Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling www.commandenergy.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to double shoulder connections Picking up new pipe Thread Compound Application (Doping) Making up connections Good Tripping Practice Interface with the Top Drive Interface with Iron Roughneck Care and Maintenance Quick Inspection Trouble Shooting 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 9 10 13 Disclaimer All material contained in this publication is for general information only. While every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of this information, this material is presented as a reference guide only. Services cannot assume responsibility for the results obtained through the use of this material. No expressed or implied warranty is intended.
Introduction to API is a manufacturer of Standard API Connections and provides American Petroleum Institute (API) certified connections in a variety of pipe lengths, diameters and steel grades licensed for: API Specifications 5DP (ISO 11961:2008) API Specifications 7-1 and 7-2 (ISO 10424-1:2004 and ISO 10424-2:2007) NS-1 Introduction to Command Double Shoulder Connections Smaller OD and Larger ID for slimhole drilling and improved hydraulics. Higher Torsional Capacity(25% to 90% above API RSC) Increased Wear AllowanceUser friendly and run like API RSC(stabbing, spinning running & one bite torquing) Better resistance to fatigue Primary Shoulder Provides seal and preload just as on conventional tool joint Secondary Shoulder Does not contact when joint is hand tight, but only when the joint is torqued up to the recommended MUT 2
Picking Up New Pipe Final check before going to the rig floor Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling Visually examine thread protectors for damage such as dents or crushing. If thread protectors are damaged, inspect thread on that joint for damage. If joints were shipped to the rig with rust preventive compound on threads, it must be removed. Use soap and water, steam or a vapor degreasing solvent such as Varsol. It is important that no residue remains on the threads after cleaning. Avoid diesel as it leaves a slippery film that prevents good application of running compound. If the joints were shipped to the rig with thread running compound dope such as Koprkote, it is not necessary to remove it unless there is a suspected problem. Visually inspect the threads for damage or foreign material. Damaged threads or foreign material on the threads can cause galling or improper make up. 3
Picking Up New Pipe Thread Protectors Thread protectors must be on all connections at all times when the joints are moved or when bringing the tool up from the rig floor Protectors should be removed on the rig floor * Replace broken protectors to protect connections. * Have a stock of spare protectors on the rig. * Note: When drifting pipe, make sure that you are not breaking protectors. Connection Break In on the Rig Floor Before joints are put in service, connection must be broken in a factory make and break or on the rig floor. For the rig floor break in follow the below steps: 1. Make up joints as slow as possible to 100% of make up torque (MUT). Break them out. If the break out torque is less than the MUT, the connections do not have to be separated. 2. Make up the connections again to the same. Break them out. Separate pin and box then reapply thread compound. 3. Make up joints as slow as possible again to MUT of Step 1 and now they are ready to run. 4
Thread Compound Application (Doping) Compound selection and application Make sure secondary shoulder of pin and box is clean and free of drilling fluid solids. It may be necessary to rinse drilling fluid off threads before applying compound. Use a good brush that does not lose its hair which can create a channel for micro-washout when trapped between sealed shoulders. Compound selection and application Before makeup, the following surfaces of pin and boxes should be coated with a good quality thread compound; Threads (~1/3 of thread height) Primary shoulder makeup Secondary make up shoulder Metal to metal seal when applicable PRIMARY SHOULDER THREADS SECONDARY SHOULDER 5
