(2) oy 0s) ow ay @ 6s) (6) os) United States Patent Rivero et al. POSITION MAKE-UP INDICATOR SYSTEM Inventors: German Jose Rivero, Cypress, TX (US); Thomas B. Dana, Je, Magnolia, TX (US); Claude Wayne Parker, Conroe, TX (US) Assignee: Hunting Energy Services, I Houston, TX (US) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the team ofthis, patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 1S4(b) by 79 days. Appl. Now 13/868,004 Filed: Feb. 7,2012 Prior Publication Data US 201202105521 Aug. 23,2012, Related U.S. Application Data Provisional application No, 61/444,912, filed om Feb 21, 2011 Int. Cl. 5230 1700 (2005.01) B21 39700 (2006.01), 5230 1500 (2005.01), FI6L 2500 (2006.01) B31 7700 (2005.01), E2UR 19/16 (2006.01) FIL 1508 (2006.01), us.cl fad FIGL 1598 201301); FI6L 2201/10 (2013.01); Y107 299766 3018.01) Field of Classification Search crc FIGL 15/08; F161. 2201/10, Yor 3040766; Y1OT 29149771; YIOT 29149776: ‘YIOT 29149769: YIOT 29149778; YLOT 2914978, US009243729B2 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: US 9,243,729 B2 Jan. 26, 2016 29/407.01, 407.02, 407.03, 407.05, 291407.05, 407.08, 407.1, 456,705: 285/333, 334, 93; 38/412, $94,501.45, 33/529, 670.1; 166/380, 77:51, 78.1, 85.1 ‘See application ile for complete search history ed 60) References US. PATENT DOCUMENTS ASa8873 8 121978 Hauket a. 31986. Fidin st 198) Weems (Continved) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (OTHER PUBLICATIONS EP Application No. 12749018, European Seateh Report, date Apr Primary Examiner Assistant Examiner sama Omgba Darrell C Ford (74) Attornes, Agent, or Firm — Charles D. Gunter, J ABSTRACT A method is shown by which threaded pipe sections are ceonnected o form 3 tubule joint having proper sealing posi- toning st proper make-up torque. A make-up stencil plte is ‘manuactured for cach specie size of pipe to he couples! at the specific uper and make-up loss of given connection with very tight tolerance. The plates placed on the pin pipe end of the connection. A dial indicators placed onthe outer surface ‘ofthe pipe pin end with the indicator Mush withthe end of the stencil plate. Once the indicators setto zero, the stencil plate is removed, Then a bucking unit or poster tong is applied ‘the coupling, When the face ofthe coupling hits the tip ofthe indicator andthe indicator is within the given tolerance, the ‘operator tops the makesp process, 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets66) gowass $0379 Sia0's07 Saasna S301 S61 888 sist 6212768 e278 11363898 6388837 suns Toston 20010000802 a ae aa a a Bie Bit BI Bie Bae Ea References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS 41990 10.1599 1991 1095 Sy05 S07 1/2000 42001 ‘82001 4002 2002 92005 S201 S200 Yoshiro Moyer et Delange Gny etal Moyer et Hanae ‘same tl Newman Wills State Murakanl eal Eaatensen Michal ta Newnan US 9,243,729 B2 Page 2 28923 assis ‘avr 0s N33 asanro1 297702 wsoras 20140702 desis 17527 ama 2nnu001ssss ats anna0nai9e Al* 2nvV0D0NSKS AI 20090178847 AL aonanwaont Als aooaorsii27 Al aonarr3sie AL aoinnnsoase Als 20130777960 Al* aorsoaororo Al aoianiisony Al* porat2s08> Al aoisontiso9 Al* 2osiwox20. at * cited by examiner 2010 02013 112013 ‘$2014 S20l4 Thos 0201s Matis Cros Tawi Call, ta Church Carson Reyna, real. Shuman Neate at aakso et Ganon | Matias Davi Beerist axsant B42 isi, soos 285.333, axsa asa 2sos 25995 dsson es 330 Biavoo 166380 rom 1 6s 2940701US 9,243,729 B2 Sheet 1 of 4 Jan. 26, 2016 U.S, PatentU.S. Patent Jan, 26, 2016 Sheet 2 of 4 US 9,243,729 B2 38 FIG. 2 12U.S, Patent Jan. 26, 2016 Sheet 3 of 4 US 9,243,729 B2 FIG. 4US 9,243,729 B2 Sheet 4 of 4 Jan. 26, 2016 U.S, Patent § Old 807 an avi \ zen 0000 + k-— ss01 an vw a Higna7 oNTIsNODUS 9,243,729 B2 1 POSITION MAKE-UP INDICATOR SYSTEM (CROSS-REPERENCE TO RELATED "APPLICATIONS, “The preseat application claims priority from a U.S. provi sional application Ser No. 61/444,912, filed Feb. 21,2011, ‘entitled “Position Make-Up Indicator System", by the same inventors, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention “The present invention relates generally to pipe joins in 3 pipestring and more specifically. toa plate-indicaor position ‘make-up method to accurately determine the position make- up of eonnections on pipe, such as the couplings used on ofl fed tubular goods, 2, Description ofthe Prior Art ‘A wide variety of deil pipe, tubing