Patent Publication Number: US-8985201-B2

Title: Rotation inhibiting apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation, and thereby claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/870,505 filed on Aug. 27, 2010, which claims priority, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/238,088, filed on Aug. 28, 2009 and entitled “Rotation Inhibiting Apparatus.” The priority applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and apparatus to assemble and/or disassemble a string of tubular members. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to be coupled to a tubular running tool during assembly of a string of tubular members, such as oilfield tubular members in an oilfield drilling rig. 
     2. Background Art 
     In oilfield exploration and production operations, various oilfield tubular members are used to perform important tasks, including, but not limited to, drilling the wellbore and casing a drilled wellbore. For example, a long assembly of drill pipes, known in the industry as a drill string, may be used to rotate a drill bit at a distal end to create the wellbore. Furthermore, after a wellbore has been created, a casing string may be disposed downhole into the wellbore and cemented in place to stabilize, reinforce, or isolate (among other functions) portions of the wellbore. As such, strings of drill pipe and casing may be connected together, such as end-to-end by threaded connections, in which a female “pin” member of a first tubular member is configured to threadably engage a corresponding male “box” member of a second tubular member. Alternatively, a casing string may be made-up of a series of male-male ended casing joints coupled together by female-female couplers. The process by which the threaded connections are assembled (e.g., screwed together) is called “making-up” a threaded connection, and the process by which the connections are disassembled is referred to “breaking-out” the threaded connection. As would be understood by one having ordinary skill, individual pieces (or “joints”) of oilfield tubular members may come in a variety of weights, diameters, configurations, and lengths. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , multiple views are shown of a drilling rig  101  used to run one or more tubular members  111  (e.g., casing, drill pipe, etc.) downhole into a wellbore  113 . As shown, the drilling rig  101  includes a frame structure known as a “derrick”  102 , from which a traveling block  103 , an elevator first gripping apparatus  105  (e.g., a casing running tool or conventional string elevator), a top drive  145 , and a second gripping apparatus  107  (e.g., slip assembly or spider) may be used to manipulate (e.g., raise, lower, rotate, hold, etc.) a tubular member  111 . The traveling block  103  is a device that is suspended from at or near the top of the derrick  102 , in which the traveling block  103  may move up-and-down (i.e., vertically as depicted) to raise and/or lower the tubular member  111 . The traveling block  103  may be a simple “pulley-style” block and may have a hook from which objects below (e.g., first gripping apparatus  105  and/or top drive  145 ) may be suspended. 
     Additionally, the first gripping apparatus  105  may be coupled below the traveling block  103  and/or the top drive  145  (shown in  FIG. 1A ) to selectively grab or release a tubular member  111  as the tubular member  111  is to be raised and/or lowered within and from the derrick  102 . Further, the top drive  145  may include one or more guiding rails and/or a track  108  disposed adjacent to the top drive  145 . The guiding rails or track  108  may be used by the top drive  145  to support and guide the top drive  145  as the top drive  145  is raised and/or lowered within the derrick  102 . An example of a top drive is disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,596, filed on Aug. 3, 1982, and entitled “Drilling of Wells with Top Drive Unit,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Typically, the first gripping apparatus  105  includes movable gripping members (e.g., slips) attached thereto and movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first gripping apparatus  105  supports the tubular member  111  such the tubular member  111  may be lifted and/or lowered, and rotated if so equipped, e.g., using a tubular (e.g., casing) running tool connected to the quill of the top drive  145 . In the open position, the first gripping apparatus  105  may release the tubular member  111  and move away therefrom to allow the tubular member  111  to be engaged with or removed from the first gripping apparatus  105  and/or the second gripping apparatus  107 . For example, the first gripping apparatus  105  may release the tubular member  111  after the tubular member  111  is threadably connected to a downhole string  115  supported by the drilling rig  101 . 
     Further, the second gripping apparatus  107  may be used to grip the downhole string  115  and suspend the downhole string  115  from the rig, e.g., from within the rotary table  109 . The second gripping apparatus  107  may be disposed above the rotary table  109 , or may be disposed within the rotary table  109 , as shown, such as flush with the rotary table  109 . As such, the second gripping apparatus  107  may be used to suspend the downhole string  115  while one or more tubular members  111  are connected or disconnected from the downhole string  115 . 
     When assembling a downhole string  115  of tubular members  111  together, a tubular member  111  may be removed from a pipe rack  112  and pulled, or otherwise transported, towards an access opening  121 , for example, a v-door, within the derrick  102  of the drilling rig  101 . The tubular member  111  may be loaded onto a pipe ramp  125  adjacent to the access opening  121 , in which an end stop  131  may abut an end of the tubular member  111  to support the tubular member  111  against access opening  121 . 
     To facilitate this assembly process, a tubular handling mechanism  151 , such as single joint manipulator, shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , may be used to transport the tubular member  111  into and within the derrick  102  of the drilling rig  101 . For example, the tubular handling mechanism  151  may be connected to the top drive  145  and have a single joint elevator  143  attached thereto. A tubular handling mechanism  151  may be rotationally connected to a quill of the top drive  145  such that the tubular handling mechanism  151  is rotatable with respect to the quill of the top drive  145 , such as rotatable about a vertical axis of the quill of the top drive  145 . As such, a rotation inhibiting apparatus may be disposed between the tubular handling mechanism  151  and the rig  101 , e.g., a non-rotating portion of top drive  145 , to prevent rotation between the tubular handling mechanism  151  via the non-rotating portion of the top drive  145 , if desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the single joint elevator  143  of the tubular handling mechanism  151  may grasp an end of the tubular member  111  located within an access opening  121 . The tubular handling mechanism  151  may contact a shoulder of the tubular member  111  or alternatively include a slip assembly used to grasp (e.g., frictionally) the tubular member  111 . As such, the tubular handling mechanism  151  may raise the tubular member  111  up into the derrick  102  and may align the tubular member  111 , such as shown in  FIG. 2B , with the downhole string  115 , in which the tubular member  111  may threadably connect to lengthen the downhole string  115 . 
