WorldWide Drilling Resource

22 MAY 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Drill Pipe Maintenance Adapted from Information by Drill Pipe, Inc. The evolution of drill pipe over the past 50 years, has gone from hand welding, to upset threaded and bucked, to submerged arc and inertia welding. In today’s manufacturing en- vironment, drill pipe can be upset inertia welded and heat treated to higher strengths. Tool joints are commonly designed to be suitable for carousel loading systems, and drill pipe is manufactured in smaller diameters and lighter weight tubes. Today’s drill rigs allow for more flexibility in well design and jobsite access. Although drill pipe is sometimes taken for granted, proper operation and maintenance will help add to the operational life cycles of your drill pipe. Careful monitoring of newly manufactured drill pipe is a must. Here are a few things to consider: U At delivery, inspect all drill pipe, looking closely for damaged thread protectors. Report claims to the trucking company and pipe manufacturer as soon as possible. Pictures, as well as notes on the Bill of Lading (BOL) are crucial. U Remove thread grease from newly delivered pipe and inspect the threads. Thread grease can attract contaminants from the delivery process which can cause thread galling if used without cleaning. U Keep an eye out for metal shavings which may be caught on the inside of the pipe from the manufacturing process. These shavings can fall through and mix into the thread dope in the pipe below, causing galling. U Metal thread protectors can enhance the life cycle of your drill pipe. Most pipe is shipped with plastic protectors, but they are mostly for transportation. Although metal protectors add cost, the savings outweigh the initial expense. U visual inspection of your threads during normal use is important; one bad thread can damage several in the string. U Drill pipe should be blown out after each use. Deterioration of the inside diameter of the pipe can lead to a shorter life span for your drill string. U Periodically measure the outside diameter of your drill pipe. The most important areas to pay attention to are the areas approximately 12 inches from the shoulders; this is where the transition from hardened tool joint to the softer tube and center section of the tube are located. Also, pay atten- tion to erosion on the inside. you depend on your drill pipe to withstand the most grueling environ- ments. Taking care of your drill pipe ensures you will get the most out of them. Serving the Water Well, Environmental, Sonic, HDD, Mining, and Construction Industries Threads: API, Mayhew, BECO, DCDMA, FEDP, 88.9mm-177.8mm Other Industrial Threads and Custom Threads A Manufacturer of: Inertia-Welded Drill Pipe, Dual-Wall Drill Pipe, Wireline, Drill Rod/Casing, Composite Wireline Drill Rods, Sonic Drill Pipe/Casing/Bits, Percussion Casing/Bits, Drill Collars, Fishing Tools, Subs, Starter Rods, and Stabilizers. We now accept: Drill Pipe Inc. 550 S Third St. • Winsted, MN 55395 Phone: (866) 220-8342 • (763) 592-8670 • Fax: (763) 592-8661 tom@drillpipeinc.com • www.drillpipeinc.com DIR