and casing (wlulae oods) for oil and gas drilling, completion, production and ‘mulation activities are available a the present time. In the ‘case of sections of such tubular goods used i the ol field (for ‘example long sections of wel casing or tubing), such sections ‘of pipe usually havea tapered, exteriorly-threaded male end called a pin member. Such pin members are threaded into ‘couplings, collars or integral female pipe sections, having threaded ends referred to a6 the box member. These box ‘members have aninteriorly-threaded tapered thread surfaces ‘corresponding to their respective pin members for mating with the pin members to form threaded connections. ‘One type of connection for these joints ie the American Petroleum Institute (“API”) threaded and coupled connection that achieves its assembly without torque shoulders. These tapered comections provide ineressing bearing stresses (0 provide the seal between the pin member and box member ‘with increasing engagement produced by rotational torque. I. js wellknown inthe petroleum industry that the performance ‘of an API connection is highly dependent on the make-up ssembly (engagement) condition othe joint, and therefore it js important to determine ifthe joint is made-up properly. A umber of factors can allot the integrity of the assembly process, including ffiction-elated factors such as tread ‘dope, plating type and thickness, surface finishes, eccentric ity, ovality, impurities (det or rust) and external fetors seh ‘asstab alignment and wind loading that occurat the well ste ‘A nnmber of methods have hoea used in the prior art in ‘order to monitor and control make-up of eilfeld tubular con- nections. One type of method isthe “torque-only” method based upon the read-out of loed cell altached to the joint or power make-up tongs and calibrated for torgue. This method has limitations because it does not provide enough informa- tion to distinguish quality control problems such as oof tolerance threads, cros-threading, or galling in every situa- A second method, “torque-tum”, requires sophisticated ‘electronics including a computer and sensors to monitor both the torque and turns which adlto operational costs and delay the running time of the pipe sections. The “torque-tum” methods extremely sensitive toa reference torque which sa relatively low value, typically 10 pereent of the minimum torque, This torque is sometimes determined by API torque recommendations. After this oference torque is reached, predetermined number of tras are counted inthe make-up of the tubulae connection, Ifa false reference torque occurs to ‘setivate the turn counter because of one of the above 0 o 2 described quality conte problems or assembly condition ‘an improper Joint make-up will result ‘A third method is where the torque imposed on premium thread connections between tubular joint is monitored and plotted a «function of time raer tan the numberof tras. In this manner, the torque can be detected at the time metal- to-metal sealing contact is achieved during make-up of the ‘connection. Further, torgue response of the connection my ‘be monitored afer shouldring occurs Despite theabove advances, there has been Tong-felt need inthe oil and gas industry fora simplified method of deter ‘mining inthe feld the integrity of such joint make-up visu- ally, thereby avoiding the need for complex instrumentation sels use in dhe “longue-tura” or"torque-ime” methods oF the need for clahorate calibration methods forthe instramen- tation involved. Proposed methods have inchuded the use of Darrettes, measuring fom the open end ofthe pipe and the use ‘off pormanent mark on the outer diameter ofthe pipe. Each of these techniques has some disadvantage. The barrete method is highly aecurate but only works on hooked thea ‘Measuring from the open end may aot be posible with some bucking wnits and is troublesome and moy easily result in mistakes. The use of permaneat mark on the OD ean delay production in applying the mark an location control may not be very accurate As a result, even while using these above methods for ‘making up joints, problems sill continue to arse and the industry sill suffers problems when forming such joins ‘These problems include infveat and effluent pipe leakage bbecase of lek of good sealing in improperly made-up joints Te following references are typical of other attempts in the