Rotary Shouldered Connections BMCP

Rotary Shouldered
Connections. Overview &

Inspection Procedure.
Rotary Shouldered Connections
December 2005 1
Rotary Shouldered
Rotary Shouldered Connections
Rotary shouldered connections, frequently known simply as "connections"

or "threads" are an integral and extremely important part of every
drillstring tubular.
They are the only acceptable method of connecting drillstring tubulars

together and in many BHA components are the most common location for
damage and failures.
December 2005 2
Rotary Shouldered
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The main requirements of rotary shouldered connections are:
When screwed together, provide a pressure tight seal between the

bore of the drillstring and the hole.
Withstand repeated make ups and break outs
Rapid make up and break out
Easy stabbing with little chance of cross-threading
Withstand the tension, torsion, bending and buckling loads

associated with normal drilling operations.
December 2005 3
Rotary Shouldered
December 2005 4
Rotary Shouldered
Main Features.
The main features of rotary shouldered connections which, taken together,

attempt to satisfy the requirements detailed above are as follows:
A tapered thread results in the nose of the pin being significantly smaller
than the counterbore (dimension Qc) of the box.
This arrangement allows easy stabbing.
December 2005 5
Rotary Shouldered
A coarse thread pitch (number of threads per inch) means that cross
threading is unlikely and that make up and break out can be fast and
that the threads themselves can be large.
Large threads can withstand larger applied stresses and more damage
before requiring repair.
December 2005 6
Rotary Shouldered
Thread forms with full root radii which are more resistant to fatigue
December 2005 7
Rotary Shouldered
A wide sealing shoulder capable of handling the compressive forces

required to prevent mud under high pressure from leaking out through
the connection
December 2005 8
Rotary Shouldered
A.P.I. presently specifies dimensions and tolerances for a total of 25

different rotary shouldered connections in 3 specific styles.
In addition to these, there are several proprietary connection styles in a

range of sizes available.
Fortunately, only 9 or 10 different API connections are in common use,

and of these, the most common are:
NC38, NC50, 6 5/8 REG and 7 5/8 REG
December 2005 9
Rotary Shouldered
NUMBER (NC) STYLE
NC or numbered connections were adopted by A.P.I. in 1968 in an attempt to

simplify a confusing situation where many connections with different size and
style names were in fact equivalent and inter-changeable.
December 2005 10
Rotary Shouldered
The number in the connection number is the pitch diameter of the pin thread
at the gauge point rounded to units and tenths of inches.
For example, an NC50 connection has pitch diameter at the gauge point of
5.04170 inches, while an NC38 connection has a pitch diameter of 3.80800
inches.
December 2005 11
Rotary Shouldered
All 13 listed NC connections use the V-0.038R thread form and have 4
threads per inch (T.P.I).
December 2005 12
Rotary Shouldered
The most common types have a taper of 2 inches per foot on the diameter
(T.P.F.), although tapers of 3 TPF and 5 TPF are specified for less popular
connections.
A.P.I.'s attempt at simplification has not been entirely successful since, even
today, some of the NC connections are still referred to by their old, now
obsolete names.
For example, NC38 is frequently still referred to as 3 1/2 IF (internal flush)

and NC50 as 4 1/2 IF or even 5XH (extra hole.)
December 2005 13
Rotary Shouldered
REGULAR (REG) STYLE
This is the original A.P.I. rotary connection thread form, dating back
many years.
Regular threads will have either 4 or 5 TPI, 2 or 3 TPF and either the
V-0.040 or V-0.050 thread form.
Drill collars with an O.D. of 8" and above almost always have REG
connections.
December 2005 14
Rotary Shouldered
FULL HOLE (FH) STYLE
FH is older style connection which has seen a resurgence in its popularity in

recent years because it works well on the larger diameters of drill pipe now
being used in conjunction with downhole MUD MOTORS on highly directional
wells.
A.P.I. lists two FH connections both of which have 4 TPI, 2 TPF, and the
V-0.050 thread form.
December 2005 15
Rotary Shouldered
OTHER FEATURES OF ROTARY SHOULDERED CONNECTIONS
Stress Relief Features:
One result of the way in which rotary shouldered connections are designed is
that when a pin and box are made up, unengaged threads are present near the
back of the box and the large diameter of the pin.
The roots of these unengaged threads can act as stress concentrators (especially
under bending loads), leading to fatigue failure.
December 2005 16
Rotary Shouldered
Machining away the unengaged thread areas to leave a smooth surface with
no sudden changes in section can significantly reduce fatigue failures due to
bending stresses.
The machined area on the pin is called the stress relief groove and on the box is
called the boreback.
December 2005 17
Rotary Shouldered
SRGs
December 2005 18
Rotary Shouldered
STRESS RELIEF FEATURES
December 2005 19
Rotary Shouldered
Stress relief features are regarded as essential on all BHA connections

sized NC38 and larger, and beneficial on heavy wall drill pipe.
They serve no useful purpose on normal drill pipe.
December 2005 20
Rotary Shouldered
Stress Relief Features.
December 2005 21
Rotary Shouldered
Cold Rolling:
Cold Rolling BHA threads roots and stress relief surfaces increases fatigue
life by placing a residual compressive stress in the thread roots.
Cold Rolling is also beneficial on heavy wall drill pipe threads, though not on
normal drill pipe threads.
December 2005 22
Rotary Shouldered
Cold Rolling of BHA

