WO2000066929A9 - Rotationally locked tool joint for connecting drill pipe sections together - Google Patents
Rotationally locked tool joint for connecting drill pipe sections togetherInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000066929A9 WO2000066929A9 PCT/US2000/011578 US0011578W WO0066929A9 WO 2000066929 A9 WO2000066929 A9 WO 2000066929A9 US 0011578 W US0011578 W US 0011578W WO 0066929 A9 WO0066929 A9 WO 0066929A9
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- box
- pin
- connection
- seal
- connector
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000036316 preload Effects 0.000 description 13
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 6
- 241001274197 Scatophagus argus Species 0.000 description 5
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000004323 axial length Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000000254 damaging effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 fluorocarbon compound Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/042—Threaded
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/03—Couplings; joints between drilling rod or pipe and drill motor or surface drive, e.g. between drilling rod and hammer
Definitions
- the present invention relates to connectors for assembling the ends of tubular bodies to each other. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector for assembling the ends of drill pipe tubes together to fo ⁇ n an elongate drill pipe string.
- joints Conventional drill pipe sections referred to as "joints" have a pin connector at one end of the joint and a box connector at the opposite end of the joint.
- the box is internally threaded, and the pin is externally threaded.
- Pipe joints arc secured to each other, or made up, by inserting the pin of one joint into the box of an adjacent joint and rotating one of the joints, usually in a clockwise direction, to engage the threads.
- the pin advances into the box until an annular metal shoulder at the base of the pin threads is engaged with an annular metal shoulder at the face of the box.
- the connection is referred to as a rotary shouldered connection.
- the engaged shoulders provide a mctal-to-metal seal in the rotary shouldered connection.
- the engaged threads hold the connection together and maintain a bearing pressure on the mctal-to-mctal seals.
- the scaling capacity of the engaged metal-to-mctal seals in a rotary shouldered connection is determined by the bearing pressure of the seals against each other.
- the bearing pressure is determined by the thread design and the amount of torque applied in securing the pin and box together.
- makeup torques in the range of 50,000 ft-lbs. and more.
- connection of the present invention mechanically locks one drill pipe joint lo another so that rotary motion between the two joints is precluded.
- the rotary lock is provided by non-threaded, mechanically interfering surfaces carried at the ends of the adjoined pipe connections.
- the rotary interfering structure is a spline connection.
- One ofthc connected members is a pin
- the adjoining connection member is a box.
- the pin is provided with an enlarged, annular shoulder that engages an annular seat in the box.
- a lock sleeve carried over the pin is provided with threads that engage threads formed within the box.
- Threading the sleeve into the box draws the enlarged pin shoulder into the box where the shoulder is seated against the annular box seat to provide a metal-to-metal shouldering seal.
- the torque required to fully mate the sleeve and box and to obtain the desired metal-to-mctal pressure seal is very low compared with that required for securing conventional drill pipe connections.
- the engaged metal seal surfaces between the pin and the box of the present invention arc tapered relative to the common axis of the joined pin and box components.
- the engaged surfaces form an annular, metal-to-mctal, frustoconical scaling area that maintains a pressure seal between the inside and the outside of the connection during the cyclic stresses of rotation around curved bore hole section.
- the tapered configuration of the mctal-to-mctal seal is optimized to minimize the effect of the alternating increasing and decreasing stress force applications on the connection as it is being rotated in a deviated well bore without unduly increasing the radial size of the connection.
- the mechanical spline engagement between the pin and box prevents relative rotation of the connected drill pipe joints.
- the drill string made up with these connections thus may be rotated cither to the left or to the right without concern for unthreading the connection.
- the mctal-to-mctal seal is carried within the box at a protected location where it is shielded from the effects of contact with the surrounding bore hole wall.
- a secondary, annular, elastomeric seal is provided between the pin and box to provide additional sealing between the engaged components.
- the resilient seal is carried in a groove extending annularly within the area of the tapered metal seal area of the pin.
- the lock collar of the invention may be applied to the pin connector after the tool joint has been welded onto the drill tube section or after the tube is upset to form the tool joint configuration.