     As such, and as shown in  FIG. 2C , a tubular running tool  141  driven by a top drive  145  may be used to threadably connect the tubular member  111  to the downhole string  115 . Specifically, the tubular running tool  141  may have one or more gripping members  147  that may move radially inward and outward with respect to an axis  149  of the tubular running tool  141  and/or the top drive  145  (e.g., quill of the top drive  145 ). Gripping members  147 , such as with an internally gripping tool in  FIG. 2C , may be used to grip an internal surface of the tubular member  111 , and/or gripping members  147  may grip an external surface of the tubular member  111 , such as with an external gripping tool shown in  FIGS. 2D and 2E  (shown without the typical connection of the bore of the tubular member  111  to a fluid source, but may be included without departing from the scope of the present application). As such, the quill of the top drive  145  may rotate the tubular running tool  141 , thereby rotating the tubular member  111  gripped by the tubular running tool  141 . During rotation, the tubular member  111  may threadably connect to the downhole string  115  to lengthen the downhole string  115 . As such, as used herein, a top drive  145  may include any motor and/or powered device, such as a power swivel, that may be used to rotate a tubular member  111 . 
     After connecting the tubular member  111  to the downhole string  115 , the second gripping apparatus  107  may disengage from the downhole string  115  to enable the downhole string  115  to be lowered further downhole. As such, after lowering, the second gripping apparatus  107  may re-engage the top of the downhole string  115 , such as to have another tubular member  111  connected thereto. 
     A reverse process, or one similar to the process described above, may be used, such as to remove one or more tubular members  111  from the drilling rig  101 . As such, when removing a tubular member  111  from the drilling rig  101 , the downhole string  115  may be raised into the derrick  102  to have the tubular member  111  extending above the second gripping apparatus  107  and rotary table  109 . The second gripping apparatus  107  may be used to support the remainder of the downhole string  115  below the rotary table  109 , in which the tubular member  111  may be threadably disconnected from the downhole string  115 . For example, the tubular running tool  141  may grip the tubular member  111  and the top drive  145  may rotate the tubular member  111  to threadably disconnect the tubular member  111  from the downhole string  115 . The tubular handling mechanism  151 , or other handling mechanism or device, may transport the tubular member  111  out of the derrick  102  of the drilling rig  101  to have the tubular member  111 , for example, placed upon the pipe rack  112 . 
     However, when making-up or breaking-out threaded connections between a tubular member  111  and the downhole string  115 , the tubular member  111  may move in a vertical direction (along the axis of the tubular member  111 ) with respect to the downhole string  115 . For example, as a tubular member  111  is threadably connected with a downhole string  115 , the tubular member  111  and the downhole string  115  may move vertically with respect to each other. Specifically, the tubular member  111  may move vertically downward with respect to the drilling rig  101  as the downhole string  115  remains relatively stationary with respect to the drilling rig  101 . This movement of the tubular member  111  with respect to the downhole string  115  enables a proper engagement between the male and female threads of the threaded connection between the tubular member  111  and the downhole string  115 . 
     As such,  151  the top drive  145 , and/or the tubular running tool  141  may need to compensate and/or offset the vertical and rotational movement of the tubular member  111  with respect to the downhole string  115 . Particularly, as the tubular member  111  is rotated to threadably connect to and/or disconnect from the downhole string  115 ,  151  the top drive  145 , and/or the tubular running tool  141  will need to move vertically with the tubular member  111  to maintain proper engagement therewith. A tubular handling mechanism  151  may be mounted to a rotatable and/or rotating member (e.g., to quill of top drive  145 , a sub connected thereto, and/or tubular running tool  141 ), but it may be desired to retain the tubular handling mechanism  151  (or other component) rotationally stationary relative to the rig. Accordingly, there exists a need to restrict rotation of a component mounted (e.g., via bearing) to a rotatable and/or rotating member while allowing vertical movement (e.g., active movement during rotation or adjustment during setup, such as owing to differing distances between a rotationally stationary portion of a top drive rig and the component to be restricted from rotation). 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The apparatus includes a first member connected to a first component of the drilling rig, and a second member connected to the first member and connected to a second component of the drilling rig, the second component configured to move vertically with respect to the first component. The first member is configured to move vertically with respect to the second member and the first member and the second member substantially inhibit rotation between each other. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an system to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The system includes a drilling rig, in which the drilling rig includes a top drive having a vertical axis defined therethrough and a tubular handling mechanism supported from a quill of the top drive. The rotation inhibiting apparatus includes a first member connected to a rotationally stationary component of the top drive and a second member connected to the first member and to the tubular handling mechanism. The first member is movable with respect to the second member in a direction along the vertical axis of the top drive and the first member and the second member are configured to remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about the vertical axis of the top drive. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation of a component of a top drive. The apparatus includes a first member and a second member connected to each other, in which the first member and the second member connect between a component of a drilling rig, the component of the drilling rig remaining rotationally stationary with respect to an axis of the top drive, and a component connected to a quill of the top drive. At least one of the first member and the second member is configured to move vertically with respect to the drilling rig, and the first member and the second member are configured to remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about the axis of the tubular running tool. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The method includes coupling a first member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to a first component of a drilling rig, coupling a second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a second component of the drilling rig, the second component configured to move vertically with respect to the first component and configured to rotate with respect to the first component, and connecting the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to each other such that the first member is able to move vertically with respect to the second member within the drilling rig and the first member and the second member substantially inhibit rotation between each other. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method to at least one of make-up and break-out a threaded connection with a string of tubular members. The method includes rotating a tubular member with respect to the string of tubular members with a tubular running tool and moving a first member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus with respect to a second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus along an axis of the tubular running tool, the rotation inhibiting apparatus being coupled between the tubular handling mechanism and a component of a drilling rig. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The apparatus includes a member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the member connected to at least one bail ear of a top drive of the drilling rig, and the second end of the member connected to a component rotationally connected to a quill of the top drive. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The method includes coupling a first end of a member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to at least one bail ear of a top drive of the drilling rig, and coupling a second end of the member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a component rotationally coupled to a quill of the top drive of the drilling rig. The quill is configured to rotate about a rotational axis of the top drive. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The apparatus includes a member having a first end and a second end and a rotational adjustment system. The first end of the member connected to a first component of the drilling rig, and the second end of the member connected to the rotational adjustment system, the rotational adjustment system connected to a second component of the drilling rig. 
     In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method to inhibit rotation within a drilling rig. The method includes coupling a first end of a member of a rotation inhibiting apparatus to a first component of the drilling rig, coupling a second end of the member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to a rotational adjustment system, and coupling the rotational adjustment system to a second component of the drilling rig. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views of a drilling rig. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  show multiple views of a tubular handling mechanism disposed within a drilling rig. 
         FIGS. 2D and 2E  show multiple views of an external gripping tool. 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  show multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus connected to a tubular handling mechanism in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a rotation inhibiting apparatus connected to a tubular handling mechanism in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  show multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  show multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  show multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIGS. 8A-8E  show multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying Figures. Like elements in the various figures may be denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. Further, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. 
