A back-up wrench device of a top drive assembly of a drilling rig comprises a gripper device operable to grip an end of a drill pipe, and at least one fluid actuator operable to compensate for thread travel during makeup or breakout operations. The back-up wrench device can comprise a first housing coupled to the gripper device and a second housing coupled to a support structure of the top drive assembly, and can comprise a primary hydraulic housing movably coupled to the first and second housings. The at least one fluid actuator can include upper and lower fluid actuators each movable through upper and lower fluid chambers of the primary hydraulic housing during respective makeup and breakout operations to compensate for thread travel. Associated systems and methods for thread compensation with the back-up wrench are provided.

A wrench assembly comprising an upper clamp assembly, a lower clamp assembly coupled to the upper clamp assembly, and an alignment device disposed between the upper and lower clamp assemblies to allow the upper clamp assembly to move laterally relative to the lower clamp assembly when rotated relative to the lower clamp assembly.

A spinner assembly including a jaw assembly having a first portion and a second portion, and a linkage assembly coupled to the first and second portions of the jaw assembly. The linkage assembly comprises a first bar coupled to a pivot point, a second bar coupled to the first bar by a first pin, a third bar coupled to the second bar by a second pin, and a pair of links coupled to the pivot point and the third bar. The linkage assembly is configured to move the first and second portions along a substantially linear plane.

A method and apparatus for local hydraulic power generation on an electric tong, including a power tong for spinning tubulars; a first electric motor functionally connected to the power tong; a plurality of hydraulic power consumers including a backup tong for clamping a tubular string; a second electric motor functionally connected to the plurality of hydraulic power consumers; electronics to drive the first electric motor and the second electric motor; and a switchbox providing at least two configurations of the system. A method includes arranging a tong system in a hydraulic power configuration; supplying hydraulic power with an onboard electric motor to at least one of a plurality of hydraulic power consumers to position a tubular for make-up; arranging the tong system in a rotary drive configuration; supplying at least one of torque and rotation with the onboard electric motor to a power tong.

A hydraulic lift apparatus for operating a downhole pump features a hydraulic linear actuator with a piston longitudinally slidable on a central axis of a rotatable portion of a housing. An anti-rotation rod runs longitudinally through the piston at a position radially offset outwardly from the central axis to prevent rotation between the piston and housing. A stationary motor powers a drive train whose output is connected to the rotatable portion of the housing and centered on the central axis. The actuator is one-way actuator with a hydraulically driven upstroke. A leak detection passage extends through the piston to collect fluid that has leaked across the piston seals and convey it to a leak detection port and associated containment tank. A position sensor for monitoring the piston movement features a sensing rod depending downwardly into a hollow piston shaft carried by the piston and connected to the pump rod.

A control system for a tong for a drilling rig includes a tong motor control valve that is selectively actuatable to cause rotation of the tong in a first direction or in a second direction, a run/pull mode selector configured to actuate between a first configuration for running tubulars into a well and a second configuration for pulling tubulars from the well, a rotation speed selector configured to actuate between a high-speed setting configured to cause the tong to be driven to rotate at a first speed, and a low-speed setting configured to cause the tong to be driven to rotate at a second speed, and a rotation change control device configured to selectively prevent or permit actuation of the tong motor control valve based on the configuration of the run/pull mode selector and the setting of the rotation speed selector.

A wrench for making up or breaking up a pipe joint is provided. The wrench comprises a tong assembly having an upper tong and a lower tong. The upper tong has a first upper tong half pivotably connected to a second upper tong half at their first ends. The lower tong has a first lower tong half pivotably connected to a second lower tong half at their first ends. A central bearing operatively couples the upper tong and the lower tong to allow the upper tong to rotate relative to the lower tong or vice versa. The tong assembly has a ram assembly for pushing or pulling the upper tong at a tangential location thereof and the ram assembly is retracted or extended to move the tong assembly between an open position, a closed position, and a rotated closed position where the upper tong is rotated relative to the lower tong.

A wrench assembly having an upper clamp assembly and a lower clamp assembly coupled to the upper clamp assembly, wherein the lower clamp assembly comprises a plurality of grippers each having a grip head configured to grip a tubular. Each grip head has a die plate surrounded by a primary contact plate. The primary contact plate is configured to contact the tubular prior to the die plate.

An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.