Patent ID: 9157286
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A portable pipe handling system for use in conjunction with a drilling rig having a drilling mast aligned with a well center and mounted atop a rig sub-structure, the system comprising: a support structure adapted to support a pipe stand along an inclined pipe stand building axis said support structure comprising a pipe handler mast on said stand building axis; an anti-sway structure mounted to said support structure and adapted for stabilizing said support structure to the drilling mast or rig sub-structure, wherein said anti-sway structure is adapted to substantially only react lateral side loading on said support structure, lateral relative to said support structure, to the drilling mast or rig sub-structure, substantially without reacting vertical loading into the drilling mast or rig sub-structure; a base comprising a catwalk coupled to said support structure; a tubular handler cooperating with said base and said support structure; wherein said tubular handler is adapted to deliver a tubular between said base and said stand building axis; said pipe stand building axis is inclined so that a pipe stand translation trajectory which is substantially co-axial with said pipe stand building axis intersects a hand-off window between the drilling mast and said pipe stand building axis; said tubular handler includes a tubular transport arm having a leading end and an opposite trailing end, wherein said tubular transport arm is translatable along said base and along said pipe stand building axis; and said tubular transport arm comprises a leading arm which includes said leading end, and a trolley which includes said trailing end, wherein said leading arm is pivotally coupled to said trolley; and said system comprises a robotic pipe handler mounted to an upper end of said support structure to transfer the pipe stand between said pipe stand translation trajectory and the drilling mast, wherein said robotic pipe handler reacts substantially all vertical loading thereon to said support structure; and further comprising an actuator cooperating between said base and said support structure to actuate said translation of said tubular transport arm along at least said base.