     In various aspects disclosed herein, embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation between one or more components of a drilling rig. For example, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to inhibit rotation between a tubular handling mechanism, a tubular running tool, a top drive, and/or a rotationally stationary member disposed of a drilling rig (e.g., housing of a top drive, traveling block or derrick of the drilling rig). The tubular handling mechanism, the tubular running tool, and/or the top drive may be disposed within a drilling rig and may be used to engage and transport tubular members into, out-of, and/or within the drilling rig. For example, the tubular handling mechanism may be used to move a tubular member into the drilling rig, remove the tubular member from the drilling rig, and/or move the tubular member vertically into and/or out-of a wellbore adjacent to the drilling rig with respect to a floor of the drilling rig. Further, the tubular running tool may be used to engage a tubular member within a drilling rig, and the top drive may be used to rotate a tubular member within the drilling rig, such as when making-up and breaking-out threaded connections with a string of tubular members. 
     As such, a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may be disposed within a drilling rig and connected to a component to be restricted from rotation, e.g., a tubular handling mechanism, in which the rotation inhibiting apparatus may increase the ability of the tubular handling mechanism, to control the tubular members. Particularly, the apparatus may be used to inhibit rotation from adversely affecting the performance of the drilling rig, such as the tubular running tool, the tubular handling mechanism, and/or the top drive. Consequently, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may prevent damage to one or more components of the drilling rig, may prevent damage to the tubular members, and/or may accelerate the process when controlling and managing tubular members within the drilling rig. For example, in one embodiment, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may prevent a tubular handling mechanism from rotating with respect to a drilling rig while making-up a threaded connection within a drill string. 
     Thus, in one aspect, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may include a first member and a second member connected to each other. The first member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may connect to a component and/or surface of the drilling rig, in which the component and/or surface remains rotationally stationary with respect to the drilling rig. For example, in an embodiment in which the drilling rig includes a top drive, the first member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may connect to a component, such as a bail ear or the housing, of the top drive. The second member may connect to the component to be restricted from rotation, e.g., a tubular handling mechanism disposed within the drilling rig, wherein the tubular handling mechanism is desired to be retained rotationally stationary relative to the drilling rig. 
     Further, the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be connected to each other such that the first member and second member may move vertically with respect to each other. For example, in an embodiment in which the drilling rig includes a tubular running tool and a top drive, the first member and the second member may move with respect to each other in a direction parallel to an axis of the tubular running tool and/or the top drive. As such, through this moveable connection between the first member and the second member, the rotationally stationary component of the drilling rig connected to the first member and the tubular handling mechanism connected to the second member may vertically move with respect to each other while connected via the rotation inhibiting apparatus, thereby enabling vertical movement between the tubular handling mechanism and the drilling rig. 
     Furthermore, the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other, such as about the axis of the tubular running tool and/or top drive. As such, this arrangement may enable the first member and the second member to inhibit rotation from being transferred between each other, rotation occurring about the axis of the tubular running tool. For example, rotational movement may be received by the tubular handling mechanism, such as by having the tubular handling mechanism or portions thereof contact a tubular member, when the tubular running tool is rotating the tubular member. Because the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other, the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may inhibit rotation of the first member, and thus anything connected thereto. For example, rotational movement received by and/or imparted to a tubular handling mechanism may be inhibited, at least partially, by stabilizing against a rotationally stationary component using the rotation inhibiting apparatus, thereby preventing rotational movement across the tubular handling mechanism and the rotationally stationary component. 
     As used herein, “connected” may refer to not only having two or more elements directly attached to each other, but connected may additionally refer to having two or more elements indirectly attached to each other. For example, as mentioned above, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may have a first member and a second member connected to each other. As such, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates not only having the first member and the second member directly attached to each other, but the present disclosure additionally contemplates other structures and/or arrangements for the rotation inhibiting apparatus, such as by having a third member disposed between the first member and the second member, in which the first member and the second member are connected to each other through the third member. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3C , multiple perspective views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  connected to a tubular handling mechanism  351  in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein are shown. Specifically,  FIGS. 3A-3C  show multiple arrangements of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  connected to a tubular handling mechanism  351  in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, though a rotation inhibiting apparatus is shown as disposed adjacent to a tubular handling mechanism, the present disclosure contemplates using a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein to inhibit rotation of any component that may have undesired rotation imparted thereto. For example, in other embodiments, a rotation inhibiting apparatus may be used to inhibit rotation from being imparted to a portion of a top drive, such as a rotationally independent sub connected to a quill of a top drive, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
     Continuing, as discussed above, a tubular handling mechanism may be used to engage and transport tubular members into, out-of, and/or within a drilling rig, and a top drive quill may be used to engage and rotate tubular members within the drilling rig. In the illustrated embodiment, a tubular running tool  341  includes a mandrel  349 , and the top drive  345  includes a quill  343 . The mandrel  349  and the quill  343  may be connected to each other, such as through a threaded connection, thereby enabling the mandrel  349  to be operationally (e.g., rotationally) connected to the top drive  345 . For example, the top drive  345  may be used to rotate to the mandrel  349  about a longitudinal axis thereof. 
     Further, the tubular running tool  341  may include one or more gripping members, in which the gripping members may be operationally connected to the mandrel  349 . For example, the gripping members may be rotated by the top drive via the mandrel  349  while used to selectively engage a tubular member. Specifically, the gripping members may be selectively deployable to engage an inner surface of a tubular member. Those having ordinary skill in the art, however, will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited to using gripping members to engage an inner surface of a tubular member, as the present disclosure contemplates using other gripping devices to engage a tubular member, such as engaging the tubular member on an outer surface thereof. For example, other gripping apparatuses have gripping members to grip an internal or external surface of a tubular member in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein are disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/912,665, filed on Oct. 25, 2007, and entitled “Gripping Tool,” which is incorporated herein by reference 
     As such, rotation of the mandrel  349  generated by the top drive  345  may be transferred to a tubular member by having the gripping members, operationally connected to the mandrel  349 , engage the tubular member. When the gripping members engage the tubular member, the top drive  345  may be used to rotate the tubular member. This may enable the top drive  345  to make-up and/or break-out a threaded connection between the tubular member and a string of tubular members supported by the drilling rig and/or this may enable the top drive  345  to rotate the string of tubular members, for example, such as when drilling (or reaming) with a drill bit (or reaming shoe) on the distal end of the tubular string. 