- the tool joint may be formed by upsetting the tube end to eliminate the need for welding a tool joint to the tube.
- the multiplc-piccc lock sleeve may be removed as required to recondition or repair the sleeve.
- the threads of the lock collar and box are preferably left-handed to prevent a back-off of the connection when the drill string is rotated to the right.
- the outside diameter of the collar is smaller than the outside diameter of the box to minimize the effects of drag on the collar as it is rotated in the well bore.
- An adapter for attaching a drill string made up with connections of the present invention to a conventional top drive system.
- the pin component of the connection of the present invention is provided at one end of the adapter, and a conventional rotary shouldered pin connection is provided at the adapter's opposite end. Thc conventional rotary shouldered pin connection mates with the box connection at the drive end of a conventional top drive. If desired, the adapter may also be equipped with the multiple-piece lock collar.
- a primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector for securing together the ends of drill pipe sections whereby a drill siring assembled from such sections may be rotated to the left or the right without danger of disengaging the connection.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector for drill pipe joints that can be employed in a drill string that extends through a curved well bore section and rotated therein without causing fatigue damage to the components of the connector.
- Yet another object oflhc present invention is to provide a connector that may be assembled using a relatively low power torque wrench to eliminate the need for use of a large, high torque wrenching device for securing the connectors together. It is also an object of lhc present invention to provide a drill pipe connector having a wrench area that is smaller in diameter than the remainder of the connection to reduce the drag of the wrench area on the well bore wall during rotation of the drill string. An important object of the present invention is to provide a tapered metal-to- metal seal in a pin and box connection whereby the connection can be alternately stressed at different points along said seal without causing excessive fatigue in the connection.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connection for drill pipe joints that is inexpensive to fabricate and repair and that can be easily made up with low torque equipment and that can be rotated within a curved well bore without excessive loading of the connection.
- An object ofthc present invention is to provide a drill string connector having a lock collar with left-hand threads whereby the right-hand rotation ofthc connector within a well bore does not tend to unthread the lock collar from the connector.
- Fig. 1 is a vertical quarter-sectional view of a connector ofthc present invention
- Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating details in the spline engagement of the present invention
- Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a pin member of thc present invention
- Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the tapered mctal-to-mctal seal and spline area of the present invention
- Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial sectional view illustrating details in the resilient sealing element of the present invention.
- Fig. 7 is a modified form of the pin of thc present invention
- Fig. 8 is a modified form of the pin section of thc present invention having a resilient seal in the tapered mctal-to-mctal seal area of thc pin;
- Fig. 9 is a vertical, quarter-sectional view illustrating a modified form of the connection of thc present invention.
- Fig. 10 is a vertical elevation of an adapter subasscmbly employed in connecting the drill string and connectors of thc present invention to a top drive assembly;
- Fig. 1 1 is a vertical quarter-sectional view illustrating a modified fo ⁇ n of the connector of the present invention with a multiple-part locking collar;
- Fig. 12 is a full horizontal cross-section taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 1 1 ;
- Fig. 13 is a full horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating a modified form of the connector of the present invention employing multiple locking collar segments;
- Fig. 14 is a vertical elevation illustrating a modified top drive subasscmbly of the present invention
- Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a connector ofthc present invention designating critical dimensions of the connector
- Fig. 16 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;
- Figs. 17A, 17B, and 17C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting an initial preload producing 0.010-inch interference in the seals of a connector of the present invention;
- Figs. 18 ⁇ , 18B, and I 8C arc stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting stress distributions over the connector ofFigs. 17A, 17B, and 17C with an applied tension load of 600,000 lbs.;
- Figs. 19A, 19B, and 19C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting stress distribution over the connector depicted in Figs. 17A, 17B. and 17C with a tension load of 666,536 lbs.;
- Figs. 20A, 20B, and 20C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting an initial preload producing 0.010-inch interference in the seals of a connection of the present invention
- Figs. 21 A, 21 B, and 21C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting stress distribution over the connection of Figs. 20A, 20B, and 20C having a tension loading of 733, 190 lbs.;
- Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting stress distribution over a connection ofthc present invention depicting an initial preload producing O.OI O-inch interference in the seals of a connection of thc present invention;
- Figs. 23A, 23B, and 23C are stress analysis illustrations, in quarter-sectional views, depicting the connector of Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C with an applied tension loading of 844,244 lbs; and Fig. 24 is a chart illustrating various pipe dimensions and ratings for different pipe connectors of the present invention.
