United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,506,432

Smith
45) Date of Patent: Mar. 26, 1985
54 METHOD OF CONNECTING JOINTS OF
DRILL PIPE FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
75 Inventor: Jackie E. Smith, Houston, Tex. 658029 10/1951 United Kingdom ................ 285/334
73) Assignee: Hughes Tool Company, Houston, Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon
Tex. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert A. Felsman; Charles
D. Gunter, Jr.
(21) Appl. No.: 538,648
57 ABSTRACT
22) Filed: Oct. 3, 1983
A method of connecting a joint of drill pipe for rotary
51) Int. Cl. .............................................. B23P 25/00 earth drilling having tool joint members on each end
52) U.S. Cl. ................................... 29/458; 29/526 R; with threaded connections for connecting the joint with
10/1 R; 285/329; 285/334 other joints of drill pipe is shown. Nickel plating is
58) Field of Search ................... 29/458, 526 R; 10/1; applied to a portion of the threaded connection of at
285/94, 333,390, 329, 334; 403/303 least one of the tool joint members. The threaded con
56) References Cited nection is then doped with a zinc base thread compound
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS and the joint of drill pipe is made up by threadedly
connecting the nickel plated threaded connection of
1,141,151 6/1915. Speller ............................ 285/333 X one tool joint member with the threaded connection of
2,058,841 10/1936 Thomson .............................. 10/1 R a mating tool joint member. The nickel plated tool joint
2,084,209 6/1937 McDiroy .... ... 29/458 X member when used with zinc base thread compound
2,173,003 9/1939 Place ....... . 285/390 X
2,308,066 1/1943 Evans .................................. 285/333 provides a connection with desirable frictional proper
2,681,815 6/1954 McCarn ...... 285/390 X ties at elevated temperatures such as are encountered in
3,294,682 12/1966 MacKinnon ... 285/94 X geothermal wells.
3,468,563 9/1969 Duret .......... ... 285/94 X
3,659,882 5/1972 Souresny ............................. 285/333 3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure
 1 4,506,432
2
pipe. Nickel plating is applied to a portion of the
METHOD OF CONNECTING JOINTS OF DRELL threaded connection of at least one of the tool joint
PIPE members. The threaded connection is then doped with
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a zinc base thread compound and the joint of drill pipe
5 is made up by threadedly connecting the nickel plated
The present invention relates generally to joints of threaded connection of one tool joint member with the
drill pipe for rotary earth drilling having tool joint threaded connection of a mating tool joint member.
members on each end with threaded connections for Preferably, both the pin and box tool joint members are
connecting the joints with other joints of drill pipe and, nickel plated. At least one of the pin and box tool joint
specifically, to such tool joint members having in 10 members is heat treated to produce a different hardness
proved frictional properties at elevated temperatures, in the nickel plating of the member so treated to lessen
and a method of connecting the same. the possibility of galling the threads.
A drill pipe string of the type used in rotary earth Additional objects, features and advantages will be
drilling is comprised of joints of drill pipe which have apparent in the written description which follows.
box and pin members secured to the opposite ends 5
thereof by suitable means, such as welding. The "box' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
tool joint member is internally threaded and adapted to FIG. 1 is a side partial cross-sectional view of a tool
receive a mating externally threaded "pin' tool joint joint of the invention with portions of the tool joint
member. Mating joints of drill pipe are interconnected being shown broken away.
to form the pipe string used in the rotary earth drilling 20
process to suspend, support and rotate a drill bit and DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
produce a borehole. It is necessary that the joints of drill INVENTION
pipe be made up tightly enough to prevent leakage, FIG. 1 shows a joint of drill pipe of the invention
wobble, and unscrewing. Power tongs and power designated generally as 11. The joint 11 has tool joint
driven cable winches are often used to provide the members 13, 15 on each end with threaded connections
25
torque to make up the tool joint connections. The fric 17, 19 for connecting the joints with other joints of drill
tional properties of the threaded connections of the tool pipe. The externally threaded connection 17 is referred
joint members are important since these frictional prop to as a "pin' and is adapted to matingly engage the
erties dictate the amount of torque that can be transmit internally
ted by the tool joint. The higher the friction coefficient, 30 "box'. Thethreaded connection 19 referred to as a
tool joint members 13, 15 are each secured
the greater the torque transmitting capability and the to a length of drill pipe 21, 23, as by welding. During
less the chance of additional makeup occuring down the
hole. Insufficient frictional engagement can allow ex make up of the tool joint, the box end face 25 engages
cessive makeup which can burst the box or stretch, the pin shoulder 27, as shown in FIG. 1.
