DRILLING PROGRESS fail in the slip area? Proper pipe handling methods and understanding “crushing force” between pipe and slips can reduce drill pipe failures in slip area By Walter B. Reinhold, Owner W. H. Spiri, Chief Engineer ‘Abegg and Reinhold Company Los Angeles As paituino neprics continually crease and hydraulic efficiency de- mands the use of 47-inch or 5-inch ‘OD. drill pipe down to completion depth, greater hook loads encoun- tered are drawing attention to drill pipe failures occurring in the slip ‘An analysis of these failures has revealed that they are caused by sev- feral factors and that in all cases such failures can be classified and mini- mized by use of proper equipment and handling techniques. ‘The following conclusions about ‘ill pipe failures and theoretical cal- ‘culations have been made: © Drill pipe failures in the slip area are caused by: 1. Highly concentrated. stresses originating from axial and trans- verse loads that are not equally distributed over the full gripping surface of the slip. Nowice: 100 2.Improper handling methods which result in abnormal mark- ing and stressing in the slip area. © Daill pipe failures in the slip area can be prevented by maintain- ing rotary master bushings and slips to correct API specifications and by good handling techniques. © Transverse loading varies i versely with the coefficient of fric- tion between the contact area of the slips and master bushings (see Fig- gure 1). Therefore, it would be good practice to maintain a dry condition between slips and master bushings for optimum friction and minimum lateral loading. © Maximum axial and transverse Toads do not act at the same cross section in the slip area, The eritical section occurs at the zone of maxi- ‘mum crushing pressure, and at this point the axial load is less than the hhook load (see Figure 2). ‘Therefore, the calculated axial load versus the transverse load factor must always be considered when designing a drilling string where excessive hook Toads are expected. As can be seen in the curve in Figure 3, it is vitally important to understand that the presence of transverse loading dimin- OURE Plot tb fr a APE ape wortp oi ishes the total lond, necessary to start yielding. Therefore, minimum properties based on tension yield only are not sufficient in the determination of adequate strength factors for diling strings. © Oil and gas wells can be drilled successfully with 47-inch, 166 pound per foot, Grade E drill pipe approaching hook loads somewhat greater than 250,000 pounds, pro- Vided rotary slips and master bush- ings are maintained to API specifica- tions and good handling techniques fe uted, When driling conditions indicate axial Joads approaching and in excess of 300,000 pounds, 4/4- inch, 20.0 pounds per foot, Grade E Grill pipe should be used ‘above the conventional string, Transverse loading and crushing force between the drill pipe and ro- tary slips, is generally overlooked. ‘The transverse load, created by ro- tary slips working in combination with the master bushing, is always areater than the total. vertical or hook: load. This transverse load acts as a compressive force on deill pipe and, given adverse con: equipment or handling techniques, bottlenecking or crushing will occur pure tension, ocroser 1959 & rnwhen excessive hook loads prevail. ‘This condition exists because the col- lapse strength of the drill pipe in the slip area is exceeded Master bushing wear is trouble source. Standard API dimensions for master bushings are shown in Figure 4. All master bushings should be in- spected carefully, periodically re- paired and then maintained to conform with these API standard di- mensions. Also, rotary slips likewise should be carefully inspected, re- paired and maintained to properly fit and conform to API standards. Fig- ure 5 illustrates the results of using ‘worn master bushings in a worn ro tary table Due to wear and pressure from split master bushings, the LD. of the rotary table eventually will become worn and distorted. If master bush- ings with worn backs and bowls work in combination with a distorted, worn rotary table, the correct API master bushing bowl taper will not be main- tained and will prevent the slips from receiving proper backing. ‘The slips will spread in the ene larged throat of the master bushings and will contact the pipe with only f partial area of their gripping ele- ‘ments. This action will result in un- necessary marking of pipe and if the hhook load is sufficiently heavy, bot- tlenecking will occur because the total transverse load will be concen- FIGURE 2—Schematic illustration above shows the probable distribution of average ‘rushing