- connection 10 The connection ofthc present invention is indicated generally at 10 in Fig. 1.
- the connection is used to connect the ends of tubular pipe sections used for a drill string in drilling wells.
- the connection comprises a box member 1 1 and a pin member 12.
- the pin member includes an externally threaded lock collar 13.
- An annular end shoulder surface 14 al the nose oflhc lock collar 1 engages a correspondingly configured annular torque shoulder 15 formed on the pin member.
- the surfaces 14 and 15 engage to form an axial bearing force surface indicated at 16.
- Circumfcrentially spaced, axially extending rib sections 17 project radially inwardly from the internal surface of the box 1 1.
- the ribs 17 arc engaged within axially extending, circumferentially spaced recesses 18 formed along the external circumferential surface ofthc base of pin 12.
- the recesses 18 and rib sections 17 cooperate to provide a rotation lock in the form of a spline connection that prevents relative rotary movement between the pin 12 and the surrounding box 1 1 while permitting relative axial movement of the pin and box components during the assembly and disassembly of thc connection.
- the nose of the pin 12 is tapered, as indicated at 19, to assist in guiding the pin recesses over the box ribs when the pin is stabbed into the box during the initial assembly of the connection.
- a central opening 20 extends axially through the center of the pin section and communicates with a central opening 21 extending axially through the box section 1 1.
- the openings 20 and 21 conduct drilling fluids through the drill siring formed by multiple pipe sections connected end to end with connectors such as Ihc connector 10.
- the connector 10 of the present invention is employed to secure together multiple, similar tubular drill pipe sections ("joints") to form an elongate drill string.
- Each drill pipe joint is provided with a pin member at one axial end and a box member at the opposite axial end.
- the combined string is formed by engaging the pin member of one joint with the box member of an adjacent joint.
- Engagement of the rotation lock permits the drill string to be rotated in a clockwise orcountcrclockwi.se direction without danger of unthreading the connections in the string.
- the lock collar design of the connection also permits the connection to be secured in a Icakproof connection with much smaller makeup torques than required for conventional rotary shouldered tool joint connections.
- the lock collar 1 is provided with external threads 22 that mate with internally formed threads 23 in Ihc box 1 1.
- An elastomeric seal ring 24 carried in an annular groove 25 formed in the box 1 1 engages the external surface of the pin section 12 to provide a resilient seal between the pin and box sections.
- a frustoconical, internal shoulder scat 26 formed along the surface ofthc box 1 1 engages a frustoconical.
- radially extending, external shoulder 27 formed along the surface of thc pin 12 to provide a shouldering, metal-to-mctal seal 28.
- connection 10 is assembled by lowering the pin section 12 into the box section 1 1, causing the splincd arrangement of ribs 17 and recesses 1 S to meet and mesh. With the spline engaged, the pin connection is advanced into the box until the conical surfaces 26 and 27 engage in the metal-to-metal seal 28. During this assembly process, the pin nose taper 19 assists in directing the end of thc pin past the seal surface 27 and into meshing engagement with the box. Once the pin is seated within the box, the collar 13 may be rotated to cause engagement between the threads 22 and 23. In the preferred fo ⁇ n of thc invention, threads 22 and 23 arc "left-hand" threads that arc engaged by rotating the collar 13 in a counterclockwise direction.
- the outer surface of the collar 13 between the threads 22 and the upper collar end provides a wrench area 29 that is cngagcablc by a power wrench, or rotary power tong (not illustrated), employed to apply torque to the collar when the connection is being secured or released.
