NOV Grant Prideco

Drilling Products & Services

Product Management Dept.
400 North Sam Houston Pkwy, East Suite 900
Houston, TX 77060
United States of America
+1 (281) 878-8000 main
+1 (281) 878-5736 fax
www.nov.com/grantprideco

NOV Grant Prideco DPS Bulletin

DPS Manager,
Field Inspection Procedure for Used uLTIMATE
Title: Marketing & Jim Brock
eXtreme Torque Connections (uXT)
Product Mgmt:
Bulletin
PC-Procedural Bulletin
Type:
Bulletin Information

Bulletin

Approval
PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT
Designation:

Rev.
0 Approval Date: July 8, 2011
Number:

Rev. Date: July 8, 2011 Distribution: Internal/External

Authored
NOV Grant Prideco Distribution Date: July 8, 2011
By:

Field Inspection Procedure for Used uLTIMATE eXtreme

Torque Connections (uXT)
1. Scope: The following procedure stipulates the equipment, inspection methods, and
acceptance criteria for field inspection and repair of uLTIMATE eXtreme Torque
(uXT) connections. This field inspection procedure shall encompass both visual and
dimensional methods.

2. Equipment: The equipment listed below shall be required to perform these inspections.
2.1. 12 Steel Rule graduated in 1/64
2.2. Outside and Inside Diameter Spring Calipers
2.3. Long Stroke Depth Micrometer
2.4. Setting Standards for Depth Micrometer
2.5. XT-F Thread Profile Gage
2.6. Lead Gage
2.7. Lead Gage Standard
2.8. uXT Connection Field Inspection Dimension Drawing

3. Preparation: All thread, make-up shoulder, and seal surfaces shall be cleaned sufficiently
to allow for visual inspection. The starting threads of the pin and box connections should
be cleaned using a soft wheel or other buffing method.

4. Visual inspection:

4.1. Primary Make-up Shoulder (External Torque Shoulder): Refer to the uXT
Connection Field Inspection Dimension drawing for terminology and shoulder

Page 1 PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT
 locations. The seal surface should be free of galls, nicks, washes, fins, or other
conditions that exceed the limits of par. 4.1.1. and 4.1.1.2 (below).

4.1.1. Damage that does not exceed 1/32 in depth and crosses less than 30% of the
radial width of the seal is acceptable. If the damage exceeds these limits, refacing
shall be used to repair the seal surface.

4.1.1.1. The refacing repair should only remove enough material to repair the
damage.

4.1.1.2. A maximum of 1/32 of material may be removed during each refacing

operation and a maximum of 1/16 may be removed from the connection
before re-threading is required.

4.1.1.3. If refacing ONLY, do NOT repair or re-machine the Xmark.

4.1.1.4. After refacing repair, if the Xmark is no longer visible, the connection
shall be reconstructed by a Grant Prideco licensed facility. See sketches
below.

New Benchmark Single Reface Max Reface

(With visible step)

5. Secondary Make-up Shoulder (Mechanical Stop): The Secondary Shoulder is not a

sealing surface. Damage to this surface is not critical unless the damage interferes with
the make-up, driftability, or torque capacity of the connection. Dents, scratches, and cuts
do not affect this surface unless these exceed 1 in width and cause the connection to be
rejected due to shortening of the shoulder-to-shoulder length. Filing may be used to repair

Page 2 of 5 PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT
 material protrusions, which extend from the face. Connection length readings shall not be
taken in damaged areas.

6. Threads: The stab flank to crest radius of the starting 4 to 5 threads of the pin and box
connections round off during break-in and normal operation. This condition is normal and
does not affect the service of the connection. The remaining thread flank surfaces should
be free of damage that exceeds 1/16 in depth or 1/8 in diameter. Thread roots shall be
free of damage that extends below the radius. Thread crest should be free of damage that
would interfere with make-up. Material that protrudes beyond the thread profile should be
removed using a round cornered triangle hand file or soft buffing wheel.

7. Profile: The XT-F thread profile shall be verified along the full length of complete threads
in two locations at least 90 apart. The profile gage should mesh evenly in the threads and
show normal contact. If the profile gage does not mesh in the threads, lead
measurements shall be taken.

