Well pipe stabbing and back-up apparatus

[54] WELL PIPE STABBING AND BACK-UP APPARATUS

[75] Inventor: George I. Boyadjieff, Anaheim, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Varco International, Inc., Orange, Calif.

[21] Appl. No.: 718,537
[22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1985

[51] Int. CI.* E21B 19/20

[52] U.S. CI 166/77.5; 166/85;

175/85; 173/164

[58] Field of Search 166/77.5, 78, 85, 377-380;

175/52, 85; 173/164; 414/22

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,450,934 10/1948 Calhoun 175/85

3,061,011 10/1962 Paget 166/77.5

3,312,294 4/1967 Wilson 173/164

3,351,585 7/1967 Dubberke 166/77.5

3,464,507 9/1969 Alexander et al 175/85

4,421,179 12/1983 Boyadjieff 175/85 X

4,437,524 3/1984 Boyadjieff et al 175/52 X

4,449,596 5/1984 Boyadjieff 175/85

4,458,768 7/1984 Boyadjieff 175/85

4,489,794 12/1984 Boyadjieff 175/85

Primary Examiner—Stephen J. Novosad
Assistant Examiner—John F. Letchford
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—William P. Green

[57] ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use during connection of a length of pipe to the upper end of a drill string, preferably in a top drive drilling arrangement, and including a back-up tool for retaining the upper end of the drill string against rotation as the added length of pipe is connected threadedly thereto. This back-up tool is mounted for movement between an active position for engaging and holding the upper end of the drill string and a laterally retracted position. A stabbing unit associated with the back-up tool acts to locate the additional length of pipe while it is connected to the string, and is mounted for movement with the back-up tool between the active and inactive positions of the latter, and also for movement relative to the back-up tool, in the active position of that tool, between an extended position for engaging and holding the additional length of pipe at a location offset laterally with respect to the back-up tool and a stabbing position locating the additional length of pipe in alignment with the back-up tool for connection to the string.

35 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures