G R A N T P R I D E C O

Introduction/Drill Pipe

The Three Most Important Components of Drill Pipe Products are Quality,
Technology, and Economy
Superior quality, technical innovations, and worldwide operations make
Grant Prideco the industry leader in rotary shoulder connections.

Quality

W
e get it “right the first time” by conducting numerous inspections and
verifications during our manufacturing process. In the workplace, our
Quality Program ensures a continuing effort to provide the best drill
stem products in the industry.

Technology
The foundation of Grant Prideco technology has its roots in the Hughes Tool
Company and Reed Tool Company. For decades, the influence and innovation of
these two companies were major forces in the drill pipe industry. Grant Prideco
maintains this leadership position today with state-of-the-art technology that is
applied to every product.

Economy
Grant Prideco’s manufacturing processes are vertically integrated from raw
materials to finished products. Such cost control and economy of scale enable
Grant Prideco to be the low-cost producer in the industry.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 11

 Weldneck/Upset Design

STANDARD Design
The weldneck/upset design is a

A
critical section of a
Tool Joint joint of drill pipe is thoughtful, engineered approach
Tool Joint ID the transition from the to the design of this important
pipe body to the tool joint. transition.
Weldneck This section consists of the
weld that joins the pipe and Engineered Materials
Weld tool joint, and the transition The design starts with engi-
Weldneck Line
Wall from the thin cross section of neered materials. Grant Prideco
Thickness incorporates specially designed
the pipe to the thick cross
section of the tool joint. proprietary steels for both the
The challenge to the drill pipe drill pipe tube and the tool
Upset designer is to ensure that: joint. The chemistries of the
1) the weld is stronger than tube and tool joint materials are
Internal the pipe body and, 2) the matched to ensure good weld
Upset
Internal
Upset
Taper smoothest transition between compatibility and weld
Taper Angle
the pipe body and the tool strength. Stringent cleanliness
joint is as strong as possible. requirements for both materials
enhance fracture toughness.
Pipe
Body Pipe When drill pipe rotates in a The increased hardenability of
Wall Body
bent condition, tensile and the materials consistently pro-
Thickness
compressive stresses can cause duces more uniform mechanical
fatigue cracks that may ulti- properties throughout the
The weldneck/upset design incorporates a counter- mately result in drill pipe entire cross section. This
bored weldneck, an extended internal upset length, “washouts.” Stresses concen- ensures adequate strength in
a shallow internal taper angle, and generous radii the weld zone and the critical
trate where geometries change
to produce the optimum stress reducing geometry.
rapidly. The shorter or more sections of the connection.
irregular the transition, the
higher the stress concentration.
Alternatively, the smoother or
longer the transition, the
lower the stress.

12 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E

Processing
Modern equipment and
patented proprietary processes
are also integral parts of the
weldneck/upset region. Grant
Prideco’s modern austenitizing
and tempering furnaces pro-
vide a controlled quench and
temper heat-treating process
for our tubes. The tubes
undergo a full-length inspec-
tion that checks for defects.
Tool joints are 1) precision
contoured, 2) heat-treated by
a controlled atmosphere
quench and temper process,
and 3) threaded on Computer
Numerically Controlled (CNC)
machine tools. Then the tool
joints and tubes are joined by
a reliable friction or inertia
weld process. After welding,
the weld’s heat-affected zone
®
receives the Tuff-Weld
quenched and tempered heat-
treating process.
Geometry
The weldneck/upset incorpo-
rates a geometry that mini-
mizes stress concentrations.
The assembly is configured to
optimize the transition from
the cross section of the pipe
to the tool joint. The length of
the internal upset is extended,
producing a shallow fadeaway
G R A N T P R I D E C O
Weldneck/Upset Design
GENERIC DESIGN
angle that blends into the pipe
body’s inside diameter (ID) Tool Joint
with a generous radius. The Tool Joint ID &
surface finish of the assembly Weldneck/
Upset Are
adjacent to the weld line is The Same
Weldneck
improved by grinding on both
Weldneck
the ID and outside diameter Wall
(OD). Thickness
Weld
Line
Summary
Upset
The weldneck/upset design is Internal
a comprehensive solution that Internal
Upset
Taper
Upset
addresses all the parameters Taper Angle
affecting the drill pipe’s
fatigue strength. Engineered
materials and modern process-
ing techniques ensure a ten-
sile strength greater than the Pipe Body
pipe body, and limit detrimen- Pipe Body
tal stress concentration. Wall
Thickness
Precision machining and
grinding provide a surface fin-
ish that is free of stress risers. The thick weldneck, required for adequate weld
strength, and the short internal upset of a stan-
State-of-the-art electromagnet- dard industry design concentrates stress in the
ic and ultrasonic inspections adjacent pipe body.
ensure that inclusions and
defects are not present.
The resulting design has lower
stress and greater fatigue strength
than that obtained with the generic
design.
© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 13
 Engineered Materials

Hardenability Curve Tool Joint Material

The enhanced hardenability of Grant Prideco’s
60

55
SN2039TM tool joint steel produces a metallur-

gical microstructure with more uniform

Hardness (HRC)

50
Grant Prideco
45 SN2039
TM
mechanical properties, as compared to the
40 typical tool joint material.
SAE/AISI
35 4137H

30
4 8 12 16 24 32
Distance from quenched end (1/16 in.)

