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Inspection and Maintenance of Drill Pipe PDF
Inspection and Maintenance of Drill Pipe PDF
Maintenance
of Drill Pipe
A general guideline to
maintaining drill strings
www.odfjellwellservices.com
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 2
Contents
3. Introduction 25. Why use thread compounds?
4. Description of a common inspection 26. Pipe storage
6. Measurements 27. Preservation
7. Magnetic particle inspection 28. Recommendations
8. Ultrasonic testing 29. Thread compounds
9. Electromagnetic inspection (EMI) 31. Inspection standards
11. What to look for when inspecting 33. Inspection companies
14. Drill pipe repair 34. A general view on the necessary certifications
21. Repair companies for a thread inspector
22. Documentation & traceability 37. Approval certification
24. Presentation & storage 38. Documentation / Reporting
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 3
Introduction
This gives an introduction to the processes involved in inspecting and repairing of
used drill pipe. We will list the most common inspection specifications, describe the
differences between the standards and describe the process of being certified to the
various standards. We will also describe the various repair scenarios on drill pipe and
the certification process involved for companies that perform repairs.
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 4
Example of check with a profile gauge Example of use of finger tips on a VTI inspection
Tools required
• Flashlight
• Profile gauges
• Magnifying mirror
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 6
Measurements
On a VTI it is normal to make all vital measurements on the connections.
The results need to match the standards given in the inspection specification.
Tools required
• Various calipers (slide caliper etc.)
• Thread gauges
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 7
A magnetic field is applied to an object. The magnetic field will penetrate the
surface of the object. Any errors in the surface will alter the power of the
magnetic field lines.
These power lines outside and around the damage forms(delete s) a leakage
field. This leakage field can be detected by adding iron particles (in powder Example of applying fluorescent magnet powder
form) on the surface. These particles clump together in and around the
leakage field.
Leakage field
Magnet field
Depth errors
Shallow imperfection
Magnet field
Tools required
An object can be magnetized with
several methods:
• Coil
• AC Yoke
• Direct current flow
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 8
Ultrasonic testing
Ultrasonic testing is a nondestructive testing method that uses radio frequencies to determine a
materials entirety. Impulse-echo method is the most used method in industry. An array of transducer one
sound waves are sent into the material, penetrating it at a constant speed (the speed of sound of the
material). The sound waves are reflected from the back wall of the object back to the probes.
Any imperfections in the material will appear as peaks between the initial and the reflecting echo.
Defect
Reflector
Object/Workpiece
0 2 4 6 8 10
Examples of EMI unit Example of EMI probes Example of EMI control screen
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 10
Menus
Washout in connection
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 14
Field repair
Grinding
Double shouldered connections or severe
shoulder damage, require a shop reface.
Field reface
Reface of a damaged connection shoulder is done with a special shoulder dressing tool.
There are several types available on the market, but the same principle applies to all of them.
A refaced shoulder should be flat and at right angles to the threads.
Shop reface
Double shouldered
connections or severe
shoulder damage,
require shop reface.
Shop recut
A full repair (recut) of
a connection has
to be done in a
proper and
authorized workshop.
Benchmark
Both pin & box
connections are
marked after a recut.
This is to determine
the space left for
(future) reface. The
most common way
to mark this is either
with a stamp, or a
machined groove. Stamped mark Machined groove
Copper sulfating
A copper sulfated Both copper sulfating
shoulder will last and phosphatization
longer. This is done is done to prevent
after the reface/shop galling and provide
reface to reduce the corrosion resistance.
risk of galling
and corrosion.
Phosphatization
Phosphatization of
connections is done
in a chemical bath
after a recut. This
process increases the
durability of
the connections.
Chemical bath
Straightening of
bent drill pipe
Due to several reasons,
drill pipe can be
bent during drilling
operations. A bent
pipe is straightened
without the use of
preheating. A hydraulic
press is to be used.
Hydraulic press
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 20
Hardbanding
Worn out hardbanding
needs to be grinded
down before a new
one is welded on.
Some materials will
not blend properly,
and the hardbanding
has to be removed
completely before a
new one is welded on. Worn out hardbanding Rewelded
Recoat
Internal Plastic
Coating (IPC) is
designed to enhance
the performance of
tubulars by reducing
wear and corrosion,
and improving
hydraulic efficiency.
Coating
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 21
Repair companies
A proper workshop for repair and rework on the drill pipe should have
a quality, well managed system.
