United States Patent Carcagno et al. 6 THREAD! JOINT 3) Inventors: Gabriel E. Carcagno, Campana (AR): Giuseppe Della Pina, Treviolo (IT), Rita G. Toscano, Bucnos Aires (AR); ‘Tommaso Coppola, Rome (IT) wy Assignee: Tenaris Connections B.V., Anisterdam wy (2). Notice: Subject to any disclaimer the teem of this is extended or adjusted under 35 US. 154) by 61 days (21) Appl. No. Filed: 10/424,887 Ape. 29, 2003 Prior Publication Data (63) [US 2006001709 AL Jan. 29,2004 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Ape 30,2002 (1) RM2n02A0234 Im. C7 FI6L 35500 6 2) 285/333; 285/390 285/333, 334, 285/30, 358 66) U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS. B8S6-337 A * 12/1974 Eh eta 2asiss4 SRM351 A * 1975 Mat oss AS32835 A * 5/1979 Helimwnd eal 233 43771302 A * 1983. Kohyama ea. ass/33 4380737 A 5/108 Revsoer dasi334 4630849 A * 12/1986 Fukui et a. 285/55 4736007 A+ 1988. Mott ta xs ‘ssa A 5/1980 Tun tl 2as.334 Us006851727182 US 6,851,727 B2 (10) Patent No. 5) Date of Patent Feb. 8, 2005 5006052 A -WISOL Read 2st Sionaio A ‘etoo Nod aa a3. Soames A ToT Nagai eta. Daa 6,408,175 BL 6/2002 Evans etal 27314 sro BL Sai) Carne mass aooginnes AL aa Kevye samt amomnesi9e AL 112002 Clon eal 2ae/31 Jansioortee AL ‘ARI Sie, 1V aasa88 Binamnay? AL faa Dail ta B88 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS EP 713952 5/1996 E2uBV17¥082 i oiwsss Siam FIGS Ep uous = 7200 FI6LASO4 iP M0577 62001 E2UB174042 wo pisses 2201 relist * cited by examiner Primary Esaminertie K. Nicholson (74) Attorney, Agent, or FiemHitzpattick, Cells, Harper & Scinto 6 Threaded joint For pipes consisting of a male member (2) and a female member 2), which are provided on the ovter ‘nd inner surfaces respectively with two theeading portions presenting. a lead-in flank fi such that 10°S6:525*, an abutment surface (9) being present atthe end of sad male ‘member for abutment toa corresponding annular abutment seface (10) of the female member. The lead-in flanks ofthe ‘male (1) and the female (2) members, upon make-up and ‘with unloaded joint leave a gap (in the diveeton parallel 10 the axis 21) ofthe joint) varying from 0.01 to 0.22 mm. The internal and external diameters D3 and D4 (of the pipe portion ot involved in the coupling with the female member) of said male member, the inner and outer diameters Di and D2 of the abutment surface ofthe female member ate linked by the relationship: (D2°-DI-)(D4=-D3")20.5. ABSTRACT 20 Claims, 1 Drawing SheetU.S. Patent 2% 14 2 Fig. 2US 6,851,727 B2 1 ‘THREADED PIPE JOINT FIELD OF THE INVENTION ‘The present invention generally relates toa threaded joint for pipés, in particular joins for pipes used inthe 28s or oil ‘exploitation industry. These pipes eam be used both as tubings for the pumping of gas or petroleum, and as easing ‘of the diling wells themselves, STATE OF THE ART In the natural gus and oil extaction indusiy, pipes of pre-efined length are used, which must be joined to each ‘lh at their ends tobe able to reach the great depths where the hydrocarbon fields are usually locate. The drilling technique most commonly used is that of drilling, by means of boring, wells that start from land level ‘or sea level until reaching the gas oro reservoir. The depth ‘of these wells can reach several thousand meters, During. 2 boring, the wells are lined with metal pipes along thei whole length. The metal pipe segments, about ten meters Jong, are joined together by means of threaded joint ‘Therefore, these pipes form a tubular string, with a constant ameter along iis whole length except in correspondence ‘ith the joint, where the outer diameter can be even I inc! (254 mum) greater than that of the string itselE To ewer the whole depth of the well various strings are used, that for reasons of mechanical resistance and geologic ‘al characteristics of the formation, have smaller diameters, the greater the depth reached by the string, in sued a way as to form a “telescopic” type structure, ‘More and more frequently today the oil extraction indus tty is faced with the need to dig wells in extremely sloping positions with respect to the vertical positon, oF even ia positions almost horizontal, to reah the el or gas reservoirs ‘There are strctural needs in the use of the pipes which ‘cannot be satisied by those pipes normally designed for Vertical wells. Inthe ease of horizontal or steeply sloping wells (00, it still neeesarly to dig wells as much as possible to reduce costs, ‘Once drilling has been completed, within the well thus ‘eased, another tubular sting is introduced, which is used 10 pump the gas o oil towards the outside of the underground reservoir. This string, which is aid along the whole depth of| the well and ean therefore reach lenglbs of up to several thousaox! meters, is aso formed by the joining of ten-meter pipes