Specification SN2039TM
Tool Joint Chemistry

A
ll drill pipe products are man-
ufactured using specially
engineered materials. Grant
Prideco uses special proprietary
chemistries and controlled processing.
The result is a material with increased
Depending on size and configuration,
Grant Prideco machines tool joints
from forgings, solid round bar, or
thick wall tubing. Regardless of the
source, all tool joints are made from
steel produced to our SN2039 TM

hardenability and toughness, more proprietary specification. This tool

homogeneous microstructures, and
consistent metallurgical and mechani-
cal properties throughout the cross
section. These enhancements result in
a more reliable weld. For standard
drill pipes products, as well as high
performance and severe environment
service, Grant Prideco engineered
materials provide increased product
performance and integrity.
joint material has a modified chrome-
molybdenum chemistry designed to
improve hardenability. Increased
hardenability creates a metallurgical
microstructure with more uniform
mechanical properties. Stringent
cleanliness specifications enhance
fracture toughness. Incoming inspec-
tions verify that all material require-
ments are met.

14 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Engineered Materials

Grant Prideco tool joints are oil

Tool Joint OD
Recut Tool Joint Torque Shoulder
quenched and tempered to obtain the
New Tool Joint Torque Shoulder
required mechanical properties. Modern
heat-treating equipment, careful process
control, and thorough inspections
ensure consistent quality. Hardness is
verified on every tool joint by a Brinell
hardness test. Tensile and impact prop- New Tool Joint Pin Critical Section
Tool Joint ID
erties are verified by destructive testing Recut Tool Joint Pin Critical Section
of one pin and one box per batch.
The increased hardenability of Grant Prideco’s proprietary SN2039TM tool joint material
Every tool joint receives a wet magnetic provides more consistent mechanical properties through the tool joint sections, such as
particle inspection to confirm the the critical section at the last engaged thread, especially on recut joints.
absence of defects.

Specification 301 Drill Pipe Chemistry

TM

E
very drill pipe tube is the product
of proprietary steel with a closely
controlled chemical formula, strin-
gent cleanliness requirements, quality-
conscious processing, and state-of-the-art
inspection.
Grant Prideco purchases “green tubes”
only from high-quality mill sources.
These tubes are produced to our propri-
TM
etary Specification 301 steel chemistry.
This unique steel provides excellent hard-
enability and toughness, and can be heat-
treated to produce any API grade. Stringent
steel cleanliness requirements result in
enhanced fracture toughness. Upon arrival,
an incoming inspection verifies that all
material requirements are met.
After upsetting of the ends, tubes receive
a full-length quenched and tempered
heat treatment. Modern austenitizing and
tempering furnaces are used. The tubes
are externally water-quenched, and ten-
sile and impact properties are verified by
destructive tests.
The processed drill pipe tubes undergo
an intensive inspection process, which
includes a magnetic particle end area
inspection, and a full-length inspection
for longitudinal and transverse defects
and wall thickness verification.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 15

 Engineered Materials

TSS-95TM Tough Sour Service 95 Grade Drill Pipe
TM
TSS-95 drill pipe is a proprietary grade offered by
Grant Prideco for service in H2S environments.
TM
TSS-95 features a unique chemistry and a special
quenched and tempered heat treatment. The result is
a steel that has optimum fracture toughness, controlled
yield strength (95 ksi to 110 ksi), and restricted hard-
ness. With a NACE threshold of 85% of the specified
TM
minimum yield strength (SMYS), TSS-95 offers opti-
mum resistance to sulfide stress-cracking, providing
a minimum tube yield strength of 80,750 psi in H2S
environments. Because its minimum fracture toughness
TM
is 100 ft-lbs, TSS-95 drill pipe is ideal for the more
demanding drilling applications, such as those with
high bending loads and corrosive environments.
S-135T TM Enhanced Toughness 135 Grade Drill Pipe
TM
S-135T drill pipe is a proprietary grade offered by
Grant Prideco for applications that require high strength
TM
and high toughness. S-135T drill pipe incorporates a
proprietary chemistry and a rigidly controlled quenched
and tempered heat-treatment process. The minimum
average specified Charpy impact energy is 59 ft-lb, a 48%
increase in impact energy over standard API S-135 grade.
The performance behavior resulting from this increase in
toughness provides a margin of safety superior to normal
high-strength materials.
The minimum average specified Charpy impact energy is 59 ft-lb,
a 47% increase over that of API S-135.

eXtremeTM Drilling 105 Grade Sour Service XDTM -105 Drill Pipe
TM
XD -105 drill pipe is a proprietary sour service drill pipe grade of high yield strength offered by Grant Prideco for
TM
service in H2S environments. XD -105 drill pipe features a unique chemical composition and a controlled quench and
temper heat treatment that results in a steel with optimum fracture toughness, controlled yield strength (105 ksi to 120
ksi), and restricted hardness.

eXtreme XD™ -105 Drill Pipe Material Specifications:

Controlled Yield XD™-105 Tube Controlled Yield Tool Joint
105,000 psi – 120,000 psi Yield Strength 105,000 psi – 120,000 psi Yield Strength
115,000 psi Minimum Tensile Strength 115,000 psi Minimum Tensile Strength

TM
With a NACE threshold of 70% of the specified minimum yield strength, XD -105 drill pipe is resistant to sulfide
stress cracking and offers optimum resistance to fatigue induced crack initiation and crack propagation. Because
many well depths require components with higher yield strengths than supported by standard E or X grade drill
TM
pipe, XD -105 drill pipe with controlled yield tools joints was developed to ensure a minimum 105,000 psi yield
strength in standard environments while providing 73,500 psi yield strength in H2S environments.

