Patent ID: 8002027

Claim:
A method of running a pipe string having an outer diameter transition into a borehole comprising the steps of: suspending an elevator assembly, comprising a bore therethrough and elevator slips movably received along an interior wall, above a spider assembly, the spider assembly comprising a bore therethrough and spider slips movably received along an interior wall; moving the elevator slips to a first engaged position in the elevator assembly to engage and grip the first portion of the pipe string at the first outer diameter; lowering the pipe string into the borehole using the elevator assembly; moving the spider slips to a first engaged position in the spider assembly to engage and grip the first portion of the pipe string at the first outer diameter; moving the elevator slips in the elevator assembly to disengage the first portion of the pipe string; raising the elevator assembly above the first portion of the pipe string; lowering the elevator assembly to receive a second portion of the pipe string in the bore of the elevator assembly, the second portion of the pipe string having a second outer diameter substantially different from the first outer diameter to provide the outer diameter transition of the pipe string; moving the elevator slips to a second engaged position in the elevator assembly to engage and grip the second portion of the pipe string at the second outer diameter; moving the spider slips in the spider assembly to disengage the first portion of the pipe string; and lowering the elevator assembly to lower the outer diameter transition through the bore of the spider assembly.