Patent Publication Number: US-9422778-B2

Title: Drill pipe handling system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In many oilfield operations, e.g., drilling, casing running, etc., a tubular is run into the wellbore. During run-in, the tubular is typically connected to, i.e., made-up to, one or more tubulars that have already been run-in, thus providing an end-on-end connection forming a tubular string. In some cases, elevators are employed to position the tubular above the wellbore, allowing the tubular to be made-up to the subjacent, already-run tubular. The elevator then supports the weight of the tubular string through its engagement with the tubular, and lowers the tubular into the wellbore. 
     There are several different types of elevators, which employ different structures to engage the tubular and support its weight. Generally, elevators either employ slips that engage the radial outside of the tubular, or a load bushing that catches an upset (e.g., a shoulder) of the tubular or a lift nubbin connected to the top of the tubular. Slip-type elevators generally use the weight of the tubular to provide the gripping force, and may include teeth or the like that bite into the tubular. Load bushing elevators, by contrast, provide a collar or landing surface upon which the upset bears. 
     Both types of elevators present challenges in deep sea or other applications where the tubular strings can become extremely heavy. With slip-type elevators, after making the tubular up to the string, the weight of the tubular can cause the slips to apply too great of a gripping force on the tubular, which can crush or otherwise damage the tubular. Further, in some applications, it may be advantageous or required to avoid marking the tubular. On the other hand, with load-bushing-type elevators, the upset of the tubular, e.g., where the tool joint is coupled with the pipe, may fail if the weight is too great. One solution is to form higher-grade tool joints that are designed to support the load; however, such higher-grade tool joints may result in higher make-up torques, which can present additional challenges. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an apparatus for handling a tubular. The apparatus includes a body defining at least a portion of a tapered bowl. The apparatus also includes a plurality of slips disposed at least partially within the bowl and configured to slide along a surface of the bowl. Each of the slips includes a radial engaging surface configured to engage an outer diameter of a tubular, and a tapered engaging surface configured to engage a tapered section of the tubular. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide a method for handling a tubular. The method includes receiving a tubular into a body of an elevator, and moving slips of the elevator with respect to a tapered bowl of the elevator. The method also includes engaging a main body section of the tubular with a radial engaging surface of each of the slips, and engaging a tapered section of the tubular with a tapered engaging surface of each of the slips. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide an elevator for lifting a tubular. The elevator includes a body defining a tapered bowl. The elevator also includes a plurality of slips coupled with the body and movable at least partially in the tapered bowl. The plurality of slips each comprise a radial engaging surface extending axially and a tapered engaging surface extending at an angle of between about 10 degrees and 60 degrees to the radial engaging surface. The tapered engaging surface is configured to engage a tool joint of a tubular and the radial engaging surface is configured to engage and apply a friction force to an outer diameter of the tubular, the outer diameter being adjacent to the tapered surface. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present teachings, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a raised perspective view of an elevator, with doors thereof open, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the elevator, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a raised perspective view of the elevator, with the doors closed, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4-6  illustrate bottom views of the elevator, showing the doors opening, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of a method for handling a tubular, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     It should be noted that some details of the figures have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the embodiments rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements, where convenient. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the description, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment, among many contemplated, in which the present teachings may be practiced. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a raised perspective view of an elevator  100 , according to an embodiment. The elevator  100  may generally be configured for use in drilling, casing, or other types of tubular running systems. Accordingly, the elevator  100  may be configured to support a weight of a tubular (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and lower the tubular into connection with a subjacent (i.e., already run) tubular, e.g., as part of a string of tubulars such as a drill string. Further, the elevator  100  may be configured to lower the tubular, after being made up to the tubular string, into the wellbore, while supporting the weight of the tubular string. The elevator  100  may also be configured to allow the weight of the tubular string to be transferred to a spider or another structure located proximal the wellbore, and may then be disengaged from the tubular, lifted, and engaged with another tubular to repeat the process. Additionally, embodiments of the elevator  100  may be applied to lift tubular from a horizontal, or any other non-vertical, starting orientation, as will be described in greater detail below. 