Here’s a sample of a certified quality system. For fabrication or repair of a connection, the
machine shop needs to be licensed for that
particular type of connection. Here’s a sample of
such a type of certificate.
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 22
Menus
INSPECTION RESULTS
Repair - Machining Send to NOS
CLASS TUBE TOOL RECUT SHOP FIELD PLASTIC HARDBANDING SER. NO. BENT
JOINT REFACE REFACE COATING PIN BOX RESTAMP
Scrap per W.O.
Premium Joints Joints Total Ok OK x1
Wall Thickness Wear
Class2 Pin Pin Pin Damaged XT300 Rep. x2
Scrap Box Box Box No Coat. OTW12 Rep. Preinvoice
Number of Joints Inspected Field Repair Hours Make Preinvoice
Number of Joints Require Shop Repair ( Re-Cut with HB Damage) Grinding Tongmarks
Hours
and Slipcuts
Number of Hardbanding Repair (Not Included In Recut Joints)
Protectors Supplied By
Number of Class2 & Scrap Qty. Misc.
Euroincon
Required
Relookup repair
Number of Joints Ready For Use
Number of Premium After Repair
Comments
Change Work Order
Summary Report (Front page)
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 23
Thread certificate
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 24
The drawing is a portion of a thread detail with API buttress threads, showing the compressible
lubricant/pipe sealant in the gaps of the threaded connection.
G2 • Provide lubricate
Used as an example, also valid for drill pipe threads
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 26
Pipe storage
Recommendations for pipe storage:
• Do not put the pipe directly on the ground. The first layer of pipe should be
no less than 0.3m above the ground.
• The height of the pipe stack on a rack shall not exceed 2.5 m, and the pipe
shall be secured with post to prevent rolling out.
• When the pipe is laid in several rows, place 3 wooden blocks between each
row so that the tool-joint elements do not touch each other.
Preservation
The use of protective compounds to protect equipment during storage and use.
Upon opening the container, the product should Contaminant residues, when mixed with
be stirred with either a dope brush or other the thread compound during connections
suitable device to re-blend any oil separation or engagement can substantially change the
settling of the component solids that may have friction factor and galling resistance of the thread
occurred during shipment and storage. compound. A small amount of moisture in most
cases is unavoidable and will not affect compound
Never add any material such as diesel fuel, performance.
kerosene, motor oil, etc. to improve the ease
of application. Note: These are general procedures not
intended to replace the recommendations of the
All connections contact surfaces should be connection manufactures.
cleaned and free of storage or prior running
compound, drilling fluids and any other
contaminant residues prior to the applications of
the compound.
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 29
Thread compounds
Example:
Double Shouldered Connection
Pin
Primary
Where are thread
Makeup compounds used?
Shoulder
(for RSC’s)
Coat primary shoulder on
interference designs
Threads
Fill threads, only root to crest
Too much compound interferes
with connection make-up, too
little may result in galling
Insufficient thread compound coverage for rotary Proper Tread compound coverage for Drill pipe protectors
shoulder connections for rotary shoulder connections
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 31
Inspection standards
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 32
API – American Petroleum Institute. DS-1 – T.H. Hill Drill Stem Inspection. NS-2 – Fearnley Procter North Sea Drill
String Inspection Standard
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 33
Inspection companies
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 34
Level 1 certified personnel shall neither be responsible for the choice of test
method or technique to be used, nor for the interpretation of test results.
Inspection & Maintenance of Drill Pipe 35
Level 2
An individual certified to Level 2 has demonstrated competence to perform NDT
according to NDT procedures. Within the scope of the competence defined on the
certificate, the employer to may authorize Level 2 personnel:
Level 3
Within the scope of the competence defined on the certificate, Level 3 personnel
may be authorized to:
Approval / Certification
To be performed by an accredited
certification business.
Documentation
Companies have a responsibility to keep and annually update their certificates to the inspectors.
Each year the responsible level 3 perform a competency assessment of the individual inspector.
Near- and color vision are verified, before the certificate are approved for another 12 months.
After 5 years, an application must be submitted to the certification body, to renew the certificate for
another five years.
After 10 years you have to do a complete course with tests.
Reporting
Responsible level 3 shall report annually to the certification body on the status of the enterprise for the
year that has passed.
Hammaren 19
P.O.Box 152
N0-4098 Tananger
Norway
Tlf: +47 51 64 84 00
Fax: +47 51 64 71 81
email@odfjellwellservices.com
www.odfjellwellservices.com