Product Information Bulletin

Date: 8 March 2021

Bulletin Number: TDS-09-18 Revision: A

Top Drive

Subject: S-Pipe Wear Limits

Product Model: TDS-3H/3S, 4H/4S, 5H, 6S, 7SA, 8SA, 9SA, 10SA/SH/RR, 11SA/HP/SH/HD/SAE,
TDS-1000, TDX-1000/1250/1500, IDS-1/3/4A, IDS-350P
PS-350/500, PS-500/500, PS-500A
PS2-500A, PS2-500/500, 650/650, 650/750, 750/750A, 1000
TDS-150/250,TDH-150/250, TD-150, TD250PAC, TD500PAC
HPS-02-500/650/750/800, HPS-03-650/750/1000, HPS-04-500/650/750
HPT-04-350/400,500HPT-05-350/400/500, HPT-06-500

Effectivity: All S-Pipes on NOV Top Drives

Affected Assemblies: S-Pipe Assemblies (Multiple Part Nos.)

Objective
Provide TDS maintenance (inspection) information regarding allowable S-Pipe wall thicknesses. This
bulletin revision provides customers with minimum allowable S-Pipe wall thicknesses so that S-Pipes can
be inspected in the field.

Issue
Product bulletin (TDS-09-18) was originally released in 2009 and does not cover the S-Pipe wear
limits for all NOV Top Drives.

Solution
As an aid to our customers NOV is providing basic Top Drive S-Pipe (gooseneck supply line)
allowable wall thickness measurements based on original design criteria found in the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (AMSE) American Standards book section B31.3 – 2016
(Paragraph 304– Pressure Design of Piping Components, and Paragraph K304 – Pressure Design
of High Pressure Components). From this information all Top Drive S-Pipes can be inspected
for safe operating conditions based on the minimum allowable wall thickness.

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Over the years NOV has fabricated a variety of S-Pipes for its Top Drive product line. Some of the
available S-pipes include 5,000 psi, 7,500 psi, and 10,000 psi systems as well as standard bore
(2.75”, 3”, 3.15” and 3.25” nominal) and large bore (4” nominal) systems.

In addition, most of the early 5,000 psi standard bore S-Pipes were constructed from API 5CT N80,
API Grade X52 XX (double extra strong) 4”, seamless pipe (the XX specification actually makes this
pipe have an OD of 4.5” and an initial wall thickness of .67”).

In more recent years, NOV has also manufactured both 5,000 psi & 7,500 psi S-Pipes from AISI 4130
quenched and tempered steel tubing. This seamless 4130 material has been used in the fabrication of our
standard bore (3” ID) as well as large bore (4” ID) S-pipes. The initial (before bending) wall thickness of
the 4130 S-pipes is 0.75” and has either a 4.5” OD for the standard bore or 5.563” OD for the large bore
S-Pipes. The 4130 material has been both Grade 90-70 and Grade 115-85.

ASME Section B31.3 provides the methods for calculating the minimum required pipe wall thickness for
not only straight sections of pipe, but also for pipe bend areas as well. There are wall thickness calculations
for both the inside bend radius (intrados) and outside pipe bend radius (extrados). Therefore, three values
are needed in order to evaluate the condition of each S-Pipe. (see Figures 1 and 2)

Figure 1: Intrados & Extrados

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Figure 2: S-Pipe Bends

Please be advised:
1. Top Drive S-Pipe configurations shown in the Tables 1 and 2 below are driven by four
variables:
a. S-pipe OD
b. S-pipe ID
c. Material
d. Maximum Design Operating Pressure

2. If unsure of the material, contact NOV. Otherwise, use largest allowable thickness for all
Standard Bore or all Large Bore to be conservative for safe operation.

3. The maximum design operating pressure of your Top Drive can be found in your owner’s
documentation or by the rating stamped or cast on the gooseneck, or review the system
configuration for working pressure designation.

4. The listed minimum allowable wall thicknesses are specified by the ASME B31.3 and
incorporate a safety margin. This minimum thickness assumes that the additional
erosion/corrosion allowance that is designed in addition to this safety margin has been
consumed. If your S-Pipe wall thicknesses measurements are less than the values in the
appropriate tables below, it should be replaced as soon as possible. The system should be

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operated at pressures less than the maximum rated system pressure until the S-Pipe can be
replaced.

5. The minimum required wall thickness for the extrados of a bend is less than for the intrados
due to the effects of positive and negative pressures of turbulent flow around the bend. There
is also a tendency of the pipe to straighten under pressure, which creates tension at the
intrados and compression at the extrados. These effects are considered in the ASME B31.3
empirical calculations of pipe stresses that are used to determine minimum wall thicknesses.
Note also that as the bend radius of the S-Pipe decreases (becomes tighter), the intrados
minimum thickness requirement increases, but the extrados minimum thickness requirement
decreases.

6. During the S-Pipe bending process, the wall thickness of the S-Pipe increases at the intrados,
and decreases at the extrados of a bend. Though the required thickness of the extrados is less
than that of the intrados, the extrados begins its design life with less material. The extrados
of a bend is therefore the most critical area for inspections.

7. Tables 1 and 2 include minimum wall thicknesses for many bend radii for both existing and
future S-Pipe designs. For bend radii between table values, interpolate minimum wall
thicknesses.

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Table 1. Top Drive S-Pipe Minimum Allowable Wall Thickness Requirements (Standard Bore):

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Table 2. Top Drive S-Pipe Minimum Allowable Wall Thickness Requirements (Large Bore)

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Ordering and Contact Information

Please contact NOV Aftermarket at RA-AM@nov.com with reference to Product Bulletin No. TDS-09-18
Rev A for further assistance.

Economic Impact

No Economic Impact.

Customers should also refer to previous NOV Product Bulletins for additional information regarding safe
operation, maintenance, and inspection criteria by signing in to https://access.nov.com. For information
on registering, please follow the first-time user instructions posted on the landing page.

Failure to follow the recommendations and/or guidance in NOV Manuals and Product Bulletins may
result in death, bodily injury, or property damage.

Revision History
Revision Date Change Description
(00 Month 0000) (vertical line to the side of a paragraph indicates a change)
- 20 August 2009 Initial release

A 8 March 2021 Revised with expanded wall thickness criteria

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