     Furthermore, the tubular running tool  341  may include a compensator  348 , e.g., thread compensator. In this embodiment, the compensator  348  is operationally connected to the mandrel  349 , in which the compensator  348  enables the lower end of the tubular running tool  341  to move vertically with respect to the top drive  345 . For example, when making-up and/or breaking-out a threaded connection with the top drive  345  and the tubular running tool  341 , the tubular member engaged by the tubular running tool  341  may move vertically along an axis thereof during make-up of the threaded connection (e.g., when axial movement is necessary between a male and female member when properly making-up a threaded connection). As such, the compensator  348  may enable the lower end of the tubular running tool  341  to move along an axis thereof when engaged with the tubular member while the top drive  345 , and quill  343  connected thereto, remain relatively stationary vertically. The compensator, such as the thread compensator, may be formed integrally with the top drive and/or quill, such as disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/414,645, filed on Mar. 30, 2009, and entitled “Multipurpose Tubular Running Tool,” which is incorporated herein by reference, or may be formed as a separate sub, such as a sub connected between the quill of a top drive and a gripping apparatus. 
     As discussed above, the tubular handling mechanism  351  may be used to move a tubular member into the drilling rig, remove the tubular member from the drilling rig, and/or move the tubular member vertically into and/or out-of axial alignment with a tubular string and/or a wellbore. In the depicted embodiment, the tubular handling mechanism  351  may include a plate  353 , in which the plate  353  may be disposed about the tubular running tool  341 . The plate  353  may be used to connect the tubular handling mechanism  351  to the tubular running tool  341 , such as by having the tubular handling mechanism  351  connected to a portion of the tubular running tool  341  rotationally independent of the mandrel  349 . As used herein, rotationally independent refers to when a first member is rotationally independent from one or more other members, in which the first member may not rotate, or may rotate at a different speed at least, with respect to the one or more other members if either of either the first member or the one or more other members has rotation imparted thereto. As such, in one embodiment, because the tubular handling mechanism  351  is rotationally independent from the mandrel  349 , the tubular handling mechanism  351  may not rotate with the mandrel  349  when the mandrel  349  is rotationally driven by the top drive  345 . Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited to the structure and arrangement to connect the tubular handling mechanism to the tubular running tool, as shown, as the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and/or arrangements for connecting the tubular handling mechanism and the tubular running tool to each other in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
     Furthermore, the tubular handling mechanism  351  may include one or more arms  355  with an elevator, such as a single joint elevator (e.g.,  143  within  FIGS. 2A and 2B ), attached to an end thereof. An arm  355  may be extendable and/or may be pivotally connected with the tubular running tool  341 , such as by having the arm  355  pivotally connected to the plate  353 . Further, the tubular handling mechanism  351  may include one or more actuators  357  connected to an arm(s), such as by having the actuator(s)  357  connected between the plate  353  and the arm(s)  355 . As such, the actuator(s)  357  may be used to provide movement to the arm(s)  355 , as the actuator(s)  357  may be electrically actuated, hydraulically actuated, pneumatically actuated, mechanically actuated, or the like, such as by having piston cylinders. 
     The tubular handling mechanism  351  may be used to engage and transport tubular members into, out-of, and/or within the drilling rig. For example, the elevator connected to the depicted arms  355  of the tubular handling mechanism  351  may be used to engage a tubular member, such as the upper end of the tubular member, and transport the tubular member through an access opening (e.g., a v-door) of a drilling rig. As the arm(s)  355  of the tubular handling mechanism may be pivotally attached to the tubular running tool  341 , the tubular handling mechanism  351  may align the tubular member with a string of tubular members supported by the drilling rig. 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited to the structure and arrangement of the tubular handling mechanism as shown, as the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and/or arrangements for a tubular handling mechanism in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, another tubular handling mechanism that may be used in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,910, filed on Sep. 7, 2006, entitled “Light-Weight Single Joint Manipulator Arm,” and published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0060818 on Mar. 13, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. Further, a tubular handling mechanism, a tubular running tool, a thread compensator and/or a top drive, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed within the “Multipurpose Tubular Running Tool” U.S. patent application, which is described above and incorporated by reference. 
     Further, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited to the structure and arrangement of the tubular running tool, as shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 3A-3C , as the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and/or arrangements for a tubular running tool to engage and rotate one or more tubular members in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, in one or more embodiments, a tubular running tool in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may include a fluid assembly used to provide fluid therethrough and into a string of tubular members. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 3A-3C , the tubular handling mechanism  351  may have the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  connected thereto. As discussed above, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may include a first member  303  and a second member  309 , in which the first member  303  and the second member  309  are connected to each other. Specifically, the first member  303  and the second member  309  may be connected to each other such that the first member  303  and the second member  309  may move vertically with respect to each other, such as along the axis of the tubular running tool  341  and the top drive  345 . 
     As such, in this embodiment, the first member  303  includes a first end  305  and a second end  307 , and the second member  309  includes a first end  311  and a second end  313 . As shown, the second end  307  of the first member  303  may connect to the first end  311  of the second member  309 . Particularly, in this embodiment, the second end  307  of the first member  303  may connect to the first end  311  of the second member  309  using a pivot  319 . This connection may enable the first member  303  to rotate with respect to the second member  309 , such as about the rotational axis of the top drive  345 . 
     Further, the first end  305  of the first member  303  may connect to a relatively rotationally stationary component of the drilling rig. Specifically, the first end  305  of the first member  303  may connect to a component of the drilling rig, in which the component may remain rotationally stationary, such as with respect to the axis of the tubular running tool  341  and/or the top drive  345 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the first end  305  of the first member  303  may connect to one or more ears  347  (e.g., elevator link ears or bail ears) of the top drive  345 . As used herein, bail ears may be used to refer generally to ears of a top drive, such as either elevator link ears or bail ears of a top drive. As such, a rotation inhibiting apparatus may be used to inhibit rotation between two or more components of a drilling rig, such as by transferring torque between the two components of the drilling rig (discussed more below). 
     In this embodiment, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may include a support structure  317 , such as a top drive bracket support structure shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , in which the support structure  317  may connect to one or more of the bail ears  347  of the top drive  345 . The first end  305  of the first member  303  may connect, such as pivotally connect, to the support structure  317 , thereby enabling the first member  303  to connect to the bails ears  347  of the top drive  345 . As shown, the support structure  317  may be disposed about one or more of the bail ears  347 , in which the support structure  317  may releasably connect to the top drive  345 . As such, this arrangement of the support structure  317  inhibits rotation between the first member  303  and the support structure  317  about the rotational axis of the top drive  345 . 
