Patent ID: 7794192
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for handling a pipe stand in a derrick and racking the pipe stand on a pipe rack mounted on the derrick mast wherein the mast has an open face on at least one side, the open face defined by legs of the mast, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing: b) extending said arm selectively radially outwardly of said rotating pipe support to said extended position so as to engage said pipe mount with the pipe stand and, once so engaged, c) lifting with said pipe mount the entire weight of the pipe stand so as to bear the entire weight of the pipe stand only on said pipe mount, said arm, said rotating pipe support, and said pipe racking assembly and thereby transferring the entire weight of the pipe stand to the legs of the open face of the mast; d) pivoting said arm relative to said rotating pipe support so as to return said arm to said returned position and thereby to carry the entire weight of the pipe stand to said rotating pipe support; e) rotating said rotating pipe support, said arm, said pipe mount and the pipe stand from said mast facing position to said pipe rack facing position; f) extending and positioning said arm and said pipe mount while carrying the entire weight of the pipe stand, and while said arm is in said pipe rack facing position, so as to rack the pipe stand; g) once the pipe stand is racked, releasing the pipe stand from the pipe mount and returning said arm to said rotating pipe support, rotating said rotating pipe support and said arm to said mast facing position and extending said arm and said pipe mount to retrieve a second pipe stand through the open face of the mast; wherein said pipe racking assembly includes, mounted thereto, a rotatable gate assembly said rotatable gate assembly having a substantially U-shaped collar mounted on said rotating pipe support and said arm depending therefrom, wherein said collar defines a gate opening and corresponding pocket to receive and mate a pipe stand therein, wherein said selectively actuable drive is coupled to said collar and said rotating pipe support for selectively driven rotation thereof between said derrick facing position wherein said gate opening is facing the open face of the mast and in operable communication therewith, and a pipe rack facing position wherein said gate opening is facing the opening into the racking board and in operable communication therewith, wherein said arm selectively pivots outwardly of said rotating pipe support so as to engage said pipe mount with the pipe stand and, once so engaged, pivots so as to return said arm and so as to said receive and mate the pipe stand in said gate opening and said pocket respectively, whereupon said collar, said rotating pipe support, said arm and the pipe stand are rotated between said mast facing position and pipe rack facing position.