Wireline thread protection system with self-aligning bit and method of using same

A thread protection system for a wellbore tubular, comprising:

• a thread protector having an insert portion at one end and a drive portion at an opposite end, the insert portion engageable with an end of the wellbore tubular, the drive portion having a central cavity axially positioned about the thread protector and a plurality of pockets radially disposed about the central cavity;
• and
• an alignable drive tool, comprising:
• a self-aligning bit comprising a platform with a central hub and a plurality of fingers extending perpendicularly from a driven side of the platform, the plurality of fingers radially disposed about the central hub, the central hub slidingly receivable in the central cavity, the plurality of finger having tapered tips slidingly receivable into the plurality of pockets;
• and
• a driver rotationally connectable to the self-aligning bit and drivable thereby whereby the thread protector is removably connectable to the wellbore tubular;
• wherein, while the central hub is positioned in the central cavity and the self-aligning bit advances into the drive portions, the tapered tips of the plurality of fingers slidingly engage the plurality of pockets and center the plurality of fingers within the plurality of pockets.

A method of protecting a wellbore tubular, comprising:

• inserting an insert portion of a thread protector into an end of the wellbore tubular such that a drive portion of the thread protector is positioned about the end of the wellbore tubular, the drive portion having a central cavity with a plurality of pockets radially disposed about the central cavity;
• inserting a self-aligning bit into the drive portion of the thread protector by:
• slidingly receiving a central hub of the self-aligning bit into the central cavity;
• and
• slidingly receiving a plurality of fingers of the self-aligning bit into the plurality of pockets;
• and
• removably connecting the thread protector to the wellbore tubular by rotationally driving the self-aligning bit such that threads on the insert portion of the thread protector matingly engage corresponding threads of the end of the wellbore tubular.