NACE Standard TMO177 - Method A tests were performed on both standard API G-105 drill pipe and Grant Prideco controlled yield
TM
XD -105 drill pipe to demonstrate the enhanced resistance to sulfide stress cracking.

TM
Controlled Yield XD -105 Drill Pipe Standard API G-105 Drill Pipe
NACE Tested @70% SMYS NACE Tested @70% SMYS
Heat No. Samples Pass/Fail Heat No. Samples Pass/Fail
1 3 Passed 3 2 Failed in <86 hrs.
2 3 Passed 4 2 Failed in <86 hrs.
5 2 Failed in <24 hrs.
16 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Engineered Materials

eXtremeTM Drilling 140 Grade Drill Pipe Z-140TM

TM
Z-140 drill pipe is a proprietary drill pipe grade offered by Grant Prideco which is designed specifically for
extreme drilling conditions present in high temperature-high pressure (HTHP), extended reach drilling (ERD),
deepwater, and ultra-deep wells. Through a proprietary 348 steel chemistry and a rigidly controlled quench and
TM
temper process, Z-140 drill pipe provides an exceptional balance between elevated strength and low temperature
TM
high toughness requirements. Compared to standard API S-135 grade drill pipe, Grant Prideco’s Z-140 drill pipe
grade provides a higher minimum yield strength for improved performance properties, a smaller window between
allowable minimum and maximum yield strength values to insure more consistent strength properties and
increased toughness requirements to resist the most demanding cyclic loading operations.

eXtremeTM Drilling 150 Grade Drill Pipe V-150 Example: 5” 19.50# S-135 vs. V-150
eXtremeTM V-150 is a proprietary drill pipe grade offered
by Grant Prideco for applications that require ultra-high S-135 V -150 %
TM
strength material. eXtreme V-150 incorporates a propri- Torsional
Strength 74,100 82,300 11
etary chemistry and a rigidly controlled quench and (ft-lbs)
temper heat-treatment process. The increased yield Tensile
strength provides superior torsional and tensile strength Strength 712,100 791,200 11
and enhanced internal and collapse pressure integrity (lbs)
with comparison to all standard API S-135 drill pipe sizes
5” 19.50# V-150 provides an 11% increase over S-135 in both
and weights.
tensile and torsional minimum yield strengths.

Min Yield Max Yield Min Tensile Impact Energy

Pipe Grade Strength Strength (psi) Strength (psi) ft-lb @ 750 + 50F Hardness
E-75 75,000 105,000 100,000 100 (4) 98 HRB (4)
X-95 95,000 125,000 105,000 90 (4) 23 HRC (4)
G-105 105,000 135,000 115,000 75 (4) 28 HRC (4)
S-135 135,000 165,000 145,000 45 (4) 34 HRC (4)
TOOL JOINTS (3) 120,000 – 140,000 60 (5) 285 HB min
TSS-95 (1) 95,000 110,000 105,000 100 min 26 HRC max
XD-105 (1) 105,000 120,000 115,000 60 min 30 HRC max
S-135T (2) 135,000 165,000 145,000 59 min (6) 38 HRC max
Z-140 (2) 140,000 160,000 150,000 50 min (6) 37 HRC max
V-150 (2) 150,000 180,000 160,000 62 min (6) 42 HRC max

Notes:
(1) Grant Prideco proprietary grade, available for both tubes and tool joints. (5) Value shown is for typical NC50 tool joint.
Mechanical Properties determined per ASTM A370.
(2) Grant Prideco proprietary grade.
0
(3) Grant Prideco proprietary SN2039 material. (6) Samples tested a -4 Fahrenheit
(4) Values shown are typical for 5 in. 19.50 lb/ft drill pipe.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 17

 Engineered Materials
Pressure Loss Through and Around Drill Pipe
12.25" Hole with 12.0 lb/gal Mud Density
250

200
Pressure loss per 1000 ft (psi)

150

100

5 1/2” 21.90# with 7.00” x 4.00” Tool Joints

50
5 7/8” 23.40# with 7.00" x 4.25” Tool Joints

0
500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

Flow Rate (gal/min)

5 7/8” eXtreme™ Reach (XR™) Drill Pipe

• Developed for Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) and ultra-deep wells.
• 5 7/8” OD drill pipe is optimized for hydraulic performance, high strength and ease of handling.
• Represents a logical intermediate drill pipe size between standard 5 1/2” and 6 5/8” drill pipe.
TM TM
• Uses Grant Prideco eXtreme Torque (XT) tool joint technology.
TM
• Available in all standard API material grades and Grant Prideco proprietary grades including XD -105
TM
and eXtreme V-150.

