Drillstring Inspection Standard

Once printed this specification becomes an uncontrolled copy of the online version.

Repair Procedures
Revision Number: 1
Effectivity Date: 28/09/2015

Rev Date Description Change Note

0 01/03/13 First online publication
1 28/09/15 Added a section called "Stub Welding (Hole Openers)"

Connection Field Repair (Refacing)

1. Refacing shall not be performed on any connection (API or Proprietary) that does not have a refacing
benchmark. The refacing benchmark is essential to ensure that the pitch diameter is not moved too
far by excessive refacing. Since the connections are tapered (a cone fitting inside an equal cone), then
moving the pitch diameter will result in a large cone being forced inside a smaller cone which will cause
increased thread interference and higher hoop stresses, that may ultimately result in connection failure.

2. Prior to refacing being conducted, it shall be confirmed that the machine and associated mandrels that
are being used have unique, permanent identification numbers and are maintained and periodically
inspected to ensure that they are in an acceptable condition. Face plates shall be checked for wear or
deformation and bearings checked for excessive movement.

3. The distance from the sealing shoulder shall be measured prior to performing any refacing operation.

4. When the distance from sealing shoulder to the refacing benchmark on the pin is 3 /16 inch (4.8 mm),
the connection shall be re-cut. The box connection shall be re-cut when the distance is 1 /16 inch (1.6
mm).

5. Connections may not be refaced more than 1 /32 inch (0.8 mm) in any single repair and not more than
1/
16 inch (1.6 mm) in total.

6. Refaced connections shall be checked for shoulder flatness, by placing a straight edge across the chord
of the seal face at 120° increments.

7. Refaced connections shall be checked for square by placing a 90° set square against the shoulder.

8. Refaced connections shall be provided with a suitable anti-galling treatment. Examples of anti-galling
treatment are copper sulphate solution for low alloy steels and glass beading of high alloy (non-
magnetic) steels. Dry film lubricants such as Molykote are not acceptable.

9. It is recommended that proprietary double shouldered connections be repaired only in a machine shop.
If field repair must be performed, then it may only be done on connections where such repair is per-
mitted by the manufacturer. In such cases, the above process shall apply with the following additional
checks.

• After refacing, the pin and box lengths shall be measured with a depth micrometer or vernier and
shall be within the manufacturer’s tolerance for that connection.

• Field repair of any connection with a gas tight premium seal, is not permitted.

Photocopying or reproducing this page in any way constitutes as an infringement of the license
agreement for the continued supply of the NS-2™ Service
 Drillstring Inspection Standard

Once printed this specification becomes an uncontrolled copy of the online version.

Hardbanding (Pipe)
Application or repair of hardbanding on tool joints is acceptable when performed in a machine shop environ-
ment using the correct equipment, documented welding procedures and certified and qualified personnel. All
replacement hardbanding shall comply with the relevant sections of NS-1™ for Drill Pipe (NS.03.30.00.1110),
Heavy Weight Drill Pipe (NS.03.30.80.1110-welded) and (NS.03.30.80.1120-non-welded), and Drill Collars
(NS.03.38.10.1110). Hardbanding is not permitted on Tubing connections.

For drill pipe, the preferred hardbanding is a wear-resistant alloy, applied either flush and smooth, or proud
and smooth. The minimum acceptable width of hardbanding is 3 inches (76 mm) on the box only, with none
on the pin. Where casing wear is a serious concern, a minimum total width of at least 5 inches (127 mm) of
hardbanding, shared between pin and box is recommended. Such hardbanding applications have been found
in independent test, and from field experience, to minimise casing and tool joint wear.

There are a whole range of available hardbanding alloys with excellent wear-resistance. On the basis of
conclusive test results from test programmes conducted by a joint industry research initiative DEA 42 (Cas-
ing Wear Technology Project) and documented field experiences the NS-1™ approved alloy overlays are
displayed on the Fearnley Procter Group NS Accreditation & Standards website.

For heavyweight drill pipe, either a chrome alloy or a tungsten carbide hardbanding is accepted. This
is due to the fact that heavyweight drill pipe is mainly used in open hole.

The only accepted tungsten carbide hardbanding is Smooth X, machined or ground flush and smooth, which
may also be referenced as “Super Smooth X”. The other “fake” type Super-Smooth X should be avoided
as this is tungsten carbide with a mild steel overlay, which once the mild steel is worn away it will leave
exposed, coarse, tungsten carbide.

Tungsten carbide is acceptable on drill collars in both flush and proud applications but should be ground
smooth.

Hardfacing (Stabilisers)

1. Excessively worn hardfacing on blades shall be built-up or redressed and ground to within the toler-
ances stated in the specification for Adjustable Stabilisers or the manufacturer’s tolerances.

2. Hardfacing repair should be done in a controlled environment to ensure correct pre-heat, post-heating
and cooling. Application or repair of hardfacing is acceptable as per the manufacturer’s procedures for
re-application, and following the guidelines of ASME IX.

Weld-metal Crack Repair

1. Cracks found in weld metal shall be removed by grinding provided they do not extend into the base
metal. Magnetic particle inspection is to be performed to ensure removal of the crack prior to weld
repair.

Photocopying or reproducing this page in any way constitutes as an infringement of the license
agreement for the continued supply of the NS-2™ Service
 Drillstring Inspection Standard

Once printed this specification becomes an uncontrolled copy of the online version.

Machine Shop Connection Repair

Repair Facility:

1. For API connections only API licensed or NS-1™ approved repair and manufacturing facilities shall be
used for repair of connections under this Standard.

2. Proprietary connections shall be repaired at approved, licensed manufacturing and repair facilities.

3. Drill Pipe Connections – Repaired drill pipe connections shall meet the dimensional requirements of
NS-1™ (NS.03.30.00.1110) / API Spec 7-2/ISO 10424-2, and manufacturer’s specification for propri-
etary connections.

4. Bench marks used as an accurate reference for shoulder refacing shall be applied on the box counterbore
and pin neck in accordance with API Spec 7-2/ISO 10424-2, for API connections. The preferred form
of the benchmark is an indicator which provides a 360◦ reference around the connection. This type of
benchmark reveals not only the extent of refacing but also how perpendicular the refaced seal is to the
pipe’s axis. Connection shoulders shall not be resurfaced more than 1 /16 inch (1.6 mm) cumulatively,
nor shall more than 1 /32 inch (0.8 mm) be removed per repair.

5. Refacing of XT-M connections shall be performed using CNC equipment with the Primary Shoulder
(sealing shoulder), Secondary Shoulder (Mechanical Stop) and 15◦ Seal all being refaced in one opera-
tion as per Grant Prideco’s Refacing Thread Drawing.

6. The thread roots shall be cold worked after machining and gauging. Cold worked connections shall be
stamped ‘CW’ to indicate cold working after gauging. Where a CW stamp is not available, etching
may be substituted, with the provision that it is clearly marked and that a CW stamp will be acquired
as soon as possible.

Drill Collar, Heavyweight and BHA Connections:

1. Repaired drill collar, heavyweight and BHA connections shall meet the dimensional requirements of
the relevant NS-1™ specifications and API 7-2.

2. Bench marks shall be used as an accurate reference for refacing. These shall be applied on the box
counterbore and on the pin neck. Bench marks are not required on pin connections with stress relief
grooves. Connection shoulders shall not be resurfaced more than 1 /16 inch (1.6 mm) cumulatively, nor
shall more than 1 /32 inch (0.8 mm) be removed per repair.

3. With the exception of connections smaller than NC38, all pins and boxes shall be provided with con-
nection stress-relief features to the dimensions given in Table 13.

4. The thread roots as well as the relief features shall be cold worked after machining and gauging. Cold
worked connections shall be stamped ‘CW’ to indicate cold working after gauging. The upper shoulder
of the elevator recess shall also be cold worked after final machining.

Note: Cold rolling BHA thread roots and stress relief surfaces increases fatigue life by
placing a residual compressive stress at the point of greatest (tensile) stress concentration.

Photocopying or reproducing this page in any way constitutes as an infringement of the license
agreement for the continued supply of the NS-2™ Service
 Drillstring Inspection Standard

Once printed this specification becomes an uncontrolled copy of the online version.

