Drill String Inspection

Standard

Bulletin 001/03 - Aug 2003

Interchangeable Connections
NS-2 BULLETIN 001/03 INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTIONS

Interchangeable Connection Failure Learning Points

Background

There have been two problems arising from the screwing together of different types of
Rotary Shouldered connection. The types involved were previously considered to be
fully interchangeable and compatible.

Problematic Configurations were:

• DSTJ NC38 Pin into an NC38 Box

• NC38 VAM EIS pin into an NC38 box

The attached case studies go into detail on the problems that have been encountered
when interchanging these connections.

In summary much more caution should be used when screwing two dissimilar
connections together, even when they are usually considered interchangeable.

Regards

Ray Procter
Technical Manager

OCTG Procter Consultancy

Part of the Fearnley Procter Group

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 O.C.T.G. PROCTER CONSULTANCY LIMITED

Case Study 1

Problem:

Failure to energise seal faces on make up of ‘interchangeable’ NC 38 box and NC 38

DSTJ pin connections resulted in a connection wash out.

Figure 1 shows PBL box seal face intact and indicating seal faces have not contacted or
energised.

Figure 2 shows contact area on the bevel of the internal shoulder of the NC 38 DSTJ pin
connection. Damage is apparent due to pin bottoming out on NC 38 box profile.

Figure 1: PBL Sub washed NC38 Figure 2: 3 ½ HWDP washed DSTJ

Box connection. Seal Face not NC38 Pin connection. Pin nose bevel
energised. damage.
Root Causes:

1. The NC38 box connection had not been correctly repaired in accordance with API
spec 7, Table 25. It is assumed the connection had been ‘faced and chased’ on a
number of occasions without the full profile of the connection having been reworked.

2. As a result of these ‘repair’ procedures the NC38 connection box depth (Lbc) was
9
/32" too short and did not meet the dimensional requirement of NS-2. The profile of
the box connection run out had also been machined incorrectly.

3. As can be seen in Figure 3 the incorrect profile of the NC38 box connection run out
on the PBL tool, highlighted in red, caused interference with the internal shoulder of
the DSTJ pin connection resulting in the pin and box connection shoulders ‘standing
off’ hence failing to energise the seal faces.

4. The box connection on the PBL sub had not been machined with the required stress
relief features as stipulated in NS-2 and should have been rejected by the inspection
company.

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NS-2 BULLETIN 001/003 INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTIONS

API NC38 Lbc min = 4 5/8"

PBL Sub Serial No. BP19C Lbc = 4 9/32"

Contact point of Pin connection

30°
55° Approx.

Figure 3: Profile of PB19C NC38 box connection

Learning Points:

• Connections are only fully interchangeable when refaced or repaired in accordance

with NS-2.

• Rework of NC connections should be conducted in accordance with API Spec 7,

table 25 & Figure 20.

• When considering running ‘interchangeable’ connection combinations it is essential

to accurately measure the two components prior to make-up.

• In particular in order to make up ‘interchangeable’ double shouldered connections

with NC connections the complete box profile should be reworked in accordance
with API spec 7 requirements. Failure to rework connections correctly may result in
the longer double shouldered pin connection bottoming out in the box connection as
in this case study.

• This problem does not arise in the case of making up NC pin connections with
double shouldered box connections due to the increased box depth of the double
shouldered connection.

• NS-2 table 9 states dimensions for box depth with the minimum dimension
established by subtracting the maximum field refacing tolerance from the minimum
box depth (Lbc) as stated in API Spec 7, table 25.

• In view of the criticality of box depth measurement when using ‘interchangeable’

double shouldered connections, measurement of the box depth of NC connections
must be made in the correct plane, that being perpendicular to the make-up
shoulder. Measurement of the box depth parallel to the thread axis or along the
thread surface will lead to errors resulting in falsely elongated dimension being
recorded.

• Inspection companies must accurately identify any non-conforming equipment to

NS-2.

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 O.C.T.G. PROCTER CONSULTANCY LIMITED

Case Study 2

Problem:

Failure to energise seal faces on makeup of ‘interchangeable’ NC38 box and NC38
VAM EIS pin connections.

Figure 4: 3 ½" drill pipe NC 38 VAM Figure 5: 3 ½" handling nipple NC 38

EIS pin connection. box connection.

In Figure 4 the primary seal surface has not energised and increased make up has
caused subsequent galling to the threads flanks on the connection.

Evidence of contact damage between the secondary torque shoulder of the NC38 VAM
EIS pin and the run out chamfer on the NC38 box is illustrated in Figure 5, as the pin
bottomed out in the box connection the reason for this is explained in the root causes.

Root Causes:

1. The NC38 box had not been repaired in accordance with API Spec 7, Table 25 or
NS-2.

2. API RP7G recommends the cumulative removal of 1/16" maximum from the seal face
during refacing operations and consequently this affects the depth of the box
dimension (Lbc). Figure 6 shows the result of refacing procedures on this occasion
the box depth was measured as 4 17/32" and was therefore outwith the requirements
of NS-2.

3. The pin length on the VAM EIS NC38 connection had been machined to the correct
manufacturers dimensions 4.626" +0, -0.004" and would therefore not fit into the
‘short’ box connection.

4. The NC38 box connection had been incompletely ‘faced and chased’ leaving a high
point on the thread run-out.

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NS-2 BULLETIN 001/003 INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTIONS

API NC 38 Lbc = 4 5/8" + 3/8" – 0"

Handling Nipple NC 38 Lbc = 4.17/32"

Figure 6: 3 ½" Handling Nipple NC 38 box connection dimensional recordings.

Learning Points:

• When considering running ‘interchangeable’ connection combinations it is essential

to accurately measure the two components, and to further check these have been
machined within the original manufacturers’ specified dimensions prior to make-up.

• For NC connections, particularly box connections, to be considered

‘interchangeable’ with VAM EIS, the NC connection must be reworked in
accordance with API Spec 7, table 25 & figure 20. Failure to rework connections
correctly will result in the possibility of the longer double shouldered pin connection
bottoming out in the box connection as in this case.

• In view of the criticality of box depth measurement when using ‘interchangeable’

double shouldered connections, measurement of the box depth of NC connections
must be made in the correct plane, that being perpendicular to the make-up
shoulder. Measurement of the box depth parallel to the thread axis or along the
thread surface will lead to errors resulting in falsely elongated dimension being
recorded.

• Inspection companies must accurately identify any non-conforming equipment to

NS-2.

Additional Points:

• VAM EIS connections are not interchangeable with NKK DSTJ, Grant Prideco
GPDS or OMSCO Tufftorq connections. The following connections are
interchangeable:

Grant
OMSCO
Prideco Tufftorq
NKK DSTJ
GPDS
GPDS38 TT38 DSTJ NC38
GPDS40 TT40 DSTJ NC40
GPDS46 TT46 DSTJ NC46
GPDS50 TT50 DSTJ NC50
1
GPDS55 5 /2" TT DSTJ 5 1/2" FH
5
GPDS65 6 /8" TT* -

*6 5/8 TT Pin does not go into a GPDS65 Box

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