CA2131537A1 - Automatic torque wrenching machine - Google Patents

Automatic torque wrenching machine

Info

Publication number
CA2131537A1
CA2131537A1 CA002131537A CA2131537A CA2131537A1 CA 2131537 A1 CA2131537 A1 CA 2131537A1 CA 002131537 A CA002131537 A CA 002131537A CA 2131537 A CA2131537 A CA 2131537A CA 2131537 A1 CA2131537 A1 CA 2131537A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
tong
automatic torque
power tong
support member
ties
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002131537A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Bernd-Georg Pietras
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Weatherford Lamb Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2131537A1 publication Critical patent/CA2131537A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/16Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints
    • E21B19/161Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints using a wrench or a spinner adapted to engage a circular section of pipe
    • E21B19/164Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints using a wrench or a spinner adapted to engage a circular section of pipe motor actuated
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/16Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints

Abstract

An automatic torque wrenching machine (1) comprises a frame (2) having a support member (3) which can be raised and lowered by admitting air to or allowing air to leave a pneumatic bellows (4). A
tong assembly (6) is suspended from the support member (3) by four ties (9) comprising wire ropes (10) each of which is provided with a spring (11). The pneumatic bellows (4) allows pipes to be connected and disconnected with minimal forces on the threads. In addition, the ties enable the tong assembly (6) to float in a generally horizontal plane relative to the frame (2).

Description

WOg3/l8276 21315 3 7 PCT/EPg3/00224 AUTOMATIC TORQUE WRENCHING MACHINE
Thls lnvention relates to automatlc torque wrench-ing machlnes.
Automatic torque wrenchlng machlnes are now belng used on off-shore drllllng platforms to obviate the need for s~kllled personnel ln the hlghly hazardous area of the rig floor.
` Typlcally, such automatic torque wrenchlng machines are used to make-up and break out ~oints in pipes which may~be up to 500mm in diameter.
Durlng a make-up operation it is necessary to bring the thrèaded end (often referred to as the "pin") of one plpe~, for example a length of casing, into contact with 15 ~a threaded~socket on the pipe below. The pipes must then be rotated relative to one another until the joint reache8 ~the deslred torque.
, ~ , Because of the substantial welght of the upper pipe it is necessary to support the plpe untll the connectlng ~operation i8 complete to ensure that the weight of the plpe does not damage the threads.
To achleve æuch ~ointing it has been proposed to grip the lower pipe with a back-up tong, to grip the upper pipe with a power tong and to provide an advancing mechanism which, as the power tong rotates the upper plpe with respect to the lower pipe lowers the power tong towards the back-up tong.
Whilst this arrangement works tolerably well it has been found necessary to employ a skilled worker close to the automatic torque wrenching machine to ensure that the thread of the upper pipe initially engages the thread of the socket on the lower pipe correctly. If correct initial engagement does not occur then the advanoing meahanism moves the power tong towards the S back-up tong prematurely thus damaging the thread.

.
- la -US-A-3 550 708 discloses a tong assembly comprising a power tong and a back-up tong which are mounted on a common support column. The tong assembly can be raised and lowered by means of a pneumatic cylinder which acts on the support column.
W0-A-9 006 418 discloses a tong assembly comprising a power tong and a back-up tong. The power tong and the back-up tong are separated by two columns of cup washes which are disposed to either side of the pipe receiving recess in the respective tongs. The free end of the power tong is separated from the back-up tong by a pneu-matic bellows.
US-A-4 170 908 disclosed an open-head power tong having an indexing mechanism for aligning the opening in the rotary and the opening in the head.
US-A-4 402 239 discloses a tong assembly comprising a power tong and a back-up tong. The back-up tong is supported by inter alia two coil springs which act be-tween the bottom of the back-up tong and plates mounted on the bottom of pillars which are supported by the power tong to ei~her side of its pipe receiving recess.

,tl~ ~1E~ syr WO93/l8276 ~ 2131537 rcr~E~ o22~
According to the present invention there is provi-ded an automatic torque wrenching machine comprising a back-up tong and a power tong movable towards and away from said back-up tong, characterized in that said automatic torque wrenchlng machine further comprises a pneumatic operator for varying the distance between said power tong and said back-up tong, and means for control-ling the preæsure of gas ln sald pneumatic operator.
Preferably, said automatic torque wrenching machine comprises a frame having a support member, said power tong is supported from said support member, and said pneumatic operator is operable between said frame and said support member.
Advantageously, said back-up tong is suspended from said power tong.
A further problem ls ensuring that the automatic torque wrenching machine ls able to move in a generally horizontal plane wlth respect to the back-up tong to facilitate connection and disconnection.
Preferably, sald power tong is supported by three or more ties which allow said power tong to move in a generally horizontal plane.
The ties may be attached to a common fitting on said support member. However, they are preferably sup-ported at separate and distinct locations on said sup-port member, preferably substantially directly above their points of attachment to the power tong. Position-ing the ties at the separate and distinct locations has the advantage that, in use, the ties inhibit the power tong turning as it applies torque to the casing.
Advantageously, said ties comprise ropes, wire cables and/or rods.
Preferably said ties also comprise springs so that said power tong is capable of movement in a horizontal plane.

