Pick-up and lay-down system and method

Abstract

A self supporting pick-up and lay-down pipe handling system and method provides apparatuses and methods including a telescopingly extendable pipe trough which is telescopingly extendable from a lift frame, a lift frame movable by extendable lifts, and a movable lift frame with a conveyor system. The lift frame is preferably pivotally moveable with respect to a support. A rotating mechanism may be utilized which is operable for rotating the pipe trough to either lateral side for unloading and/or loading purposes. A lift frame with slidable powered lift heads is provided to raise and lower pipes from a pipe rack to the pipe trough. A pivotal guide member on the slidable powered lift head to pivot into a guiding position for guiding pipe from the lift frame onto the pipe trough.

1 . A self supporting pipe handling machine for moving at least one oilfield tubular with respect to a rig floor, said pipe handling machine comprising:
 an elongate moveable trough, said elongate moveable trough having a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said elongate moveable trough having a cross-sectional shape for receiving at least one oilfield tubular between said first lateral side and said second lateral side;   a first frame assembly having a longitudinal axis, wherein said elongate moveable trough is at least partially supported by said first frame assembly;   said elongate moveable trough being moveable to and from a first position away from said rig floor and a second position adjacent said rig floor;   one or more powered units for raising and lowering said first frame assembly toward and away from said rig floor;   a rotating mechanism for rotating said elongate moveable trough, said rotating mechanism being operable for rotating one lateral side to a higher elevation than the other lateral side; and   a second frame assembly having a longitudinal axis, wherein said one or more powered units raises said first frame assembly into substantial alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first frame assembly and said longitudinal axis of said second frame assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein said pipe handling machine is operable from a remote location. 
   
   
       3 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating mechanism is operable for rotating said elongate moveable trough to thereby unload an oilfield tubular laterally from said elongate moveable trough. 
   
   
       4 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more powered units are scissor lifts. 
   
   
       5 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein a V-door is in association with said rig floor, and wherein said second frame assembly moves along said V-door. 
   
   
       6 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate moveable trough moves along both said first frame assembly and said second frame assembly. 
   
   
       7 . A self supporting pipe handling machine for moving at least one oilfield tubular with respect to a rig floor, said pipe handling machine comprising:
 a conveyor system having at least one member to contact said at least one oilfield tubular;   a first frame assembly having a longitudinal axis, wherein said conveyor system is at least partially supported by said first frame assembly;   said at least one member of said conveyor system being moveable between a first position and a second position with respect to said rig floor;   one or more powered units for raising and lowering said first frame assembly toward and away from said rig floor; and   a second frame assembly having a longitudinal axis, wherein said one or more powered units raises said first frame assembly into substantial alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first frame assembly and said longitudinal axis of said second frame assembly.   
   
   
       8 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 7 , wherein said pipe handling machine is operable from a location remote from the pipe handling machine. 
   
   
       9 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more powered units are scissor lifts. 
   
   
       10 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 7 , wherein a V-door is in association with said rig floor, and wherein said second frame assembly moves along said V-door. 
   
   
       11 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one member of said conveyor system moves along both said first frame assembly and said second frame assembly. 
   
   
       12 . A self supporting pipe handling machine for moving at least one oilfield tubular with respect to a rig floor, said pipe handling machine comprising:
 a lift frame;   said lift frame further comprising a first subframe having a longitudinal axis and a second subframe having a longitudinal axis;   one or more powered units for raising said first subframe with respect to said rig floor, wherein said raising substantially aligns the respective longitudinal axises of said first and said second subframe;   an elongate moveable trough supported by said lift frame, said elongate moveable trough being axially extendable and retractable with respect to said lift frame, said elongate moveable trough being shaped internally for receiving and supporting said at least one oilfield tubular; and   one or more powered units for axially moving said elongate moveable trough with respect to said lift frame.   
   
   
       13 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 12 , wherein said oilfield tubular is moveable toward or away from said rig floor by said elongate moveable trough with little or no axial sliding movement occurring between an oilfield tubular carried by said elongate moveable trough and said elongate moveable trough while said elongate moveable trough operates to move towards or away from said rig floor. 
   
   
       14 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 12 , further comprising a trough foot member mounted to an end portion of elongate moveable trough for supporting an end of an oilfield tubular positioned in said trough. 
   
   
       15 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 14 , wherein said trough foot member is fixed in position with respect to said elongate moveable trough when said elongate moveable trough is moving with respect to said lift frame. 
   
   
       16 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 14 , wherein said trough foot member is movably mounted and wherein said trough foot member is adjustable to position varied length tubulars with respect to said elongate moveable trough. 
   
   
       17 . A method for picking up or laying down at least one oilfield tubular with respect to a rig floor, comprising:
 positioning at least one oil field tubular on a carrier;   raising at least a portion of a frame assembly at least partially supporting said carrier, said frame assembly having a first subframe and a second subframe, wherein said raising step substantially aligns said first subframe and said second subframe in substantially the same plane; and   moving said carrier with respect to said frame assembly toward or away from the rig floor.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said carrier is an elongate movable member. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said carrier is a conveyor system. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 mounting one or more lift members to a position adjacent said carrier;   actuating said one or more lift members to move at least a portion of said first subframe in a vertical direction; and   moving said carrier across at least a portion of said first subframe and said second subframe, wherein said carrier is at least partially supported by said first subframe and/or said second subframe while moving.   
   
   
       21 . A self supporting pipe handling machine for moving at least one oilfield tubular with respect to a rig floor, said pipe handling machine comprising:
 a carrier, wherein said carrier is configured to carry at least one of a plurality of oilfield tubulars;   a lift frame further comprising a first subframe and a second subframe, said lift frame at least partially supporting said carrier; and   one or more powered units for raising and lowering at least a portion of said lift frame with respect to said rig floor, wherein the first subframe and the second subframe are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction when said portion of lift frame is raised.   
   
   
       22 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 21 , wherein said carrier is an elongate movable trough. 
   
   
       23 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 21 , wherein said carrier is a conveyor system. 
   
   
       24 . The pipe handling machine of  claim 21 , wherein said one or more powered units are scissor lifts.