5 7/8” 23.40# (0.361” wall) S-135 Operational Advantages of 5 7/8” XR™ Drill Pipe
• XT57 7.00” OD X 4.25” ID • Hydraulic Performance - 5 7/8” drill pipe provides
• Tool Joint Torsional Strength - 94,300 ft-lbs enhanced hydraulic performance compared to 5 1/2”
drill pipe for ERD and ultra-deep well applications.
• Tool Joint Working Torque - 56,600 ft-lbs
• Streamlined Configuration - 5 7/8” drill pipe utilizes a 7”
OD XT tool joint allowing it to be used to drill inside
New Premium 9 5/8” casing and 8 1/2” open-hole sections. Overshot
Torsion (ft-lbs) 105,500 83,000 fishing capability in an 8 1/2” hole is maintained.
Tension (lbs) 844,200 666,500 • Logistics - Eliminates the need for 6 5/8” drill pipe. 6 5/8”
Internal Pressure (psi) 14,520 13,610 drill pipe is difficult to handle and can sacrifice rig
Collapse (psi) 10,830 6,200 space and setback capacity because it cannot be used
to drill 8 1/2” hole sections.
• Rig Modifications - 5 7/8” drill pipe minimizes rig modi-
fications compared to 6 5/8” drill pipe.

18 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Engineered Materials

Titanium Drill Pipe

Features:
• Low Density (56% the weight of steel).
• High yield strength (120,000 psi minimum).
• Low elastic modulus (twice the flexibility of steel).
• Elevated S-N fatigue life (fatigue life is maintained in the drilling environment).
• Exceptional resistance to erosion and corrosion in drilling muds and aggressive
well fluids.

Target Applications:
• Short-Radius Drilling.
• Extended-Reach Drilling.
• Ultra-Deep Wells.

Description:
Drill Pipe - Lightweight, flexible, and rugged, titanium drill pipe is available in sizes from
2 3/8” to 6 5/8” and in Range 1-3 lengths. Manufactured from the most common, lowest-
cost titanium alloy, Ti-6% A1-4%V (ASTM Grade 5 Titanium), results in a cost-optimized
drill pipe product exhibiting a unique combination of enhanced strength, toughness,
ductility, and fatigue life.

Tool Joints - Available with steel eXtreme Torque (XT), HI-TORQUE® (HT) and standard API
TM

tool joints. The tool joints are mechanically fitted onto Ti-6Al-4V upset drill pipe ends.
Grant Prideco X-METAL 7000 or Smooth X™ hardbanding is available for protection of the
TM

tool joints.

Comparison of Ti-6A1-4V Titanium and Steel Drill Pipe

Ti-6A1-4V versus Steel drill pipe in a 5.5”OD x 0.361” wall size.

Drill Pipe Alloy Min. Yield Tensile Yield Torsional Yield Modulus of Elasticity Adjusted String
Strength (ksi) Strength (lbs) Strength (ft-lbs) (106 lb/in2) Weight* (lbs/ft)

S-135 Steel 135 786,810 91,300 30.0 26.35

G-105 Steel 105 612,000 71,000 30.0 25.24

Ti-6A1-4V 120 699,430 81,100 16.5 15.97

*Adjusted for steel tool joints.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 19

 Engineered Materials

Titanium Drill Pipe

Advantages for Critical Drilling Operations: For Extended Reach Drilling:

Titanium is a physically and chemically robust, • Reduces torque and drag.

reliable, and long-life drill pipe material for • Lowers pulling hook load.
demanding, worst case drilling service. In certain • Reduces topside equipment and power
situations, optimum string performance and cost requirements.
may be achieved through hybrid (i.e., steel
• Enabling technology for extending reach
pipe/titanium pipe) strings.
targets.

For Short-Radius Drilling:

• Significantly increases drill string life (improves
For Ultra-Deep Wells:
fatigue strength). • High strength to weight ratio allows longer,
safer drill string designs.
• Rugged.
• Eliminates the structural requirement for a
• Reduces stress intensity in curved well sections
tapered drill string design - improving hydraulic
by approximately 45% compared to steel drill
performance.
pipe.
• Provides a high strength material for H2S
• Permits pipe rotation through short radius
environments.
bends.
• Reduces torque and drag.

Jointly developed and manufactured in conjunction with:

20 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Engineered Materials

TM
Slip-Proof Drill Pipe

S
TM
lip-Proof drill pipe is a Grant Prideco patented
product designed to improve the fatigue life of
drill pipe by reducing the effect of slip damage.
The pipe is manufactured with a thick-wall cross section
tube welded between the box tool joint and the upset
drill pipe tube. The thick-wall section has the same
OD and ID as the drill pipe upset and the tool joint
weld neck. The thicker section is approximately 52”
long and has a minimum yield strength of 120,000 psi.

TM
Advantages of Slip-Proof Drill Pipe
• Removes the slips from the high stress area of
Thick-Wall the tube.
TM
Slip-Proof • Improves fatigue life.
Section
• Prevents slip crushing.
• Prevents bending of the pipe in the rotary table.
• Allows slips to bite better.
• Prevents washouts resulting from slip damage.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 21

 Manufacturing Processes

Weld Technology

G
rant Prideco uses friction or
inertia welding processes to
join tool joints to drill pipe
tubes. Both processes are highly reli-
able, cost-effective, and produce consis-
tent and uniform weld zone properties.
In terms of weld quality, reliability,
strength, or metallurgical effects, both
processes produce a high-integrity,
solid-state weld connection between the
tool joint and the drill pipe tube.

T
he principles of both welding
processes are based on the rotation
of one surface against another at a
relatively high speed and under heavy pres-
sure. The friction between the tool joint sur-
face and the tube surface causes the contact
to heat up below the melting temperature at
which they are forged together, producing
the weld.

