Thread protection system with weather barrier

In combination with an oil field tubular good having threaded ends:

• a sealant composition applied to the threaded ends;
• and
• a thread protector comprising:
• a polymeric body having cylindrical wall portions defining an interior space therewithin and further having a transverse partition disposed intermediate a first end and a second end of the interior space, wherein the cylindrical wall portions of the first end engage and enclose the threaded ends of the tubular goods;
• and
• a weather barrier incorporated in the polymeric body for maintaining a moisture resistant seal between the polymeric body and the tubular goods;
• wherein the polymeric body includes a corrosion inhibiting compound impregnated into the polymeric body during molding of the polymeric body.

A method of manufacturing a thread protector for tubular goods having threaded ends, the method comprising the steps of:

• molding a polymeric body having cylindrical wall portions defining an interior space therewithin and further having a transverse partition disposed intermediate a first end and a second end of the interior space, wherein the cylindrical wall portions of the first end engage the threaded ends of the tubular goods;
• impregnating into the polymeric body a corrosion inhibiting material during molding of the polymeric body;
• and
• providing a weather barrier incorporated in the polymeric body for maintaining a weather resistant seal between the polymeric body and the tubular goods.

A method of recycling used end caps used to protect threaded ends of oil field tubular goods, the method comprising the steps of:

• collecting the used end caps at a central location;
• shredding and grinding the collected, used end caps to thereby reduce them to particle size;
• conveying the shredded and ground particles to a thermokinetic blender;
• mixing the particles with a corrosion inhibitor in the thermokinetic blender at elevated temperatures to form a blended polymeric product;
• molding the blended polymeric product in a suitable mold to form a molded polymeric body having cylindrical walls;
• discharging the molded polymeric body from the mold;
• and
• threading selected portions of the cylindrical walls of the polymeric body, whereby the threaded selected portions of the cylindrical walls are adapted to matingly engage a selected end of the oil field tubular goods.