     In an embodiment, the elevator  100  may include a body  102  and one or more, for example, two doors  104 ,  106 . The body  102  may also include a top  107  and a bottom  109 , and may form at least a portion of a cylindrical structure. In some cases, the doors  104 ,  106  may be omitted, with the body  102  providing the entire cylindrical structure. In other cases, a single door, or three or more doors, may be employed. In the illustrated embodiment, the doors  104 ,  106  may be coupled with the body  102  so as to pivot with respect thereto. For example, the doors  104 ,  106  may be coupled with the body  102  via pins  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2  (pin  108 - 2  is not visible in  FIG. 1 ), respectively. When closed, the doors  104 ,  106  may be restrained together via a latch  110 . The latch  110  may be pivotally coupled with the door  104  via a pin  112 , and may be receivable between knuckles  114  of the opposite door  106 . In embodiments including doors  104 ,  106 , when the doors  104 ,  106  are closed, the doors  104 ,  106  and the body may from a generally cylindrical structure. 
     In an embodiment, the body  102  and the doors  104 ,  106  may together define a bowl  115 , e.g., when the doors  104 ,  106  are closed. For example, the body  102  may provide a bowl section  116  and the doors  104 ,  106  may provide bowl sections  118 ,  120 . The bowl sections  116 - 120  may combine to form a generally frustoconical surface  121 , which may decrease in diameter proceeding away from the top  107  of the body  102 . In embodiments in which the doors  104 ,  106  are omitted, the body  102  may provide the entire surface  121 . 
     The elevator  100  may also include a plurality of slips (four shown:  122 ,  124 ,  126 , and  128 ). Although four slips  122 - 126  are shown in the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that additional or fewer slips may be employed. Further, the slips  126 ,  128  may be coupled with the doors  104 ,  106 , respectively. In this case, the slips  126 ,  128  may be configured to swing or pivot with the doors  104 ,  106 . 
     The slips  122 - 128  may each be configured to slide or otherwise move along the surface  121  of the bowl  115 , thereby increasing or decreasing their radial distances from the center of the elevator  100  according to the axial position of the slips  122 - 128  on the tapered bowl  115 . Further, the elevator  100  may include guide bars  131  for each of the slips  122 - 128 , which may be coupled with and extend inward from the surface  121  of the bowl  115 . The guide bars  131  may include a friction-reducing feature, such as rollers  133 , as shown, low-friction surfaces, and/or the like. Such friction-reducing features may be configured to facilitate sliding of the slips  122 - 128  with respect thereto. In other embodiments, friction-reducing features may be omitted. Further, the guide bars  131  may be received into a recess formed in the slips  122 - 128 , may ride against the circumferential edges of the slips  122 - 128  to which they are adjacent, or may be spaced apart from the slips  122 - 128  unless the slips  122 - 128  are displaced. The guide bars  131  may be configured to constrain the position of the slips  122 - 128 , e.g., when engaged with a tubular, so as to prevent movement of the tubular from displacing or otherwise damaging the slips  122 - 128  or other components of the elevator  100  connected thereto. 
     The slips  122 - 128  may be connected together via a timing ring  130 . For example, each of the slips  122 - 128  may be coupled with the timing ring  130  via a pin-and-slot connection  132 , which may allow the slips  122 - 128  to move radially with respect to the timing ring  130 . Further, the timing ring  130  may include a main section  134  and two swing sections  136 ,  138 . The swing sections  136 ,  138  may be pivotally coupled with the main section  134 , aligned with the doors  104 ,  106  and coupled with the slips  126 ,  128  disposed thereon, respectively. Additionally, the swing sections  136 ,  138  may be receivable at least partially onto shoulders  140 ,  142  at circumferential extents of the main section  134 . 
     The main section  134  may be coupled with one or more extendable cylinders (two are visible:  144 ,  146 ). The extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  may also be coupled with the body  102  and may be extendable upward and retractable downward with respect thereto, so as to drive the timing ring  130  toward or away from the body  102 . The extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  may be driven using hydraulics or pneumatics, or mechanically or electro-mechanically driven. Further, with the swing sections  136 ,  138  received onto the shoulders  140 ,  142 , when the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  drive the main section  134  upward, the main section  134  in turn drives the swing sections  136 ,  138  upward. 