Protectors Pins and boxes must receive fresh compound. Compound practice is to apply it; On pins during RIH. On boxes during POOH. * NOTE: When racking back pipe, best practice is to apply clean thread protector to pin to protect thread and shoulder surfaces from dirt/debris/ damage. Thread Compound Application (Doping) Compound Friction Factor (FF) The compound Friction Factor (FF) reflects the resistance to torqueing. The higher the FF, the more torque can be applied to load the connection with the same stress. Unless otherwise specified, our documents show make up torque based on a FF of 1.0. Multiply our torque values with 1.0 FF by the compound supplier FF value (without exceeding 1.15). EXAMPLE: Recommended MUT for CET (4-7/8 x 2-11/16 ) with 1.0 FF compound 22,500 ft-lb. With 1.10 FF: apply 24,750 ft-lb (1.10 x 22,500) With 1.20 FF: apply 27,000 ft-lb (1.20 x 22,500) 6
Make Up Connections Stabbing In Connections Using a Stabbing Guide; Increases safety (removing pinch point). Ensures connection alignment (misalignmentdamages threads and seals). Saves rig time (no need to stabilize string beforestabbing) Use stabbing guide to prevent the end of the pin from striking the box make up shoulder when stabbing the pin into the box. *NOTE: Automatic stabbing systems (top drive, iron roughneck, pipe racking systems) must be set to ensure alignment. Stabbing In Connections Using a Stabbing Guide; Increases safety (removing pinch point). Ensures connection alignment (misalignmentdamages threads and seals). Saves rig time (no need to stabilize string beforestabbing). *NOTE: Mill varnish may need to be removed if it fills spinners rollers and create sliding. Maintain proper alignment when spinning connections. Misalignment can damage threads. 7
Making Up Connections Gripping the Makeup Place the tongs as low as possible on the box respecting the requirement for minimum distance from the sealing shoulder (2 ). Tong can be set low on the pin tong area as long as they do not interfere with the box tool joint. Minimum Distance If recommended MUT is reached at end of stroke then re-grip and ensure recommended MUT is applied. 8
Good Tripping Practice Alternate breaks when tripping so that each connection will be broken. Monitor break out torque (BOT). BOT should be less than the make up torque (MUT). BOT greater than MUT is an indication that downhole make up or thread damage has occurred. 9
Top Drive Top Drive Bell The top drive bell (also call top drive flippers) is the piece of equipment that centers the top drive saver sub pin connection into the stand or string upper box connection. The bell inner diameter shall be adjusted to be at maximum ½ larger that the tool joint nominal OD. Simultaneous multiple connection make up is NOT recommended as there is a risk of improper torque application. Each connection must be made up individually. Top Drive Saver Sub (TDSS) The TDSS s lower connection is the most made up connection in the entire string. If this connection is damaged, it will propagate throughout the entire string. TDSS material specifications must match the material specs for the tool joint connections. Refer to CET/CDS material specs for individual requirements. 10
Interface with Iron Roughneck Pressure of Iron Roughneck jaws is important to avoid egging, tearing TJ material by slippage (increasing the pressure is not always the solution). Condition of the jaw dies affects their ability to bite causing tearing of TJ material by slippage. Check with the manufacturer for directions on Iron Roughneck maintenance. * NOTE: Iron Roughneck with multiple tong die points is preferable. * NOTE: All Iron Roughneck are not designed to give a BOT value. Proper Care and Maintenance of Drill Pipe Calibration: Torque and Handling equipment should be properly adjusted and calibrated. Cleanliness: All connections (drill pipe, subs, lift plugs, saver subs, etc) and thread protectors should be clean, thread compound should be free of contamination. Coverage: 100% of connection thread, seal and shoulder surface should be uniformly covered with light coat of thread compound. Control: Drill pipe should be handled, stabbed, made up under complete control. Clamp: Pressure should be minimized. Tongs should not be positioned over the thin section of boxes. 11
Quick Inspection Checking connection length With measuring apparatus With Go/No Go Gauge *NOTE: Inspection procedure and drawings are available upon request. 12
Quick Inspection Connection length adjustment The pin length and box depth must be within acceptable tolerance for proper operation of double shoulder connections. If connection threaded section shows good condition and geometry (profile gauge) the length could be corrected a follows. Quick Inspection Shoulder Damage The make up shoulder provides the seal and preload for the connections. Damage to the make up shoulder can result in washout, galling of the shoulders or an improperly made connection. The pin nose is not a seal. The sealing shoulder should be inspected frequently using the same procedure and criteria that is used on conventional API connections. 13