prior art to solve the above deseribed problems, bt shold be representative ofthe prior aet inthe fick Eack ofthese references primarily deals with method {or properly torqueing a teaded pipe connection, USS. Pat, No. 4,962,579 teaches # method for visually {determining onthe ig floor ia joint i properly made up with the right amount of torque. registry mark is placed on the exterior ofthe frst pine section lor propor axial engagement fof the pin member with the coupling or box member. The positon is determined by finite element analysis US. Pat. No. $212,885 shows a method for achieving proper sealing positioning and proper make up torque of {headed pipe sections. Ifthe face of the box member is sroperly positioned relative toa tiangle mark on the pipe section, make up i terminated. I'he fice has not reached ‘edge of the triangle mark, torque i increased until either the age progresses into the body of the triangle mark or until ‘maximum torque occurs ‘USS. Pat. No. 4.614.120 shows a method for determining proper make-up tongue for pipejoints. A reference marks set fn the male element and on the Female element. grease is Applied to the joint and the join is made up wsing sufficient Torque o cause one element to rotate with the respect to the ‘ther element, The joints torqued until one element reaches 1 predetermined angle beyond the point where the reference ‘marks ae facing each other. This operation is repeated with a termination being made of the range of toniues to be applied tothe joint with particular grease being uilized. USS. Pat. No, 5,661,888 shows an appari for posting ‘so threaded pipes within a tamget range of relative axial positions, The device supposedly offers advantages over ‘sing vise “bench marks” placed on the pin and box mem- bers. The devige includes a sensor and calibrating device for positioning the sensor a calibrated distance from the end of ‘one of the pipes. signal generator generates a signalUS 9,243,729 B2 3 the sensor head indicates thatthe relative axial postion ofthe pipes are within the taget range desired ‘A need continues f0 exist, therefore, for an improved method for detemining the postion make-up of connections ‘onpipe such as couplings used on ol eld bular goods and similar connections SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The method of the invention is used for connecting threaded pipe sections to form a made-up tubular eonnestion having proper sealing positioning a proper make-up torque The method includes a series of steps bexinning with a fist pipe section including an externally threaded pipe pinendand ‘a sevondl pipe section ineluding an internally threaded box. ‘end. A tubular make-up stencil plate is provided which is ‘manufactured ata specifi taper and make-up loss foreach of ‘sores of desired size pipe eonnections. The stencil plate is ‘designed tobe received on the pipe pinend in mating threaded fashion. A conventional dial indicator with an indicator tip and also having @ magnetic base is placed on the first pipe ection with the indicator tip being flush against an outer ‘extent ofthe make-up stencil plate, the dial indicator being held in place by the magnetic hase. The dial indicator is st ‘2 zero position, The make-up stencil plate is then removed. ‘and the son pipe section i screwed onto the pin end of the firstpipe section hand tight Thereale, a power torque device to is used toque the second pipe section onto the fist pipe section, The power longue device canbe, for example either «8 bucking unit or power tong. The make-up operation wing the power torque device is done at low revolution or low eat in onder to contol the displacement eaily. The torqucing ‘operation is stopped once the outer extent ofthe second pipe scction hits the lip of the dial indicator and the indicator shows a given predetermined tolerance, ‘The make-up stencil plate is a tubular member having an internally threaded surface which mates with the externally threaded face ofthe pipe pin member. The make-up stencil plate also has an intemal shoulder stop which guarantees 2 proper zero point of the make-up plate on the mating pi member. Preferably; the second pipe section isa pipe coupling hav ing opposing internally threaded surfaces which form a pa ‘of oppositely arranged box ends for the coupling. The cou- pling intemally threaded surfaces are preferably showlder Jess. The