- the area 29 is provided with sufficient axial length to receive the tong jaws.
- the diameter of thc wrench area 29 is preferably less than that of the box 1 1 lo minimize dragging of thc collar on the well bore wall during rotary drilling.
- the upper end of the lock collar 13 has an annular taper surface 30 employed to deflect the connection 10 from internal well bore obstructions as the drill string is retrieved to the well surface.
- the connection 10 is secured to a tubular drill siring body 31 having an upset area 32.
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pin member of thc connection of thc present invention.
- the pin member includes the collar 13 that is axially and rotatably movable over the underlying tubular body of the pin connection 12.
- Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of the invention illustrating a resilient seal assembly, indicated generally at 34, employed in combination with the metal-to-metal seal 28.
- Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detail illustration of the resilient seal 34.
- the seal assembly 34 is carried in an annular groove 35 extending circumfcrentially within the metal-to-metal seal area of the pin connection 12.
- the angle of the scat 26 relative to the common central axis of thc connection formed by the engaged pin 12 and box 13 is indicated at A. In the illustrated embodiment, Ihc angle A is approximately 30°.
- the metal-to-metal seal surface 28 is illustrated as being formed by the overlapping of the metal seat surface 26 and the metal surface of the conical shoulder 27. In the illustrated embodiment, the two conical surfaces engage to produce a compression or interference of 0.010 inches.
- the assembly 34 is a two-part seal having an elastomeric. O-ring seal member 36 contained within a surrounding annular contact seal ring 37.
- the seal assembly 34 provides an annular, resilient seal contact surface 38 to effect a pressure seal between the conical metal seal surface ofthc pin 12 and the conical, internal metal scat 26 ofthc box connection 1 1.
- the illustrated resilient seal assembly 34 cooperates with the metal-to- metal seal 28 to prevent the passage of fluids between the engaged box 1 1 and pin 12.
- the contact seal ring 37 may advantageously be constructed of a material such as a glass-filled Teflon composition or other suitable material.
- the elastomeric O-ring seal 36 may be constructed of a resilient fluorocarbon compound having a desirable elastomeric characteristic.
- the seal ring 37 is forced radially outwardly by the O-ring 36 to provide a firm, resilient bearing pressure against the scat 26.
- the material of the seal ring 37 withstands physical contact and wear against the metal surface o thc seat 26 while the O-ring seal member 36 provides a resilient force urging the seal ring 37 into firm sealing engagement with the scat 26.
- the size of the angle A is an important factor in the operation ofthc connection of the present invention. If the angle A is too small, the induced radial expansion forces acting on the box 1 1 can undesirably stress the box, causing damage or even permitting separation of thc pin and box connection. Wlwar the damaging effects of the radial expansion may be reduced by increasing the thickness of the wall of the box 1 1, it is desirable to keep the external diameter of the box 1 1 as small as possible to optimize the clearance between the connection and the surrounding well bore of the well being drilled.
- the angle has a preferred range of from 5° to 80°. Another critical area ofthc connection is the cross-sectional area at 39 of the box.
- the area 39 occurs at the last engaged thread connection between the lock collar 13 and the box 1 1.
- the forces in the engaged connection of lhc present invention acting at the critical area 39 include the preload forces imposed by threadcdly advancing the collar shoulder 14 against Ihc pin shoulder 15.
- the preload force must be sufficient to prevent the metal-to-metal seal from failing as the pin and box are being pulled apart by the forces imposed by the drilling motion, the string weight, and the rig lifting forces. These forces combine to impose a separation force at the critical box area that can force the box to fail when the maximum force loads are exceeded.
- the force exerted by advancing the collar 13 against the bearing surface 15 is employed lo impose a preload on the metal-to-mctal seal 28 that maintains a pressure seal between the pin and box.
- the total contact surface of engagement in the mctal-to-metal seal 28 is desirably held to the smallest area practical to achieve the desired sealing pressure.
- the various forces acting on the connection arc related in that the greater the bearing surface area of lhc mctal-to-metal seal, the greater the preload force required to obtain a desired scaling pressure, which in turn imposes the need for a larger, stronger box lo prevent failure ofthc box.
