Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an anti-rotation device for mating connectors, and methods of using same. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises coupling a first connector to a second connector, removing at least a portion of the second connector after the first and second connectors are coupled together to thereby define a recess in the second connector, and coupling an anti-rotation member to at least one of the first and second connectors, wherein the anti-rotation member engages at least a portion of the first connector and is adapted to engage at least a portion of the recess in the second connector.

Abstract: Connectors and connections that enhance mechanical and sealing engagement between the ends of tubular bodies that are radially expanded by a forging tool. The connectors are designed to maintain or restore mechanical and sealing engagement following expansion. The connections are made by joining components that exhibit different spring back characteristics following mechanical deformation. Dissimilar material may be used for the connectors or the connected components can be made of the same materials but dimensioned and configured to exert an interfering force between engaged components following expansion. In operation, a material or component with a high spring back characteristic is positioned adjacent a material or component having a lower spring back characteristic. Following passage of a forging tool, the expanded components spring back differently toward their original unexpanded dimensions to produce the enhanced seal or mechanical engagement.

Abstract: An elevator for assembling a plurality of a large diameter pipe joints into a pipe string with a drilling rig is disclosed. The first one of a number of large diameter pipe joints is adapted to threadingly engage another large diameter pipe joint. The elevator is detachably securable to the upper end of the first joint, and is adapted to both lift and position the first joint while it is stabbed and tightened onto the string. The elevator is further adapted to co-operatively engage the rotary table of the drilling rig to rotatably tighten the second joint to the first joint as the second joint is added to the string.

Abstract: A thread form having improved strength and fatigue resistance. The root of the thread may be cut on multiple cutting radii having displaced centers. At least two of the root surfaces formed by cutting radii may have lengths that are greater than the root truncation. The threads may be used in a double start configuration to increase the connection strength and reduce makeup and breakout rotations.

Abstract: Lubricant escape passages are formed in the threads used to connect one tubular body to another. The passages conduct trapped thread lubricant out of the threaded area to prevent the creation of high lubricant pressure that may damage or cause improper make up of the threaded connection. The passages may be grooves in the crests of the thread teeth and/or may be corner bevels on the thread teeth. In a conductor pipe or other pipe assembly using axially spaced internal and external seals at each axial end of the threaded area, the escape passages form a helical flow path through the engaged thread area. The external seal prevents the entry of corrosive fluids into the threaded area and the internal seal prevents leakage through the threaded area from within the conductor pipe. When the lubricant pressure increases excessively during assembly or impact loading of the connection, the lubricant escapes past the seals to prevent connection damage.

Abstract: A coupled version of a threaded connection 10 includes first threads 16, 38 and second threads, 20, 34 on both elongate tubulars 14, 30 and a coupling 45. An integral joint version 50 preferably includes a first and second tapered threads 58, 60 on each of the connected tubular bodies 54, 56. The coupling preferably includes a dope entrapment cavity in one of the connected tubulars between the first and second threads. A tapered metal seal surface is provided preferably between the first and second threads. The second thread in a preferred embodiment is a hook thread with a negative rake angle. In another embodiment, the pin ends of a coupled connection may engage, with seals provided between the first and second threads on each tubular.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant threaded connection including a first tubular member having an outer metal tube of corrosion-prone material and an inner metal lining of corrosion-resistant material, the first tubular member forming a first pin connection having a nose portion comprising a ring of corrosion-resistant material secured, e.g.

Abstract: The threaded connection between the pin and the box ends of two pipes is sealed externally and internally to protect the threads in the connection from exposure to corrosive fluids. Seals are provided at each axial end of the threads. External seals are formed by metal-to-metal engagement between the pin and box and a third metal body secured circumferentially about the pin. The metal body may be fashioned into a desired annular pin seal surface to mate with and seal with the box at full makeup of the connection. The metal body can be removed and replaced as required to repair or reconstructed the pin seal surface.

Abstract: The threaded connection between the pin and the box ends of two pipes is sealed externally and internally to protect the threads in the connection from exposure to corrosive fluids. Seals are provided at each axial end of the threads. The external seals may be formed by metal-to-metal engagement between the pin and box or may be provided by an annular, elastomeric ring engaging the pin and box of the connection. A threaded compression ring may be used to compress the elastomeric seal between the pin and box. The seals protect dynamically loaded threaded connections from fatigue-induced failure in corrosive environments.

Abstract: A data resource specific to a pipe coupling centrally positioned within the coupling, intermediate the coupling ends. Multiple couplings are employed to connect together a string of well pipe. The data resource is adapted to be deployed at the coupling center in the space formed between the abutting ends of pipe made up into the coupling. The data resource provides information regarding the physical characteristics and locations of the coupling, the attached string pipe or the environment within which the coupling is disposed. The data resource may be a read-only component or it may be a readable and writeable component. The resource communicates with an instrument movable through the pipe and coupling. The data resource may be removably positioned at the center of the coupling or it may be permanently cemented in place. The data resource may take on the form of an annular ring with a crushable structure and suitable recesses for holding a data resource module.

Abstract: The oilfield tubular pin and box connection includes double shoulders 16, 22. An inner sleeve 18 engages the box at shoulder 20, and provides one of the two shoulders 16, 22 for engaging the pin. The pin bore optionally may be provided with a similar sleeve 24, thereby providing one of the shoulders for engaging the box. The sleeve 18 may be secured to the box shortly after its manufacture, or may be added as a retrofit to an existing box with a single shoulder.