22 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E

Induction heating and pressurized fluid quench are used
in the patented TUFF-WELD® post-weld heat-treatment
process. The resulting quenched and tempered microstruc-
ture maximizes weld area properties.
G R A N T P R I D E C O
Manufacturing Processes
TUFF-WELD®
E
very Grant Prideco drill pipe
assembly receives the patented
®
TUFF-WELD post-weld heat
treatment.
®
TUFF-WELD processed welds is a quench
and temper process. The weld zone is
heated by induction to the specified
austenitizing temperature. The weld is
quenched by precisely positioned fluid
nozzles. To ensure that complete temper-
ing occurs,
a wider area is reheated by the induc-
tion coil to the proper tempering tem-
®
perature. TUFF-WELD processed welds
are checked 100% for hardness to verify
that they were adequately tempered.
®
The benefits of the TUFF-WELD process
are shown by comparing the following
two weld zone photomicrographs.
© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 23
 Manufacturing Processes

Normalized and Tempered

The microstructure of the

T
he photomicrograph to
the right depicts a higher carbon tool joint con-
typical normalized and tains predominately ferrite and
tempered weld zone. The pearlite. The upset is mainly
weld line is clearly evident by pearlite and lower transitional image stripped in by printer
the contrasting microstructures constituents.
of the tool joint and the tube
upset.

®
TUFF-WELD

T
he typical microstructure of an
weld zone is shown in the left
photomicrograph. The similar
microstructures of the tool joint and the
tube upset make the weld line difficult to
detect. Both display tempered martensitic
image stripped in by printer microstructures. This results in yield
strengths and Charpy impact values superior
to those of normalized microstructures.

®
The TUFF-WELD process consistently produces
stronger, tougher, and more uniform weld zone proper-
ties. This combination of strength and toughness mini-
®
mizes stress and fatigue, making TUFF-WELD process
the most desired post-weld heat treatment in the
industry. More than 50% of the drill pipe in the world
®
is produced using the TUFF-WELD process.

24 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Manufacturing Processes

Benchmark

T
he patented benchmark provides
a reference for dressing the tool
joint’s make-up shoulders. As
1
shown in the adjacent figures, a 1/8”
wide step is machined onto the pin base
adjacent to the torque shoulder. Similarly,
a 1/8” wide step is machined onto the
box counterbore adjacent to the box
make-up shoulder. Unlike the API “tan-
gent bar,” this step provides a reference
that is visible from any position around
the connection’s circumference.

The amount of remaining material avail-

able for dressing can be easily deter-
1
mined with a pocket scale. The bench-
marks are machined by the CNC machine
tool during the threading process. This
results in an accurate placement of the
reference surface.

Traceability
given a unique heat code. This

D
rill pipe assemblies are
produced by welding a code is traceable through the manu-
tool joint pin and body to facturing process. For the drill pipe
an upset and heat-treated drill pipe tube, a Grant Prideco number is
tube. Material and process trace- similarly used to provide traceabil-
ability are maintained for each of ity. This number is die stamped
the three components. For the tool for permanent identification.
joints, the mill material certifica-
tions are confirmed by incoming
testing and each tool joint blank is

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 25

 HI TORQUE ® Connection

T
®
he HI TORQUE connection is a
patented, high-performance, rotary
shouldered connection available in
sizes from 2 3/8” to 6 5/8”. The HI TORQUE ®

Pin ID same as connection incorporates a double-shoul-

Box ID
dered design. A secondary internal shoulder
on the nose of the pin offers an additional
friction surface and mechanical stop. The
primary external shoulder still serves as the
Primary Torque Shoulder
and Seal Surface connection’s sealing surface. As shown in
®
the figure to the left, the HI TORQUE
connection design has an extended pin
base, pin nose, and box counterbore. These
Extended Pin Base and sections are carefully engineered to provide
Box Counterbore
additional elastic deformation during make-
up. This ensures that the contact forces are
properly proportioned between the two
Extended Pin Nose and
shoulder surfaces. The additional torsional
®
Box Counterbore strength provided by the HI TORQUE
connection design offers several advantages
and unique solutions in drill string design.

Secondary Internal
Shoulder

26 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

HI TORQUE ® Connection

Torsional Yield Strength Torque

A
®
100 HI TORQUE Vs. ®
HI TORQUE connection offers
Conventional Tool Joint
significantly higher torsional
82,600 capacity than standard API
Torsional Capacity (1,000 ft – lb)

80 77,800
HT50 +43%

connections of similar size. This addi-

HT55 +39%

tional strength provides an extra margin

60 57,800
of safety when drilling in high-risk situa-
55,900
tions or rugged conditions.
NC50

51/2” FH

40

29,500
HT38 +46%

20 20,200
NC38

0
4 7/8 x 2 9/16 6 5/8 x 3 7x4
Tool Joint Dimensions (in.)