crack or completely break the pin. 35 In the practice of the present invention, nickel plating
In order to maintain a high coefficient of friction is applied to a portion of the threaded connection 17, 19
between the threaded connections of the box and pin of at least one of the tool joint members 13, 15. The
tool joint members, zinc base thread compounds are nickel plating can be accomplished by any of the known
widely used. The zinc base thread compound or "dope' techniques such as electroless nickel plating or electro
allows the tool joints to be broken out easily and also 40 nickel plating. The nickel plating is preferably applied
minimizes excessive make up during drilling. A problem to the threaded connection of both the pin and box 17,
exists, however, with the use of zinc base thread com 19 tool joint members of the joint of drill pipe and is
pounds in high temperature drilling environments such preferably applied over the entire threaded connection
as in geothermal wells. The zinc base thread compound to at least the last full thread of the respective tool joint
tends to lose its lubrication properties at higher temper 45 member and the box end face 25 and the pin shoulder
atures and it is then difficult to break the tool joint 27. As shown in FIG. 1, the length "l' indicates that
connection when tripping pipe out of the well bore. portion of the internally threaded box connection 19
Because of this problem, copper base thread compounds from and including the box end face 25 to the last full
are traditionally used in geothermal wells and other thread 29 which is preferably nickel plated. The pin
high temperature drilling environments. The copper 50 threaded connection 17 of the tool joint member 13 is
base thread compound maintains its lubrication proper also preferably plated from the pin end 31 to and includ
ties at higher temperatures allowing the tool joints to be ing the pin shoulder 27 which contacts the box end face
broken out more easily. However, because the coeffici 25 during make up. The nickel plating is preferably
ent of friction of the copper base thread compound is applied to a thickness in the range from about 0.0002 to
lower, torsional failures are more likely since additional 55 0.0004 inches. The nickel plating preferably has about
makeup occurs between the pin and box resulting in 90% to 92% nickel and 8% to 10% phosphorus.
stretched pins and other problems. When both the pin and box threaded connections 17,
It has now been discovered that by nickel plating the 19 are nickel plated, preferably at least one of the pin
tool joint threaded connections, zinc base thread com and box tool joint members nickel plated portions is
pounds can be utilized without producing the undesir 60 heat treated to produce a different hardness in the nickel
able effects generally associated with zinc base com plating of the member so treated to thereby avoid gall
pounds at higher temperatures. ing in making up the threaded connection. Where the
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION pin and box threaded connections 17, 19 are both nickel
plated, the box nickel plating is preferably heat treated
The present invention concerns a method of connect 65 to a hardness of 60 to 80 Rockwell-C (Rc). The nickel
ing a joint of drill pipe for rotary earth drilling having plating of the pin threaded connection is not heat
tool joint members on each end with threaded connec treated and has a hardness in the range of about 40 to 45
tions for connecting the joints with other joints of drill Rc. The recommended process temperature used in
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4,506,432
4.
heat treating the nickel plating must be below the tem ducting any tests. The tool joints were then cleaned and
perature at which the heat treatment of the tool joint visually inspected for galling. The tool joints were then
itself would be affected. In addition to providing doped with either a zinc base thread compound or a
threaded connections of different hardness to reduce copper base threaded compound and made up to ap
the possibility of galling, the heat treating of the nickel 5 proximately 17,000 ft. lbs torque. A thermocouple was
plating helps assure that the nickel plating will not be attached to the made up joint and the joint was placed
effected by high temperatures encountered in geo-ther in a horizontal draw furnace set at the desired tempera
mal environments. ture. The tool joint was kept at the desired temperature
The zinc base thread compound used in the practice for at least two hours after the temperature indicated in
of the invention is commercially available from a num 10 Table I was reached. The tool joints were then removed
ber of sources and is well known to those skilled in the from the furnace and moved to a torsion machine.
well drilling arts. Commercially available zinc base A mandrel was used to apply torque to the heated
thread compounds containing finely powdered metallic joints to prevent damage to the torsion machine and to
zinc in the range from about 40% to 60% by weight are speed the installation of the heated joints into the ma
acceptable for the present purpose. The preferred zinc 15 chine. Make up torque was applied to the heated tool
base thread compound is described in API Spec. 7, joints and readings taken of the torque required for
Appendix F, dated December 1981 and is about 40% to additional make up. Tool joints were made up varying
50% finely powered metallic zinc and less than 0.3 of amounts after heating and then broken out and the
1% of free sulphur. break out torque was recorded. The results are shown
The following examples are intended to be illustrative 20 in Table I.
TABLE I
Initial
Makeup Initial Breakout
Test Temp Thread Torque Movement Torque
No. (F.) Compound (ft. lbs.) (ft. lbs.) ft. bs.) Remarks
-- i. 350 zinc base 17,540 25,000 4,660
--2 356 copper base 17,280 2,000 -- yielding began at
2,500 ft. bs.
--3 532 copper base 7,500 3.350 5.870 yielding began at
9,350 ft. bs.
--4 534 zinc base 7,460 - 30,160 eratic behavior
up to 30,160 ft.
bs.