prefered pipe sections are part ofa pipe sting of on-upset threaded and eoupled connections with mating pia ‘ends Which contact pin nose-o-nose to create @ positive torque stop. The prefered pipe string can be a section of cileld casing or tubing. The use of the position make-up plato, as described, ean be used to contol the position make- ‘up within a range of thousandths of an ine ‘While inexpensive, this improvement provides a simple method t visually determine on the rig floor of at the pipe rack whether the join is properly made up to thereby provide effective sealing of API tpered threaded joints or connec ‘Additional objees, features and advantages will be appar. ‘ent in the writen deseription which follows, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIGS, 1A and 1B are quarter sectional views of one pipe pin end and mating coupling with the pin and coupling bing shown spaced apart in order to illustrate the respective threaded surfaces and the relative make-up depth ofthe pin ‘end within one box end ofthe coupling. 0 o 4 FIG. 2s a perspective view, party cut away, showing the pinend received within the mating pipe coupling and showing the coupling centerline FIG. 3 is a quarter sectional view ofthe pin end ofthe pipe showing the positioning of « make-up stencil plate and dial indicator device used in the make-up method of the invention. FIG.disaview similarto FIG. 3,butshowinga subsequent step in the method ofthe invention in whieh the pin pipe end is inserted within one box end of the coupling with the con- pling being made-up tothe power tight position, FIG. $ is a quarter sectional view of the pia pipe end installed within the mating coupling illustrating the measure- seat of the make-up loss ofthe connection, IG. 6 is simplified represeaation of a dial indicator measuring device of the type used in the method ote inven- sion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ‘The prefered version of the invention presented in the following writes description and the various fetures and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference 10 the non-limiting examples inchided in the accompanying drawings and as detailed in the description ‘whieh follows. Descriptions of well-known components and processes and manufieturing techniques are omitted so as t0 ‘ot unnecessarily obscure the principle features ofthe inven- ‘ions described herein, The examples usein the desription ‘whieh fllowsareintended merely to facilitate an understand- ing of ways in which the iavention may be practiced andl to further enable those skilled in the arto practice the invention Accordingly, the examples should not be eonstmied a ing the seope of the claimed invention. ‘The components of atubularconnection made up using the ‘method ofthe present invention are shown in FIGS. 14 and 1Bof the drawings and will be discussed in detail below. The ‘erm “make-up” will be taken to mean the power tight spl cation of a coupling or box connector tow pin connector. The present vention can he used with, for example, ol field fubing or casing, The connectionof theivention is especially _sefl for tubular couplings or collars, and particularly with shoulderless designs which have no internal shoulder stop. ‘One exemplary connection whichis sold commercially and whieh can be made-up according to the priniples of the invention isthe TKC 4080 RTC™ connection sold by tu ‘ng Energy Services af Houston, Tex. This particular connee- tion is a-non-upset threaded and coupled connection with ‘mating pinends which creates positive torque stop as res fof the shouldering pin noses upon make-up. The present inventions thos advantageously used withs tapered threaded ‘and coupled connection that ackieves its coanection without {internal extemal or mid-section torque shoulders or without special threading such asthe wedge thread or the Tike. This tapered connection achieves its desired sealing et proper axial positioning at proper make-up torque as will be explained in steater dota ‘A fist male pipe section 11 having an exterally threaded pipe pin end 13 is shown in FIG. 1B. The pin end 13 will be threadedly engaged within one of the interually threaded surfaces 15,17 ofa second female pipe section 12 shown in FIG. 1A. As willbe appreciated from FIG, 14, the second, amale pipe section, or coupling 12, has opposing box end ‘openings. The second, female