Quick Inspection Checking Box Swell Box depth should be checked on over-torqued connections. Most swollen boxes can be recut with the same loss of length as conventional tool joints. 14
Trouble Shooting High Break Out Torque Possible root cause Action Bad positioning of tongs onbreakout (gripping thin section of box). False BOT reading (torqueing equipment calibration). Downhole make up (downhole dynamics, likely combined with improper make up). Ensure that tong free area on box connection is respected. Make sure that tonging equipment is calibrated. Check BHA tool dynamic recording. Use downhole make up search technique. Increase MUT. Follow 5 points of insufficient torque applied. Insufficient torque applied during RIH. Check torqueing equipment. Confirm the recommended MUT. Apply recommended MUT (accounting for thread compound FF). Respect the tong free area on box connection. Monitor MUT on next RIH and BOT on next POOH. Suspected connection damage. Get inspection company to confirm. 15
Trouble Shooting Downhole Make Up Search Technique If downhole make up is suspected, punch marks on the pin and box after make up next to sealing shoulders when RIH. With the downhole make up, the position of the punch marks will change on POOH (1/4 move is indicative of downhole make up). Downhole make up can cause - Compressed/belled box counterbores - Compressed pin noses. 16
Trouble Shooting Low Break Out Torque Possible root cause Action False make up torque (torqueing equipment calibration, gripping thin section of box). Check torqueing equipment. Check that clamping pressure is not excessive. Confirm the recommended MUT. Apply recommended MUT. Respect the tong free area on box connection. Monitor MUT on next RIH and Boot on POOH. Check torqueing equipment capability to give BOT. Respect the tong free area on the box connection. Downhole dynamics (likely combined with improper make up). Check BHA tool dynamic recording. Check torqueing equipment calibration. Check that clamping pressure is not excessive. Confirm what the recommended (max) MUT is. Apply recommended MUT (accounting for thread compound FF. Increase MUT (if feasible). Respect the tong free area on box connection. Monitor MUT on next RIH and BOT on next POOH 17
Trouble Shooting Damaged sealing shoulders Possible root cause Action Pitting: Lack of protection by thread protectors, no application on sealing shoulders. Galling: Lack of compound application, contamination of compound. Washout: Insufficient pressure on shoulders, presence of contaminant, out of length connections. Make sure shoulders receive thread compound. Make sure protectors are clean. Make sure shoulders receive thread compound. Check condition of saver sub. Make sure that joints with galled shoulders are segregated and repaired. Check compound is not contaminated. Make sure brush hair are not falling off. Make sure recommended MUT is applied. Trouble Shooting Damaged thread / galling / pitting Possible root cause Action Pitting: Lack of protection by thread compound, compound breakdown by drilling practices, exposure to drilling fluid. Make sure connections receive 100% coverage thread compound. Make sure protectors are clean. Make sure dope is compatible with drilling fluid. Galling: Lack of compound application, contamination of compound. Make sure that joints with galled shoulders are segregated and repaired. Check condition of saver sub. Make sure connections receive 100% coverage thread compound. 18
Trouble Shooting Damaged sealing shoulders Possible root cause Action Pitting: Lack of protection by thread compound, compound breakdown by drilling practices, exposure to drilling fluid. Galling: Lack of compound application, contamination of compound. Make sure connections receive 100% coverage thread compound. Make sure protectors are clean. Make sure dope is compatible with drilling fluid. Make sure that joints with galled shoulders are segregated and repaired. Check condition of saver sub. Make sure connections receive 100% coverage thread compound. Contact for additional assistance: sales@commandenergy.com engineering@commandenergy.com 281-921-8889 19 CANADA Corporate Headquarters: 406-22 Avenue Nisku, Alberta T9E 7W8 780-955-9331 USA Commercial Operations and Sales: 3434 Greens Rd. Houston, TX 77032 281-921-8889