Tubular slip device and method

Abstract

A tubular handling device. The device includes a first slip having an arcuate inner face that has a first longitudinally disposed slot and a first ledge therein. A second slip is connected to the first slip, with the second slip having an arcuate inner face that has a second longitudinally disposed slot and a second ledge therein. A third slip is connected to the second slip, with the third slip having an arcuate inner face that has a third longitudinally disposed slot and a third ledge therein. The device further comprises a first insert having a first shoulder is configured to fit within the first ledge, and wherein the first insert is capable of transferring a load from the first shoulder to the first ledge. A second insert having a second shoulder is configured to fit within the second ledge and wherein the second insert is capable of transferring the load from the second shoulder to the second ledge. A third insert having a third shoulder is included, with the third insert being configured to fit within the third ledge and wherein the third insert is capable of transferring the load from the third shoulder to the third ledge. The slips may contain multiple ledges that are configured to cooperate with multiple shoulders contained on the inserts so that the load is transferred from the shoulders to the ledges. In one embodiment, the ledges have an angled surface that cooperates with a complementary angle of the shoulders. A method of handling tubular members on a drilling rig is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tubular handling device comprising: 
 a first slip having an arcuate inner face and an outer face, wherein said inner face has a first longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said first longitudinally disposed slot has a first ledge therein;    a second slip being connected to said first slip, said second slip having an arcuate inner face and an outer face, wherein said inner face has a second longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said second longitudinally disposed slot has a second ledge therein;    a third slip having an arcuate inner face and outer face, wherein said inner face has a third longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said third longitudinally disposed slot has a third ledge therein;    means for connecting said first slip with said second slip and means for connecting said second slip with said third slip;    a first insert having a first shoulder that is configured to fit within said first ledge, and wherein said first insert is capable of transferring a load from said first shoulder to said first ledge,    a second insert having a second shoulder that is configured to fit within said second ledge and wherein said second insert is capable of transferring a load from said second shoulder to said second ledge;    a third insert having a third shoulder that is configured to fit within said third ledge and wherein said third insert capable of transferring a load from said third shoulder to said third ledge.    
     
     
         2 . The tubular handling device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a fourth ledge disposed within said first longitudinally disposed slot;  
 a fourth insert having a fourth shoulder that is configured to fit within said fourth ledge and wherein said fourth insert is capable of transferring a load from said fourth shoulder to said fourth ledge.  
 
     
     
         3 . The tubular handling device of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a fifth ledge disposed within said second longitudinally disposed slot;  
 a fifth insert having a fifth shoulder that is configured to fit within said fifth ledge and wherein said fifth insert is capable of transferring a load from said fifth shoulder to said fifth ledge.  
 
     
     
         4 . The tubular handling device of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a sixth ledge disposed within said third longitudinally disposed slot;  
 a sixth insert having a sixth shoulder that is configured to fit within said sixth ledge and wherein said sixth insert is capable of transferring a load from said sixth shoulder to said sixth ledge.  
 
     
     
         5 . The tubular handling device of  claim 4  wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth ledge has a bottom surface having an angle between minus 20 degrees to plus 20 degrees relative to a horizontal plane and wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth shoulder on said inserts has a complimentary angle of between minus 20 degrees to plus 20 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The tubular handling device of  claim 5  wherein said inserts are constructed of a low carbon alloy steel material.  
     
     
         7 . The tubular handling device of  claim 6  wherein said first insert has a first handle member, and said second insert has a second handle member.  
     
     
         8 . A rotary slip apparatus for handling tubular members on a drill rig floor, the rotary slip apparatus comprising: 
 a first slip having a first arcuate inner face and an outer face, wherein said inner face has a first longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said first longitudinally disposed slot has a first ledge therein;    a second slip being connected to said first slip, said second slip having a second arcuate inner face and an outer face;    a third slip having a third arcuate inner face and outer face,    first means for attaching said first slip with said second slip and second means for attaching said second slip with said third slip;    a first insert having a first shoulder that is configured to fit within said first ledge, and wherein said first shoulder transfers a load from said first insert to said first ledge.    
     