     The body  102  may also be coupled with ears  148 ,  150 , which may be configured to engage bails attached to a travelling block or another component of a drilling rig, for example. In some cases, the body  102  and the ears  148 ,  150  may be integrally formed, such that that body  102  may be considered to include the ears  148 ,  150 . This may allow the elevator  100  to be moved, e.g., lifted and lowered, at least, so as to enable control of the position of a tubular that the elevator  100  engages. In other embodiments, other structures of the elevator  100  may be provided to connect with the lifting mechanism. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side cross-sectional view a portion of the elevator  100 , without the timing ring  130 , according to an embodiment. The slips  122 - 128  (slips  122  and  126  are shown in  FIG. 2 ) may be configured to engage a tubular  200  and to disengage therefrom by moving axially, i.e., parallel to a longitudinal centerline  201  of the elevator  100  and along the surface  121  of the bowl  115 . With the surface of the bowl  115  being tapered, such axial movement may translate into radial movement away from (when moving upward) and toward (when moving downward) the longitudinal centerline  201 . 
     The tubular  200  may be a drill pipe and may include a main body section  202  and a tool joint  204 . The tool joint  204  may form a box-end (e.g., an internally or “female” threaded) connection  205 , which may be configured to receive a pin-end connection of another tubular. Further, the tool joint  204  may define a tapered section  206 , where the outer diameter of the tool joint  204  may decrease toward the outer diameter of the main body section  202 . It will be appreciated that the tool joint  204  may form a weld neck with the main body section  202 , e.g., where the tool joint  204  connects with the main body section  202 . In other embodiments, the tool joint  204  may be integral with the main body section  202 , or otherwise attached thereto. Further, in some cases the tapered section  206 , for lifting purposes, may be provided by a lift-nubbin threaded into the box-end connection  205 . The main body section  202  may proceed along at least a majority of the length of the tubular  200  and may generally define the outer diameter thereof, apart from at the tool joint  204 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one or more of the slips  122 - 128  may include a radial engaging surface  208  and a tapered engaging surface  210 . In the illustrated embodiment, all of the slips  122 - 128  include both surfaces  208 ,  210 ; however, embodiments in which one or more of the slips  122 - 128  omit one or both of the surfaces  208 ,  210  are contemplated. 
     As can be appreciated from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the radial engaging surface  208  may be curved, e.g., partially around the longitudinal centerline  201 . However, the radial engaging surface  208  may be generally straight in the axial direction, in cross-section, such that the radial engaging surface  208  may extend generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline  201 . This geometry may allow the radial engaging surface  208  to contact or otherwise engage the generally constant outer diameter of the main body section  202 . In an embodiment, the radial engaging surface  208  may be substantially free from marking bodies, such as teeth, that would bite into the outer diameter of the main body section  202 . Thus, an engagement between the main body section  202  and the radial engaging surface  208  may be substantially non-marking. 
     The tapered engaging surface  210  may also be curved circumferentially at least partially about the longitudinal centerline  201 . Further, the tapered engaging surface  210  may be inclined at an angle to the longitudinal centerline  201  in radial cross-section, as illustrated. The inclination angle of the tapered engaging surface  210  may be generally the same as the inclination angle at which the tapered section  206  of the tool joint  204  is disposed. Accordingly, the tapered engaging surface  210  may engage the tapered section  206  of the tool joint  204 . In an example, the tapered engaging surface  210  may have an inclination to the longitudinal centerline  201  defining an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 60 degrees, between about 12 degrees and about 45 degrees, between about 15 degrees and about 30 degrees, or for example, about 18 degrees. The inclination angle of the surface  121  of the bowl  115  may be the same or different than the inclination angle of the tapered engaging surface  210 . In various embodiments, the inclination angle of the tapered bowl  115  to the centerline  201  may be between about 10 degrees and about 60 degrees, between about 12 degrees and about 45 degrees, between about 15 degrees and about 30 degrees, or for example, about 17 degrees. 