- the effective scaling area occurring along the tapered mctal-to-mctal seal 28 is calculated by determining the effective preload force required for obtaining a seal in a hypothetical, 90° mctal-to-mctal seal surface. As the angle A decreases toward 0°, the force required to obtain a desired sealing pressure becomes greater. Accordingly, the larger the angle A, the less preload force required to obtain the desired sealing pressure for a given metal-to-mctal seal area.
- Fig. 7 illustrates a modified pin member 45 in which an annular, elastomeric O- ring seal 46 is carried in a groove 47 extending annulariy about the pin 45.
- the modified pin 45 includes splined recesses 48 and an annular, frustoconical metal-to-metal shoulder 49 adapted to engage and seal with the seat of an adjoining box connection (not illustrated).
- the seal ring 46 may be constructed in a manner similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6 or may comprise a single clement, O-ring seal assembly constructed of a suitable elastomeric material.
- the pin member connection 45 provides an elastomeric seal between the outer cylindrical area of thc pin body and the internal, cylindrical wall of the connection box.
- Fig. 8 illustrates another modified fo ⁇ n of the pin member of the connection of the present invention, indicated generally at 50.
- the modified pin member 50 includes an annular, elastomeric O-ring seal 51 carried on the mctal-to-metal seal surface 52 of the pin.
- the annular seal ring 51 is adapted to engage and seat with the tapered frustoconical seat of the box (not illustrated) to provide an claslomcric seal that cooperates with the mctal-to-metal seal formed by the frustoconical. external metal-to-metal seal 52.
- Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of the connection of the present invention indicated generally at 60.
- the connection 60 includes an axially extending pin section 61 and an axially extending box section 62.
- a locking collar 63 is employed to secure the pin and box connections firmly together to prevent relative axial movement between the pin and box. Threads 64 on the collar 63 mate with threads 65 on the box 62. whereby rotation of thc collar into the box advances the pin section 61 into the box to form a metal-to-metal seal at 67.
- An annular, elastomeric seal ring 68 carried in an annular groove 69 in the base ofthc box 62 provides a secondary, resilient seal between the pin and box connection.
- a rotation lock is provided to prevent relative rotation between the engaged pin and box.
- the rotation lock is provided by interlocking engagement of the pin end projections 70 extending from the base ofthc pin section 1 into box recesses 71 formed in the base of thc box 62.
- the lock collar 63 is employed to apply a preload to the metal-to-mctal seal area 67 and to trap the pin within the box to prevent axial separation ofthc connection.
- the engagement of the projections 70 and recesses 71 provide a rotation lock that prevents relative rotation between the pin section 61 and the box section 62 without imposing any of thc forces of rotation in the threaded components ofthc connector.
- the lock collar 63 is made up into the box 62 by rotary motion applied with a power tong or other suitable device.
- the threads 64 and 65 are preferably "left-hand threads" to prevent the collar 63 from being backed out of the box when the drill siring assembly connected by the connection 16 is being rotated in a normal clockwise direction, as employed during conventional drilling procedures.
- the outside diamclcr ofthc lock collar 63 is also preferably smaller than the outside diameter of the box section 62 in the engaged thread area to minimize the effects of drag on the collar 63 as the drill string is rotated.
- Fig. 10 illustrates a top drive adapter, indicated generally at 80, employed to cross over between the connection of a conventional top drive and the connector of the present invention.
- a top drive is a system for powering a drill string and is used to replace the function of a rotary table in a standard drilling rig.
- the top drive provides rotary and lifting movement through the length of the drilling derrick.
- the drive motor in a top drive assembly is movable from the floor level to the top of the derrick along a vertical guide system. Connection of the top drive to a drill string of the present invention requires crossing a conventional pin connector to a box connector of the present invention.
- the adapter 80 employs a conventional rotary shouldered pin connection 81 to mate with the box at the end of a conventional top-drive output shall (not illustrated).
- the tool joint 81 is welded to a tubular connecting body S2 having a pin member 83 of the present invention.
