Process for making upsets for oilfield drill pipe
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsKenneth Auburn Dial, Joe Douglas Toler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pipe to be upset is conveyed via walking beam though a series of induction heating coils and one end is heated to a maximum temperature of 2350 degrees F. Thereafter, a robot transports the pipe into a forging machine where the pipe end is upset in one or more die pockets. For those types of pipes where the pipe end temperature falls below an acceptable temperature during upsetting, the robot delivers the pipe end to an auxiliary induction heating coil and is re-heated to an acceptable forging temperature. The robot then transports the pipe back into the forging machine where the pipe end is forged to its final upset dimensions.
Claims9
A manufacturing process for forming upsets on ends of drill pipe for those types of drill pipe requiring re-heating between second and third upsetting stages, comprising:
- operating a first preheat coil to preheat a pipe end of the drill pipe to be upset in a first preheat coil;
- walking the drill pipe to a second, primary heating coil;
- bringing the pipe end to a forging temperature of 2350 ° F. max in the primary heating coil;
- picking up the drill pipe from the primary heating coil position via a gantry robot;
- transporting the drill pipe to a first position of a pipe upsetter device and inserting the pipe end into the first position of the pipe upsetter device;
- cycling the upsetter device on the end of the drill pipe a first time;
- transporting the pipe to a second position of the pipe upsetter device and inserting the pipe end into the second position of the pipe upsetter device;
- cycling the pipe upsetter device on the pipe end a second time;
- transferring the drill pipe to a reheat coil located between the pipe upsetter device and the primary heating coil;
- re-heating the drill pipe end to the forging temperature in the reheat coil;
- transporting the drill pipe to a third position of the upsetter device;
- cycling the pipe upsetter device a final time;
- and
- delivering the drill pipe for downstream operations.
A process for forming upsets on a pipe end of a drill pipe, comprising:
- preheating the pipe end;
- moving the pipe end into a heater to bring the pipe end to a forging temperature of above 2350° F.;
- inserting the pipe end into a first position of a pipe upsetter device and cycling the upsetter device on the pipe end a first time;
- transporting the pipe to a second position of the pipe upsetter device and cycling the pipe upsetter device to upset the pipe end a second time;
- if the drill pipe requires a third upsetting then transporting the pipe end to a reheat coil located between the pipe upsetter device and the primary coil;
- re-heating the pipe end to about 2350° F. in the reheat coil;
- and
- transporting the drill pipe to a third position of the pipe upsetter device and cycling the upsetter device to upset the pipe end a third time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.