     Further, in an embodiment, the radial engaging surface  208  may be disposed below the tapered engaging surface  210 , i.e., the tapered engaging surface  210  may be disposed between the radial engaging surface  208  and the timing ring  130 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the timing ring  130  may be disposed proximal the top  107  of the body  102  and may move with the slips  122 - 128 ; thus, in one particular embodiment, the tapered engaging surface  210  may remain between the radial engaging surface  208  and the timing ring  130 , notwithstanding the position of the slips  122 - 128  with respect to the body  102 . As shown, the tapered section  206  of the tool joint  204  may generally extend upward from the main body section  202 ; thus, positioning the tapered engaging surface  210  above the radial engaging surface  208  may allow the radial engaging surface  208  to grip the outer diameter of the main body section  202 , while the tapered engaging surface  210  engages the tool joint  204  (e.g., the tapered section  206  thereof). 
     As such, in use, the radial engaging surfaces  208  of the slips  122 - 128  may engage the bowl  115  and the outer diameter of the main body section  202 . This engagement between the radial engaging surface  208  and the main body section  202  may create friction forces between the tubular  200  and the slips  122 - 128 , forcing the slips  122 - 128  downward in the bowl  115  and inward, into tighter engagement with the outer diameter of the main body section  202 , thereby increasing the gripping ability of the slips  122 - 128 . 
     It will be appreciated that terms implying an orientation, such as “up,” “down,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” and the like, are used for convenience in referring to the Figures. Such terms are merely indicative of relative position and are not to be considered as limiting the elevator  100  to any particular orientation. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , in some cases, the slips  122 - 128  may also include a third section  211  disposed above the tapered engaging surface  210 , i.e., between the tapered engaging surface  210  and the timing ring  130  ( FIG. 1 ). The third section  211  may be parallel or inclined relative to the longitudinal centerline  201 . Further, the third section  211  may be larger, in an embodiment, than an outer diameter of the tool joint  204 , and thus the third section  211  may be spaced apart from the tool joint  204  when the slips  122 - 128  engage the tubular  200 . However, embodiments in which the third section  211  bears on the tool joint  204  are contemplated. Further, embodiments in which the tapered engaging surface  210  forms the upper axial extent of each of the slips  122 - 128  are also contemplated. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates a linkage  212  of the slips  122 - 128 , which provides part of the connection  132  between the slips  122 - 128  and the timing ring  130  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, the linkage  212  may couple the slips  122 - 128  to the timing ring  130  via a pin received through an aperture  214  defined in the linkage  212 . Moreover, when the slips  122 - 128  move (e.g., via the linkage  212  and the timing ring  130 ), the slips  122 - 128  may not engage a landing surface in the bowl  115 . Rather, the bowl  115  may allow the slips  122 - 128  to slide down, as shown, and inward into engagement with the tubular  200 , without restricting the movement thereof. However, it will be appreciated that the slips  122 - 128  may be prevented from sliding entirely through the body  102  by attachment with the timing ring  130  and/or by defining a circumference together that is greater than a smallest circumference of the bowl  115 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a raised perspective view of the elevator  100 , according to an embodiment, with the doors  104 ,  106  closed and the latch  110  engaged. The timing ring  130  may be lowered toward the top  107  of the body  102 , for example, by removing hydraulic pressure from the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  ( FIG. 1 ). With additional reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , by removing the pressure from the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146 , the timing ring  130  may fall toward the top  107  as the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  retract. Thus, the slips  122 - 128  may proceed along the tapered bowl  115 , moving radially inward as they move axially downward along the surface  121  of the tapered bowl  115  until engaging the tubular  200 . 
     Once engaging the tubular  200 , e.g., the tapered section  206  and/or the main body section  202 , the elevator  100  may be moved upwards with respect to the tubular  200 , such that the tapered engaging surface  210  of each of the slips  122 - 128  engages the tapered section  206  of the tool joint  204 . Once the tapered engaging surfaces  210  engage the tapered section  206 , and the radial engaging surfaces  208  engage the main body section  202 , the weight of the tubular  200  may be transferred to the body  102  via the engagement between the slips  122 - 128  and the main body section  202  and the tapered section  206 . In turn, the slips  122 - 128  may transmit the weight to the ears  148 ,  150  via the body  102  and/or the doors  104 ,  106 . Bails attached to a lifting mechanism, may be coupled with the ears  148 ,  150 , so as to control the position of the elevator  100  and the tubular  200 , e.g., to lower the tubular  200  into a wellbore. 
