Method and apparatus for controlling tubular connection make-up

The method of connecting a coupling to a pin end of a tubular pipe to form a made up tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular pipe including a pin end;
• providing a coupling;
• connecting the tubular pipe and the coupling by placing said pin end in said coupling in a hand-tight position;
• measuring the length of the coupling;
• measuring the distance from the open end of the coupling to the pin end of the tubular pipe;
• calculating the number of turns of the coupling required to attain optimum stand-off based on the length and distance measurements of the previous two steps;
• providing rotational movement between said tubular pipe and said coupling;
• sensing the torque imposed on the tubular joint of said tubular pipe and said coupling during said rotational movement;
• sensing the number of turns of said rotational movement;
• determining that said made up tubular joint is acceptable during the rotational movement when the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or
• determining that the made up tubular joint should be rejected during said rotational movement when either the stand-off is less than a maximum stand-off value but is outside the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within the predetermined make-up torque range or the stand-off is within the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is greater than a minimum torque value but is outside the predetermined make-up torque range;
• and
• terminating said rotational movement when the tubular joint make-up is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.

Apparatus for connecting a first pipe section having a tapered, exteriorly-threaded male end and a second pipe section having a tapered, interiorly-threaded female end to form a tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque, said first pipe section and said second pipe section having been threadably engaged to a hand-tight position, comprising:

• means for measuring the length of the second pipe section;
• means for measuring the distance from the open end of the second pipe section to the end of the tapered, exteriorly-threaded male end of the first pipe section;
• means for calculating the number of rotational turns of the second pipe section required to attain optimum stand-off based on the length and distance measurements;
• means for providing rotational movement between said first pipe section and said second pipe section;
• means for sensing the torque imposed on the tubular joint of the first pipe section and the second pipe section during the rotational movement;
• means for sensing the number of turns of said rotational movement;
• means for determining that the tubular joint is acceptable during the rotational movement when the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or that the made up tubular joint should be rejected during the rotational movement when either the stand-off is less than a maximum stand-off value but is outside the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within the predetermined make-up torque range or the stand-off is within the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is greater than a minimum torque value but is outside the predetermined make-up torque range;
• and
• means for terminating the rotational movement when the tubular joint is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.

Apparatus for connecting a coupling to a pin end of a tubular pipe to form a tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque, the coupling and pin end having been threadably engaged to a hand-tight position, comprising:

• a computer;
• digital calipers for measuring the length of the coupling and the distance from the open end of the coupling to the pin end of the tubular pipe operatively coupled to the computer to input the length and distance measurements to the computer;
• a first software program residing in said computer for calculating the number of turns of the coupling required to attain optimum stand-off based on the length and distance measurements;
• power tongs operatively connected to said coupling for providing rotational movement between said tubular pipe and said coupling;
• a strain gauge operatively connected to said tubular pipe for sensing the value of torque imposed on the tubular joint of said coupling and said tubular pipe during the rotational movement, said strain gauge including an output operatively connected to said computer for inputting said value of torque to said computer;
• an electronic feedback device operatively connected to said power tongs to sense the number of turns of said rotational movement, said electronic feedback device including an output operatively connected to said computer for inputting said number of turns to said computer;
• a second software program residing in said computer for determining that the made up tubular joint is acceptable during the rotational movement when the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or that the made up tubular joint should be rejected during the rotational movement when either the stand-off is less than a maximum stand-off value but is outside the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within the predetermined make-up torque range or the stand-off is within the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is greater than a minimum torque value but is outside the predetermined make-up torque range;
• and
• means for terminating the rotational movement when the make-up tubular joint is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.

In combination:

• a computer;
• apparatus for connecting a coupling to a pin end of a tubular pipe to form a tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque, said coupling and said pin end having been threadably engaged to a hand-tight position, comprising:
• means for measuring the length of the coupling and inputting said length into said computer;
• means for measuring the distance from the open end of the coupling to the pin end of the tubular pipe and inputting said distance into said computer;
• means for calculating the number of turns of the coupling required to attain optimum stand-off based on the length and distance measurements;
• means for providing rotational movement between the tubular pipe and the coupling;
• means for sensing the value of torque imposed on the tubular joint of said coupling and said tubular pipe during the rotational movement and inputting said value of torque into said computer;
• means for sensing the number of turns of said rotational movement and inputting said number of turns into said computer;
• means in said computer for determining that the tubular joint is acceptable during the rotational movement when the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or that the made up tubular joint should be rejected during the rotational movement when either the stand-off is less than a maximum stand-off value but is outside the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is within the predetermined make-up torque range or the stand-off is within the predetermined make-up stand-off range while the make-up torque is greater than a minimum torque value but is outside the predetermined make-up torque range, and
• means for terminating the rotational movement when the tubular joint is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.