pipe ssction is internally tapered, but bas no internal shoulder stop. The centerline of the female coupling is indicated by the vertical ine 19. This isUS 9,243,729 B2 5 the approximate point at which he pin noses ofthe respective ‘ale pipe sections will make contact upon make-up cresting the positive torque stop, “The method of the invention ean be wsed for connecting threaded pipe soetions ofthe above described type to form 8 ‘made-up fubular connection having proper sealing postion- ing at proper make-up tongue. The method will now be described with reference primarily t FIGS, 2-6 ofthe danw= ings. The method of the invention uses a specially manutac- ‘ured “tubular make-up stencil plate”, shown as 21 in FIG. 3. ‘Themake-up stenel plate isitselfa tubular member having an Jnternally threaded surlace 23 which mates with the exter nally threaded surface 13 of the pipe pin member 11 whereby the stencil plate is received on the pipe pin end in mating threaded fashion. The make-up stencil plate is manufactured ata specific taper and make-up loss for each of a series of ‘deste pipe connection sizes. The make-up loss is the mount of overlap of the female box end over the male pia ‘end indicated generally atl, "in FIG. 5. The make-up ten- ‘i plate also has an intemal shoulder stop 28 which guaran tees proper zero pointof the make-up platoon the mating pin member 11. The stencil pate 21 ean also be provided with a handle 27 to assist a user in engaging the stencil plate on the Pine pin end, Tn the next step in the method ofthe invention, a position locator, such asa dil indicator (29 in FIG. 3) placed on the ‘exterior of the first pipe section 11 with the tip 31 of the indicator being flush against an outer extent of the make-up stencil plate 21 withthe dial indicator sett a zero position. Dial indicators, also Known as dial gages and probe inica- tors, are commercially availble insirments sed to acen- rately measure small linear distances, They’ are frequently ‘sed in industrial and! mechanical settings, sich as in Ine work and machining in general. They are named Because the reasurement results are typically displayed in a magnified way by means of a dial. Dial indicators typically measure ranges from 0.015 to 12.0 inches with graduations of 0.00005 0.001. The dial indicator 29 ilusteated in the deawings has ben modified by adding a permanent magnet 42. The indie ‘ators joined to the magnet at a pivot point or hinge 34 TG, 6 shows the face of the dial indicator 29 in greater ‘detail. The indicator 29 consists ofa graduated dial 34 and needle 33 to ecord minor increments, witha smaller embed- ded clock face and newle 3 wo record the auber of needle rotations on the main dial, The dial has fine graduations for precise measurement. The spring-loaded plunger 37 moves perpendicular to the object being measured by either retract- ‘ng oF extending from the indicators body. Asan example reading, withthe small and betvcen 3 and 4 this mens that the reading is berween 0.300 and 0.400 inch The large hand '32 means 52 thousands from the lst whole number (0.3 inch), 0 thatthe reading is 0.352 inches. In the next step in the method, illusirated in PIG. 4, che ‘make-up stencil plate is removes and the second pipe section 12s installed onto the pin pipeend ofthe frst pipe section 1 hand tight, Thereafter, 3 power tongue device isused to tongue the second pipe section onto the fist pipe section ata recom- mended RPM. The power torque device may be, for example, ‘a power long oa rig floor, or a power bucking unit. One sifference in the two types of machines is tat the “bucking” ‘machine grips both te pipe sections outside surlaces whereas the power tong used on the rig Noor (often referred t0 as floating o fee make-up) typically grips ony te pin member Pine setions. The position af one of the bucking unit desis shown in simplified fashion by the block 38 in FIG. 2. The tongue device ie stopped when the indicator dil is at the ‘desired locaton, for example, “2210” to pls 0.030 inches, 0 o 6 FIG. 4 shows the coupling 12 made up (0 the power tight position on he pin member 13 with the coupling outer extent 36 contacting the tip 31 ofthe dial indicator 29, Fr typical pipe sizes, torque is typically applied to the ‘connection at sbout 5-14 RPM. The make-up speed should typically not excced about 14 RPM. The make-up spect should not vary