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.

An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.

An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.

A system including an elevator to move a tubular, the elevator including two or more remotely operable latches that can configure the elevator to handle various tubular diameters. Each jaw can include a locking mechanism that engages a portion of the housing adjacent a spacer ring in the elevator when the first jaw is in the engaged position and configured to transfer a closing force to the housing. A portion of the latches can be laterally offset from each other and another portion can overlap adjacent latches. The elevator can be explosive (EX) Zone 1 certified with an electronics enclosure contained within a sealed chamber. The elevator can use rotary actuators to operate the latches and rotate the housing of the elevator. The elevator can use a circular pressure sensor to determine weight of a tubular.

A system including an elevator to move a tubular, the elevator including two or more remotely operable latches that can configure the elevator to handle various tubular diameters. Each jaw can include a locking mechanism that engages a portion of the housing adjacent a spacer ring in the elevator when the first jaw is in the engaged position and configured to transfer a closing force to the housing. A portion of the latches can be laterally offset from each other and another portion can overlap adjacent latches. The elevator can be explosive (EX) Zone 1 certified with an electronics enclosure contained within a sealed chamber. The elevator can use rotary actuators to operate the latches and rotate the housing of the elevator. The elevator can use a circular pressure sensor to determine weight of a tubular.

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.

A locking clamp assembly is provided, which can be expeditiously deployed on a drill pipe elevator or other tubular elevator, to secure the tubular elevator in a closed position around a tubular element, and can be rapidly removed to disconnect the tubular elevator from the tubular element. The locking clamp assembly includes a locking clamp having a main body defining a clamp space, which is sized and shaped to receive a pair of structural elements on respective jaws of the tubular elevator when the tubular elevator is in the closed position with the jaws of the tubular elevator extending around the tubular element. A clamp fastener may be secured to the main body to retain the structural elements within the clamp space. A tether may connect the main body to the tubular elevator.

A locking clamp assembly is provided, which can be expeditiously deployed on a drill pipe elevator or other tubular elevator, to secure the tubular elevator in a closed position around a tubular element, and can be rapidly removed to disconnect the tubular elevator from the tubular element. The locking clamp assembly includes a locking clamp having a main body defining a clamp space, which is sized and shaped to receive a pair of structural elements on respective jaws of the tubular elevator when the tubular elevator is in the closed position with the jaws of the tubular elevator extending around the tubular element. A clamp fastener may be secured to the main body to retain the structural elements within the clamp space. A tether may connect the main body to the tubular elevator.

A multivessel system is provided for drilling an ultra-deep borehole into the Earth's lithosphere. The system includes a plurality of gate valves, a first pressure vessel configured with a first vessel elevator that engages and holds a train section as the first vessel elevator moves in the first pressure vessel along a portion of a length of a drill train channel; a second pressure vessel configured with a second vessel elevator that engages and holds the train section as the second vessel elevator moves in the second pressure vessel along another portion of the length of the drill train channel; a third pressure vessel configured with a smooth cylinder bore and a burn gas ejection piston configured to hold and connect the train section to the drill train; an input-output separator configured to segregate an exhaust waste gas up-flowing from the borehole from a gas being supplied into the borehole; and a drill train clamp configured to engage and hold a drill train in a borehole.