Abstract: Threaded and coupled pipe connections are provided with a number of design features that increase resistance of the connection to fatigue failure from cyclical side loading. The features acting alone or in combination include the provision of a pin thread that is formed along a single taper and that vanishes at the surface of the pipe. The coupling engages the pin such that the threaded area of the coupling engages all of the pin threads and extends beyond the vanish point of the pin threads at the optimum coupling makeup position. The threads of the coupling and pipe may engage along both the stab and load flanks to distribute the side loading. The external surface of the coupling may be tapered from the center toward each coupling end to reduce the stiffness ratio of the connection, and the ends or faces of the coupling may be reduced in radial thickness to prevent coupling splitting.

Abstract: A method to design a bi-center drill bit designed to drill out the cement and other material in the casing and then proceed to drill out the full gauge drilling diameter borehole with a diameter greater than the inside of the casing. The bi-center drill bit has a pilot section on the end of the bit body, an eccentric reamer section and a plurality of cutting elements on the pilot section. The design method comprises the steps of: defining a first center of rotation of the pilot section about the longitudinal axis, defining a radius of rotation R1 of the drill bit about the first center of rotation, defining a second center of rotation of the pilot section spaced apart from the first center of rotation by a distance D, defining a radius of rotation R2 of the drill bit about the second center of rotation, and setting the relationship between D, R1 and R2 such that R1 is less than the sum of R2 and D.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycrystalline diamond or diamond-like element with greatly improved wear resistance without loss of impact strength. These elements are formed with a binder-catalyzing material in a high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) process. The PCD element has a body with a plurality of bonded diamond or diamond-like crystals forming a continuous diamond matrix that has a diamond volume density greater than 85%. Interstices among the diamond crystals form a continuous interstitial matrix containing a catalyzing material. The diamond matrix table is formed and integrally bonded with a metallic substrate containing the catalyzing material during the HTHP process. The diamond matrix body has a working surface, where a first portion of the interstitial matrix in the body adjacent to the working surface is substantially free of the catalyzing material, and a second portion of the interstitial matrix in the body adjacent to the working surface contains the catalyzing material.

Abstract: The surface areas available for absorbing compressive loading of a threaded connection are increased by increasing the engaged area of a torque shoulder in the connection and by reducing the spacing between the stab flanks of the threads. The areas are increased by increasing the dimensions of the components and by decreasing the machine tolerances permitted in manufacturing the components. The gap in the connection adjacent the torque shoulder is reduced so that the contact surface area of the torque shoulder is increased while the close proximity of the surrounding cylindrical walls of the connection reduces voids that can receive plastic deformation of the torque shoulder corners. The surfaces adjacent the torque shoulder are cylindrical in shape rather than being tapered to reduce machining costs and increase the speed of manufacture of the connection.

Abstract: A threaded connection for tubular members comprising a box connector having axially spaced threaded sections and a thread-free section therebetween, the threaded sections of the box connector defining a two-step thread, a pin connector having axially spaced threaded sections and a thread-free section therebetween, the threads in the box connector mating with the threads on the pin connector, there being at least one annular relief in the thread-free portion of at least one of the pin connector and the box connector, an axially facing pin torque shoulder being formed on the pin connector and an axially facing box torque shoulder being formed on the box connector, a metal-to-metal seal being formed between the thread-free sections of the pin and box connectors when the pin torque shoulder and the box torque shoulder are engaged, the annular relief being adjacent the metal-to-metal seal.

Abstract: A data resource specific to a pipe coupling centrally positioned within the coupling, intermediate the coupling ends. Multiple couplings are employed to connect together a string of well pipe. The data resource is adapted to be deployed at the coupling center in the space formed between the abutting ends of pipe made up into the coupling. The data resource provides information regarding the physical characteristics and locations of the coupling, the attached string pipe or the environment within which the coupling is disposed. The data resource may be a read-only component or it may be a readable and writeable component. The resource communicates with an instrument movable through the pipe and coupling. The data resource may be removably positioned at the center of the coupling or it may be permanently cemented in place. The data resource may take on the form of an annular ring with a crushable structure and suitable recesses for holding a data resource module.

Abstract: The roots of the box threads in a drill collar or heavyweight drill pipe are configured to reduce the connection stresses encountered during drilling and makeup of the connection. The thread root design in the box reduces fatigue damage caused by makeup torque and cyclic stressing of the engaged drill string connection as it is rotated around curved sections of the well bore. A conventional V-type thread form in the box is provided with an enlarged root radius having its center point offset from the centerline of the opposing thread flanks. The load flank of the thread tangentially engages the arc of the root. The stab flank of the thread is intersected by the enlarged root radius extending to a flat intersecting surface that may extend as far up as the thread pitch diameter.

Abstract: An oilfield tubular member 10 includes pin member 12 and box member 14 each having a tapered thread 18, 20, 70, 72. The pin thread 18 has a root 28, a crest 26, a pressure flank 34 and stab flank 36. The box thread has root 32, a crest 30, a pressure flank 84 and stab flank 86. The pin crest 26 has a stab flank pin crest radius 40 and a pressure flank pin crust radius 38 which is at least twice the radius 40. The improved oilfield connection minimizes damage to the connection during misalignment of the pin member and box member.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting first and second tubular members, the coupling including a tubular body having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first threaded box formed in the first end portion, a second threaded box formed in the second end portion, the tubular body having an outer, annularly extending surface with at least one groove formed in the outer surface and extending from the first end portion to the second end portion of the tubular body.