Pivoting Pipe Handler for Tender Assisted Drilling Rigs

Abstract

A pivoting pipe handler for tender assisted drilling rigs is provided that includes a main support structure configured for attaching to a drilling rig at an angle between a drilling rig floor at an upper and a lower platform adjacent thereto. The pipe handler includes a V-door that is pivotally attached to the main support structure at an upper end and further includes an elevating mechanism to raise the lower end of the V-door so that the V-door can move from an inclined position to a horizontal position. The V-door can further include a pipe carrier slidably disposed thereon to extend outwardly from the V-door to the drilling rig floor. The V-door can also include pipe indexers to move tubulars from a storage area on the V-door onto the pipe carrier in addition to pipe kickers to eject tubulars from the pipe carrier to the storage area.

1 . A pipe handler for a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the pipe handler comprising:
 a main support structure having upper and lower ends, the upper end configured to operatively coupled to the drilling rig near the drilling rig floor, the lower end configured to operatively couple to the lower platform wherein the main support structure is disposed at an incline thereto;   a V-door operatively coupled to the main support structure, the V-door comprising an upper end pivotally attached to the upper end of the main support structure;   means for elevating the lower end of the V-door operatively disposed between the main support structure and the V-door; and   a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door, the pipe carrier configured to extend from a seated position to an extended position that places the pipe carrier nearer the drilling rig floor.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elevating means comprises a lift arm further comprising upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotally attached to the V-door, the lower end slidably disposed on the main support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the lift arm further comprises a roller screw nut for receiving a roller screw operatively coupled to a motor for rotating the roller screw. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe carrier further comprises a trough for receiving pipe thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pipe indexer configured to move tubulars from a storage area disposed on the V-door onto the pipe carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the pipe indexer comprises a plurality of pipe pushers slidably disposed in the storage area. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pipe kicker configured to move tubulars from the pipe carrier to a storage area disposed on the V-door. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the pipe kicker comprises a plurality of kicker mechanisms, each kicker mechanism comprising a kicker arm. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe handler as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein each kicker arm further comprises a kicker roller configured to roll on top of the pipe carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A method for handling tubulars on a tender assisted drilling rig comprising an elevated drilling rig floor and an adjacent lower platform, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a pipe handler disposed between the drilling rig floor and the lower platform, the pipe handler comprising:
 i) a main support structure having upper and lower ends, the upper end configured to operatively coupled to the drilling rig near the drilling rig floor, the lower end configured to operatively couple to the lower platform wherein the main support structure is disposed at an incline thereto, 
 ii) a V-door operatively coupled to the main support structure, the V-door comprising an upper end pivotally attached to the upper end of the main support structure, 
 iii) means for elevating the lower end of the V-door operatively disposed between the main support structure and the V-door, and 
 iv) a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door, the pipe carrier configured to extend from a seated position to an extended position that places the pipe carrier nearer the drilling rig floor; 
   b) delivering a plurality of tubulars to the pipe handler from a tender vessel using a high-line mechanism and placing the tubulars in a storage area on a V-door disposed on the pipe handler;   c) moving the V-door to a substantially horizontal position relative to the drilling rig floor;   d) indexing one tubular onto a pipe carrier slidably disposed on the V-door;   e) extending the pipe carrier towards the drilling rig floor; and   f) pushing the tubular along the pipe carrier further towards the drilling rig floor with a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier wherein the tubular can be presented for connection with a drill string.   
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the elevating means comprises a lift arm further comprising upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotally attached to the V-door, the lower end slidably disposed on the main support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the lift arm further comprises a roller screw nut for receiving a roller screw operatively coupled to a motor for rotating the roller screw. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the pipe carrier further comprises a trough for receiving pipe thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the pipe handler further comprises a skate slidably disposed on the pipe carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the pipe handler further comprises a pipe indexer configured to move tubulars from a storage area disposed on the V-door onto the pipe carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the pipe indexer comprises a plurality of pipe pushers slidably disposed in the storage area. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the pipe handler further comprises a pipe kicker configured to move tubulars from the pipe carrier to a storage area disposed on the V-door. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the pipe kicker comprises a plurality of kicker mechanisms, each kicker mechanism comprising a kicker arm. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each kicker arm further comprises a kicker roller configured to roll on top of the pipe carrier.