     Accordingly, it will be seen that the slips  122 - 128  may avoid causing the connection (e.g., weld neck) between the tool joint  204  and the main body section  202  of the tubular  200  to fail. For example, the bowl  115  may not have a landing surface at an axial bottom thereof, and thus the slips  122 - 128  may be allowed to apply a radially-inward gripping force on the main body section  202  via engagement with the radial engaging surface  208 , thus taking up some of the weight of the tubular  200  via friction forces between the main body section  202  and the radial engaging surfaces  208 . Further, the tapered engaging surface  210  of the slips  122 - 128  may bear on the large surface area provided by the tapered section  206  of the tool joint  204 . This may spread out the stress on the tool joint  204  caused by transmission of the tubular  200  weight to the body  102 , so as to avoid a concentration thereof in the weld neck (i.e., where the tool joint  204  is connected to the tubular  200 ). 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate a view of the bottom  109  of the body  102  of the elevator  100 , according to an embodiment. As shown, on the bottom  109 , the body  102  may be recessed, so as to at least partially provide a space for an opening assembly, which may be hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, or electromechanical, for manipulating the doors  104 ,  106 , and the latch  110 . The opening assembly may include a bracket  300 , a latch cylinder  302 , and a latch linkage  304 . The latch linkage  304  and the latch cylinder  302  may be pivotally coupled with the bracket  300 . Further, the latch linkage  304  may include a first arm  304 - 1  and a second arm  304 - 2 , with the first arm  304 - 1  being pivotally coupled with the latch cylinder  302  and the bracket  300 , and the second arm  304 - 2  being pivotally coupled with the first arm  304 - 1  and the latch  110 . 
     The opening assembly may also include a second bracket  308  and a plurality of door cylinders for example, two door cylinders  310 ,  312 , one for each door  104 ,  106 . The door cylinders  310 ,  312  may be pivotally coupled with the second bracket  308  and to the doors  104 ,  106 , respectively, via a pivotal connection with door brackets  314 ,  316 , respectively. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , in the illustrated closed position, the latch cylinder  302  may be extended and the door cylinders  310 ,  312  retracted. To open the doors  104 ,  106 , the latch  110  is first disengaged from the door  104 . In an embodiment, to do so, the latch cylinder  302  is retracted, as shown in  FIG. 5 . This causes the first arm  304 - 1  to pivot clockwise, as shown, which drives the second arm  304 - 2  to the right. Driving the second arm  304 - 2  to the right causes the latch  110  to rotate about the pin  112  and thus pivot with respect to the door  106  and out of engagement with the door  104 . 
     With the latch  110  disengaged, the door cylinders  310 ,  312  may be expanded, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The expansion of the door cylinders  310 ,  312  causes the doors  104 ,  106  to rotate about the pins  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2  and thus to pivot with respect to the body  102 . The door cylinders  310 ,  312  may be expanded until a gap  320  between the doors  104 ,  106  is large enough to accept the tubular  200  into the bowl  115  so that the slips  122 - 128  may engage the tubular  200 . 
     The controls for the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146  controlling the position of the timing ring  130 , and thus the slips  122 - 128  may be separate or integrated with controls for the opening assembly for opening/closing the doors  104 ,  106 . Further, a single command may issue, e.g., from a user via such controls, to open the doors  104 ,  106 , beginning the two part process of disengaging the latch  110  and pivoting the doors  104 ,  106 ; however, in other embodiments, two separate commands may be provided. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of a method  700  for handing the tubular  200 , according to an embodiment. One or more embodiments of the method  700  may proceed by operation of the elevator  100 ; therefore, the method  700  is described with respect thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the method  700  is not intended to be limited to any particular structure unless otherwise expressly stated herein. 
