Methods of mechanized and automated tripping of rods and tubulars

Abstract

The present disclosure provides techniques and methods of tripping rods and tubulars. Specifically, the disclosure provides techniques for pulling a rod string out of hole and delivering the pulled out rod segments into a rod storage and racking system. The disclosure also provides techniques for pulling a tubular string out of hole and delivering the pulled out tubular segments into a tubular storage and racking system. The disclosure further provides techniques for delivering rods from the rod storage and racking system and running the rods down-hole. The disclosure also provides techniques for delivering tubulars from the tubular storage and racking system and running the tubulars down-hole.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of pulling a tubular out of a well hole, comprising:
 lifting a tubular string through a disengaged tubing slip with a traveling block system until a junction between a first tubular of the tubular string and a second tubular of the tubular string is above the tubing slip;   engaging the tubing slip onto the second tubular of the tubular string, wherein the tubing slip holds the second tubular in a stationary position;   suspending the tubular string in the tubing slip;   engaging a tong assembly onto the first tubular, wherein the tong assembly twists the first tubular and unthreads the first tubular from the second tubular;   disengaging the tong assembly from the first tubular;   raising the first tubular above the tong assembly and moving the first tubular towards a carriage,   lowering and placing the first tubular onto a carriage, wherein the carriage is raised at an angle;   positioning the carriage into a horizontal position; and   tilting the carriage and discharging the tubular from the carriage onto a tubular racking system.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 pushing a first end of the first tubular onto a skate of the carriage; and   sliding the skate down at least a portion of a length of the carriage.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving the first tubular from the carriage onto a rotating indexer;   rotating the indexer and transporting the first tubular from a first side of the indexer to a second side of the indexer;   discharging the first tubular onto a plurality of ramps of the tubular racking system; and   receiving the first tubular onto a plurality of base beams of the tubular racking system, the plurality base beams.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tubing slip supports at least a portion of the weight of the tubular string when the tubing slip is engaged with the second tubular. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein engaging the tong assembly onto the first tubular comprises:
 moving the tong assembly from a parked position onto the junction between the first tubular and the tubular string;   engaging a back-up jaw of the tong assembly onto the second tubular; and   engaging an upper tong jaw of the tong assembly onto the first tubular.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disengaging the tong assembly from the first tubular comprises:
 disengaging the upper tong jaw of the tong assembly from the first tubular;   disengaging the back-up jaw from the second tubular; and   moving the tong assembly away from the tubular string and into the parked position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein engaging the tubing slip, engaging the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, moving the tong assembly, engaging the back-up jaw, engaging and rotating the upper tong jaw, disengaging the back-up jaw, disengaging the upper tong jaw, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command signal received from a remote or local controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein engaging the tubing slip, engaging the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, moving the tong assembly, engaging the back-up jaw, engaging and rotating the upper tong jaw, disengaging the back-up jaw, disengaging the upper tong jaw, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command from a controller in accordance with a preprogrammed set of instructions written on a non-transitory medium. 
     
     
         21 . A method of running a rod into a well hole, comprising:
 delivering a first rod from a rod racking system onto a carriage via an indexer;   raising the carriage from a horizontal position into a sloped and extended position;   engaging a remotely operated rod elevator of a traveling block system with the first rod;   lifting the first rod from the carriage and suspending the first rod from the travelling block above a tong system, wherein the tong system comprises a tong assembly, an upper centralizer, a lower centralizer, a rod positioner assembly, and a rod clamp, the upper centralizer aligning the first rod with the lower centralizer;   suspending a rod string by the rod positioner;   engaging a rod flat backup onto one or more rod flats of the rod string;   lowering the first rod through the lower centralizer of the tong assembly onto the rod string; and   engaging the tong assembly onto the first rod and threading the first rod onto the rod string.   
     