WO93/18276 21 31 5 3 7 PCT/E~3/002Z4 For a better understanding of the.invention refer-ence will now be made, by way of example, to the accom-panylng drawings, in whlch:-Flgure 1 shows a 81mpllfied side view of one embo-diment of an automatic torque wrenching machine in accordance wlth tne lnvention;
Flgure 2 ls a slde vlew of a second embodlment of an automatic torque wrenching machlne in accordance with the invention;
lOFigure 3 is a top plan view of the automatic torque wrenching machlne shown in Figure 2; and : Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows IV-IV in Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an automatic torque wrenchlng machine which ls generally identified by reference numeral 1. The automatic torque wrenching ~:~ maohine 1 comprises a frame 2 having a support member 3 whlch can be raised or lowered wlth respect to said frame 2 by admittlng or wlthdrawing air to a bellows 4 vla an air line S~
A tong assembly 6 comprislng a power tong 7 and a back-up tong 8 is suspended from the support member 3 by four ties 9 whlch each include a length of wire rope lO
and a spring 11.
25The frame 2 is mounted on rails 12.
As shown in Figure l, casing is being lowered into a well. The lower casing 13 is held by slips (not shown). The upper casing 14 is then lowered using a block and tackle (not shown) until the threaded pin on the upper casing 14 ~ust enters the socket on the lower casing 13. The upper casing 14 is held in axial align-ment with the lower caslng 13 by positioning means (not shown~ on the drilling derrick.
Frame 2 is then moved to the left on rails 12 until the lower casing 13 is within the back-up tong 8 and the 2131S3~ _ 4 _ upper casing 14 is withln the power tong 7. The back-up tong 8 i8 then actuated to grip the lower casing 13.
Air i8 then admittea through airline 5 to raise the support member 3. The support member 3 raises the power tong 7 relative to the back-up tong 8 which is then actuated to grlp the upper caslng 14. The support at the top of the upper caslng 14 is then relaxed so that a substantlal proportlon of the entlre welght of the upper casing 14 i8~ supported by the power tong 7.
Air is then released from the bellows 4 via the airline 5 to a predetermined pressure to allow the threaded male portion (the "pin") on the lower end of the upper casing 14 to advance the threaded socket on the upper end of the lower casing 13.
As the upper casing 14 ls lowered the power tong 7 is actuated to rotate the upper casing 14. As the thread on the upper casing 14 engages the thread on the socket of the lower caslng 13 the upper casing 14 is pulled ~ downwardly. In vlew of the resillence of the pneumatic ;~ 20 ~support ~he threaded connectlon ls made smoothly and efficiently.
The predetermined pressure in the bellows 4 is set so that in the event that the pin does not mesh with the threads of the socket the downward force of the upper casing 14 is insufficient to appreciably damage the threads of the socket.
It will be appreciated that the exact position of the longitudinal axis of the lower casing 13 may vary slightly as the casing is run. In addition, the lower casing 13 may sway back and forth in heavy seas. The ties 9, in combination with the springs 11, allow the entire tong assembly 6 to swing in a generally horizon-tal path so that, in effect, the tong assembly 6 forms part of the casing string and is isolated from relative movements of the frame 2.