excessively during make-up and should not bbe continuous with no gear changing. The following ae yp cal target RPM's: ‘The integrity of the connection wil thea typically be veri= ‘ied drougd the open end using a sale, such a the scale 39 illusttated in FIG. 5, As previously mentioned, the make up Joss";"is measured as indicated in FIG. 5. Since the present ‘method uses @ position make-up connection, the pin nose should be located approximately inthe middle of the cou. pling. In the example shown in FIG. §, the make up position ‘measured from the open end ofthe coupling should be about: 2.75040.000"/=2" 2.719°t0 2.750" or 222" 10234" seale ‘eaing). The table which fallows gives some typical make- vp losses for various size pipe: See ‘Makeup Lee An invention has been provided with several advantages. ‘The instant method makes it posse to contol the make-up position ofl feld tubular connections within thousandths of ‘an inch 0.001") ina fast and productive way Is very helpful ‘whenever its necessary to control the make-up position in a very accurate manner. As can be seen by the above deserip- tion, this i @ very simple and low enst method of ensuring proper make-up of connections while eliminating many ofthe problems ofthe past An operator can use the dal indicator to visually determine the amount of pin member engagement into the coupling or box member. Furthermore, there is no dependence on relatively low and highly variable reference torgue values, The method does not employ complicated instrumentation or require complicated set up or mathemat cal calibration ‘While the invention has been shown in one ots forms, it isnot thus limited and is susceptible to various changes and ‘modifications without departing from the sitt thereof, We laim: 1A method of connecting threaded pipe sections o forma ‘made-up mbnar connection having proper sealing position: ‘ng at proper make-up torgue where the eonnection isa pos ‘ion make-up eoanection, the method consisting of providing a fist pipe section in the form of @ pipe pin ‘member including an extemally threaded pipe pin endsUS 9,243,729 B2 providing a second mati coupling member including oppositely arranged inter- nally threaded box ends: ‘wherein the pipe sections are part ofa pipe string of» ‘upset threaded and coupled connections with mating pin tends which contat to ereate a postive torque stop: wherein the coupling which is mated with the fist pipe section Ins internally threaded surfaces. which are shoulderless surfaces providing a tubular make-up stencil pate manufoetured at ‘specific taper and make-up loss foreach ofa series of desired size pipe connections and serewing the stencil plate onto the pipe pin end in mating threaded fashion, ‘wherein the make-up stencil plate isa tubular member having an intemaly threaded surface which mates with the externally threaded face ofthe pipe pin member, the ‘make-up stencil plate also having an internal shoulder stop which guarantees proper 2eo point of the make- up plate on the mating pin member; pslacingadialindicator wih an indicator tip anda magnetic. > ‘hase on the first pipe section with the indicator tip being ‘Mush against an outerexten ofthe make-up stencil plate, the dal indicator being held in proper position on the fist pipe section by the magnetic base 8 seting the dial indicator toa 2ero position; removing the make-up stencil plate and installing 3 selected box end of the pipe coupling onto the pinend of the fist pipe section hand ight, thereule, using a power torque devive wo torque the pipe ‘coupling onto the frst pipe section toa final position: stopping the torque once an outer extent of the pipe cou pling hits the tip ofthe dial indicator and te indicator shows a given predetemnined tolerance; verifying the final positon of the position make-up con- ‘nection ‘ith # manual scale ensure that the final position is within a specified tolerance; and ‘thereater installing a third pipe section with a pin end ‘within an apposite end of the coupling 2, The method of claim 1, wheret the pipe stra section of cilfield casing or ting. '3. The method of claim 1 wherein the power torque deview isadeviveselete from among the group consisting of poser ‘ongs and power bucking units. 4 The method of claim 3, whersin the use of the position make-up plate ean be used to contol the position make-up ‘within # minge of thousendths ofan inch,