     
         22 . The method of running a rod into a well hole of  claim 21 , comprising:
 disengaging the tong assembly from the first rod and the rod string;   moving the tong assembly away from the first rod and into a parked position;   disengaging the rod flat backup from the one or more rod flats;   transferring the weight of the rod string to the traveling block system;   disengaging and lower the rod positioner from the rod string;   lowering the first rod and the rod string further into a well;   engaging the rod clamp onto the first rod and suspending the rod string;   disengaging the rod elevator of the travelling block from the first rod;   raising the remotely controlled rod elevators via a remotely controlled link tilt system coupled to the traveling block system; and   raising the rod positioner assembly and engaging the rod positioner assembly onto the first rod.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rod clamp supports at least a portion of the weight of the rod string when engaged with the rod string or first rod. 
     
     
         24 . The method  claim 22 , wherein the travelling block supports the substantial weight of the rod string when the rod positioner and rod clamp are disengaged. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 disposing the first rod onto an indexer from a rod rack;   rotating the indexer and transporting the first rod from a second side of the indexer to a first side of the indexer; and   discharging the first rod from the indexer onto the carriage.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the rod elevator is coupled to a link tilt system on the traveling block system. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein disengaging, engaging, raising and lowering the rod positioner assembly, engaging and rotating the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, engaging the rod clamp, engaging the rod elevator, disengaging the rod elevator, engaging the rod flat backup, disengaging the rod flat backup, moving the tong assembly, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command signal received from a remote or local controller. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein disengaging, engaging, raising and lowering the rod positioner assembly, engaging and rotating the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, engaging the rod clamp, engaging the rod elevator, disengaging the rod elevator, engaging the rod flat backup, disengaging the rod flat backup, moving the tong assembly, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command from a controller in accordance with a preprogrammed set of instructions written on a non-transitory medium. 
     
     
         29 . A method of running a tubular into a well hole, comprising:
 delivering a first tubular from a tubular racking system onto a carriage via an indexer;   raising the carriage from a horizontal position into a sloped and extended position;   engaging a remotely controlled tubular elevator to the first tubular, the tubular elevator coupled to a link tilt system of a traveling block system;   lifting the first tubular from the carriage and suspending the first tubular from the traveling block system above a tong system, the tong system comprising a tong assembly, an upper centralizer, a lower centralizer, and a tubing slip, the upper centralizer aligning the first tubular with the lower centralizer;   suspending a tubular string from an engaged tubing slip;   lowering the first tubular through the lower centralizer and onto the tubular string; and   moving the tong assembly from a parked position and engaging the tong assembly onto the first tubular,   engaging a back-up jaw of the tong assembly onto the tubular string,   rotating an upper tong jaw and threading the first tubular onto the tubular string; and   disengaging the tong assembly from the first tubular.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein disengaging the tong assembly from the first tubular comprises:
 disengaging the back-up jaw from the tubular string;   disengaging the upper tong jaw from the first tubular; and   moving the tong assembly away from the first tubular and into the parked position.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising:
 disposing the first tubular onto a rotating indexer from a rod rack;   rotating the indexer and transporting the first rod from a second side of the indexer to a first side of the indexer; and   discharging the first tubular from the indexer onto the carriage.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising:
 lowering the first tubular coupled to the tubular string further into a well hole;   engaging the tubing slip onto the first tubular; and   releasing the first tubular from the travelling block.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising:
 disengaging the tong assembly from the first tubular;   disengaging the tubing slip from the tubular string;   lowering the first tubular and the tubular string further into a well;   engaging the tubing slip onto the first tubular and suspending the tubular string via the first tubular; and   disengaging the tubular elevator of the travelling block from the first tubular.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging the tubing slip, disengaging the tubing slip, engaging the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, moving the tong assembly, engaging the back-up jaw, engaging and rotating the upper tong jaw, disengaging the back-up jaw, disengaging the upper tong jaw, engaging the tubular elevator, disengaging the tubular elevator, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command signal received from a remote or local controller. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging the tubing slip, disengaging the tubing slip, engaging the tong assembly, disengaging the tong assembly, moving the tong assembly, engaging the back-up jaw, engaging and rotating the upper tong jaw, disengaging the back-up jaw, disengaging the upper tong jaw, engaging the tubular elevator, disengaging the tubular elevator, or any combination thereof is performed in response to a command from a controller in accordance with a preprogrammed set of instructions written on a non-transitory medium.