A pipe handling apparatus, for handling drill tubes on a drilling platform, has an upper guide member 100 comprising a retention head mounted on an arm. The arm can extend telescopically so as to position it to allow the retention head to engage a drill tube for placement in and removal from a rack 230.

A method and system for conducting a subterranean operation that can include storing, via a rig controller, pre-determined characteristics of a piece of equipment, for supporting the subterranean operation, in a unique data record associated with the piece of equipment; scanning, via one or more sensors, the piece of equipment on a rig; determining, via the rig controller, actual characteristics of the piece of equipment in response to the scanning via the one or more sensors; comparing, via the rig controller, the actual characteristics to the pre-determined characteristics; and verifying whether or not the piece of equipment is an expected piece of equipment needed to support the subterranean operation based on the comparing.

A method and system for conducting a subterranean operation that can include storing, via a rig controller, pre-determined characteristics of a piece of equipment, for supporting the subterranean operation, in a unique data record associated with the piece of equipment; scanning, via one or more sensors, the piece of equipment on a rig; determining, via the rig controller, actual characteristics of the piece of equipment in response to the scanning via the one or more sensors; comparing, via the rig controller, the actual characteristics to the pre-determined characteristics; and verifying whether or not the piece of equipment is an expected piece of equipment needed to support the subterranean operation based on the comparing.

A system includes a crate and a deployer. The crate is configured to contain a plurality of elongated rods; the crate has a length, width and height. The deployer includes a bed frame upper surface, a crate support frame, a tilt mechanism and a scope mechanism. The crate support frame includes an attachment mechanism configured for removable attachment of the crate, wherein the crate support frame has a longitudinal extent aligned with the length of an attached crate. The tilt mechanism is configured to move the crate support frame between a horizontal position parallel to the bed frame upper surface and a vertical position normal to the bed frame upper surface. The scope mechanism is configured to move the crate support frame linearly along its longitudinal extent. A method of deploying a plurality of rods to a selected location is also described.

A pipe racking system including two mechanical arms to move pipe stands to a dedicated position on a rig floor wherein at least one mechanical arm is connected to a mast of a drilling rig. A method to move a drilling rig comprising: providing a pipe racking system with two mechanical arms connected to the mast of the drilling rig; folding the pipe racking system onto the mast of the drilling rig; and transporting the drilling rig without disassembling the pipe racking system from the mast.

A pipe racking system including two mechanical arms to move pipe stands to a dedicated position on a rig floor wherein at least one mechanical arm is connected to a mast of a drilling rig. A method to move a drilling rig comprising: providing a pipe racking system with two mechanical arms connected to the mast of the drilling rig; folding the pipe racking system onto the mast of the drilling rig; and transporting the drilling rig without disassembling the pipe racking system from the mast.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.

The invention relates to a control for at least one retainer of a transfer device for a rod section of a ground drilling device, wherein the ground drilling device is configured for moving a drill string, and the transfer device is configured for transferring the received rod section from a position in a rod magazine to a position on the drill string or vice versa, and the control is configured to move the retainer between a position above the rod magazine and the position on the drill string while the drill string is still moving.

The invention relates to a control for at least one retainer of a transfer device for a rod section of a ground drilling device, wherein the ground drilling device is configured for moving a drill string, and the transfer device is configured for transferring the received rod section from a position in a rod magazine to a position on the drill string or vice versa, and the control is configured to move the retainer between a position above the rod magazine and the position on the drill string while the drill string is still moving.