using joints of the same type as above. Usually, this ‘Second type of sting also has a constant diameter along its whole length, except near to the joints where it generally has * 4 Targer exteral diameter, similarly wo the previous case nb the cases above, the pipes ae joined to cach other bby means of threaded pipe joints, tht ean be of an integral type, in which ease one end of the pipe is male threaded and the other is female threaded, or by a sleeved joint, in whieh ‘ease both end of the pipe are male threaded and are joined by a female threaded sloewe on both sides, ‘The selection between the various types of joint is made sccording to the Toad thatthe tubular string must bear the pressure acting internally andjor extemmally, its length and the maximum diameter size possible, in relation to the diameter of the wel. If the diameter of the joints is reduce, itis necessary to find solutions to compensate for thei lower structural resis tance. In fac, in the joint area, the efficiency is necessarily Jower than in the pipe main body because the construtir o 2 elements, such asthe threading, the seals and the shoulders fare made in the thickness ofthe pipe wall, whieh causes 2 Section eduction inertial areas of the male o¢ female Reducing the causes of breakage of the joins to mi ‘mum is vitally important, as the breakage of pipes, espe- cially afler being laid underpround, therefore making it almost impossible for the operators to intervene directly on the joint that may have broken, can have serious economic ‘consequences on the extraction plant and cause considerable environmental damage, especially in the event that the reservoir contains aggressive elements Tn the past, therefore, much work has been done 10 improve the pipe joints and to make them optimally efficient, eying to reach a correct balance between the various needs, ‘hick are sometimes in contrast to each olber, of minimum size, maximum sieictural resistance aad leakage andior infiliration seal to liguids The pipes ae in Ext subjected to compression, traction, Hexure and torsion loads. almost alway in the presence of pressure procuoed by fluid gents from the outside andior citeulating inside the pipes them- selves. ‘The joints must also have excellent make-up and seizure resistance properties. The structural and seating problems are often made worse by the temperature ofthe fui, their coreosiveness or the existing environmental conditions inthe mining ares ‘The curren dilling methoals allow a single plant o reach various depths and reservoir locations, with well that are sloping, curved oF even horizontal: this, i onthe one hand represents. a great economic advantage, also. causes extremely high steuctural stress from compression and tor sion on the pipes and on the joints, during the lowering ‘operations of the string into the well, due to the friction {orces that develop between the pipe itself and the well wall. ‘The pipes’ required resistance to compression, especialy in the threaded joint area is therefore a much fell need, and often the weakness of the joints isa weak point ofthis ype of technology. Similar unfavourable conditions also occu in the strings when they are used to inject steam, due tothe high thermal loads. Proposals have therefore been made 10 ‘improve the compression performance of these joints by using a threading of such a size that both flanks of he thread fof a pipe segment come into contact with the tanks of the corresponding thread on the ether pipe segment, once the joint has been made-up. The contact on both flanks of the ‘thread isan important contribution for achieving a compecs- sion behaviour as similar as possible to the traction beh four of the joint. In particular circumstances, for example, for very sloping angles of the leadhin flank ofthe thread, measured compared toa perpendicular surface to the pipes axis, the compression action of the string is unsatisfactory, a this type of solution aids the onset of the phenomenon delined as *jump-in", ‘when tbe compression forees exceed certain limits. The {jump-in coosiss inthe sliding of the male pipe segment into the female segment, exceeding tbe resistance given by the threading of the two pieces and it occurs more equently the ‘move sloping the angle of thread lead-in Anoer drawback ofthis type of thread is that iis subject, ‘o high risk of seizue ofthe joint with the consequent csk fof not ensuring the aitight sca ofthe fuds, upon bearing, ‘torque that varies greatly as the screwing operation of the joint proceeds and more turns are mutually involved. This introduces dilficulies in making the joint and ereates the pessiliy of mprecson i appying the cnet ding torque.US 6,851,727 B2 - Another solution that has been proposed (0 improve the resistance characteristics of the pipe joint covisages the ‘increase ofthe thicknesses of both the male pipe sesment and the female pipe segment, also to be able to obtain an Annular shoulder of grater size in the female, near to the bearing are, This involves an increase inthe processing of the ends of the pipes, which requires, in particular, before prttng them through the treading process, processing for Permanent set, with the consequent sirescelieving eat ‘ment o eliminate residual stress, wilh 2 consequent increase ‘of cosis and time for praduetion. This permanent set operas tion is necessary especially for thinner walled pipes, 10 improve resistance. However, also in this ease, the results are not always satisfactory as in the best of cases the ‘compression resistance obtained inthis way at the joint point never exceeds 70% ofthe resisiance ofthe non-thecaded part ‘ofthe pipe segment. Therefore the need for a joint that has high resistance snd seal performance even under high compression loads is felt, ‘hile maintaining its own airtight seal capacities. The joint must aso be easy to centre and assemble, so that it ean be assembled in the field, even using automatic boring equip- ment, is also suitable tht the joint is feasible on pipes made from different materials that can be used forthe construction ‘of tubings for boring. Such materials comprise, for example, ‘earhon, chromium or corrosion-esistant alloy steels, for ‘example those containing high quantities of Cr, exceeding 5%, with the presence of Ni and Mo, such asthe martensitic steels or duplex stainless steel or austenitic of Nickel iron alloys [SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The problems posed above are solved by means of threaded, ether integral o sleved, joint for pipes compeis- ing a male member, which consists ofa pipe provided with a threading on af least a part of ts outer surface and a female ‘member, consisting of a pipe or sleeve provided with tbread- Jing on at Teast a part of its inner surice, in which the end ‘of the male member has an annular shoulder and a corre sponding annular supporting shoulder formed inside the female member, said threadings being. adapted to serew reciprocally and reversibly until ereting a contact between ssid annular supporting surfaces, said threadings having section along a plane laying on the axis ofthe member on ‘which the threading is mide with a profile that has load flank and a lead-in lank, said lead-in flank forming aa angle varying from 10 to 25° with respect toa plane perpendicular tothe axis of the member on which the threading is formed, ‘said threadings being such that when the comlact between ‘sid annular supporting surfaces has boen made, when the joint is unloaded, a gap is provided located between the Jeadein flank of the threading of the male member and the ‘corresponding facing flank of the threading of the female ‘member, measured along a direction pacalle! to the joints axis, which coincides with the axes ofthe two suid members, ‘when they are mutually screwed, varying from 0.01 to 0.13 ‘mm, and wherein the intern! diameter D3 and the external «diameter D4 of said male member, in the pipe portion not involved in the coupling with the female member, and the internal diameter DL and the external diameter D2 of the bearing surface formed in the female member are linked by the relationship (D2-DI?)(D4°-D3") 205, Preferably ssid annular bearing sucfaces. are frusto ‘conical surfaces and the one Formest on the end ofthe male ‘member is tured towards the axis of the member, % o 4 According to a further aspect of the invention, the men tioned problems are solved by pipes of a defined length, according to claims 8-20, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 isa side sction view of « made-up joint according to the invention; FIG. 2 isan enlarged view of part of FIG. 1, showing the extremity of the made-up male and female members. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT. With reference tothe drawings, «joint according to the present invention is now deseribed by way of noa-limiting example Te joint shown in the figures comprises two members, ie. the male 1 and the female 2. In this ease, the male ‘member is a pipe, generally male threaded at both end and te female member isa sleeve Female threaded at both ends and joins two pipes, by means of two joints as desecied! The joint defines an Inner part 20, containing the axis 21 of the pipe segments 1 and 2, in which the fad, for example tural yas or petroleum or aber similar uid, Hows, and fouer part 22 in which there cam be fuids of various kinds, \whiet are also generally pressurised, The external diameter Do the pipes, in the area not involved in the joint between the male member and female member can be smaller than the exteral diameter DS of the end of the female member inthe joint