Apparatus for Aligning Tubulars During Placement in a Well

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for aligning tubulars when a drilling rig is used to lower a string of tubulars into a well. A joint of tubular can be moved to a vertical position above a connector to which it is to be joined and placed at the angle where threads on the joint and connector can be joined at low torque without damage to the threads. The apparatus can be used on a variety of drilling rigs and provides a safer environment for workers on the rig.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tubular alignment apparatus for placing tubulars in a well using a rig, comprising:
 a rigid base;   a post attached to the base, the post being rotatable;   a horizontal support attached to the post, the horizontal support being linearly extendable;   a source of force attached to the horizontal support to drive a linear extension;   a finger assembly attached to the horizontal support, the finger assembly being rotatable and tiltable with respect to the horizontal support and comprising a first pair of fingers;   a pair of sources of force to drive the rotation and the tilt of the finger assembly; and   a source of force to drive a first pair of fingers, each finger of the first pair of fingers being connected to a fixed horizontal member and a link, the link being pivotally and moveably attached at a first end to the finger and at a second end pivotally and moveably attached to the source of force, such that the pair of fingers are driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by the source of force.   
     
     
         2 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each finger further comprises a distal part, the distal parts of the pair of fingers being in spaced apart horizontal planes such that the end members overlap when the fingers are closed. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fingers include a contour adapted for a selected size tubular. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the post is extendable. 
     
     
         5 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the post is extended by a source of force. 
     
     
         6 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the finger assembly further comprises a second pair of fingers and a source of force to drive the second pair of fingers, each finger of the second pair of fingers being connected to a fixed horizontal member and a link, the link being pivotally and moveably attached at a first end to the finger and at a second end pivotally and moveably attached to the source of force, such that the pair of fingers are driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by the source of force. 
     
     
         7 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sources of force are a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the sources of force are an electric motor and gears. 
     
     
         9 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base is a plate placed on the drill floor or rotary. 
     
     
         10 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base is a rigid attachment to the rig. 
     
     
         11 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fingers further comprise bearings disposed so as to decrease resistance to movement of a tubular in contact with the finger. 
     
     
         12 . A tubular alignment apparatus for placing tubulars in a well using a rig, comprising:
 a rigid base;   a post attached to the base, the post being rotatable;   a horizontal support attached to the post, the horizontal support being linearly extendable;   a source of force attached to the horizontal support to drive a linear extension;   a finger assembly attached to the horizontal support, the finger assembly being rotatable and tiltable with respect to the horizontal support and comprising a first pair of fingers;   a pair of sources of force to drive the rotation and the tilt of the finger assembly;   a source of force to drive a first pair of fingers, each finger of the first pair of fingers having teeth on a radial convex surface and being pivotally connected to a fixed horizontal member;   a linear driving member having teeth and being disposed such that the teeth of the driving member mesh with the teeth on the first pair of fingers; and   a source of force attached to the driving member such that the first pair of fingers can be driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by the source of force.   
     
     
         13 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each finger further comprises a distal art, the distal parts of the pair of fingers being in spaced apart horizontal planes such that the end members overlap when the fingers are closed. 
     
     
         14 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the fingers include a contour adapted for a selected size tubular. 
     
     
         15 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the post is extendable. 
     
     
         16 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the post is extended by a source of force. 
     
     
         17 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the finger assembly further comprises a second pair of fingers and a source of force to drive the second pair of fingers, each finger of the second pair of fingers having teeth on a radial convex surface and being pivotally connected to a fixed horizontal member;
 a linear driving member having teeth and being disposed such that the teeth of the driving member mesh with the teeth on the second pair of fingers; and 
 a source of force attached to the driving member such that the second pair of fingers can be driven toward open and closed positions in response to movement by the source of force. 
 
     
     
         18 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the sources of force are a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein one or more of the sources of force are an electric motor and gears. 
     
     
         20 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the base is a plate placed on the drill floor or rotary. 
     
     
         21 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the base is a rigid attachment to the rig. 
     
     
         22 . The tubular alignment apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the fingers further comprise bearings disposed so as to decrease resistance to movement of a tubular in contact with the finger.