- a locking collar 84 extending around the tubular connection section 82 is movable axially between the tool joint S 1 and the pin section S3.
- the collar 84 is provided with pin threads S5 that arc adapted to male and engage with the box threads at the top end of a drill string secured together with pipe sections having the connections of the present invention.
- the pin section 83 is introduced into a box such as illustrated in Fig. 1.
- the collar 84 is then advanced over the tube 82 until the threads 85 arc engaged with the box threads and the collar is then rotated to engage the threads S5 with the threads in the box.
- the form of thc pin assembly 82 illustrated in Fig. 10 includes an annular, elastomeric seal ring 85 carried in a groove formed along the external, tapered mctal-to- metal surface 87 of the pin section.
- Spline grooves 88 are provided at the base of the adapter, which in other respects is also similar to the pin sections described with respect to the pin connections earlier described in other embodiments of thc invention.
- Fig. 1 1 illustrates yet another embodiment of the connector of the present invention indicated generally at 90.
- the embodiment of Fig. 1 1 includes a two-piece lock collar 91 that may be applied to the drill pipe body 92 alter the pin section 93 has been upset to provide an enlarged area lor the spline connection 94 and the locking shoulder 95.
- the lock collar 91 is formed from two mating half-slccvcs 96 and 97 that arc held together by clamping rings 98 and 99.
- Four guide pins, such as guide pins 100 and 101 arc employed to provide matching alignment of thc two sleeve sections 96 and 97.
- Pins 101 and 100 may be permanently secured in one ofthc sleeve sections 96 or 97 and have a free end extending into a closely fitting, axially extending groove 102. Engagement ofthc pins 101 and 100 in the groove 102 places the two sleeve sections in proper alignment so that external threads 103 on the sleeve sections properly mate with each other and form a continuous pin thread configuration for mating threaded engagement with internal threads 104 formed within a box 105.
- the clamp rings 98 and 99 may be formed of any suitable material that can secure the two lock collar sleeves together and hold them on the tube body ofthc pin connection 92 when the collar is not engaged in the box.
- the alignment pins 100 and 102 arc not stressed structurally when the assembled sleeves arc threaded into the box 105.
- the alignment pins thus need only have sufficient mechanical strength to maintain the alignment and relative position oflhc two sleeves around the pin tube 92 during the time that the lock collar is not engaged with the box.
- the clamps rings 9S and 99 need only be sufficiently strong to hold the two sleeve sections in position about the pin tube 92 when the lock collar is not engaged in the threaded box.
- the collar may be applied to the drill pipe section after the pin end of thc drill pipe section has been upset or welded onto the drill pipe tube. This eliminates the need to position a continuous single piece locking collar over the tube before cither end has been upset or before a pin or box tool joint is welded to the end of the pipe body.
- An additional advantage results when il is necessary to repair Ihc lock collar 91. In the event the collar requires repair, it is only necessary to disengage the lock rings 98 and 99 to permit the collar to be removed and thereafter replaced with a repaired or new tube section locking collar. Where the locking collar is a single piece sleeve positioned on the drill pipe body before the tool joint is welded on or before the upset is formed al the end of the drill pipe tube, il is not practical to remove and replace a single piece lock collar.
- Fig. 13 illustrates a modified form of the connector of thc present invention indicated generally at 1 10.
- the connector 1 10 is similar to the connector illustrated in Fig. 12, except that the two mating lock collar sections 1 1 1 and 1 12 arc welded together at their junctions 1 13 and 1 14.
- the connector 1 10 may have the collar sections 1 1 1 1 and 1 12 applied to a pipe body 1 15 after the end of the pipe body has been upset or a tool joint has been welded to the tube.
- the collar, comprised of sections 1 1 1 and 1 12 may be removed from the pipe body 1 15 for replacement or repair by grinding out the welds 1 13 and 1 14 or by otherwise cutting the collar assembly open.
- a modified form ofthc top drive adapter employed with the present invention is indicated generally at 120 in Fig. 14.
