# US 12,007,045 B2 · Threaded connection for pipe

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- Number: US 12,007,045 B2
- Document ID: US12007045B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/754,227
- Filed: 2020-12-22
- Published: 2022-10-20
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17
- Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation; Vallourec Oil and Gas France
- Applicants: Nippon Steel Corporation; Vallourec Oil and Gas France
- Inventors: Satoshi Maruta; Yousuke Oku
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007045B2

## CPC

- F16L 15/002: {with more than one threaded section}
- F16L 15/007: {with more than one threaded section}
- E21B 17/0423: {with plural threaded sections, e.g. with two-step threads}
- F16L 15/004: {with axial sealings having at least one plastically deformable sealing surface (with sealing rings F16L15/003)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

In a threaded connection for pipe with a two-step thread construction, including intermediate shoulders, during stabbing, the internal-pressure sealing surface of the pin near its tip is prevented from contacting the intermediate shoulder of the box and thus receiving damage. LP, LB, hP and hB shown in FIG. 2 satisfy Expressions (1) and (2), provided below. θseal is the angle of slope of the straight line connecting the two ends, as determined along the axial direction, of the internal-pressure sealing surface of the pin. Expression (3), provided below, is also satisfied. LP<LB (1) hB<hP(LB−LP)×tan θseal (2) LSP<LB−LP (3)

## Claims

### Claim 1

A threaded connection for pipe, including a tubular pin and a tubular box, the pin and the box adapted to be made up as the pin is screwed into the box,
wherein the pin includes: a first male thread; a second male thread located further toward a tip than the first male thread is and having a smaller diameter than the first male thread; a pin intermediate shoulder located between the first male thread and the second male thread; a pin inner sealing surface located further toward the tip than the second male thread is; and a pin outer sealing surface located further toward a basement than the first male thread is,
the box includes: a first female thread adapted to be in engagement with the first male thread when the connection is made up; a second female thread adapted to be in engagement with the second male thread when the connection is made up; a box intermediate shoulder located between the first female thread and the second female thread and adapted to be in contact with the pin intermediate shoulder when the connection is made up; a box inner sealing surface adapted to be in contact with the pin inner sealing surface when the connection is made up; and a box outer sealing surface adapted to be in contact with the pin outer sealing surface when the connection is made up, and
the threaded connection satisfies the following expressions, (1) and (2):
LP<LB (1)
hB<hP+(LB−LP)×tan θseal (2)
where LP is a distance between an end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder and a radially outer edge of the pin intermediate shoulder as measured in an axial direction; LB is a distance between an end of the box outer sealing surface located closer to the box intermediate shoulder and a radially inner edge of the box intermediate shoulder as measured in the axial direction; hP is a distance between the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder and the radially outer edge of the pin intermediate shoulder as measured in a radial direction; hB is a distance between the end of the box outer sealing surface located closer to the box intermediate shoulder and the radially inner edge of the box intermediate shoulder as measured in the radial direction; and θseal is an angle of slope of a straight line connecting the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder and an end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the tip, as determined along the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 1, wherein an angle of slope of a straight line connecting the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder and the radially outer edge of the pin intermediate shoulder, θp, is larger than an angle of slope of a straight line connecting the end of the box outer sealing surface located closer to the box intermediate shoulder and the radially inner edge of the box intermediate shoulder, θB.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 2, wherein the angle of slope θP is smaller than 6°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 3, wherein LP is larger than 94% of LB.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 3, wherein hB is larger than hP.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 3, wherein a distance LSP, as measured in the axial direction, between a seal point on the pin inner sealing surface at which a seal contact force resulting from the surface's contact with the box inner sealing surface upon completion of make-up is at its largest and the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder is smaller than a distance between LB and LP.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 2, wherein LP is larger than 94% of LB.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 2, wherein hB is larger than hP.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 2, wherein a distance LSP, as measured in the axial direction, between a seal point on the pin inner sealing surface at which a seal contact force resulting from the surface's contact with the box inner sealing surface upon completion of make-up is at its largest and the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder is smaller than a distance between LB and LP.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 1, wherein LP is larger than 94% of LB.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 4, wherein hB is larger than hP.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 10, wherein a distance LSP, as measured in the axial direction, between a seal point on the pin inner sealing surface at which a seal contact force resulting from the surface's contact with the box inner sealing surface upon completion of make-up is at its largest and the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder is smaller than a distance between LB and LP.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 1, wherein hB is larger than hP.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 13, wherein a distance LSP, as measured in the axial direction, between a seal point on the pin inner sealing surface at which a seal contact force resulting from the surface's contact with the box inner sealing surface upon completion of make-up is at its largest and the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder is smaller than a distance between LB and LP.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The threaded connection for pipe according to claim 1, wherein a distance LSP, as measured in the axial direction, between a seal point on the pin inner sealing surface at which a seal contact force resulting from the surface's contact with the box inner sealing surface upon completion of make-up is at its largest and the end of the pin inner sealing surface located closer to the pin intermediate shoulder is smaller than a distance between LB and LP.