     The connection between the first member  303  and the rotationally stationary component is such that rotation is inhibited from occurring about the top drive  345  (and the axis of the tubular running tool  341  in the depicted embodiment) between the first member  303  and the rotationally stationary component. Furthermore, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the first member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may connect to any relatively rotationally stationary component of the drilling rig, and not only the top drive as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in other embodiments, the first member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may connect to another non-rotating portion of the top drive, such as the motor housing, may connect to a non-rotating portion of a tubular running tool (if present), and/or may connect to any component disposed with the drilling rig that remains rotationally stationary with respect to the drilling rig. 
     Additionally, the second end  313  of the second member  309  may connect to the tubular handling apparatus  351 . For example, as shown, the second end  313  of the second member  309  may connect, such as pivotally connect (if desired), to the plate  353  of the tubular handling apparatus  351  (though the second member  309  may connect to any component to be restricted from rotation, e.g., tubular handling apparatus  351 , in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein). However, as with the connection of the first member  303 , the depicted connection between the second member  309  and the tubular handling apparatus  351  is such that rotation occurring about the axis of the tubular running tool  341  and/or the top drive  345  is inhibited between the second member  309  and the tubular handling apparatus  351 . This arrangement of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may enable the first member  303  and the second member  309  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  to be connected to each other such that the first member  303  and the second member  309  may move with respect to each other along the axis of the tubular running tool  341 . Further, this arrangement of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may enable the non-rotating component (e.g., bail ears  347 ) of the top drive  345  connected to the first member  303  and the tubular handling mechanism  351  connected to the second member  309  to move with respect to each other along the rotational axis of the top drive  345  path while remaining connected to the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301 . 
     As shown, one or both of the first member  303  and the second member  309  may include a bracket assembly, in which the bracket assemblies are connected to each other. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the first member  303  may include one or more arms, in which the arms, if multiple, may be disposed substantially parallel with each other. The arms of the bracket assembly may further include a brace disposed therebetween to provide support to the arms of the bracket assembly. Those, however, having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited to the use of a bracket assembly for the members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus, as other structures and arrangements may be used for one or more members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus (other examples discussed more below). 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 3A-3C , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  351  such that the first member  303  and the second member  309  may remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about the rotational axis of the tubular running tool  341  and the top drive  345 . As such, this arrangement may enable the first member  303  and the second member  309  to inhibit rotation between each other, e.g., rotation occurring about the rotational axis of the tubular running tool  341  and the top drive  345 . For example, rotational movement may be received by the tubular handling mechanism  351  from the top drive  345 . Particularly, as a portion of the tubular handling mechanism  351  may be supported from the quill of the top drive  345  for vertical movement therewith, in which the tubular handling mechanism  351  also includes another portion allowing independent rotation relative to the rotatable quill (e.g., rotationally stationary relative to the top drive), rotational movement of the another portion of the tubular handling mechanism may be restricted via the rotation inhibiting apparatus. 
     For example, if tubular running tool  341  is rotating a tubular member while making-up and/or breaking-out a threaded connection between the tubular member and a string of tubular members, the tubular handling mechanism  351  may receive, for example, torque to impart rotational movement from the mandrel  349  of the tubular running tool  341  rotated by the top drive  345 . 
     The second member  309  connected to the tubular handling mechanism  351  may receive, at least partially, torque to impart rotational movement to the tubular handling mechanism  351 . Because the first member  303  and the second member  309  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  are retained rotationally stationary with respect to the rotational axis of the top drive  345 , the second member  309  may inhibit the first member  303  from rotating. Further, as the first member  303  is connected to the rotationally stationary portion of the tubular running apparatus  341 , the first member  303  may transfer the rotational movement to this rotationally stationary component. Thus, rotational movement received by the tubular handling mechanism  351  may be inhibited, at least partially, by the rotationally stationary component of the tubular running tool  341  using the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301 . As such, this may prevent rotational movement between the tubular handling mechanism  351  and the rotationally stationary component as rotational movement is inhibited using the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301 . Further, because the first member  303  and the second member  309  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may move with respect to each other along the rotational axis of the tubular running tool  341 , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  enables a tubular running tool, such as the tubular running tool  341  connected to the top drive  345  of the tubular running tool  341 , to move with respect to the tubular handling mechanism  351  along the rotational axis of the tubular running tool  341  and the top drive  345 . 
     With reference specifically to  FIG. 3A , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may be disposed on a side of the tubular running tool  341 , e.g., that closest to an access opening of the drilling rig. This may be noted as the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  is connected to the plate  353  on the same side as the tubular handling mechanism  351 . However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not limited to only this arrangement, as a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may be disposed on any side of the top drive and/or the tubular running tool, e.g., where there is suitable clearance. 
     Further, with reference to  FIG. 3A , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may be disposed out-of-line with respect to a centerline of the tubular running tool  341 . For example, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may not cross a centerline of the tubular running tool  341 , such as cross along a rotational axis of the top drive  345 . However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may be arranged such that the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  is disposed across the centerline of the tubular running tool  341 , such as by having the rotation inhibiting apparatus disposed about portions of the tubular running tool  341  (e.g., quill  343  and/or mandrel  349 ). Furthermore, as shown with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3C , both the first member  303  and the second member  309  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  301  may be disposed on the same and/or opposite sides of the tubular running tool  341  and top drive  345 . For example, in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the first member  303  and the second member  309  are each disposed on the same side of the tubular running tool  341  and the top drive  345 . However, in another embodiment, the first member  303  may be connected to one side of the top drive  345 , such as the side of the top drive  345  closest to the access opening of the drilling rig, and the second member  309  may be connected to the other side of the tubular running tool  341 , such as the side of the tubular running tool  341  furthest from the access opening of the drilling rig. As such, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other structures and arrangements may be used for the rotation inhibiting apparatus without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  401  connected to a tubular handling mechanism  451  in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is shown. Similar to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , a tubular running tool  441  may include a mandrel  449  operatively connected to a top drive  445  having a quill  443 , in which the top drive  445  may be used to rotate the mandrel  449 . The rotation inhibiting apparatus  401  may include a first member  403  and a second member  409  connected to each other, in which the first member  403  may be connected to a rotationally stationary component of the top drive  445  (e.g., bail ears  447  of the top drive  445  in this embodiment) and the second member  409  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  451 . 
