Patent ID: 8485067

Claim:
A method of connecting a first tubular to a second tubular, the method comprising: aligning a wrenching tong having an opening with a back-up tong having an opening; introducing a first tubular and a second tubular joined by a partially completed joint into the tongs through the aligned openings, wherein the first and second tubulars are introduced laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubulars through the aligned openings; contacting the tubulars in the region of the joint using a detection apparatus as the tubulars enter the tongs, thereby causing the detection apparatus to generate an actuation pattern, wherein the detection apparatus comprising a linear array of sensors disposed along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first and second tubulars, each sensor being individually actuatable upon entry of the tubulars into the tongs through the openings depending upon the proximity of a tong surface to the sensor; determining the position of the joint relative to the tongs on the basis of the actuation pattern of the sensors; adjusting the height of the tongs so that the joint is correctly located with respect to the tongs; gripping the first tubular with the back-up tong and the second tubular with the wrenching tong; and rotating the wrenching tong relative to the back-up tong so as to rotate the second tubular relative to the first tubular.