Referrlng now to Flgures 2, 3 and 4 there is shown an automatlc torgue wrenchlng machine which i8 generally identif$ed by the reference numeral 101. The automatic torque wrenchlng machlne 101 comprlses a frame 102 which 5 i8 provided wlth a ~upport member 103 having a horizon-tal portlon 103h and a vertical portion 103v. The 8Up-port member 103 can be raised and lowered relative to the frame 102 by means of an hydraulically operated piston and cyllnder assembly 104a and a bellows 104 wh~ch is connected to a source of compressed air by an alr line (not shown).
A power tong 107, forming part of a tong assembly 106, is suspended from the horizontal portion 103h of the support member 103 by four ties 109 each comprising lS wire ropes 110 which are separated from the support ember 103 at their upper ends by sprlngs 111.
The power tong 107 is also connected to the verti-cal portion 103v of the support member 103 by two double actlng hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 126 each of whlch ls provided wlth a plate spring packing 127 as more fully described in our PCT patent publication W0 92/18743. The ends of the double acting hydraulic -~ piston and cylinder assemblies 126 are pivotally connec-ted to the power tong 107 and the vertical portion 103v of the support member respectively. It will be apprecia-ted that whilst the power tong 107 is physically atta-ched to the support member 103 it can, for all practical purposes, be regarded as free floating. In addition, the cylinders of the hydraulic double acting piston and cylinder assemblies are cross-connected as more fully described in our PCT patent publication W0 90/06418 so that forces generated in one piston and cylinder assemb-ly 126 by torque are transmitted to the other piston and cylinder assembly 126 to provide a substantially equal and opposite force.

~3~S3~ 6 - ,~

The support member 103 is mounted on a torque member 125 comprlslng a beam of generally ~I" shape cross-sectlon havlng a masslve central section provided with four flanges 120. The torque member 125 supports the hydraullc plston and cylinder assembly 104a which ln ~urn supports the bellows 104. The support member 103 i8 vertically movable with respsct to the torque member 125 but i8 constrained agalnst pivotal movement relative thereto.
The back-up tong 108 is also slidably mounted on the torque member 125 and can be raised and lowered by a hydraulic ~ack 129. ~'' Both the power tong 107 and the back-up tong 108 '`~
are provided w1th doors which can be opened to permit lS the entrance of a casing~ The door of back-up tong 108 .
can be opened and shut by a hydraulic piston and cylin- '-der assembly 122 whllst the door 128 of the power tong 107 is actuable by a similar piston and cylinder assemb- -ly (not shown). ~' Thls arrangement has the dlsadvantage that the ~ back-up tong 108 is NOT free floating. However, it has -~ tbe advantage that the,back-up tong 108 can be used to ~upport a certain length of casing without the need for slips. In addition, in many instances there is little to 25 be gained by making the back-up tong free floating. ~-In a disconnecting operation the door 128 on the power tong 107 and the door on the back-up tong 108 are opened and the frame 102 advanced on rails 112 so that the casing is received in the power tong 107 and the back-up tong 108. The doors are then closed and the power tong 107 and the back-up tong 108 actuated to grip the upper casing and the lower casing respectively. Air is then admitted to bellows 104 to provide an up thrust to the upper casing.
~ 35 Hydraulic motor 124 is then actuated to unscrew the :, , ' WO93/18276 2 1 3 1 S 3 7 PCT/EPg3/00224 Joint. During the unscrewing operation the power tong 107 tends to pivot anti-clockwlse a~ viewed in Figure 3.
Th$s movement is reslsted lnter alia by the ties 109.
When the ~oint eventually separates the upper casing ls immedlately llfted clear of the socket ln the lower cas1ng by the bellows 104 to lnhiblt the thread of the upper caslng swinging lnto the lower casing and damaging the thread on the pin.
In the embodiment shown ln Flgures 2-4, the bellows 104 ls supported on a hyrdraulic piston and cylinder 104a operable to set a datum level for the support member 3.
Typically, the power tong of an automatic torgue wrenching machine will weigh between 2 and 3 tonnes and be capable of handling pipes with diameters of at least 200mm, more usually at least 300mm and almost invariably up to 500mm.
Varlous modifications to the embodiments described are envisaged, for example, the bellows could be re-placed by sny other form of pneumatic operator, for ex~mple a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder assembly.
-

Claims (10)

Claims:
1. An automatic torque wrenching machine comprising a back-up tong (8;108) and a power tong (7;107) movable towards and away from said back-up tong, characterized in that said automatic torque wrenching machine (1;101) further comprises a pneumatic operator (4;104) for varying the distance between said power tong (7;107) and said back-up tong (8;108), and means for controlling the pressure of gas in said pneumatic operator (4;104).
2. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 1, including a frame (2;102) having a support member (3;103), characterized in that said power tong (7:107) is supported from said support member, and said pneumatic operator (4;104) is operable between said frame (2:102) and said support member (3;103).
3. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said back-up tong (8;108) is suspended from said power tong (7;107).
4. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said power tong (7;107) is supported by three or more ties (9;109) which allow said power tong (7;107) to move in a generally horizontal plane.
5. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said ties (9;109) are attached to separate and distinct locations on said support member (3;103).
6. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said ties (9;109) are attached to said support member (3;103) substantially directly above their points of attachment to said power tong (7;107).
7. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that said ties com-prise wire cables (9;109).
8. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in Claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that said ties also comprise springs (11;111) so that said power tong (7;107) is capable of movement in a horizontal plane.
9. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in any preceding Claim, including a hydraulic operator (104a) arranged to raise and lower said pneumatic opera-tor (104).
10. An automatic torque wrenching machine as claimed in any preceeding Claim, characterized in that it is capable of handling pipe with a diameter of at least 300mm.
CA002131537A 1992-03-11 1993-02-02 Automatic torque wrenching machine Abandoned CA2131537A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB929205211A GB9205211D0 (en) 1992-03-11 1992-03-11 Automatic torque wrenching machine
GB9205211.7 1992-03-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2131537A1 true CA2131537A1 (en) 1993-09-16