     Further, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the first member  403  may connect to the second member  409  such that that first member  403  and the second member  409  may move with respect to each other along an axis of the tubular running tool  441  and/or the top drive  445 . Particularly, in this embodiment, the second end  407  of the first member  403  may connect to the first end  411  of the second member  409  using a pivot, as shown, as discussed above, or any other similar connection known in the art, thereby enabling the movement between the first member  403  and the second member  409  with respect to each other. Furthermore, the first member  403  and the second member  409  may connect to each other and the tubular running tool  441  such that the first member  403  and the second member  409  remain rotationally stationary with respect to the rotational axis of the tubular running tool  441  and the top drive  445 . In accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein, the connection between the first member and the second member, in addition to the connections between the first member and a component of the drilling rig and the second member and a component of the drilling rig, may include a pivot, a U-joint, and/or any other connection known in the art. However, in one embodiment, at least one of the connections between the first member and the second member, between the first member and a component of the drilling rig, and between the second member and a component of the drilling rig is a pivot (i.e., a connection that may rotate about only one axis). One or more of the remaining connections may be a pivot, a U-joint (i.e., a connection that may rotate about two or more axes), or any other connection known in the art. 
     Additionally, in this embodiment, rather than having a bracket assembly as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , one or both of the first member  403  and the second member  409  may include a tube. The tubes of the first member  403  and the second member  409  may be connected to each other, such as through using a pivot. However, as discussed above, other structures and arrangements may be used for one or more members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, as discussed more below, a rectangular member may be used for one or both of the first member and the second member. As such, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, a tubular member having substantially any cross-sectional shape or size, thereby encompassing both a tube and a rectangular member, may be used for the first member and/or the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus. Further, the members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be substantially hollow or have voids formed therein, e.g., to decrease the weight of the rotation inhibiting apparatus and/or to enable having the members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus slidingly engage each other. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure is not so limited, as one or more members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be solid, e.g., for increased strength. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5D , multiple perspective views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  are shown. The rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  may include a first member  503  and a second member  509  connected to each other. Further, as with the above embodiments, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  may be connected between a tubular handling mechanism  551  and a top drive  545  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5A ). As such, the first member  503  may connect to a rotationally stationary component of the drilling rig (e.g., a bail ear  547  of the top drive  545 ), and the second member  509  may connect to a component to be rotationally stationary (e.g., the tubular handling mechanism  551  and/or the outer housing of the tubular running tool  541 ). As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the first member  503  and the second member  509  may connect to the rotationally stationary component and the tubular running tool using one or more connections, such as by using one or more U-joints, as shown, and/or other types of connections, such as one or more pivots. Further, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  may include a support structure  517 , in which the support structure  517  may secure to a component of the top drive  545 , such as a bail ear  547  of the top drive  545 , as shown, and/or a traveling block (e.g., traveling block  103  shown in  FIG. 1A ). 
     As with the above embodiments, the first member  503  may connect to the second member  509  such that the first member  503  and the second member  509  may move with respect to each along an axis of a tubular running tool. Particularly, in this embodiment, the second end  507  of the first member  503  may connect to the first end  511  of the second member  509  using one or more linkages  519 , thereby enabling the movement between the first member  503  and the second member  509  with respect to each other. In one or more embodiments though, two or more linkages are shown to connect the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus together. Thus, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that at least two linkages may be used to connect the first member and the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the linkages  519  may be removably connected to one and/or both of the first member  503  and the second member  509 , such as by using pins to removably connect the linkages  519  to one and/or both of the first member  503  and the second member  509 . For example, as shown specifically in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the linkages  519  may be removably connected to the second member  509 , thereby enabling the linkages  519  to have incremental adjustments, as desired, between the first member  503  and the second member  509 . 
     Furthermore, the first member  503  and the second member  509  may be connected such that the first member  503  and the second member  509  remain rotationally stationary with respect to each other about a rotational axis, such as the rotational axis of the top drive  545 . Furthermore still, in this embodiment, rather than having a bracket assembly or a tube, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C  and  4 , respectively, one or both of the first member  503  and the second member  509  may include a rectangular member. The rectangular members of the first member  503  and the second member  509  may be connected to each other, such as through using at least one linkage  519 . 
     As shown with reference to  FIG. 5C , the first member  503  and the second member  509  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  may be arranged such that the first end  505  of the first member  503  is not in vertical alignment with the second end  513  of the second member  509 . However, as the first member  503  and the second member  509  move with respect to each other, the first end  505  of the first member  503  may move into substantially vertical alignment with the second end  513  of the second member  509 , as shown in  FIG. 5D . Further, the at least one linkage  519  (shown as dual linkages  519 ) connecting the first member  503  to the second member  509  may be adjusted, as desired, to have the first end  505  of the first member  503  in substantial vertical alignment with the second end  513  of the second member  509 . However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present application is not so limited, as the members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be, or may not be, in vertical alignment with each other, as desired. As such, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  501  may be used to inhibit rotation between multiple components within a drilling rig, such as between the tubular handling mechanism  551  and a rotationally stationary portion of the top drive  545  (or other rotationally stationary component disposed upon the drilling rig). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-6C , multiple views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  601  are shown. Specifically,  FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of the rotation inhibiting apparatus connected between a tubular handling mechanism  651  and a top drive  645 ,  FIG. 6B  shows a perspective view of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  601 , and  FIG. 6C  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  601 . As with the above embodiments, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  601  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  651  and may include a first member  603  and a second member  609  connected to each other. The first member  603  may connect to a rotationally stationary component (e.g., the top drive  645 ), and the second member  609  may connect to a component to be held stationary (e.g., a tubular handling mechanism  651 ). Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the first member  603  and the second member  609  may be connected using one or more connections, such as U-joints, and the rotation inhibiting apparatus  601  may include a support structure  617 , in which the support structure  617  may secure to a bail ear  647  of the top drive  645 . Further, the first member  603  and the second member  609  may connect to each other and between one or more components of a tubular running tool such that the first member  603  and the second member  609  may remain rotationally stationary with respect to a rotational axis, such as remain rotationally stationary with respect to the rotational axis of the top drive  645 . 
