Screwed pipe joint

A screwed pipe joint for connecting first and second pipes of a drill pipe string, said pipe joint comprising:

• in opposed relation the first pipe (2) having a first tapered threaded end (10) and the second pipe (3) having a second tapered threaded end (11), said first tapered pipe end and said second tapered pipe end having a different taper and pitch and being shaped so that, when said pipes are joined, said pipes engage interfittingly having an axial clearance (23, 23') therebetween;
• and
• a bell (6) comprising first (7) and second (8) internal threaded sections complementary to and for engagement with said first (10) and second (11) threaded pipe ends;
• an unthreaded section (9) between said first and second internal threaded sections;
• and a radially inward projecting shoulder (24) on said unthreaded section (9) of said bell (6) opposite said first pipe (2);
• said first and second pipe ends having a respective annular recesses (14, 13) therein defining, with said unthreaded bell section (9), an annular space (15) therebetween;
• a sealing sleeve within said annular space (15) having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said unthreaded section (9) of said bell (6) and being axially fixed in said recess (14) of said first pipe end;
• and
• an unthreaded section (12) on said first pipe end adjacent said recess (14) said section (12) extending in axial direction, when said pipes are joined, beyond the end of said unthreaded section (9) of said bell (6) and said section (12) having an outside diameter less than the radial projection distance of said shoulder (24) of said bell (6).