High torque connection with enhanced break in performance

A tubular member having a connector provided on an end thereof, wherein:

• A) the connector is a box connector, the box connector being adapted to receive a corresponding pin connector provided on another tubular member, the box connector comprising:
• i) a nominal pitch diameter, a longitudinal axis, a primary shoulder, a secondary shoulder, and a zone of internal threads;
• ii) the zone of internal threads comprising a plurality of threads which taper relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of threads comprising:
• a thread crest, a thread root, at least one load flank, a stabbing flank, and at least one load flank reduction zone;
• iii) the box connector being adapted to be threadably engaged with the corresponding pin connector provided on another tubular member, whereby a tubular connection is formed wherein each of the at least one load flanks on the box connector contacts a respective load flank of a corresponding thread on the corresponding pin connector along a projected radial direction such that at least one projected load flank radial contact face Hr is formed by the mating load flanks;
• wherein when a connection between tubular members is made the tubular connection primary shoulder, secondary shoulder, average diameter, and plurality of threads correspond to a cross sectional connection strength Scs;
• and
• wherein the at least one projected load flank radial contact face Hr corresponds to a radial bearing strength Srb along the entire length of the zone of threads;
• and
• wherein the at least one load flank reduction zone alters the projected load flank radial contact face such that the relationship
• 1
• .
• 0
• ⁢
• 0
• ≤
• s
• rb
• s
• cs
• ≤
• 1
• .
• 1
• ⁢
• 0
• is satisfied;
• and/or,
• B) the connector is a pin connector, the pin connector being adapted to be received in a corresponding box connector provided on another tubular member, the pin connector comprising:
• i) a nominal pitch diameter, a longitudinal axis, a primary shoulder, a secondary shoulder, and a zone of external threads;
• ii) the zone of external threads comprising a plurality of threads which taper relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of threads comprising:
• a thread crest, a thread root, at least one load flank, a stabbing flank, and at least one load flank reduction zone;
• iii) the pin connector being adapted to be threadably engaged with the corresponding box connector provided on another tubular member, whereby a tubular connection is formed wherein each of the at least one load flanks on the pin connector contacts a respective load flank of a corresponding thread on the corresponding box connector along a projected radial direction such that at least one projected load flank radial contact face Hr is formed by the mating load flanks;
• wherein when a connection between tubular members is made the tubular connection primary shoulder, secondary shoulder, average diameter, and plurality of threads correspond to a cross sectional connection strength Scs;
• wherein the at least one projected load flank radial contact face Hr corresponds to a radial bearing strength Srb along the entire length of the zone of threads;
• wherein the at least one load flank reduction zone alters the projected load flank radial contact face such that the relationship
• 1
• .
• 0
• ⁢
• 0
• ≤
• s
• rb
• s
• cs
• ≤
• 1
• .
• 1
• ⁢
• 0
• is satisfied.

A tubular connection between a pin connector and a box connector, wherein the pin connector is adapted to be threadably engaged with the box connector, each of said connectors having an outer diameter, an inner throughbore diameter, a nominal pitch diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the connection comprising:

• i) a tapered pin connector comprising a pin primary shoulder, a pin secondary shoulder, and a zone of external threads, and a tapered box connector comprising a box primary shoulder, a box secondary shoulder, and a zone of internal threads;
• ii) the threaded zones comprising a plurality of threads which taper relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of threads comprising:
• a thread crest, a thread root, at least one load flank, a stabbing flank, and at least one load flank reduction zone;
• wherein each of the at least one load flanks on the pin connector contacts the at least one load flanks of the corresponding thread on the box connector along a projected radial direction such that at least one projected load flank radial contact face Hr is formed by the mating load flanks,
• wherein the primary shoulder, secondary shoulder, average diameter, and plurality of threads correspond to a cross sectional connection strength Scs;
• wherein the at least one projected load flank radial contact face corresponds to a radial bearing strength Srb along the entire length of the zone of threads;
• a) wherein the at least one load flank reduction zone alters the projected load flank radial contact face Hr such that the relationship
• 1
• .
• 0
• ⁢
• 0
• ≤
• s
• rb
• s
• cs
• ≤
• 1
• .
• 1
• ⁢
• 0
• is satisfied.