force and axial load. FIGURE 4—Crass-section of standard API bushing. ocroper 1959 Eeting fowl taper of pipes and sri noduced. wort ott trated ina relatively small section rather than being distributed over the full length of the slip. Figure 6 illustrates the results of using new master bushings in a worn rotary table. Unfortunately, if the rotary table is worn and distorted, the new split master bushings will immediately spread and conform to the incorrect dimensions of the table. To correct this condition, it is nec- essary to build up the LD. of the rotary table before installing new split master bushings. An alternative and less expensive method is to use solid type master bushings which are not dependent on the LD. of the rotary table for support. Figure 7 ile lustrates the results of employing FIGURE 3—Caleulated axial load vs. ‘ansverse load factor. bushing at (B). Arrow at (C) indicates that correct API master ‘Snot maintained, shows how actual. gr (8) shows roa Fie with lower gripping clement?FIGURE 6—tifect of putting new master bushiag in. worn ‘A) indicates worn rosary table: (B)* new split Bowl aper est smainsined; and (B) shows macer baking wag’ peo Sn’ dows rotary table ‘ar blogs CC} Sera ver end of pe, ‘worn slips in a new or like new master bushing. Satisfactory performance cannot be expected from new equipment instal- Jed in conjunction with used or worn tools because slips and master bush- ings are mechanically dependent ‘upon uniform API dimensions. Con- tinued operation under these eondi- tions will not only result in costly damage to pipe, but it ako will ult- ‘ately deform good master bushings. ‘The hazards of using resharpened tipping elements in rotary sipe is illustrated in Figure 8. New gripping elements are manufactured by precic sion machinery to conform to the spe- cific pipe diameter. When new inserts are placed in slip bodies that are in good condition, they transmit an equal and uniform holding pressure to the pipe. However, resharpened dies are not uniform and exact in dimensions, and when placed in slip bodies they protrude at unequal distances. There- fore, the pipe would be held only by those inserts which protrude the farthest and they will carry a con centrated load, penetrating the pipe. ‘At the same time, those inserts which are carrying the concentrated load may be forced back into the slip bodies deforming the seats of the zecesses which hold them in the sips. When the recesses have been dam- aged, slips are destroyed because ‘even new inserts may set back in the deformed recesses and will not pre- 102 FIGURE 7—Thig master bushing. Ni able to take at (B) worn ai sipping i sent a uniform gripping surface to the pipe. Simple test checks slips. To de- termine whether rotary slips and raster bushings conform to correct specifications, a relatively simple field test procedure is being used. Tt is based on the effective gripping action of the rotary slips. Many tolpush- crs whose rigs are drilling in the 12, 000-foot plus range make this perk di. test Pick up the kelly and set slips below the usual slip area on drill Pipe "* ick up, remove slips and care- fully examine gripping area to de- termine length, circumferential amount, and uniformity of holding by the gripping elements. Tf the rotary master bushings and slips are in good condition, a uniform ‘gripping pattern can readily be ob- served, matching the length of the ip being employed, Under such con- ditions, the total transverse load would be equally distributed over the ‘maximum slip area If only a partial gripping pattern is observed, the same test should be repeated, using a new of like new set of rotary sips. If the gripping pattern then is uniform, the rotary slips currently used are at fault and should be repaired. However, if new slips do not transmit a uniform grip- ping pattern to the pipe, itis indica- tive that the master bushings are worn and they should be repaired. ‘hove the eet of wing om nin eat (A the aie A are ‘Se farr Yotion hs sate! eh with reduced area, In addition to these tests, gages also can determine the amount of wear and condition of rotary slips and master bushings. The use of such gages can be particularly effective in checking the condition of slips ‘and master bushings after they have been repaired and before they are again placed in service. Continually maintaining rotary slips and master bushings in new or like new condi- tion assures that the transverse load will be distributed over the maximum fot eer THOURE. Rene gpping de wre pr kenge (A Soe “emnan. wets el a es ea Peer aoe Ct Creer ae ieee ilar Fs WORLD O1L ocroneR 1959 slip ae Po. pir Pir etl if ge ele ing ag th th th