Patent ID: 6938709

Claim:
A pipe running tool mountable on a rig for use in introducing pipe into a borehole, handling a pipe segment and engaging the pipe segment to a string of pipe, the pipe running tool comprising: a top drive assembly adapted to be connected to the rig for vertical displacement of the top drive assembly relative to the rig, the top drive assembly including a drive shaft, the top drive assembly being operative to rotate the drive shaft; and a lower pipe engagement assembly including a central passageway sized for receipt of the pipe segment, the lower pipe engagement assembly including a powered pipe engaging mechanism that is selectively driven into a pipe engagement position to forcibly yet releasably engage the pipe segment to support at least a portion of the weight of the string of pipe and to substantially prevent relative rotation therebetween, the lower pipe engagement assembly being in communication with the drive shaft, whereby actuation of the top drive assembly causes the lower pipe engagement assembly to rotate such that the powered engaging mechanism imparts the vertical and rotational motion of the top drive assembly to the pipe segment during operation.