- the adapter 120 is similar to the adapter illustrated in Fig. 10 except thai (he lock collar 121 is assembled in two pieces held together by clamp rings 122 and 123. Guide pins (not illustrated) or other alignment mechanisms may also be employed in the embodiment 120 lo provide proper matching of the threads formed on each ofthc two sections comprising the threaded lock collar 121.
- the lock collar 121 may also be welded together rather than being secured by the lock rings 122 and 123.
- Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-section illustrating a connection of the present invention indicated generally at 125.
- the connection includes a pin section 126 engaged in a box section 127.
- a 30° tapered mctal-to-mctal seal 128 is formed between the pin and box sections.
- the pin and box arc secured together by the threaded engagement of a lock collar 129 with the box 127. Threads 130 formed on the pin section 129 mate with threads 131 formed internally of the box 127.
- the threads 130 and 131 may preferably be of a PAC thread form, having a 0.75 inch per foot taper.
- the end of the pin section engages with the base ofthc box section to form a spline connection, indicated generally at 132.
- the spline may preferably be a fillet root, side fit configuration illustrated in detail in Fig. 16.
- OD in is the minimum tool joint outside diameter
- ODtj is the tool joint outside diameter
- PDt is the thread pitch diameter
- ODp is the outside diameter
- Dsh is the shoulder diameter
- IDtj is the tool joint internal diameter
- Do is the major external diameter
- Dre is the minor external diameter
- Di is the minor internal diameter
- Dri is the major internal diameter
- Lsh is the minimum shoulder length
- Lt is the thread length
- Ls is the actual spline length in the area of the engaged spline members of the pin and box assembly.
- PDs is the spline pitch diameter
- p is the circular pitch
- h is the depth of engagement
- t is the spline circular thickness.
- Figs. 17A, 17B, and 17C are finite element stress analyses of a connection such as the connection of Figs. 15 and 16, except that the metal-to-mctal seal 12S taper is 15° rather than 30°.
- the connection is a 7 3 / ⁇ -inch by 4 7 / ⁇ -inch JWSC connection with an interference of 0.010 inch between the pin and box sections ofthc mctal-to-mctal seal at the optimum makeup torque for this connection.
- Fig. 17A illustrates a quarter-sectional view of the made-up connection with the different colorations indicating differing degrees of stress occurring at the area of coloration.
- Fig. 17B is an enlarged section of Fig. 17A
- Fig. 17C is an enlarged area of the connection section of the figures.
- the color code associated with the figures indicates the stresses induced in the connection when the tension imposed on the mctal- to-metal seal area is at initial makeup. Stresses at a tension load of 600,000 lbs. are illustrated in Figs. 18A, 18B, and 18C. Stress at a tension load of 666,536 lbs. is illustrated in Figs. 19A, 19B, and 19C. The red areas illustrated in Figs.
- FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 20C are similar to Figs. 17A, 17B, and 17C, illustrating low stress distribution in a 7'/.-inch by 4 7 / ⁇ -inch JWSC connection with an interference of 0.010 inch in the engaged mctal-to-metal seal area.
- the metal-to-mctal seal area is also a 15°tapcr; however, the connection is otherwise similar to the connection illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16.
- Fig. 20A is a quarter-sectional view of thc stresses induced in the connection, as indicated by the different coloration located at the stressed points of the engaged components.
- Fig. 20B is an enlarged view of Fig. 20A
- Fig. 20C is an enlarged section of the engaged connector of the invention.
- Figs. 21 A, 21 B, and 21 C illustrate the stresses induced in the connection of Fig. 20 ⁇ when the force engaging the collar nose and pin shoulder surfaces is 733,160 lbs.
- Fig. 21 C by minimal presence of thc maximum stresses (indicated in red), increasing the connection box diameter by V ⁇ inch appreciably increases the structural strength of the box, permitting additional tension to be applied to the connection without danger of failure.
- Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C illustrate stress distribution on a connector having a 7.497-inch outside diameter (OOtj), 4.764-inch inside diameter ( l Otj) with a preload interference of 0.010 inch.