5. The pin stress relief groove width requirement for this Standard has always been 1 ± 1 /32 inch (25.4 ±
0.8 mm) and this has been successful in reducing failures. It is for this reason that this Standard has
maintained the requirement of 1 ± 1 /32 inch (25.4 ± 0.8 mm) as per API Spec 7-2/ISO 10424-2 and
not API RP 7G “Recommended Practice for Drill Stem Design and Operating Limits” which allows a
modified stress relief groove of 3 /4 to 1 1 /4 inches (19 to 32 mm) on rental tools and other short term
usage tools.

The only acceptance for using the modified stress relief groove is detailed in the spec for Limited
Service.

6. Procedure / Qualification Process for Cold Rolling – The machine shop performing the cold rolling
operation must have a procedure in place for this process. As a minimum it should define the pressures
required, wheel size, etc. A qualification test must also be documented that has demonstrated the
effectiveness of their process. This would normally require sectioning of a connection that has been
cold rolled by the documented operating procedure and macro’s taken to determine the compressive
layer achieved. Facilities without a documented procedure for Cold Rolling may use the general pro-
cedure in Sub-Spec 002 as a guideline. Once a procedure has been developed a qualification test shall
be performed on the process.

7. Surface Treatment (Anti-gall) – For standard steel equipment, the finished threads and shoulders shall
be copper plated or phosphated using a zinc or manganese phosphate process. Molykote or similar
type sprays are not acceptable.

For non-magnetic equipment, the finished threads and shoulders shall be lightly blasted with a soft,
rounded blast media such as glass beads or sugar sand.

Note: Newly machined rotary shoulder connections gall easily. If they are protected
for several make-ups, the surfaces become work hardened and are harder to gall. Also,
the surfaces of new connections are slick, making it difficult for thread compounds to ad-
here to them. The forces of makeup can squeeze the lubricants out causing metal-to-metal
contact. Galling often result because of this metal to metal contact.

Post Repair Inspection

1. Connections that have a full re-cut shall be inspected with MPI after repair. Connections which have
been identified as cracked shall be inspected with MPI after repair regardless of the type of repair
performed. For non magnetic connections DPI shall be performed in place of MPI.

Tool Joint Build-Up

1. This is not an acceptable method of repair on worn tool joints and re-tool jointing should be performed
in its place.

2. Tool Joints that have been identified as being built-up prior to use shall be classified as Limited Service,
considerations for their use can be found in the spec.

Photocopying or reproducing this page in any way constitutes as an infringement of the license
agreement for the continued supply of the NS-2™ Service
 Drillstring Inspection Standard

Once printed this specification becomes an uncontrolled copy of the online version.

Re-Tool Jointing

1. Re-tool jointing of drill pipe shall be performed in accordance with the relevant sections of NS-1™ for
drill pipe (NS.03.30.00.1110).

Note: The heat generated from build-up, hardbanding and re-tool jointing operations will
damage the internal plastic coating when present in the tool joint upset area. The pipe
should therefore be re-coated.

2. Re-tool jointing has other advantages over build up of tool joints. Re-tool jointing gives the drill pipe
a new tool joint and the fatigue life of the tool joint is back to zero. If both pin and box tool joints are
being replaced then the pipe ends should be switched, allowing a new slip area to be used.

Stub Welding (Hole Openers)

Stub welding is not an NS-1™ recommended procedure. If stub welding must be performed there shall be
a Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), qualified and documented by a Procedure Qualification Record
(PQR) accompanied by a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ). Welding variables and materials shall
conform to the requirements of ASME IX.

Material certification shall be available for the hole opener to be stubbed and the stub material. Certi-
fication shall conform to the requirements of NS-1™, API Spec 7-1 and the original equipment manufacturers
specifications.

Items that have been stubbed shall be identified for limited service. Items which have been stubbed for
which material certification is not available shall be rejected.

Strap Welding
Evidence of strap welding on BHA subs or drill pipe tool joints is cause for rejection. There are no provisions
for repair.

MATRIX
Title Description
Sub-Spec 002 Cold Rolling
Table 13 Used BHA Connection Dimensional Acceptance Criteria
Adjustable
Stabilisers
Limited Service

Photocopying or reproducing this page in any way constitutes as an infringement of the license
agreement for the continued supply of the NS-2™ Service