Slim Profile

A
nother advantage of the
HI TORQUE connection’s
increased torsional strength is
the ability to use a streamlined tool
joint that is suitable for the pipe’s tor-
sional strength. The figure on the next
page illustrates the smaller OD and
larger ID for HI TORQUE connections
compared to standard API connections
with identical torsional capacity. Using
a streamlined HI TORQUE tool joint
allows a larger diameter drill pipe to
be used. This provides increased bit
weight in horizontal drilling, improved
hydraulic efficiency, better hole clean-
ing, and more drill pipe buckling
strength without sacrificing torsional
strength or fishability. For instance,
®
using a HI TORQUE connection on
®
5 1/2” pipe will provide 35% more
drill pipe buckling strength than a
5” drill pipe with an NC50 connection,
and will add only 21% string weight.
®
With HI TORQUE connections, the
ability to fish inside an 8 1/2” hole and
®
have torsional capacity matched with
the pipe is maintained. Drilling fluid
pressure loss is decreased and annular
®
velocities are increased because of the
®
larger pipe. HI TORQUE connections
can provide a superior solution for
any drilling situation requiring a low-
profile tool joint such as; extended
reach, horizontal, or slim hole drilling
programs.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 27

 HI TORQUE ® Connection

HI TORQUE® connection’s increased torsional strength Typical HI TORQUE® Tool Joint

Typical API
gives the tool joint a more streamlined profile that Tool Joint OD OD

remains matched with the torsional strength of the

pipe. Compared with an API NC profile with equal
torsional strength, HI TORQUE® connection offers
greater flexibility on OD and ID to provide solutions
to today’s drilling challenges.

Typical API Typical HI TORQUE® Tool Joint

Tool Joint ID with Flush ID

Wear

B
ecause of its increased torsional
®
capacity, the HI TORQUE con-
nection greatly extends the life of
Wear Allowance Comparison the joint by tolerating more OD wear. For
NC38 and HT38TM Connections example, an NC38 on 3 1/2” 13.30 lb/ft
30 with 2 9/16” ID
G-105 drill pipe is down-graded to Class 2
when the OD wears below 4 21/32”. At this
Torsional Strength (1,000 ft-lb)

HT38TM
25 80% Torsional Strength diameter, the tool joint is less than 80% as
3 1/2 13.30 S-135
Premium Class Drill Pipe strong as Premium Class pipe. The HT38 TM

®
20 HI TORQUE connection can tolerate wear
NC38
down to a diameter of 4 3/8” before its tor-
15 80% Torsional Strength
sional strength falls below 80% of the pipe
3 1/2 13.30 G-105 strength.
Premium Class Drill Pipe

10
4.875 4.813 4.750 4.688 4.625 4.563 4.500 The cost of a drill string is a substantial
Tool Joint OD (in.)
investment. The extended life provided
®
by the HI TORQUE connection can pro-
tect that investment.

28 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

eXtreme™ Torque Connection

Make-Up Torque Comparison

90,000
80,000
Make-Up Torque (ft-lbs)

70,000
60,000
50,000 XT
HT
40,000
API
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
3 /4 2 6 16 1 /2 4 5
5 /3 9 /1 13 / 1 /4
x1 x2 2 3 x 3 7x 8x
1 /2 4 3 /4
x x2 1 /4
x 5 /8
3 4 1 /4 6 6
5
Tool Joint Dimensions (in.)

XT Drill Pipe Tool Joint

™

Operational Advantages of the XT™ Connection

T
TM
he eXtreme Torque (XT) connection is a
patented, high-performance, rotary shoul- • User Friendly Tool Joint - The XT connection is a con- TM

dered connection available in sizes from
2 /8 to 6 5/8”. The eXtreme Torque connection
3 ”
incorporates a second generation double-shouldered
design. A secondary internal shoulder on the nose of
ventional shoulder and thread connection. The
TM
TM
XT connection spins up freely until shouldered,
then is bucked up to the make-up torque. Make-
up, running and break-out speeds of XT connec- TM

the pin offers an additional friction surface and tions are similar to API connections.
mechanical stop. The primary external shoulder still
• High Torsional Limit - The XT connection offers TM

serves as the connection’s sealing surface. As shown

TM significantly higher torsional capacity than standard
in the figure, the eXtreme Torque connection
API and Grant Prideco’s HI TORQUE® connections.
design has an extended pin base, pin nose, and box
This additional strength provides the required torque
counterbore. These sections are carefully engineered
for the most extreme drilling applications.
to provide additional elastic deformation during
make-up. This ensures that the contact forces are • Slim Profile - The XT connection’s increased tor-
TM

properly proportioned between the two shoulder sional strength allows for the use of a streamlined
surfaces. tool joint that is suitable for the pipe’s torsional
TM
strength. XT connections can be configured with
TM
The eXtreme Torque connection meets the require- a smaller OD and larger ID compared to standard
ments of the most extreme drilling applications: API connections without sacrificing torsional
extended reach drilling (ERD), horizontal drilling, deep capacity. This allows a larger diameter drill pipe to
water, high temperature-high pressure (HTHP) and be used for improved hydraulic performance.
ultra-deep wells.

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 29

 eXtreme™ Torque Connection

Operational Advantages of the XTTM Connection

• True Flush Inside Diameter - There is no gap or change in the inside
diameter from the box to the pin, creating a smoother flow with
less turbulence. This also eliminates the recess in other connections
where cement and solids can be trapped.
• Rugged Durability - The robust XT connection design incorporates
TM

more steel in the critical areas of the connection resulting in less

refacing and fewer recuts. In addition, because of the increased tor-
TM
sional capacity, the XT connection greatly extends the life of the
joint by tolerating more OD wear.
• Field Repairable - The XT connection can be refaced in an inspection
TM

yard or at the rig site with a portable refacing tool. This can save
time and expenses by eliminating shipping and handling costs.