- Figs.23 A, 23B, and 23C illustrate the connector of Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C with an applied tension load of 844,224 lbs.
- the tension load exceeds the maximum rating for the drill pipe body; the connector, however, is within permitted loading limits.
- the groove for an elastomeric seal ring is not illustrated in the analysis of Figs. 22 A, 22B, and 22C.
- Fig. 24 is a table illustrating dimensions and ratings for different pipe connections.
- the torque required to make up the lock collar lo a pipe having a 5'/_-inch outside diameter with a 7! -inch tool joint OD; 4.1875-inch ID, with a shoulder diameter of 6.349 inches and a minimum shoulder length of 0.739 inches; a thread length of 3 inches and a thread pitch diameter of 6.586 inches is 4,816 ft-lbs.
- the make-up torque required to secure a conventional tool joint having a similar outside box diameter is 50,000 ft-lbs.
- the torque required to secure a connection of the present invention is much less than that required to secure a corresponding conventional tool joint connection, and accordingly, relatively small power tongs may be employed to engage the connection of the present invention.
- the outside diameter of the connector of the present invention be made as small as possible to enhance the drilling characteristics of the drill string.
- the tube may advantageously be internally upset to thereby decrease the outside diameter of thc tool joint.
- the steel used for the tool joint may be made of 135,000 psi material lo permit a reduction in the outside diameter of thc tool joint.
- the connector of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of thc invention.
- the elastomeric seal ring described need not be included in the connector where the mctal-to- mctal seal provides adequate scaling.
- the connector may also be employed to join pipe sections other than drill pipe joints.
- the threads ofthc lock collar and box may be right- hand threads where the drilling operation docs not impose a risk of backing off the connection during right-hand drill string rotation.
- the connector may also be advantageously used for only one or a few connections in an otherwise conventional string of rotary shouldered pipe connections. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope and spirit of thc appended claims rather than by Ihc specific examples described in the specification and drawings.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU51243/00A AU5124300A (en) | 1999-04-29 | 2000-04-29 | Rotationally locked tool joint for connecting drill pipe sections together |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US30183499A | 1999-04-29 | 1999-04-29 | |
US09/301,834 | 1999-04-29 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000066929A1 WO2000066929A1 (en) | 2000-11-09 |
WO2000066929A9 true WO2000066929A9 (en) | 2001-11-08 |
Family
ID=23165100
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2000/011578 WO2000066929A1 (en) | 1999-04-29 | 2000-04-29 | Rotationally locked tool joint for connecting drill pipe sections together |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU5124300A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000066929A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE20012524U1 (en) * | 2000-07-20 | 2000-09-21 | Tracto Technik Gmbh Spezialmas | Linkage coupling |
CA2448085C (en) * | 2001-05-24 | 2010-03-23 | Shell Canada Limited | Radially expandable tubular with supported end portion |
US9046204B2 (en) | 2009-04-28 | 2015-06-02 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Quick connect tool with locking collar |
CN107605414A (en) * | 2017-11-02 | 2018-01-19 | 北京泰利新能源科技发展有限公司 | A kind of back-off joint |
WO2021195742A1 (en) | 2020-04-02 | 2021-10-07 | Noetic Technologies Inc. | Tool joint clamp |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA687376A (en) * | 1964-05-26 | Cryogenics | Liquid oxygen/nitrogen quick disconnect coupling | |
US1589781A (en) * | 1925-11-09 | 1926-06-22 | Joseph M Anderson | Rotary tool joint |
US2296198A (en) * | 1938-09-22 | 1942-09-15 | Boynton Alexander | Threadless drill stem |
US3361453A (en) * | 1965-07-02 | 1968-01-02 | Brown Oil Tools | Quick coupling device |
-
2000
- 2000-04-29 WO PCT/US2000/011578 patent/WO2000066929A1/en active Application Filing
- 2000-04-29 AU AU51243/00A patent/AU5124300A/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5124300A (en) | 2000-11-17 |
WO2000066929A1 (en) | 2000-11-09 |
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