OCTG-Mill RUNNING AND PULLING PROCEDURE FOR TPS-TECHNISEAL TUBING AND CASING

Transcription

1 RUNNING 1. The threads and seal areas of the pipe and coupling must be clean, free from foreign matter or damage. Never use wire brushes for cleaning threads and seals. The couplings must be phosphated or copper plated (depends on the alloy). Pipes with an outer diameter 5" und >80 ksi need to have phosphated couplings and also phosphated pin threads. 2. When lifting the pipe into the derrick, the connections must not be damaged or soiled. Clean protectors should be applied to the threads & seals. 3. The thread compound to be used should be acc. to API RP 5A3 except when otherwise specified. Immediately before make up apply the thread dope thinly and evenly to the threads and seal areas of the coupling and pin As much as necessary, as little as possible! (see recommendation table 1). Attention: No foreign matter shall be applied to the threads or seal areas => keep the thread dope and the brushes clean. Table 1: Recommended thread compound quantity (cm³) Nom. OD 2 3/8 2 7/8 3 1/ / /2 6 5/ /8 8 5/8 9 5/8 10 3/4 11 3/4 13 3/8 BOX PIN The pin end of the pipe to be made up must be carefully lowered into the coupling, with the aid of a modern "Single Joint Weight Compensator" and "Stabbing Guide" and then be made up handtight by hand only. 5. When the pipe does not engage easily, then the alignment and compensator setup should be adjusted to better conditions. 6. The tongs of the bucking unit are not allowed to deform or seriously indent the pipe. They must also not be positioned too near to the threaded areas. 7. When making up a connection with different material grades or wall thickness, the recommended make up torque for the lower grade or wall thickness shall be used. 8. The bucking unit must not apply dangerous bending forces to the connection (the hang up line of the bucking unit shall be parallel to the centreline of hole - in working position, the tongs shall not be too far apart and the power tong lead line shall be set at the correct angle). QP 05-22E 09 1 of J.S. and A.K.

2 9. Each make up should be done using a modern computerized Torque - Turn Control system, together with a sensitive load cell and a fast dump valve. The capability of the bucking unit (size- and torque range) should be suitable for the actual running operation (e.g. do not use a 13 3/8 tong for a 5 ½ connection). The rotating speed has to be variable and shall not exceed 5 rpm until short distance to the seal area. The final rotating speed (seal area up to torque shoulder) should be 2-3 rpm. Equipment that records the torque has to be calibrated. The personnel should have experience resp. qualification in running of threaded and coupled gastight connections. This is to ensure that equipment and personnel will be able to apply the recommended torque. 10. The result of each make up is to be evaluated (the individual make ups should be recorded). A normal make up shows a shallow torque increase in the beginning of the thread make up. Then a short steep torque increase by seal make up followed by a very steep torque increase up to the required value while reaching the torque shoulder is observed. The torque (shallow area of the graph including the seal contact, shall be not less than 10 % of the minimum required torque (see sketches on page no. 5, Figure 4.2). The torque shoulder shall not be less than 50 % of the minimum required torque (see sketches on page no. 5, Figure 4.3). Should the make up not follow the described course, then the System should be controlled and optimised (correct thread doping, tong grip, angle of the load cell/lead line etc.). Connections which do not follow the correct course shall be broken out and inspected. When no damage or deformation is present, then after optimising the system the connection can be rerun. Depending on the type and set up of the bucking unit and the torque control system, the make up course can vary, for which reason it should only be evaluated by experienced resp. qualified personnel. The given torque values apply, when using API Modified Thread Compound. Should another thread dope be used, then the correction factor given by the thread dope manufacturer is to be taken into account, in agreement with TPS-Röhrenwerke OCTG. QP 05-22E 09 2 of J.S. and A.K.

3 11. At high-alloy tubes (chrome content 9%, 13% and higher, CRA = Corrosion Resistant Alloys) the following additional requirements should be considered for handling, transport and storage (suitable packaging material should be used) to avoid contact corrosion. Forklift forks should be protected with plastic, aluminium or wood Belt / sling Nylon or protected by plastic Storage separators use of hardwood or aluminium Impact protection bump rings (prevents clashing of tubes during rolling) Inspection benches plastic, aluminium or wood Drift mandrel plastic or aluminium Paint marking no fluorides permitted Mousehole (mouse hole) covered with plastic "V Door" protected with plastic or wood The additional equipment such as backup tong, power tong, tong jaws, Single Joint Weight Compensator ect. should be protected at all contact points and friction points to avoid any contact with carbon steel. QP 05-22E 09 3 of J.S. and A.K.

4 PULLING 1. Experience resp. qualification of personnel and the size- and range of the equipment used should be suitable for pulling the actual threaded and coupled gastight tubular goods. 2. The pipe to be broken out shall be correctly held by a modern "Single Joint Weight Compensator" and remove it by using a Stabbing Guide 3. The bucking unit tongs shall not deform or seriously indent the pipe. The back up tongs are to positioned on the coupling in the area, which is not to be broken out and must not look out over the end of the coupling. The power tongs must not be placed too near to the thread that is to be broken out. 4. The bucking unit must not apply dangerous bending forces to the connection (the hang up line of the bucking unit shall be parallel to the centre line of hole - in working position, tongs not too far apart, power tong lead line set at the correct angle ). 5. The connection is to be broken out until the torque has dropped. 6. The pipe is then to be disengaged (unscrewed) from hand only. Should it be difficult to unscrew the pipe by hand, then the compensator must be adjusted or the pipe correctly aligned in the derrick. 7. The disengaged pipe is to be pulled aligned and carefully out of the coupling, do not catch the threads. 8. Before the pipe is laid out on the rack or stacked the threads must be protected (eg. with thread protectors). If a thread inspection is not to be performed immediately the box thread is also to be protected. 9. When it is intended that the pipe shall be reused, then the pipe and threads shall be cleaned, neutralized, dried, greased and adequately protected during transport and storage to avoid corrosion or any kind of damage. 10. The pipes have to be stored in the stockyard with wooden layers in such way, that no damages through the fork-lift forks can occur. For stability-reasons, the timbers have to cover at least two bundles and to be available in a sufficient quantity (Range 1 at least two, Range 2 at least three, Range 3 at least five parallel timbers). The timbers of each bundle-layer have to be well aligned, so that the weight is evenly distributed from top to bottom (see sketch 2; pipe storage). QP 05-22E 09 4 of J.S. and A.K.

5 Sketch 1: Range of acceptable connection make up torque. Figure 4.1 Figure 4.2 Figure 4.3 Note : Previous issues may be used for traceability if needed, but not for application. QP 05-22E 09 5 of J.S. and A.K.

6 Sketch 2: Pipe storage QP 05-22E 09 6 of J.S. and A.K.