Pick-up and lay-down system and method

Abstract

A pick-up and lay-down pipe handling system and method providing a telescopingly extendable crane boom which transports tubulars and pipes both linearly and vertically. The crane boom is preferably pivotally moveable with respect to its base and the crane may be able to rotate with a 360 degree range of rotational movement with respect to the base. The crane boom employs a cable or plurality of cables that run between at least two winches at the base of the crane boom. The cables are run through two pulleys or carriages attached to a hollowed out half pipe section into which the tubulars or pipes are placed. The winches are then activated to move the hollowed out half pipe both vertically and linearly to the desired position.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A pipe rig independent pipe handling machine for moving tubulars comprising; 
 a crane;    a base;    said crane further comprising a telescoping boom;    said boom having movement capability inwardly and outwardly from said base;    a cable mounted system attached to said boom;    a trough attached to said cable system;    wherein said crane is rotatable attached said base;    wherein said trough has tubulars loaded into said trough such that tubulars are laying in a longitudinal manner; and    said trough being able to be moved substantially longitudinally relative to said boom such that tubulars can be positioned to locations that are desired in any three dimensional direction.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising; 
 said base being mounted on tires or wheels.    
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A pipe rig independent pipe handling machine for moving tubulars comprising: 
 a crane;    said crane having a base;    said base having a front and a rear wherein;    said crane further comprising a telescoping boom mounted on the rear of said crane;    said telescoping boom being able to move pivotally in a vertical fashion in regards to said base;    said telescoping boom being able to move in a telescoping fashion in regards to said base;    a moveable trough;    said crane being able to rotate about said base;    said moveable trough being movable linearly along the distance of the boom; and    one or more powered units for raising and lowering said moveable trough toward and away from a rig floor.    
   
   
       6 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , further comprising said one or more power units being attached to said base.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , further comprising said one or more power units being attached to said crane.  
   
   
       9 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , wherein said telescoping boom further comprises a telescoping portion and a nontelescoping portion.  
   
   
       10 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , wherein said moveable trough further comprises a hollowed out half pipe containing a backstop to prevent tubulars from sliding out of the trough during operation.  
   
   
       11 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , wherein said moveable trough is moveable between a first position on a rig floor and a second position parallel to said boom.  
   
   
       12 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , further comprising the boom containing at least one pulley at the end of the boom located furthest from the crane mounting system.  
   
   
       13 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 5 , further having the boom containing at least one pulley or winch located substantially near the base of the nontelescoping portion of the boom.  
   
   
       14 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 13 , wherein at least one pulley or winch has at least one wire cable extending from said one pulley or winch; and 
 said cable being attached to carriages, said carriages being attached to a moveable trough.    
   
   
       15 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 13 , wherein at least one pulley or winch has one wire rope or cable extending from said one pulley or winch; and 
 said wire or cable being attached to two carriages, said carriages attached to a moveable trough.    
   
   
       16 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 13 , wherein at least one pulley or winch has a plurality of wires or cables extending from said one pulley or winch; and 
 said wires or cables being attached to two carriages, said carriages attached to a moveable trough.    
   
   
       17 . A method for picking up or laying down oil field tubulars with respect to a rig floor independent of the pipe rig, comprising the following steps in any order: 
 positioning a crane attached to a base in the vicinity of said tubulars;    positioning at least one oil field tubular in an elongate trough;    contracting cable or a plurality of cables attached to said trough by clips;    raising or lowering said trough by said contracting;    providing rotational capability of said crane in relation to said base; and moving the trough linearly in relation to said base by the use of at least one power unit.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising moving the trough to or from the top of a rigging unit.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising telescoping movement of said crane.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising vertical pivotal movement of said crane in relation to said base.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A method for picking up or laying down oil field tubulars with respect to a rig floor, but independent of a pipe rig, comprising the following steps in any order: 
 positioning a crane attached to a base in the vicinity of said tubulars;    positioning at least one oil field tubular in an elongate trough;    contracting cable or a plurality of cables attached to said trough;    raising or lowering said trough by said contracting;    providing rotational capability of said crane in relation to said base; and    moving the trough linearly in relation to said base by the use of at least one power unit.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising moving the trough to or from the top of a rigging unit.  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising telescoping movement of said crane.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising vertical pivotal movement of said crane in relation to said base.