--5 685 copper base 7,410 11,000 i.280 yielding began
after initial
Overent
-- 6 312 copper base 17,480 3,800 210 yielding began
after initial
novement
--7 250 copper base ;7,500 --- 230
k8 375 - zinc base 7,500 5,500- 5,430 max. make up
8330 ft-bs
e9 349 copper base 17,550 3,000 3,270
t 10 491 zinc base 7,480 9,590 0.560 max. make up
3899 ft-bs
491 copper base 7,480 3,770 4,050
812 653 copper base 37,450 12,210 1870
#13 653 zinc base 7,440 29,000 4.280
04 347 zinc base 7,430 1,500 1, 190 make up shoulder
and threads
galled
015 347 copper base 17,550 0,940 9,060 make up shoulder
galled
"These too joints were nickel plated.
These tool joints were copper plated.
These tool joints were not plated.
of the invention without limiting the scope thereof.
EXAMPLES
The test results show that on copper plated tool joints
Pin and box threaded connections for making up a 55 at temperatures above about 300 F., copper base thread
joint of drill pipe were prepared by nickel plating both compound has a low coefficient of friction which pro
the box and pin threaded connections. The nickel plat motes downhole make up. On copper plated tool joints
ing was in the range from 0.0002 to 0.0004 inches thick at temperatures above about 300 F., zinc base thread
and was 90% to 92% nickel and 8% to 10% phospho compound exhibits erratic frictional properties. The
rus. The box nickel plating was heat treated to a hard- 60 joints require more torque to break the connection than
ness in the range of 60 to 80 Rc. The pin nickel plating to make it up. Tool joints with no protective plating are
was not heat treated and has a hardness in the range of likely to gall at temperatures above about 300' F. re
40 to 45 Rc. The process temperature of the pin gardless of the thread compound used.
threaded connection was 200 F. and the heat treat On nickel plated tool joints at temperatures above
temperature of the
connection was 750 F.
nickel plating of the box threaded 65 about 300' F., the frictional properties of copper base
thread compound are such that the tool joint does not
All tool joints were made up and broken out at least transmit its initial make up torque. On nickel plated tool
12 times with at least 17,000 ft. lbs. torque prior to con joints at temperatures above about 300 F., zinc base
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4,506,432
thread compound exhibits much less erratic frictional
properties as shown in tests 8, 10 and 13.
An invention has been provided with significant ad
vantages. The nickel plated tool joints of the invention
made up with zinc base thread compounds can be bro
ken out at less than maximum make up torque and yet
inhibit downhole make up. Copper plated tool joints
used with zinc base thread compound at elevated tem
peratures have erratic frictional properties and are often
difficult to breakout on the rig floor. Copper plated tool
joints used with copper base thread compound at ele
vated temperatures are prone to downhole make up
because the coefficient of friction is drastically reduced.
The nickel plated tool joints made up with zinc base
thread compound are especially well adapted for dril
ling in high temperature environments such as in geo
thermal wells.
While the invention has been shown in only one of its
forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various
changes and modifications without departing from the
spirit thereof.
I claim:
1. A method of connecting joints of drill pipe for 25
rotary earth drilling in a geothermal well, the joint
having tool joint members on each end with threaded
connections for connecting the joint with other joints of
drill pipe, comprising the steps of:
applying nickel plating to a portion of the threaded 30
connection of at least one of said tool joint mem
bers;
applying a zinc base thread compound to the
threaded connection; and
making up a joint of drill pipe by threadedly connect
ing the nickel plate threaded connection of one tool
6
joint member with the threaded connection of a
mating tool joint member.
2. A method of connecting a joint of drill pipe for
rotary earth drilling in a geothermal well, the joint
having tool joint members on each end with threaded
connections for connecting the joint with other joints of
drill pipe, comprising the steps of:
applying nickel plating to the threaded connection of
at least one of said tool joint members, said nickel
10 plating being applied over the entire threaded con
nection to at least the last full thread of said tool
joint member;
applying a zinc base thread compound to the
threaded connection; and
15 making up a joint of drill pipe by threadedly connect
ing the nickel plated threaded connection of one
tool joint member with the threaded connection of
a mating tool joint member.
3. A method of connecting a joint of drill pipe for
20 rotary earth drilling in a geothermal well, the joint
having pin and box tool joint members on the respective
ends thereof with threaded connections for connecting
the joint with other joints of drill pipe, comprising the
steps of:
applying nickel plating to a portion of the threaded
connection connection of both the pin and box tool
joint members of the joint of drill pipe;
heat treating at least one of the pin and box tool joint
members to produce a different hardness in the
nickel plating of the member so treated;
applying a zinc base thread compound to the
threaded connection; and
making up a joint of drill pipe by threadedly connect
ing the nickel plated threaded connection of one
35 tool joint member with the nickel plated threaded
connection of askmating tool joint member.
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