Family

ID=10711851

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002131537A Abandoned CA2131537A1 (en) 1992-03-11 1993-02-02 Automatic torque wrenching machine

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0629260A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2131537A1 (en)
GB (1) GB9205211D0 (en)
NO (1) NO943255D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1993018276A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7958787B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2011-06-14 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular torque wrench
US8042432B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2011-10-25 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular torque wrench
US8074537B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2011-12-13 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular spin-in and spin-out detection for making-up and breaking-out tubular strings
US9097070B2 (en) 2006-08-25 2015-08-04 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Apparatus for automated oilfield torque wrench set-up to make-up and break-out tubular strings

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1064107C (en) * 1997-07-25 2001-04-04 兰州兰新设备有限公司 Air-tyre clutch gear-shift planet speed-change motive power tongs
GB2356591B (en) * 1999-11-26 2003-10-15 Weatherford Lamb Wrenching tong
GB2370246B (en) 2000-11-21 2004-06-23 Weatherford Lamb Power tong frames
GB2371509B (en) 2001-01-24 2004-01-28 Weatherford Lamb Joint detection system
NO20011324L (en) * 2001-03-15 2002-09-16 Maritime Hydraulics As Grip claw for pipe products
US7114235B2 (en) 2002-09-12 2006-10-03 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Automated pipe joining system and method
US7413398B2 (en) * 2003-04-01 2008-08-19 Mccoy Corporation Power tong positioner
NO323151B1 (en) 2005-11-25 2007-01-08 V Tech As Method and apparatus for positioning a power tong at a helm
NO324688B1 (en) * 2006-03-03 2007-12-03 Nat Oilwell Norway As Device for tools for screwing together or unscrewing
PL2753781T3 (en) * 2011-09-09 2016-09-30 An apparatus for positioning of a clamp body and a method for operating a clamp body

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3500708A (en) * 1967-05-01 1970-03-17 Wilson John H Automated pipe tongs
US4170908A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-10-16 Joy Manufacturing Company Indexing mechanism for an open-head power tong
US4402239A (en) * 1979-04-30 1983-09-06 Eckel Manufacturing Company, Inc. Back-up power tongs and method
US4348920A (en) * 1980-07-31 1982-09-14 Varco International, Inc. Well pipe connecting and disconnecting apparatus
US4603464A (en) * 1985-03-11 1986-08-05 Hughes Tool Company Stand jumping and stabbing guide device and method
NO163973C (en) * 1988-04-19 1990-08-15 Maritime Hydraulics As MOMENT tong.
GB8828084D0 (en) * 1988-12-01 1989-01-05 Weatherfor U S Inc Apparatus for connecting & disconnecting threaded members
GB9107788D0 (en) * 1991-04-12 1991-05-29 Weatherford Lamb Power tong for releasing tight joints

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7958787B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2011-06-14 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular torque wrench
US8042432B2 (en) 2006-08-24 2011-10-25 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular torque wrench
US9097070B2 (en) 2006-08-25 2015-08-04 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Apparatus for automated oilfield torque wrench set-up to make-up and break-out tubular strings
US8074537B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2011-12-13 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular spin-in and spin-out detection for making-up and breaking-out tubular strings
US8490520B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2013-07-23 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular spin-in and spin-out detection for making-up and breaking-out tubular strings
US9404324B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2016-08-02 Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd. Oilfield tubular spin-in and spin-out detection for making-up and breaking-out tubular strings
US10329857B2 (en) 2006-09-08 2019-06-25 Nabors Drilling Technologies Usa, Inc. Oilfield tubular spin-in and spin-out detection for making-up and breaking-out tubular strings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0629260A1 (en) 1994-12-21
GB9205211D0 (en) 1992-04-22
NO943255L (en) 1994-09-02
WO1993018276A1 (en) 1993-09-16
NO943255D0 (en) 1994-09-02

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued
FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 19950802