Threaded connection having high galling resistance and method of making same

A process for manufacturing galling-resistant threaded tubular components for drilling hydrocarbon wells, the steps comprising:

• machining a threaded zone on an external peripheral surface at an end of a pin;
• machining a threaded zone on an internal peripheral surface at an end of a box;
• applying a lubricant on the threaded zone of at least one of the pin and box;
• making up a threaded connection by threadably engaging the threaded zone of the pin with the threaded zone of the box to substantially the current recommended make-up torque according to the American Petroleum Institute and breaking out the threaded connection, wherein the making up and breaking out step with lubricant applied on the threaded zone of at least one of the pin and box is performed a plurality of times;
• and
• case hardening the threaded zone of at least one of the pin and box after performing the step of making up and breaking out a plurality of times,
• wherein the manufacturing process produces threaded tubular components for subsequent field use in drilling hydrocarbon wells, the threaded tubular components adapted to form a threaded connection in the field having effective galling resistance without the use of a lubricant when in service.

A process for manufacturing galling-resistant threaded tubular components to be used as drill pipe for drilling hydrocarbon wells, comprising the steps of:

• forming a pin having an external threaded portion and a box having an internal threaded portion;
• applying a lubricant on the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box;
• making a threaded connection by threadably engaging the threaded portions of the pin and box to a recommended make-up torque according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) and breaking out the threaded connection a plurality of times, wherein the making up and breaking out steps includes applying lubricant on the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box;
• case hardening the threaded portion of one of the pin and box after performing the step of making up and breaking out a plurality of times;
• and
• joining one pin and one box to a pipe section to form a tubular component,
• wherein multiple threaded tubular components, manufactured according to the preceding steps, can be assembled end to end to produce a string of tubular components in which each connected pin to box is made without pipe dope or other coatings interposed between or on the threaded portions of the connected pins and boxes.