# US 10,246,948 B2 · Threaded connection having high galling resistance and method of making same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,948 B2 - Document ID: US10246948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/265,013 - Filed: 2016-09-14 - Published: 2017-01-12 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-06 - Assignees: Pegasus Limited - Applicants: Pegasus S.r.l. - Inventors: Alberto Alaria; Angelo Canavera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246948B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/042: Threaded - F16L 15/00: Screw-threaded joints; Forms of screw-threads for such joints - F16L 15/001: {with conical threads} - F16L 2201/40: for special environments - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A process for treating a pin having an external threaded portion and a box having an internal threaded portion wherein the process provides a threadable joint having a high galling resistance. One embodiment of the present invention includes applying a lubricant on the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box. The threadable joint is made up by threadably engaging the threaded portions of the pin and box to a recommended torque according to the American Petroleum Institute and then breaking out the threaded joint. The making up and breaking out step with lubricant applied on the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box is performed a plurality of times. One of the threaded portions of the pin and box is then case hardened. The threadable joint made from this process is highly resistant to galling without the requirement of any lubricant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for manufacturing tubular components including a pin having an external threaded portion and a box having an internal threaded portion, the manufactured tubular components including the pin and box are capable of forming a threaded connection having effective galling resistance without application of pipe dope when in service, the manufacturing process steps comprising: joining the pin and box to opposite ends of a pipe section to form a tubular component; applying a lubricant on the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box which have been prepared by machining the threaded portions; making up the threaded connection by threadably engaging the pin threaded portion of one tubular component to the box threaded portion of another tubular component to a recommended make-up torque for the threaded connection 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 portion of at least one of the pin and box is performed a plurality of times inducing plastic deformation; and case hardening the threaded portion of at least one of the pin and box after performing the step of making up and breaking out a plurality of times. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is compound grease. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the box is a cut thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the pin is a cut thread. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of only one of the pin and box is case hardened. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the case hardened threaded portion has a surface hardness that is minimally about 200-260 Brinell hardness points greater than the surface hardness of the threaded portion of the other mating pin or box. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the step of making up and breaking out the threaded connection is made up and broken out with lubricant 3 to 15 times. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the step of making up and breaking out the threaded connection is made up and broken out with lubricant 5 to 12 times. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The manufacturing process of claim 1, wherein the step of making up and breaking out the threaded connection is made up and broken out with lubricant 6 to 10 times. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A high galling resistant threadable joint of a pin having an external threaded portion and a box having an internal threaded portion prepared in accordance with the process of claim 1. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The manufacturing process of claim 11, wherein the lubricant is compound grease. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The manufacturing process of claim 12, wherein the step of producing a threaded zone of the box is performed by cutting a thread. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The manufacturing process of claim 12, wherein the step of producing a threaded zone of the pin is performed by cutting a thread. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The manufacturing process of claim 11, wherein the threaded zone of only one of the pin and box is case hardened. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The manufacturing process of claim 15, wherein the case hardened threaded zone has a surface hardness that is minimally about 200-260 Brinell hardness points greater than the surface hardness of the threaded zone of the other mating pin or box. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The manufacturing process of claim 11, wherein the step of making up and breaking out the threaded connection is made up and broken out with lubricant 5 to 12 times. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The manufacturing process of claim 11, wherein the step of making up and breaking out the threaded connection is made up and broken out with lubricant 6 to 10 times. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A galling resistant threaded joint of tubular components for drilling or operating hydrocarbon wells, the threaded joint comprising a pin tubular component having an external threaded zone threaded to a box tubular component having an internal threaded zone without applying a lubricating grease, the pin and box tubular components manufactured in accordance with the process of claim 11. ### Claim 20 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.