A pipelayer machine is provided. The pipelayer machine has a main body, a boom pivotally connected to a first side of the main body, a hook winch provided on the first side of the main body and a boom winch provided on the second side of the main body. The boom winch and the hook winch can be connected to a structural assembly that positions the boom winch proximate the second side of the main body and positions the hook winch proximate the first side of the main body of the pipelayer machine. The hook winch can be provided in a hook winch frame and the hook winch frame can form a structural member in the structural assembly.

A pipelayer machine is provided. The pipelayer machine has a main body, a boom pivotally connected to a first side of the main body, a hook winch provided on the first side of the main body and a boom winch provided on the second side of the main body. The boom winch and the hook winch can be connected to a structural assembly that positions the boom winch proximate the second side of the main body and positions the hook winch proximate the first side of the main body of the pipelayer machine. The hook winch can be provided in a hook winch frame and the hook winch frame can form a structural member in the structural assembly.

A method sequence for handling tubulars into or out of a wellbore, the method comprising: moving a tubular string into or out of a wellbore via a top drive; moving tubular stands to and from a setback position and a stand handoff position via a transfer bridge racker and a setback guide arm; moving tubular stands to and from the stand handoff position and a well center position via a tubular delivery arm and a lower stabilizing arm; building stands and breaking down stands offline via a mousehole and operating a roughneck on joints between the tubular stands and the tubular string.

A tubular handling system for conducting subterranean operations is disclosed and can include a first tubular handling system and a second tubular handling system. The first tubular handling system can include a bridge disposed within a tubular storage area, an arm pivotally coupled to the bridge, and a gripper coupled to the arm and adapted to engage with a tubular in the tubular storage area. The second tubular handling system can include a support structure, a first tubular handler coupled to the support structure, and a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure and distinct from the first tubular handling system.

A system and method for horizontally building stands of tubulars and transferring them to a rig floor. The system has a horizontal stand builder which assembles double or triple stands of tubulars. A catwalk and V-door are positioned alongside the horizontal stand builder. A skate is able to push either single, double, or triple stands along the catwalk and up the V-door to a position whereby an elevator on the rig can grip the stand and move it onto the rig. For transferring single stands of tubular, there is a carrier at the upper end of the V-door which can grip the single stand and lift it to the position for the elevator to grip it and move it onto the rig.

A stand-building system and method for a drilling rig, of which the system includes a casing preparation skid configured to prepare a casing joint for connection to another casing joint, and a casing stand assembly skid configured to receive the prepared casing joint and to connect together the prepared casing joint with one or more other joints so as to form a casing stand. The casing preparing skid and the casing stand assembly skid are horizontally aligned with and extend parallel to one another and to a catwalk of the drilling rig, and the casing stand assembly skid is configured to deliver the casing stand to the catwalk.

A stand-building system and method for a drilling rig, of which the system includes a casing preparation skid configured to prepare a casing joint for connection to another casing joint, and a casing stand assembly skid configured to receive the prepared casing joint and to connect together the prepared casing joint with one or more other joints so as to form a casing stand. The casing preparing skid and the casing stand assembly skid are horizontally aligned with and extend parallel to one another and to a catwalk of the drilling rig, and the casing stand assembly skid is configured to deliver the casing stand to the catwalk.

A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system may include a pipe rack and a horizontal stand building system arranged adjacent to the pipe rack and configured to receive tubulars from the pipe rack and construct pipe stands in a horizontal orientation. The system may also include a delivery system arranged adjacent the horizontal stand building system and opposite the pipe rack. The delivery system may be configured to receive horizontally arranged pipe stands from the horizontal stand building system and deliver them to a drill rig.

A system for handling drill rods comprising: a rod carrier comprising a cassette body configured for storing at least one drill rod and an actuating mechanism configured to move the drill rod between a first position in the cassette body and a second position; a drilling rig comprising a mast adapted to receive the drill rod; and a manipulator configured to move the drill rod between the second position and the mast, wherein the system for handling drill rods also comprises at least one control unit configured to allow the manipulator to determine the location of the rod carrier and/or the drill rod and to direct handling of the drill rod between the second position and the mast.

A machine for a drilling plant includes a base, an arm, and a tool which is carried by the arm. The tool has a receiver for a protective cap. The machine is operable to engage the protective cap and to remove or to install the protective cap from or on an end of a drilling tubular.