8. Coating: Threads and shoulders that are repaired by filing or refacing must be phosphate
coated or by using copper sulfate.

9. Dimensional Inspection:

9.1. Lead: The thread lead should be verified, if the profile gage indicates that thread
stretch has occurred. The thread lead shall be measured over a 2 interval and shall
not exceed 0.006 over any 2 length. Connections failing this inspection should be
inspected for cracks and, if none are found, re-threaded.

9.2. Box Outside Diameter: The outside diameter of the box shall be measured at a
distance of 2 +/-1/4 from the primary make-up shoulder. Measurements shall be
taken around the circumference to determine the minimum diameter. This dimension
shall be compared to the minimum diameter for the connection being inspected to
determine acceptance or rejection.

9.3. Box Counterbore Diameter: The inside diameter of the box counterbore shall be
verified. This dimension is not used to determine acceptance or rejection, but to test
for box swell and the need to verify connection length.

9.4. Box Counterbore Wall Thickness: The wall thickness between the Box Outside
Diameter and Box Counterbore Diameter shall be measured to insure that it
exceeds the minimum dimension for the connection being inspected.

9.5. Box Connection Length: The distance between the primary and secondary makeup
shoulders shall be verified in two locations 180 apart. This distance shall be
compared to requirement for the connection being inspected to determine acceptance
or rejection.

Page 3 of 5 PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT
 9.5.1. Repair by Refacing - General Repair of connection length nonconformances
may be accomplished as noted below.

9.5.1.1. If the connection length exceeds the specified dimension, repair may be
made by refacing the primary make-up shoulder.

9.5.1.2. If the connection length is less than the specified dimension, refacing the
secondary make-up shoulder may be adequate to repair this condition.

9.5.1.3. Refacing limits are the same as for repair of damaged shoulders.

9.5.2. Machine refacing in a lathe is the preferred method, although the portable field
refacing units have proven to produce acceptable results.

9.5.3. If the portable field refacing unit method is used, the variability of face flatness
and squareness is introduced and should be monitored. When this method is
used, length measurements should be taken in more than the two locations (as
specified above). It is suggested that a minimum of four measurements should be
taken. Should any measurement be found to be outside the drawing limits, the
connection will be deemed as rejected.

10. Pin Nose Diameter: The outside diameter of the pin nose shall be verified. This dimension
is not used to determine acceptance or rejection, but to test for pin nose swell and the
need to verify connection length.

11. Pin Connection Length: The distance between the primary and secondary makeup
shoulders shall be verified in two locations 180 apart. This distance shall be compared to
requirement for the connection being inspected to determine acceptance or rejection.
(See Section 5.5.1. -Repair by Refacing- General, above)

11.1. If the connection length exceeds the specified dimension, repair may be made
by refacing the secondary make-up shoulder (pin nose).

11.2. If the connection length is less than the specified dimension, refacing the
primary make-up shoulder may be adequate to repair this condition.

11.3. Refacing limits are the same as for repair of damaged shoulders.

12. Tong Length: a minimum tong space requirement of 6" for pins and a minimum box tong
space equal to the connection length +1" or 8" minimum, whichever is greater.

Page 4 of 5 PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT
13. Re-threading: This method shall be used to repair connections that fail to meet the
requirements stipulated in this inspection procedure after field repair is completed.
Performance of this operation may not require complete removal of the thread profile if
sufficient material can be removed to comply with the new product requirements. (The
connection does not have to be reblanked, however all torque shoulders, seal surfaces,
and thread elements must be machined to 100% bright metal. This is not necessary for
cylindrical diameters). After completion the connection must be phosphate coated.
(Copper Sulfate is not an acceptable substitute for phosphate for re-threaded
connections.)

13.1. Bevel Diameter: If the tool joint outer diameter falls below the bevel diameter, a
1/32 by 45 degree chamfer shall be used. The exact value of the bevel diameter is
indicated in the uLTIMATE eXtreme Torque Connections (uXT) Connection
Field Inspection Dimension drawing for the specified connection. Due to insufficient
room to machine the Xmark benchmark, the Xmark shall be replaced with an H-
Series Benchmark.

Page 5 of 5 PC-17.0-2011July8-EXT