The present disclosure relates to subterranean drilling, and more particularly to tools, systems, and methods used to measure torque applied by subterranean drilling machines, such as iron roughnecks, during the make-up and break out of drill pipe connections. Articles, systems, and methods herein relate to embodiments of a torque measuring tool including: a torque shaft; a torque sleeve; an upper torque arm; a lower torque arm; and a force sensor; wherein the torque shaft is disposed in the torque sleeve; wherein the upper torque arm is coupled to the torque sleeve; wherein the lower torque arm is coupled to the torque shaft; and wherein the force sensor is coupled to and disposed between the upper torque arm and the lower torque arm.

An apparatus for monitoring a power swivel system includes a smart box comprising a processing device electrically associated with a memory, communication technology and least one of a local display device or a remote display device where the communication technology. The smart box is associated with a power swivel system comprising a power swivel unit in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump system driven by a motor. The hydraulic pump system is configured to pump a hydraulic fluid through the power swivel unit to activate rotating elements. A plurality of sensors are connected to the processing device and various components of the power swivel system including the rotating elements to monitor such elements and minimize the possibility of an over speed and/or over torque condition. Data providing a status of the power swivel system components is transmitted to a remote device and presented to a user via a GUI.

An automated Back Pressure Valve (BPV) lubricator system includes a lubricator having a lubricator shaft terminated in a BPV lubricator connection; one or more hydraulic pistons attached to the lubricator; a hydraulic motor attached to the lubricator shaft; and a control panel hydraulically connected to the one or more hydraulic pistons and hydraulic motor. The hydraulic pistons, when actuated, raise or lower the lubricator shaft terminated in the BPV lubricator connection. The hydraulic motor, when rotated, rotate the lubricator shaft clockwise or counter-clockwise. The control panel allows actuation of the one or more hydraulic pistons and rotation of the hydraulic motor.

The system for making or breaking the riser includes a robotic system. The robotic system includes one or more robotic arms configured to be disposed on a spider deck, and one or more riser-connection manipulation tools each having a camera and being configured to manipulate a riser connection, the camera being configured to capture an image of an object, wherein each robotic arm is configured to couple to one riser-connection manipulation tool. Further the system for making or breaking the riser includes a control system. The control system includes a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms. The system for making or breaking the riser is configured to analyze the image to determine the location and orientation of the object and transmit the location and orientation of the object to the robot controller.

A load cell for use with a tong assembly includes a body; a chamber formed in the body; and a strain gauge disposed in the chamber. The load cell also includes a first eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly, and a second eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly. An optional biasing member is disposed around the second eye for biasing the body relative to the tong assembly.

A load cell for use with a tong assembly includes a body; a chamber formed in the body; and a strain gauge disposed in the chamber. The load cell also includes a first eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly, and a second eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly. An optional biasing member is disposed around the second eye for biasing the body relative to the tong assembly.

In systems and methods for detecting steps in connection processes used in well operations using drilling rigs to manipulate tubular strings (such as drill strings and casing strings), sensor data gathered by data acquisition systems (such as electronic data recorders) associated with a drilling rig is analyzed to identify time intervals corresponding to specific steps constituting the complete connection process in question (such as connection make-up or connection break-out). These time intervals are compared against target or benchmark values for the corresponding process steps, thus facilitating identification of “invisible lost time” (ILT), determination of the causes of the ILT, and determination of appropriate measures to mitigate or eliminate the causes of the ILT. These systems and methods eliminate or minimize the need for onsite data collection by human observers using stopwatches or other manual data collection means.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a multiple range load cell capable of automatically switching measuring range and method for operating the multiple range load cell.

Systems and methods for determining a vertical position of a tool joint between two pipe segments of a drill string relative to a rig floor are disclosed. A camera or other suitable optical device is positioned to observe a drill string as it is raised and lowered out of and into a wellbore. The camera is equipped to identify a feature of the pipe segments, and based on a knowledge of the dimensions of the various pipe segments, to locate the tool joint vertically relative to the rig floor. Knowing the vertical position of the tool joint allows automatic operations to be carried out, such as assembling and disassembling the pipe segments from the drill string.

A method for building a dual-member drill string comprising an inner drill string and an outer drill string. Inner pipe sections are connected using non-threaded connections, while outer pipe sections are connected using threaded connections. A new inner pipe section is rotated in a first direction until the inner pipe section applies torque to the existing inner pipe string. If the magnitude of the torque applied to the inner pipe string exceeds a pre-determined threshold value, the inner pipe section is automatically rotated in an opposite second direction. The inner pipe section rotates between opposite directions, once torque is sensed in each direction, until the inner pipe section is coupled to the inner pipe string.