XT™ Connection Mechanical Characteristics

Tensile Torsional Max. Make-Up

Connection OD ID Yield Yield Torque
(in.) (in.) (lbs) (ft-lbs) (ft-lbs)

XT 26 3 3/8 1 3/4 326,900 12,100 7,200

XT 31 4 2 5/32 402,500 17,800 10,700

XT 38 4 3/4 2 9/16 599,600 31,500 18,900

XT 39 5 2 9/16 726,100 40,700 24,400

XT 40 5 1/4 2 13/16 751,600 44,100 26,500

XT 46 6 1/4 3 1/4 1,045,600 71,800 43,100

XT 50 6 5/8 3 1/2 1,256,300 90,700 54,400

XT 54 6 3/4 4 1,155,100 88,700 53,200

XT 55 7 4 1,272,600 96,900 58,100

XT 57 7 4 1/4 1,208,700 94,300 56,600

XT 65 8 5 1,543,700 135,300 81,200

30 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 SST Low Stress
®

Fatigue Resistant Thread Form

Distribution of Tensile Load Carried by Threads

T
he SST® connection is a proprietary pin
connection that provides increased durability
From Make-up on NC46 & NC46 SST Threads
®

and fatigue resistance compared to a stan- 30

dard API connection.
25

Load Carried by Pin Thread (%)

The SST® connection involves a modification to the 20

pin thread only; the mating box thread remains stan- 15

NC46 SST
dard. Completely interchangeable with the standard
10
API connections, the SST® connection requires no
NC46
crossovers or special rig handling procedures. 5

0
The SST® pin incorporates two primary features. 1 5 Pin Thread 10 15

First, the thread form has an enlarged root radius.

Second, the pin thread body is machined on a
slightly flatter taper than that of the box, effectively
behaving like a variable pitch thread.
The SST® pin thread is machined on a slightly flatter taper, distributing the thread
These SST® connection features provide improved loads more evenly over the entire thread and reducing the load at the last engaged
fatigue life. The reduction in stress at the pin thread thread by 40%.
roots and in the load at the last engaged thread
enhance the performance of the connection.

SST® Enlarged Thread

API Thread Form
Root Radius

Compared with the standard API thread profile, the enlarged

root radius of the SST® thread form reduces the stress con-
centration at the thread root.

32 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E
 G R A N T P R I D E C O

Hardfacing

Grant Prideco Offers Several Hardfacing Options to

Meet Your Needs:
• X-METAL 7000 Hardfacing - For cased hole applications,
TM

Grant Prideco’s patented low friction factor X-METALTM

7000 casing friendly hardfacing extends the life of the
tool joint, reduces torque and drag operating loads, and
significantly reduces casing wear.
• X-METAL 8000 Hardfacing - Grant Prideco’s patented hard-
TM

banding overlay designed specifically for reapplications.

X-METALTM 8000 hardfacing features a welded alloy con-
Tool Joint with SMOOTHX® Hardfacing tent for superior bonding with most existing hardbanding
products.
®
• SUPERSMOOTHX Hardfacing - Grant Prideco’s patented solution
for applications requiring both tool joint wear protection
and a “machine-finished” tool joint.
®
• SMOOTHX Hardfacing - A patented hardfacing of submerged
spherical tungsten carbide granules in a mild steel matrix
providing a smooth surface with little or no exposed
carbide.
• Grant Prideco 1000 SERIES Hardfacing - For open hole applica-
TM

tions, the 1000 SERIES provides economical tool joint pro-

tection where casing wear is not a primary concern.
• SMOOTH EDGE Tool Joint - Grant Prideco’s patented design,
TM

TM TM
SMOOTH EDGE Tool Joint with X-METAL 7000 available for both pin and box tool joint hardfacing
Hardfacing
applications, provides a sacrificial wear pad allowing a
more controlled weld bead deposit while maintaining
proud application heights desired to protect the tool joint
from wear.

Other Commercially Available Hardfacings:

• ARMACOR M TM

• ARNCO 200XT TM

• ARNCO 100XT TM

• CASING PLUS ®

In addition, Grant Prideco can provide a custom engineered

hardfacing system to meet requirements you specify.
SMOOTH EDGETM Tool Joint

© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 33

 Hardfacing

Smooth Edge Tool Joint

TM

Benefits
REDUCED RISK TO DOWNHOLE PRESSURE SENSITIVE COMPONENTS - Often, the
leading edge of proud hardfacing applications can be sharp or jagged,
increasing wear or damage to various downhole components. Grant
TM
Prideco’s Smooth Edge tool joint provides a base material with a radius
as the leading edge to the hardfacing material. This reduces wear and tear
to items such as seals within rotating heads and other items whose pres-
sure integrity are critical, especially within pressure critical operations such
as “under balanced” drilling (UBD).

IMPROVED HARDFACING INTEGRITY

1. Initial Application Initial - applications of casing friendly hardfac-
ings applied proud are susceptible to flaking and spalling. This is
largely due to the significant amount of bead deposit required during
the weld to provide weld bead heights desired for proud hardfacing
TM
applications. Grant Prideco’s Smooth Edge tool joint provides a sac-
rificial wear pad allowing a more controlled weld bead deposit while
maintaining proud application heights desired to protect the tool
joint from wear.

