Patent ID: 6966106

Claim:
A method for moving a transporting apparatus that transfers tubulars to and from a drilling rig using a vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. loading tubulars in a transporting apparatus, wherein the transporting apparatus comprises: i. a transport container for tubulars comprising: 1. a bottom side; 2. a first side and a second side connected to the bottom side; 3. a first end and a second end connected to the bottom side and the first and second side, ii. at least a first and a second tubular support for supporting a plurality of tubulars wherein each tubular support is secured to the first side and the second side wherein the tubular supports are adapted to support a row of tubulars and to act as a guide to allow the tubulars to be inserted upward or downward into the container and wherein each support comprises at least two parallel upright members for slidingly receiving an end of a tubular and preventing horizontal movement of the tubulars perpendicular to the first and second side; and iii. at least a first connector disposed on the first end and a second connector disposed on the second end; b. placing the transporting apparatus on a vehicle; c. moving the vehicle to the drilling rig; and d. lifting horizontally the transporting apparatus onto the drilling rig, e. lifting the transporting apparatus from the horizontal position to a vertical position on the floor of the drilling rig, wherein the tubulars are stored on the floor of the drilling rig in the vertical position.