area of value that vaies trom 0% in the event ‘ofan integral “Bush type joint up to around 15% in he ease fof a sleeve joint. The male member I has an end 13, which has a threading on its outer surface, As can be seca in FIG. 2, the turas of the threading have a theead profile 18, on @ plane laying on the axis of the member, substantially trap- ezoidal In each tooth the thread has a lead-in lank 6, a load Tank 4 and a crest 7 ‘The lead-in flank 6 forms an angle B with respect 10 a plane perpendicular to the axis 21 comprised between 10 and 25°. The ange of both the lead-in and the load flanks is Sefined positive, a8 in the case illustrate, ifthe surface of the flank is tured io the serew towards the opposite lank from the axis 21 of the joint, ie. towards the outside and towacds sud axis in the lateral thead ‘The angle cof the load flank 4, Le, the one formed ‘compared to a plane perpendicular fo the axis 21 ean be positive or negative and preferably varies from ~# t0 30. The end 13 of the male member 1 comprises the sealing surface 11, for example of frusto-conical shape, and an annular shoulder 9 with a Mat o frusto-conical surface, with fn angle at the base of the cone with 4 value comprised between OF and 20°, The end 13 can have the outer srface threaded advantageously as a truncated cone, as shovwa, with a taper that is preferably betsveen 6 and 10%. The thread pitch preferably vary from 3 to 5 tuons pee inch. The thread fain be perfect or have portions where it ix imperfect. The part of the extemal surface of the end 13 comprising the Sealing surface IL is not threaded and is generally with @ {greater taper than the threaded part. The surface Il ean also be of spherical shape in other alternative emiostiments, but bother shapes are also possible ‘The end 14 of the female member 2 must be such that it serews onto the end 13 of the mile member 1. The make-up is considered complete when the annular surface 10 formed inthe female member 2 a the end ofthe threaded end 14, ‘comes into contact with the coresponding surface 9. ThereUS 6,851,727 B2 5 ‘canbe provided a surface with a sharp taper 12, correspond Jing to 1, against which it comes into contact after make-up. The surfaces 11 and 12 form an airtight metalmetal eal Preferably the lead-in and the load flanks § and 6 of the threading of the female member willbe the same as those of | the male member, considering the signs as shown above. The thread of the cad 14 corresponds to the thread of the ‘end 13 ofthe male member 1 Tis sieb that, afer make-up, the load flank 3 i obviously touching the load flank 4 of the male. Between the lead-in lank 6 andthe flank Sof the male, ‘with an unloaded joint, ie, with no axial or beading loads cn the members 1 and 2, there is a gap, measured along. & ‘itecton pacallel wih te axis of he joint varying from 0.01 tnd 0.12 mm. Between the erest 8 of the threed of one ‘member and the root 7 of the other member, in the zone between twa tions the gap is comprised between (105 and 0.30 me, Te internal diameter D3 and the extemal diameter D4, in the portion of said male member 1 not involved in the ‘coupling with the female member, the internal diameter D1. and extemal D2 of the supporting surface 10 formed in the female member 2, are linked by the following relation (DE-DE (DF -D3*)205. ‘The joiat of the invention is suited to bearing high axial ‘compression forees on the pipe, Fores that bring the lead-in flanks § and 6 into contact, that thus begin to bear the ‘compression load parallel to the supporting surfaces 9 and 10, while the area nea to said surfaces 9 and 10 is stil in elastic deformation condition, Furthermore, it has satisfactory resistance to wear and seizure, The female member ean he 2 sleeve connecting two Pipe-shaped male members, as in the ease described. ‘Alteratvely there ean be an integral joint, where the two ‘membersare two lengths of pipe, one male threaded and one female threaded on he ends forming the joint. In this case, the male threaded member on ome end can be female threaded (and viee versa) on the other end, to form anather ‘negra joint wth another length of pip: In such a ease each Pipe, near to the female threaded length, may have an fealaigement of ils extemal diameter to provide suitable resistance, for example, nar-ush joints. The internal diam ‘ter of the pipes may be preferably equal to provide cont rnulty inthe pipeline In the ease of sleeved joints, also the internal diameter of the pipe coupling, in the area not jnvolved in the coupling with the male member, will pref- ‘erably be equal to that ofthe pipe, as can be seen in the “drawings said diameter coincides with the intemal diameter DI of the supporting surface 10. We claim: 1. A threaded joint for pipes defining aa axis (21), s ‘comprising a cnaxil male member (1) consisting ofa pipe provided with threading on s portion o its outer surface in proximity of at least one of is ends (13) and a female coaxial member (2), consisting of a pipe or sleeve provided with threading on « portion of is inner surface in proximity of at Jeast one of its ends (14), wherein the male member (1) is provided with a eylindrical portion, intermediate between its ‘ends having walls of a coastant thickness and wherein the ‘male member is provided a sid at least one of ts ends (4) ‘with an annular abuiment surface (9) and wherein corte- sponding annular abutmeat surface (10) is formed on the inside of the female member (2), said threadings being Adapted to serew on reciprocally and reversibly 1 produce ' contact between said annlar abutment surfuces (9, 10), ‘said threadingsbeing complementary and wherein the thread profile in a section along a plane containing the axis (21), defines a Joad flank (4, 3) forming a frst angle (c) with o 6 sespect oa plane perpendicular tothe axis (21) and defines Teun lank (6, 8) forming a secod angle (9) wi respect to 4 plane perpendicular to the axis 2), characterized in said second angle (f) has a value between 10 and 2 an in that when the joint is assembled and the contact between sui sonal atment surfaces (9, 1) is schived, in absence of anil loads, thece is provided, between the lead-in Mask (6) of the threading formed on tbe male member and that (5) of the thread made on the female tember, «gap of a size between O01 and 0.12 mm, tmessued slong a deen parallel othe axis 2) ofthe joint, and in thatthe Hoteroal diameter (D8) and exteroal diameter (D4) of the eylinieal length of sad male member (Qt internal diameter (D1) an external diameter (D2) of {he abutment surface ofthe female member being inked in the relationship (D2°=D-)(D4"=D3)205. 2. The pipe joint seconting to elainn 1, wherein the load ‘tanks (4,3) form an angle (a) with respect 10 2 plane petpenicalacto the axis 21 ol the jin comprised heteen Shand >. 3: The joint according to elsim 2, wherein the portions witha threading have a taperofa vale between 6 and 15% 44 The joint according to claim 3a which agep os value between 0.05 mm and 0.301 mm i provided between the cess (8 ofthe male member and the roots (7) ofthe female ie, ael the oot ofthe male member and the eres of the female member (2) ae in cone, upon make-up 5. The pie uit according wo claim 4, wherein te head tas from 3405 turns per inch '6.The pipe jin according wo claim S, whorin the amvlar auumentstefices (9, 10) ae complementary and of fsson emia shape the abulent surface (9) of the male member (U) bivingan angle tthe base of vale between O aad 2° tun an apex directed towards te inside of the mae member. "7 The connection according to claim 1, wherein said female member Q) is a sleeve witha female tteading on both ends '8.A pipe of defined lngth wherein atleast one extrom tas an extemal threaded! portion adapted to form 8 member (1) of joint according o elim 1 9. pipe of defined length whersi at lest ane extremity bas an externally threaded portion adapted 10 form 4 male smember (1) of jot according o claim 2. 10. pipe of defied length wherein at eastone extemity tas an externally threaded portion adaped to form a male member (1) of&joit according 0 elim 3. ‘HLA pip of define length wherein a east one extremity bas an externally threaded portion adapted to form a male smember (1) of & joint according to claim 4 12. Apipe of defined length wherein atleast one extremity tas an exteraly threaded portion adapted to form a male rember (1) of join cording o laim 8. 13.A pipe of defined length wherein at least one exten tas an extemaly threaded! portion adapted to form a male member (1) of & joint according claim 6, 14. pipe of defined length wherein at lest one extremity hasan extemally threaded portion aapted to form a male rember (1) of joint according to elaim 7 15.Apipe of defined length wherein a least one extremity tas an inernsly threaded portion adapted w forma female member @) of &joiat acceding © elim 16.A pipe of defined length wherein at lest one extremity tas an internsly threaded orton adapted wo forma female rember @ ofa joint according o elim 2. 17-A pipe of define length wherein a eastoneextemity tas an internally thresded portion adapted o orm fem ine @) of a joint acceding to eaim 3.US 6,851,727 B2 1 18. Apipe of defined length wherein a leastone extremity 20, Apipe of defined len ity has am externally threaded portion adapted to form a female has aa externally threaded portion adapted to form a female member (2) ofa joint according to claim 4. member 2) ofa joint according (0 claim 7. 19. Apipe of defined length wherein at least one extremity has an externally threaded portion adapted to form a females member (2) of a joint acconding to claim 6. eee ae