     The method  700  may begin by receiving the tubular  200  into the body  102  of the elevator  100 , as at  702 . Once received, the body  102  may at least partially circumscribe the tubular  200 . Such receiving may proceed, for example, by unlatching and/or pivoting the two doors  104 ,  106  apart from one another, so as to receive the tubular  200  laterally into the body  102 . Such receiving may be suited for situations in which the tubular  200  begins in a horizontal or otherwise in a non-vertical position. Accordingly, the elevator  100  may be pivoted such that it is oriented generally parallel to the tubular  200 , and receives the tubular  200  laterally through the doors  104 ,  106 . Thereafter, the doors  104 ,  106  may be closed and latched. 
     In situations in which the tubular  200  is initially in a vertical orientation, the elevator  100  may be received over either end (e.g., the box end connection  205 ), with the slips  122 - 128  up, allowing for a radial clearance between the tubular  200  and the slips  122 - 128 . It will be appreciated however that the doors  104 ,  106  may be employed in receiving the elevator  100  around the tubular  200  in a vertical start, while the elevator  100  may be received over the end of the tubular  200  in a horizontal or otherwise non-vertical starting orientation. 
     The method  700  may also include moving, e.g., lowering, the slips  122 - 128  with respect to the tapered bowl  115  defined at least in the body  102  of the elevator  100 , as at  704 . The slips  122 - 128  may be moved by actuation of the timing bar  130  connected to the extendable cylinders  144 ,  146 . Moving the slips  122 - 128  axially with respect to the body  102  may cause the slips  122 - 128  to slide along the tapered surface  121  of the bowl  115 , which, in turn, causes the radial position of the slips  122 - 128  to change according to the inclination of the tapered surface  121 . 
     As the slips  122 - 128  are moved, the radial engaging surface  208  may be brought into engagement with the main body section  202  of the tubular  200 , as at  706 . Further, the tapered engaging section  210  may be brought into engagement with the tapered section  206  of the tubular  200 , as at  708 . The tapered section  206  of the tubular  200  may form part of a tool joint  204 , which provides a box-end (internally threaded) connection  205  for attachment to another tubular  200 , or may be provided by another structure such as a lift nubbin. Accordingly, by the engaging at  706  and  708 , the elevator  100  may transfer weight from the tubular  200  to the body  102  via the slips  122 - 128  engaging both the main body section  202  and the tapered section  206 . 
     Further, in an embodiment, one or more of the slips  122 - 128  (e.g., slips  126 ,  128 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ) may slide along the bowl section  118  or  120  defined by the doors  104 ,  106 , respectively. The timing ring  130  may be segmented, such that the slips  126 ,  128  may swing with the opening and closing doors  104 ,  106 . Additionally, in some cases, the bowl  115  may not end at a radially-extending landing surface and may, instead, be free to apply a gripping force on the main body section  202 . In at least one specific embodiment, one, some, or all of the slips  122 - 128  may slide between two guide bars  131  disposed circumferentially adjacent to the one, some, or all of the slips  122 - 128 , with the guide bars  131  extending from the surface  121  of the tapered bowl  115 . 
     The method  700  may also include lifting the tubular  200  by lifting the elevator  100 , as at  710 . The elevator  100  may be lifted, for example, via engagement with the ears  148 ,  150 . Initially, lifting the elevator  100  may cause the elevator  100  to move with respect to the tubular  200 , until the tapered section  206  lands on the tapered engaging section  210  of the slips  122 - 128 . Thereafter, continued lifting of the elevator  100  may cause the slips  122 - 128  to take up the weight of the tubular  200 , without the slips  122 - 128  bearing against an axial shoulder or landing surface, so as to transfer the weight of the tubular  200  to the bowl  115  and the body  102 , for example. The lifting of the tubular  200  at  710  may apply in vertical, horizontal, or otherwise non-vertical orientations of the tubular  200 . In horizontal or otherwise non-vertical orientations, in addition to vertical lifting, at least initially, the lifting at  710  may include pivoting the elevator  100  to rotate the tubular  200  to a vertical orientation. 
     Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein. 
     While the present teachings have been illustrated with respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of the present teachings may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular function. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Further, in the discussion and claims herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment. Finally, “exemplary” indicates the description is used as an example, rather than implying that it is an ideal. 
     Other embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present teachings disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the present teachings being indicated by the following claims.