Oilfield thread makeup and breakout verification system and method
AssigneeRay Dishaw
InventorsRaymond Dishaw, Terry Eckel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The thread engagement verifier system provides for verifying the quality of a threaded connection 12 between upper and lower for tubular member 16, 18. One or more thermal radiation sensors 14 are used in combination with a data acquisition and processing computer 20 and an output device, such as a video display 12. The thermal radiation is generated by sliding friction between the tubular members, and the sensors 14 sense radiation at a plurality of external locations and output heat intensity signals to the computer 20. Torque may also be sensed via a sensor 32 and input to the computer 20.
Claims13
A system for verifying the quality of a threaded connection between oilfield members, comprising:
- a thermal radiation sensor directed at the threaded connection to sense thermal radiation emitted from a plurality of external locations on the threaded connection during a make-up or breakout operation, the thermal radiation resulting at least in part from heat generated by sliding friction between the oilfield members during the makeup operation, the thermal radiation sensor outputting heat intensity signals corresponding to each of the plurality of locations;
- a data acquisition and processing computer in communication with the thermal radiation sensor for receiving and processing the outputted heat intensity signals;
- and
- an output device in communication with the computer for outputting representations of the quality of the threaded connection as a function of the outputted heat intensity signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.