     The first member  603  may additionally connect to the second member  609  such that the first member  603  and the second member  609  may move with respect to each along the rotational axis of a tubular running tool. Particularly, in this embodiment, the first member  603  may include a female member, and the second member  609  may include a male member. As such, the second member  609  may be disposed, at least partially, within the first member  603 . Specifically, the first end  611  of the second member  609  may be disposed, at least partially, within the second end  607  of the first member  603 . This may enable the first member  603  to slidingly engage the second member  609  such that the first member  603  may move with respect to the second member  609 , e.g., along a rotational axis of top drive  645 . As such, the first member  603  and the second member  609  may be sized such that a close-fit is formed between the first member  603  and the second member  609 , if desired. With a close-fit, the first member  603  and the second member  609  may still slidingly engage each other, but this may enable close interaction and/or, at least some friction between the first member  603  and the second member  609 , as desired. Further, the female member may be fanned with one or more flanges if desired, such as a flange disposed at the second end  607  of the first member  603 , to facilitate a close-fit between the first member  603  and the second member  609 . Furthermore, the flanges may have a material disposed thereon, or the flanges may be formed of a different material than the remainder of the first member  603  and the second member  609 , such that the flanges reduce frictional forces for contacting the first member  603  and the second member  609 . 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, though the rotation inhibiting apparatus is shown with the first member as a female member and the second member as a male member, the present disclosure is not so limited, as the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and arrangements for a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, in another embodiment, the first member may include a male member and the second member may include a female member. Further, in yet another embodiment, the first member and the second member may both be male members, with a female member disposed therebetween to enable movement between the first member and the second member. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7D , multiple perspective views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  701  in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein are shown. Specifically,  FIG. 7A  shows a rotation inhibiting apparatus  701  connected to a tubular handling mechanism  751 , and  FIGS. 7B-7D  show alternative embodiments for the rotation inhibiting apparatus  701 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7A , a tubular running tool  741  may include a mandrel  749  operatively connected to a top drive  745  having a quill  743 , in which the top drive  745  may be used to rotate the mandrel  749  using the quill  743 . Further, the tubular running tool  741  may include one or more gripping members  744  selectively deployable to engage a tubular member and a seal  747  to seal with an inner surface of a tubular member. Furthermore, in addition to a first member  703  and a second member  709 , the rotation inhibiting apparatus  701  includes a third member  715 . In this embodiment, the first member  703  may be connected to a rotationally stationary component of a drilling rig (e.g., a non-rotating portion of the top drive  745 ), the third member  715  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  751 , and the second member  709  may be connected between the first member  703  and the third member  715 . As such, the second member  709  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  751  through the third member  715 . As such, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein, the third member  715  may be connected to the tubular handling mechanism  751  using a second support structure  721 . As shown, the second support structure  721  may include two or more arms that extend therefrom and connected to the tubular handling mechanism  751  (or other component of the drilling rig desired to remain rotationally stationary with respect to the rotational inhibiting apparatus  701 ). The two or more arms of the second support structure  721  may be arranged such that the arms have substantially equal and opposite forces applied thereto from the third member  715  and/or the tubular handling mechanism  751 , such as by having the arms of the second support structure  721  substantially one or more of the same dimensions (e.g., lengths, heights, and/or the same widths). 
     Similar to the embodiments shown above, the first member  703 , the second member  709 , and the third member  715  may be used to slidingly engage each other such that the members  703 ,  709 , and  715  may move with respect to each other, e.g., along a rotational axis of top drive rotation. Furthermore, as shown in this embodiment, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  701  may include a support structure  717 , such as connected to the first member  703 , in which the support structure  717  may connect to one or more components of the top drive  745  (if included) of the tubular running tool  741 . 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, though the rotation inhibiting apparatus is shown with two members is some embodiments and three members in other embodiments, the present disclosure is not so limited, as the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and arrangements for a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, in another embodiment, such as shown in  FIG. 7B , the rotation inhibiting apparatus may include four members: a first member  703 , a second member  709 , a third member  715 , and a fourth member  719 . One or more of the members may be used to slidingly engage each other (e.g., telescoping members) to have the members move with respect to each other. As such, a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein is not limited to only structures and arrangements having only two members. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 7C and 7D , some of the members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be connected to each other to enable movement therebetween, while other members of the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be rigidly connected to each other. For example, in  FIGS. 7C and 7D , the first member  703  and the second member  709  are rigidly connected to each other, such as with a bolt, while the second member  709  and the third member  715  are connected to each other (e.g., slidingly engaged) to enable movement therebetween. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A-8D , multiple perspective views of a rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein are shown. Specifically,  FIG. 8A  shows a rotation inhibiting apparatus  801 ,  FIG. 8B  shows a detailed view of a first support structure  817  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801 , and  FIGS. 8C and 8D  show detailed views of a second support structure  821  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8A , a tubular running tool  841  may include a mandrel  849 , in which a top drive may include a quill that connects to the mandrel  849 . Further, as similar to the above embodiments, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  includes a first member  803  and a second member  809  connected to each other. Particularly, in this embodiment, the first member  803  may include a female member and the second member  809  may include a male member, in which the male member may slidingly engage the female member. For example, the second member  809  may slidingly engage, such as having a telescoping movement, with the first member  803 . As such, the first member  803  and the second member  809  may move with respect to each other along a rotational axis of the tubular running tool  841 . 
     Furthermore, as shown, the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  may include the first support structure  817  and the second support structure  821 . As such, in this embodiment, the first support structure  817  may be used to connect the first member  803  to a rotationally stationary component of the drilling rig (e.g., a rotationally stationary, relative to the drilling rig, component of a top drive), and the second support structure  821  may be used to connect the second member  809  a component to be held rotationally stationary (e.g., a tubular handling mechanism). 
     In this embodiment, the second support structure  821  may include a rotation adjustment system, in which the rotation adjustment system may be used adjust the rotation of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  connected thereto. The rotation adjustment system may be used to adjust the orientation of the second member  809  connected to the second support structure  821  and the rotation adjustment system, such as by enabling the rotation adjustment system to rotate the second member  809  about an axis of rotation of the connection between the second member  809  and the second support structure  821 . For example, in one or more embodiments, the tubular handling mechanism may not be aligned adjacent to an access opening (e.g., v-door) of a drilling rig, and may thereby inhibit the functionality of the tubular handling mechanism from being able to grasp a tubular member within and through the access opening of the drilling rig. However, the rotation adjustment system may be used to adjust the orientation between two or more components within the drilling rig (e.g., between a bail ear of a top drive and a tubular handling mechanism), as one of the components of the drilling rig may be connected to the rotation adjustment system and may be rotated with respect to the drilling rig, and thereby rotated with respect to the rotation inhibiting apparatus, accordingly. As such, the rotation adjustment system may be used to adjust the orientation of one or more components within a drilling rig, such as adjust the orientation of the tubular handling mechanism within the drilling rig, as desired. 