Thread Roots.
December 2005 23
Rotary Shouldered
MANUFACTURE OF ROTARY SHOULDERED CONNECTIONS:
Rotary shouldered connections are manufactured by removing metal from

the outer or inner surface of the drilling tubular while it is rotating in the
chuck of a lathe.
The connections are cut in accordance with the dimensions laid down by
A.P.I. Spec 7
The lathe may be controlled manually or more commonly these days, by

computer. After the connection is cut, it is visually inspected and then
dimensionally checked using one or more of the following gauges:
December 2005 24
Rotary Shouldered
Stand-Off Gauge:
This is the most commonly used gauge and is frequently the only gauge used to
check if a connection has been properly cut.
The stand-off gauge for the pin connection is known as the ring gauge.
It is screwed onto the pin thread hand tight and the distance from the front of
the gauge to the sealing shoulder is measured.
If the measured distance is within a pre-determined tolerance, then the pitch

diameter is correct and the sealing shoulder is in the correct position relative
to the threads.
December 2005 25
Rotary Shouldered
The stand-off gauge for the box threads is known as the plug gauge.
Stand-off gauges are only used on new connections, since wear and
minor damage on used connections can lead to erroneous readings.
December 2005 26
Rotary Shouldered
Stand-off or Plug Gauge.
December 2005 27
Rotary Shouldered
Taper Gauge:
This gauge is used to measure the increase in thread diameter over the
length of the thread.
Different gauges are needed for the pin and box.
December 2005 28
Rotary Shouldered
Internal & External

Taper Gauges.
December 2005 29
Rotary Shouldered
Internal & External Gauges.

December 2005 30
Rotary Shouldered
Lead Gauge:
This gauge is used to measure the distance between a set number of threads
and is therefore used to measure thread pitch.
It is often used in field inspections to measure pin stretch which has been
detected by the profile gauge.
December 2005 31
Rotary Shouldered
Internal & External Lead

Gauges
December 2005 32
Rotary Shouldered
External Lead Gauge

December 2005 33
Rotary Shouldered
Lead Gauge Setting Standard
December 2005 34
Rotary Shouldered
Profile Gauge:
This gauge, also known as the comb gauge, meshes with threads and is used
to confirm that the thread form is correct.
It is used extensively in field inspections to detect the presence of pin

stretch.
December 2005 35
Rotary Shouldered
Profile Gauge
December 2005 36
Rotary Shouldered
Comb Gauge.
December 2005 37

Rotary Shouldered Connections BMCP

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Rotary Shouldered Connections BMCP

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Rotary Shouldered

Connections. Overview &

Rotary Shouldered Connections

Rotary Shouldered Connections

Rotary shouldered connections, frequently known simply as "connections"

They are the only acceptable method of connecting drillstring tubulars

The main requirements of rotary shouldered connections are:

When screwed together, provide a pressure tight seal between the

Withstand repeated make ups and break outs

Rapid make up and break out

Easy stabbing with little chance of cross-threading

Withstand the tension, torsion, bending and buckling loads

The main features of rotary shouldered connections which, taken together,

This arrangement allows easy stabbing.

A wide sealing shoulder capable of handling the compressive forces

A.P.I. presently specifies dimensions and tolerances for a total of 25

In addition to these, there are several proprietary connection styles in a

Fortunately, only 9 or 10 different API connections are in common use,

NC38, NC50, 6 5/8 REG and 7 5/8 REG

NUMBER (NC) STYLE

NC or numbered connections were adopted by A.P.I. in 1968 in an attempt to

For example, NC38 is frequently still referred to as 3 1/2 IF (internal flush)

REGULAR (REG) STYLE

FULL HOLE (FH) STYLE

FH is older style connection which has seen a resurgence in its popularity in

OTHER FEATURES OF ROTARY SHOULDERED CONNECTIONS

Stress Relief Features:

STRESS RELIEF FEATURES

Stress relief features are regarded as essential on all BHA connections

They serve no useful purpose on normal drill pipe.

Stress Relief Features.

Cold Rolling of BHA

MANUFACTURE OF ROTARY SHOULDERED CONNECTIONS:

Rotary shouldered connections are manufactured by removing metal from

The lathe may be controlled manually or more commonly these days, by

If the measured distance is within a pre-determined tolerance, then the pitch

Stand-off or Plug Gauge.

Different gauges are needed for the pin and box.

Internal & External

Internal & External Gauges.

Internal & External Lead

External Lead Gauge

Lead Gauge Setting Standard

It is used extensively in field inspections to detect the presence of pin

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