Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Pipe
Patent
1998-02-28
2000-02-22
Brock, Michael
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Pipe
73 491, G01M 318
Patent
active
060266759
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing threaded joints and threaded members.
Typically, tubulars used in the construction of oil and gas wells are joined via threaded members. It is often extremely important that the threaded joints do not leak and it is becoming increasingly common for threaded members, for example the pins and boxes on tubulars, and sockets for joining tubulars, to be tested (1) during production; (2) before being dispatched from a depot; and (3) as the tubular string is made up and lowered down a well.
A wide variety of testing methods are available. In factories and depots the majority involve lubricating one or both threaded members, making up a dummy threaded joint, subjecting the dummy threaded joint to a pressure differential, and attempting to detect flow through the threaded joint. A similar method is used as a tubular string is made up and lowered down a well except that the final threaded joint is tested.
Lubrication is generally effected using a material which is usually referred to as "dope". This is a mandatory procedure specified by tubular manufacturers. The problem which arises is that the presence of the dope can result in threaded joints passing tests but subsequently leaking. It is believed that this phenomena is caused by the dope effectively plugging small defects for the duration of the test which is typically from 90 to 120 seconds. If the dope is not applied then the threads may be galled.
In a conference paper entitled "Gasdichte Gewindeverbinder Theorie und Praxis" (Gas tight screw couplings in theory and practice) delivered at Clausthal-Zellerfeld University on Apr. 15, 1988 to the German Society for Mineral Oil Techniques and Coal Chemistry, the authors, G. Wilken, E. Eide and P. Stoffels observed that hot joints were more likely to leak than cold joints. However, the authors did not make any comments as to how their observation might be used and, indeed, commercial testing procedures subsequently remained largely unchanged.
It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the probability of a joint wrongly passing a test and to enable faulty joints to be identified more rapidly than in conventional testing.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for testing threaded joints and threaded members, which method comprises the steps of lubricating one or both threaded members, making up a joint, subjecting said joint to a pressure differential, and attempting to detect flow through said joint, characterised in that said method includes the step of subjecting said joint to heat in order to reduce the viscosity of said lubricant.
The heat may be applied to the joint before, during or before and during testing. However, it is particularly advantageous to commence heating at the same time as pressure is applied to the joint.
During trials a joint with a very small mechanical defect which passed conventional testing was heated during testing and promptly failed. In another test a joint which had failed a few seconds before the end of conventional pressure testing was dismantled. The threaded members were cleaned and the joint remade using dope. When tested by a method in accordance with the present invention the joint failed after just 10 seconds. The joint was dismantled. The threaded member cleaned and the joint remade using dope. The first test was repeated and, again only failed a few seconds before the end of the conventional pressure test.
Heating may be effected by any suitable means. However, inductive heating is currently favoured. Alternative methods of heating include electrical resistance heating, steam heating, heating with hot air or vapour, or even the application of a bag or jacket containing a hot material which could be liquid, solid or gaseous.
The method of the present invention is primarily intended for testing a succession of threaded members and accordingly the present invention extends to repeatedly carrying out the method of the present invention, preferably at a rate of at least five and preferably at
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Brock Michael
McClung Guy
Weatherford / Lamb, Inc.
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