     For example, if desired to rotate the second member  809  with respect to the second support structure  821 , such as to have a desired orientation of the second member  809 , and thereby a desired orientation for the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801 , the rotation adjustment system may be adjusted to have the second member  809  rotate about an axis of rotation of the connection between the second member  809  and the second support structure  821 . Specifically, as shown in the embodiments in  FIGS. 8A-8D , the rotation adjustment system may include an adjustment member with a securing mechanism connected thereto. The adjustment member may include, for example, a threaded rod, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8D , or any other adjustment member known in the art, such as a slide or slot member, and the securing mechanism may include, for example, a threaded nut, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8D , or any other securing mechanism known in the art, such as a bolt, screw, or hinge. In such an embodiment, the adjustment member of the rotation adjustment system may be connected to the second member  809  of the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  such that the second member  809  may rotate with respect to the second support structure  821 , and the securing mechanism may be used to secure the second member  809  in a desired position with respect to the adjustment member. As such, this may enable the second member  809 , and thereby the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  to be oriented in a desired direction, such as ensuring that the rotation inhibiting apparatus  801  is directed in a direction towards, for example, an access opening of the drilling rig. Further, as shown in  FIG. 8E , the rotation adjustment system may additionally and/or alternatively include an actuator, in which the actuator is coupled within the rotation adjustment system to rotate the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus with respect to the drilling rig (e.g., one or more components of the second support structure). In such an embodiment, the actuator may be powered hydraulically, pneumatically, and/or electrically to enable the rotation within the rotation adjustment system. 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other structures and arrangements may be used for the support structures in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a rotation adjustment system in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may include a slotted member for the adjustment member, in which the second member connected to the rotation adjustment system may enable adjustment of the orientation of the second member with respect to the second support structure. Further, a rotation adjustment system, though only shown within  FIGS. 8A-8D , may also be included within one or more other embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the present disclosure. For example, the rotation adjustment system may be included at either and/or both ends of a rotation inhibiting apparatus, such as alternatively and/or additionally having a rotation adjustment system disposed at a top end of a rotation inhibiting apparatus. Thus, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure contemplates other structures and arrangements for one or more support structures in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. 
     As discussed above, a rotation inhibiting apparatus may include one or more female members. As such, the inner profile of the female member (and, accordingly, the outer profile of the corresponding male member) may have multiple forms and shapes in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, e.g., ovate or polygonal or circular with a key therebetween. For example, the inner profiles of the female members may include a rectangular profile, a hexagonal profile, and/or a star-shaped profile. Those, however, having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any shaped profile may be used in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, such as within one or more embodiments discussed above. 
     It should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates having other structures and/or arrangements for an apparatus to inhibit rotation. For example, as shown in the above embodiments, the rotation inhibiting apparatus includes having the first member connected to the second member using multiple types of connections, such as, but not limited to, U-joints, pivots, and linkages. As such, one or more of these connections may enable the first member and/or the second member of the rotation inhibiting apparatus to have axial movement with respect to each other, such as movement in the direction along the vertical axis of the top drive. However, one or more of these connections may substantially inhibit rotation between the first member and the second member. Thus, one or more of these connections, such as a connection between the first member and the top drive, may enable the first member to rotate about one axis of the connection, but not another axis of the connection. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present application is not so limited, as discussed above, multiple types of connections may be used in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. Further, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be disposed at different locations and/or have different arrangements than as shown and discussed above. 
     Additionally, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates a method and/or apparatus to inhibit rotation within a tubular running tool, such as by preventing rotation from occurring between different components of a drilling rig (e.g., the top drive and a portion of the tubular handling mechanism to be retained rotationally stationary). In one or more embodiments, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be used to transmit torque (e.g., torque about and/or parallel to the rotational axis of the quill of the top drive) between multiple components within a drilling rig, such as between a first component of a drilling rig that is rotationally stationary and a second component of the drilling rig that is to be held rotationally stationary. As such, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be used to transmit torque (e.g., torque about and/or parallel to the rotational axis of the quill of the top drive) between the first component and the second component of the drilling rig such that the rotation is inhibited from occurring between the first component and the second component of the drilling rig. Where the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be used to transmit torque between the two components of the drilling rig, such as through the connections between the first component and second component of the rotation inhibiting apparatus, this prevents from having resulting tangential forces (e.g., forces occurring about the rotational axis of the top drive and tangential to the connection between the rotation inhibiting apparatus and the tubular handling mechanism) being applied to and across the rotation inhibiting apparatus. Such tangential forces may be significantly greater than that of the torque occurring across the rotation inhibiting apparatus, such as one or more orders of magnitudes greater. For example, in one embodiment, the first member and the second member may be connected to each other such that torque, and substantially only torque, occurring in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of a quill of a top drive is transmitted between a first component of the drilling rig and a second component of the drilling rig. Thus, this may reduce the overall necessary rigidity for a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, as the rotation inhibiting apparatus is used to transmit torque between one or more components of the drilling rig. 
     Further, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates a method to manage tubular members within a drilling rig, in which the tubular running tool may be used to transport tubular members within the drilling rig and position a tubular member for making-up and/or breaking-out threaded connections. Furthermore, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates using a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein within one, or multiple, drilling rigs. For example, embodiments disclosed herein provide a rotation inhibiting apparatus that may have movable and/or adjustable parts. As such, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be provided amongst a variety of drilling rigs and drilling rigs components (e.g., gripping apparatus or other components connected to a quill of a top drive) having multiple shapes and/or sizes to inhibit rotation between the parts within the drilling rig, as the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be movable and adjustable for these shapes and sizes. Further, the rotation inhibiting apparatus may be provided within a drilling rig that incorporates the use of a compensator, such as a thread compensator. In such an embodiment, the thread compensator may enable axial movement, such as movement between a top drive and a tubular member, e.g., a tubular member disposed from the top drive. As such, a rotation inhibiting apparatus in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may be used to connect to and inhibit rotation between components that are axially moving with respect to each other during the use of the thread compensator, such as between the top drive and the tubular handling mechanism during use of the thread compensator. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for one or more of the following advantages. First, embodiments disclosed herein may provide for an apparatus that may be connected to a tubular handling mechanism. As such, the apparatus may inhibit rotation of at least a portion of the tubular handling mechanism, thereby preventing damage to the tubular handling mechanism and/or other components of a drilling rig. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may provide for an apparatus that may increase the efficiency of a drilling rig. For example, the apparatus may decrease the time necessary for making-up and/or breaking-out threaded connections with a string of tubular members, thereby increasing the efficiency of the drilling rig to begin and/or continue drilling. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.