Method and apparatus for stabbing of pipe and other tubular goods

Abstract

A weight compensating pipe stabbing assembly utilizes bail mounting members operationally attached to bail members of a drilling rig. At least one compensation cylinder is mounted to each bail mounting member, while a cable or other linkage member extends from each cylinder assembly to a set of single joint elevators.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for stabbing of pipe and other tubular goods comprising:
 a) at least one elongate body member adapted to operationally attach to a bail of a drilling rig, wherein said at least one elongate body member further comprises an upper end, a lower end and a receptacle disposed at said lower end configured to receive a portion of an eye of said bail; and   b) a fluid operated cylinder mounted to said at least one elongate body member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a pipe elevator; and   b) a cable having a first and a second end, wherein said first end is operationally attached to said fluid operated cylinder and said second end is operationally attached to said pipe elevator.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said fluid operated cylinder compensates for the weight of a section of pipe gripped by said pipe elevator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said pipe elevator is substantially centered over a string of pipe suspended within a wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety cable extending from said at least one elongate body member to said fluid operated cylinder.