2. Re-application - Re-application of casing friendly hardfacings are also

susceptible to flaking and spalling, largely because these hardfacings
are designed to weld to a crack-free, base steel metal. However, most
casing friendly hardfacing re-applications are made over the old existing
hardfacing, promoting probability of hardfacing cracking, spalling, and
TM
loss of material integrity. Grant Prideco’s Smooth Edge tool joint pro-
vides an elevated sacrificial wear pad such that the initial hardfacing
material can wear down to the tool joint material itself. This allows a
re-application to be made again on the tool joint’s crack-free, base steel
material.

TM
Grant Prideco’s Smooth Edge tool joint provides a sacrificial wear pad for
the installation of tool joint hardfacings. Smooth Edge tool joints are avail-
able for both pin and box hardfacing applications and is width and height
adjustable to allow for customer-specific hardfacing applications. Use of
TM
Grant Prideco’s Smooth Edge tool joint and Grant Prideco’s X-METAL 7000
casing friendly hardfacing extends the life of the tool joint, reduces torque
and drag operating loads, and significantly reduces casing wear.

36 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E

®
SMOOTHX Hardfacing
® ®
SMOOTHX hardfacing was developed
to minimize tool joint wear while
minimizing casing wear.
®
Five bands of the SMOOTHX hardfacing
are applied around the tool joint, cov-
ering approximately 3 1/2 to 4 inches
®
of length. Three “fingers” of SMOOTHX
hardfacing are applied to the elevator
shoulders to prevent wear and under-
cutting adjacent to the last band of
hard-facing. Without these fingers,
erosion of the elevator shoulder could
occur, shortening the tool joint’s life.
Mild Steel
Machined to
Tool Joint OD
Spherical Carbide
Granules in a Mild
Steel Matrix
G R A N T P R I D E C O
Hardfacing
SMOOTHX hardfacing is applied in a Spherical Carbide
Granules
machined groove on the tool joint in a Mild
by dropping a measured quantity of Steel Matrix
spherical shaped, sintered, 30-14
mesh, tungsten carbide granules into
a molten puddle formed by welding
wire. The granules sink into the
molten weld metal and leave a
smooth surface that has little or no
exposed tungsten carbide. The
resulting matrix has an increasing
density of tungsten carbide from the
surface to the bottom of the deposit.
SUPERSMOOTHX Hardfacing with a “Machine-Finish” Surface
®
®
SUPERSMOOTHX hardfacing was deposited on the top. The mild
developed to meet the surface finish steel overlay is then machined to
requirements of many North Sea produce the same diameter and
operators. surface finish as the OD of the tool
joint. The “machined” finish mini-
®
SUPERSMOOTHX hardfacing is com- mizes contact stress.
posed of an initial layer of
®
SMOOTHX applied in slightly SUPERSMOOTHX hardfacing meets
deeper pre-machined grooves. A the toughest surface finish require-
second layer of mild steel is then ments in the industry.
© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 37
 Make and Break

Savings on Break-in by using Grant Prideco Factory Break-in

Rig Operating Costs Per Day
$1,000
$180,000
800

Savings (X 1000) 600 $120,000

400
$60,000
200
$12,000
0 5 10 15 20
Length of String (X 1000 ft)

Make and Break Advantages

O
ur drill pipe services are The curve in the accompanying
designed to deliver con- figure demonstrates the potential
sistency and rig-time sav- rig-time savings of factory break-in.
ings. Factory break-in of drill pipe Eliminating rig-site break-in saves
ensures that the proper procedures approximately 9 1/2 minutes per
are followed every time. Controlled 30-ft length of pipe; depending on
break-in procedures are consistently the daily rig rate, the cumulative
applied to every tool joint. This cost savings can be significant.
eliminates the field variables and
operational “rush” that cause rig
crews to take short cuts or cancel
the break-in procedure altogether.
Because the drill pipe break-in is
performed consistently and cor-
rectly every time, it saves money
both in materials and rig time.

38 © Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002

D R I L L P I P E

Initial Make-up
P
roper initial make-up is
probably the most important
factor affecting the life of
the tool joint connections. Here are
some recommendations to follow:
1. Proper make-up torque is
determined by the connection
type, size, OD and ID and may
be found in torque tables.
2. Make-up connections slowly,
preferably using chain tongs.
(High speed kelly spinners or
the spinning chain used on ini-
tial make-up can cause galling
of the threads.)
G R A N T P R I D E C O
Make and Break
3. Tong them up to the predeter-
mined torque using a properly
working calibrated torque
gauge to measure the required
line-pull.
4. Breakout, clean, visually
inspect redope and (repeat
1-3). Always use the backup
tongs to make and break
connections.
5. Stagger breaks on each trip so
that each connection can be
checked, redoped and made
up every second or third trip,
depending on the length of
drill pipe and size rig.
Always use back-up tongs to
A
new string of drill pipe
deserves good surface, make and break connections
handling equipment and and rotate breaks when tripping.
tools. Check slips and master
bushings before damage occurs Good rig practices will help
to the tube. eliminate time consuming trips
in the future, looking for wash-
Do not stop the downward outs or fishing for drill pipe
movement of the drill stem with lost in the hole.
the slips. This can cause crush-
ing or necking down of the drill
pipe tube. The drill pipe can
also be damaged by allowing the
slips to ride on the pipe during
trips out of the hole.
© Grant Prideco. All rights reserved. March 2002 39