Drill Pipe Connection
Care and Handling
w w w. c o m m a n d e n e r g y. c o m
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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. Command Energy Services cannot assume responsibility for the results obtained through the use of this material. No expressed or implied warranty is intended.
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Introduction to API
Command Energy 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 104241:2004 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)
Primary Shoulder Provides seal
and preload just as on
conventional tool joint
• Increased Wear AllowanceUser
friendly and run like API
RSC(stabbing, spinning running &
one bite torquing)
Secondary Shoulder Does not
• Better resistance to fatigue
contact when joint is hand tight,
but only when the joint is torqued
up to the recommended MUT
Command Energy
2
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Picking Up New Pipe
Final check before going to the rig floor
• 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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
Command Energy
4
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
EXAMPLE:
Recommended MUT
for CET (4-7/8” x
2-11/16”) with 1.0 FF
compound – 22,500
ft-lb.
• Unless otherwise specified, our documents show make up
torque based on a FF of 1.0.
• With 1.10 FF: apply
• Multiply our torque values with 1.0 FF by the compound
supplier FF value (without exceeding 1.15).
• With 1.20 FF: apply
Command Energy
24,750 ft-lb (1.10 x
22,500)
27,000 ft-lb (1.20 x
22,500)
6
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
7
Command Energy
Maintain proper
alignment when spinning
connections.
Misalignment can damage
threads.
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Making Up Connections
• 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
Gripping the Makeup
• If recommended MUT is reached at end of
stroke then re-grip and ensure recommended
MUT is applied.
Command Energy
8
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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 Command Energy CET/CDS material specs for individual requirements.
Command Energy
10
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Quick Inspection
Checking connection length
With measuring apparatus
With Go/No Go Gauge
*NOTE: Inspection procedure and drawings are available upon request.
Command Energy
12
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
Command Energy
14
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Trouble Shooting
High Break Out Torque
Possible root cause
Action
• Bad positioning of tongs onbreakout
(gripping thin section of box).
• Ensure that tong free area on box
connection is respected.
• False BOT reading (torqueing equipment
calibration).
• Make sure that tonging equipment is
calibrated.
• Downhole make up (downhole
dynamics, likely combined with
improper make up).
• 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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
Command Energy
16
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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
Command Energy
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
Trouble Shooting
Damaged sealing shoulders
Possible root cause
Action
• Pitting: Lack of protection by thread
protectors, no application on sealing
shoulders.
• Make sure shoulders receive thread
compound.
• Make sure protectors are clean.
• Galling: Lack of compound application,
contamination of compound.
• Make sure shoulders receive thread
compound.
• Check condition of saver sub.
• Make sure that joints with galled shoulders
are segregated and repaired.
• Washout: Insufficient pressure on
shoulders, presence of contaminant, out
of length connections.
• 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.
Command Energy
18
Drill Pipe Connection Care and Handling
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.
• 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.
Contact Command Energy for additional assistance:
sales@commandenergy.com
engineering@commandenergy.com
281-921-8889
CANADA
Corporate Headquarters:
406 - 22 Avenue
Nisku, Alberta
T9E 7W8
780-955-9331
19
USA
Commercial Operations
and Sales:
3434 Greens Rd.
Houston, TX
77032
281-921-8889
Command Energy