concave curvature.
18. A method for loading a magazine of a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus including a drive head having a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drilling apparatus also including a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about a drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive head axially along the drive axis, the method comprising providing a pipe transfer member having a pipe receiving region; moving the transfer member such that the pipe coupled to the drive member is received in the pipe receiving region; uncoupling the pipe from the drive member; magnetically attracting the uncoupled pipe against a magnetic gripping surface to hold the pipe at the pipe receiving region; moving the pipe transfer member such that the uncoupled pipe is conveved to the maaa7.ιne; and 27 loading the uncoupled pipe into the magazine.
19. A drilling apparatus comprising: a maga .ine for holding a plurality of pipes; a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis; a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis; a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis; a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation •π which the pipe receiving region is positioned beneath the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head; a first holding means for retaining a pipe on the pipe transfer member at least when the pipe transfer member is i the second orientation; and a second holding means that retains a pipe on the pipe transfer member when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation but does not retain the pipe on the pipe transfer member when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation.
20. The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first holding means comprises a suction head.
21. The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first holding means comprises a magnet.
22. The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second holding means includes an assist arm. 28
23. The drilling apparatus of claim 22. wherein the assist arm is moved to a pipe retaining position when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation and is moved to a pipe non-retaimng position when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation.
24. The drilling apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first holding means includes an electromagnet.
25. The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first holding means includes ;ι suction head-
16. The drilling apparatus of claim 22, wherein when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, the pipe transfer member defines only a paπial pocket at the pipe receiving region, the partial pocket including a closed side positioned opposite from an open side.
27. The drilling apparatus of claim 26, wherein the assist arm blocks the open side of the partial pocket when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation.
28. The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first holding means includes an electromagnet positioned adjacent the closed side of the partial pocket.
29. The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first holding means includes a suction head positioned adjacent the closed side of the partial pocket
30. A drilling apparatus comprising: a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes; a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis; a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis; a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis; 29
a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head; a magnet secured to the pipe transfer member, the magnet including a gripping surface positioned to engage a pipe received at the pipe receiving region, wherein when the pipe is attracted against the gripping surface, friction between the pipe and the gripping surface inhibits the pipe from sliding relative to the pipe transfer member along a longitudinal axis of the pipe.
PCT/US2000/014124 1999-05-28 2000-05-23 Pipe loading device and method for a directional drilling apparatus WO2000073176A2 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE60017390T DE60017390T2 (en) 1999-05-28 2000-05-23 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STORING PIPES FOR A DIRECTION DRILLING DEVICE
EP00932714A EP1183439B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2000-05-23 Pipe loading device and method for a directional drilling apparatus
AU50397/00A AU5039700A (en) 1999-05-28 2000-05-23 A pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/321,988 1999-05-28
US09/321,988 US6332502B1 (en) 1999-05-28 1999-05-28 Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000073176A2 WO2000073176A2 (en) 2000-12-07
WO2000073176A3 WO2000073176A3 (en) 2001-08-09
WO2000073176B1 true WO2000073176B1 (en) 2001-09-07

Family

ID=23252915

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/014124 WO2000073176A2 (en) 1999-05-28 2000-05-23 Pipe loading device and method for a directional drilling apparatus

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US6332502B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1183439B1 (en)
AU (1) AU5039700A (en)
DE (1) DE60017390T2 (en)
WO (1) WO2000073176A2 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6533046B2 (en) 2003-03-18
EP1183439A2 (en) 2002-03-06
US20020079137A1 (en) 2002-06-27
US6332502B1 (en) 2001-12-25
WO2000073176A3 (en) 2001-08-09
WO2000073176A2 (en) 2000-12-07
DE60017390D1 (en) 2005-02-17
AU5039700A (en) 2000-12-18
EP1183439B1 (en) 2005-01-12
DE60017390T2 (en) 2006-01-19

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