     
         9 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said inner face of said second slip has a second longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said second longitudinally disposed slot has a second ledge therein, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: 
 a second insert having a second shoulder that is configured to fit within said second ledge and wherein said second shoulder transfers the load from said second insert to said second ledge.  
 
     
     
         10 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said inner face of said third slip has a third longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said third longitudinally disposed slot has a third ledge therein, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: 
 a third insert having a third shoulder that is configured to fit within said third ledge and wherein said third shoulder transfers a load from said third insert to said third ledge.  
 
     
     
         11 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a fourth ledge disposed within said first longitudinally disposed slot of said first slip;  
 a fourth insert having a fourth shoulder that is configured to fit within said fourth ledge and wherein said fourth shoulder transfers the load from said fourth insert to said fourth ledge.  
 
     
     
         12 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a fifth ledge disposed within said second longitudinally disposed slot of said second slip;  
 a fifth insert having a fifth shoulder that is configured to fit within said fifth ledge and wherein said fifth shoulder transfers the load from said fifth insert to said fifth ledge.  
 
     
     
         13 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a sixth ledge disposed within said third longitudinally disposed slot of said third slip;  
 a sixth insert having a sixth shoulder that is configured to fit within said sixth ledge and wherein said sixth shoulder transfers a load from said first insert to said sixth ledge.  
 
     
     
         14 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first insert, said second insert, and said third insert are constructed of a low carbon alloy steel material.  
     
     
         15 . The rotary slip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first, second, and third ledge has a bottom surface having an angle of minus twenty (−20) degrees to twenty (20) degrees relative to a horizontal plane and wherein said first shoulder, second shoulder and third shoulder on said first insert, said second insert and said third insert has a complimentary angle of minus twenty (−20) degrees to twenty (20) degrees.  
     
     
         16 . A method of engaging a tubular member within in a rotary table on a drill rig floor comprising: 
 providing a slip device, said slip device comprising: a first slip having an arcuate inner face and an outer face, wherein said inner face has a first longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said first longitudinally disposed slot has a first ledge therein; a second slip being connected to said first slip, said second slip having an arcuate inner face and an outer face, wherein said inner face has a second longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said second longitudinally disposed slot has a second ledge therein; a third slip having an arcuate inner face and outer face, wherein said inner face has a third longitudinally disposed slot and wherein said third longitudinally disposed slot has a third ledge therein; a first insert having a shoulder that is configured to fit within said first ledge; a second insert having a shoulder that is configured to fit within said second ledge; a third insert having a shoulder that is configured to fit within said third ledge;    placing a first tubular member within the rotary table on the drill rig floor;    inserting the slip device into the rotary table;    engaging the slip device about the first tubular member so that the first insert, the second insert and the third insert engage the first tubular member and wherein the first tubular member is suspended from the rotary table thereby creating a load;    transferring the load of the first tubular member to the first insert, the second insert, and the third insert;    transferring the load of the first insert, the second insert, and the third insert to the first shoulder, the second shoulder and the third shoulder;    transferring the load from the first, second and third shoulder to the first, second and third ledge of the respective first, second and third slip so that the load of the first tubular member is distributed about the length of the first slip, the second slip and the third slip.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 threadedly connecting a second tubular member to said first tubular member;  
 removing the slip device from the rotary table;  
 lowering the connected first tubular member and the second tubular member;  
 inserting the slip device into the rotary table;  
 engaging the slip device about the second tubular member;  
 transferring the load of the first and the second tubular member to the first, the second, and the third insert;  
 transferring the load of the first and the second tubular member from the first, second and third shoulder to the first, second and third ledge of the respective first, second and third slip so that the load of the first and the second tubular member is distributed about the length of the first slip, the second slip and the third slip.