Abstract
News editors obtained the following quote from the background information suppli ed by the inventors:“Well systems configured for the production of oil and gas include running tubular members or drill pipesinto and out of a borehole of the well system that extends into a subterranean earthen formation. In someapplica tions, the individual drill pipe joints are transported from a storage area dist al a drilling platformof the well system to a rig floor of the drilling platfor m utilizing a catwalk or other system configured totransport the pipe joint. On ce on the rig floor, the pipe joint may be threadably connected to another drillpipe joint to form a pipe stand. The assembled pipe stands may be stored in a s etback position on the rigfloor, the upper end of each pipe stand being secured in a racking board that is elevated from the rig floor.During a drilling opera tion performed by the well system, pipe stands may be sequentially removed fromthe setback position and coupled to a drill string for inserting into a borehole of the well system. In someapplications, an elevator attached to a mast of the drilling platform may be used to assist in manipulatingthe pipe stand when it is coupled to the drill string.”
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