US 12,378,828 B2
Slip apparatus and methods of using same
Mark Charles Taggart, Okotoks (CA); Vladimir Scekic, New Westminster (CA); and Todd Harry McCorriston, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to DRILLFORM TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD., Calgary (CA)
Filed by Drillform Technical Services Ltd., Calgary (CA)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/480,971.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/080,897, filed on Sep. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0090454 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 19/10 (2006.01); E21B 19/24 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 19/10 (2013.01) [E21B 19/24 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A slips apparatus that is connectible with a rotary table and for gripping a tubular extending through an aperture of the rotary table, the slips apparatus comprising:
(a) at least three opposed non-gripping components, each defining an inner non-gripping surface that defines one or more protruding surfaces with each protruding surface defining an upper ramp section and a first abutting portion that is substantially flat;
(b) at least three opposed gripping components that each define an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein each outer surface defines one or more protruding surfaces with each protruding surface defining a lower ramp section and a second abutting portion that is substantially flat, and wherein the inner surfaces define a central bore; and
(c) at least three actuator assemblies, each of which is operatively configured to radially move one of the at least three opposed gripping components between a first position and a second position and to generate a clamping force in the second position,
wherein the first position is radially outward and upward relative to the second position with the lower ramp section positioned above or upon the upper ramp section,
wherein, in the first position, each of the at least three opposed gripping components is positioned at a non-parallel angle relative to a central axis of the central bore, and
wherein, in the second position, the first abutting portion abuts the second abutting portion so that the inner surface of each of the at least three opposed gripping components is positioned substantially parallel to the central axis and the at least three opposed gripping components are configured to apply the clamping force generated by each of the at least three actuator assemblies to grip a portion of an outer surface of the tubular extending through the aperture of the rotary table and that is positioned within the central bore.