Patent · US Active

Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock

US8356675B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by

27References

27Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. · US

Inventors

Bernd-Georg Pietras · Großburgwedel, DE
Egill Abrahamsen · Katy, US

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 9, 2010
Grant date	Jan 22, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 9, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
CPC primaryE21B41/0021
WIPO fieldCivil engineering
WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Apparatus and methods used to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. In one instance, an interlock system is used to control the operations of a gripping apparatus connected to the top drive and a spider such that at least one of the top drive or the spider retains the tubular. The interlock system allows the spider to open when the gripping apparatus is supporting a load of the tubular or is in position to support a load of the tubular.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.