Magnetic-Latch Stabbing Guide

Abstract

A magnetic-latch stabbing guide apparatus is presented enabling a first drill pipe to connect with a second drill pipe. The magnetic-latch stabbing guide easily attached to the first drill pipe and facilitates connection between the first drill pipe and the second drill pipe. During the connection process, the magnetic-latch stabbing guide easily detaches from the two drill pipes without physical manipulation of the magnetic-latch stabbing guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic-latch stabbing guide to connect a first drill pipe to a second drill pipe, comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and a back portion, the top portion of the magnetic-latch stabbing guide further comprising a funnel-shaped portion opening to the outside of the top portion, a neck portion underneath the funnel-shaped portion, a shoulder portion underneath and in contact with the neck portion, and a female coupling opening to the outside of the bottom portion and in contact with the shoulder portion, the stabbing guide being vertically divided in the front portion and vertically divided in the back portion, thereby forming a first guide segment and a second guide segment, the front portion comprises a first magnet disposed in the first guide segment and a second magnet disposed in the second guide segment, the first magnet disposed and aligned to attract the second magnet, said back portion comprising a hinge in contact with said first segment and said second segment. 
     
     
         2 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel-shaped portion comprises a large opening disposed in proximity to the top portion of the guide, a smaller opening in contact with the neck portion, and an inner surface disposed between the large opening and the smaller opening. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion comprises an inner surface, a top section in contact with the smaller opening of the funnel-shaped portion and a bottom section in contact with the shoulder portion, said neck portion further comprising a neck portion inner circumference concentric with the large opening. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder portion comprises an inner surface disposed perpendicular to said inner surface of the neck portion and in contact with the female coupling. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the female coupling is disposed proximal to the bottom portion of the guide and comprises an outer surface and an inner surface having a female coupling inner circumference aligned concentric with said neck portion inner circumference and disposed perpendicular to the inner surface of said shoulder portion. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1  comprised of any material chosen from any of polyurethane, rubber, latex, alloy, plastic, carbon, carbon fiber, urethane and polymeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is embedded in the first segment of the front portion and the second magnet is embedded in the second segment of the front portion. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is at least partially embedded in the first guide segment of the back portion and the hinge is at least partially embedded in the second guide segment of the back portion. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is a nylon-encapsulated hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 1 , wherein the guide further comprises a first handle attached to the first segment and a second handle attached to the second segment. 
     
     
         11 . A magnetic-latch stabbing guide for attaching a female end of a first drill pipe to a male end of a second drill pipe, the male end having a proximal portion having a circumference and attached a tapered distal end having a small circumference, said stabbing guide comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and a back portion, the top portion of the magnetic-latch stabbing guide further comprising a funnel-shaped portion opening to the outside of the top portion, a neck portion underneath the funnel-shaped portion, a shoulder portion underneath and in contact with the neck portion, and a female coupling opening to the outside of the bottom portion and in contact with the shoulder portion, the stabbing guide being vertically divided in the front portion and vertically divided in the back portion, thereby forming a first guide segment and a second guide segment, the front portion comprises a first magnet disposed in the first guide segment and a second magnet disposed in the second guide segment, the first magnet disposed and aligned to attract the second magnet, said back portion comprising a hinge in contact with said first segment and said second segment, said neck portion having a neck portion inner circumference greater than the small circumference of the tapered distal end and the neck portion inner circumference smaller than the circumference of the proximal potion of the second drill pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the funnel-shaped portion comprises a large opening disposed in proximity to the top portion of the guide, a smaller opening in contact with the neck portion, and an inner surface disposed between the large opening and the smaller opening. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the neck portion comprises an inner surface, a top section in contact with the smaller opening of the funnel-shaped portion and a bottom section in contact with the shoulder portion, said neck portion further comprising a neck portion inner circumference concentric with the large opening. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder portion comprises an inner surface disposed perpendicular to said inner surface of the neck portion and in contact with the female coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the female coupling is disposed proximal to the bottom portion of the guide and comprises an outer surface and an inner surface having a female coupling inner circumference aligned concentric with said neck portion inner circumference and disposed perpendicular to the inner surface of said shoulder portion. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11  comprised of any material chosen from any of polyurethane, rubber, latex, alloy, plastic, carbon, carbon fiber, urethane and polymeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the first magnet is embedded in the first segment of the front portion and the second magnet is embedded in the second segment of the front portion. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the hinge is at least partially embedded in the first guide segment of the back portion and the hinge is at least partially embedded in the second guide segment of the back portion. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the hinge is a nylon-encapsulated hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic-latch stabbing guide of  claim 11 , wherein the guide further comprises a first handle attached to the first segment and a second handle attached to the second segment.