Advanced Materials Research Vol.

744 (2013) pp 53-57

Online available since 2013/Aug/30 at www.scientific.net
© (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.744.53

Development of Premium Threaded Connections for Casing and Tubing

Lianxin Gao1, a, Kunzhong Sun2,b and Yi Zhang1,c

1
Wuxi Seamless Oil Pipe Company, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214028, China
2
South branch of Sinopec exploration, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China
a b c
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Keywords: casing, tubing, premium threaded connection, WSP series, structural design

Abstract: The application of API threaded connections for casing and tubing is limited due to their
imperfect sealing ability and weak connecting strength. To overcome these prominent drawbacks of
API threaded connections, new WSP series of premium threaded connections are developed by Wuxi
Seamless Oil Pipe Corporation for HTHP(High temperature, High pressure) wells, deep wells, steam
injection wells, highly deviated and long horizontal wells, etc. Characteristics and application ranges
of eight kinds of these high performance premium threaded connections are compared and analyzed
thoroughly in this paper. The comparison results are not only a good reference for technicians to
design new connections, but a technical proof for users to choose the proper connections in different
applications.

Introduction
OCTG(Oil Country Tubular Goods, includes casing, tubing and drill pipe) is a high-pressure vessel
that consists of more than one hundred or even several hundreds of steel pipes. All the pipes are
connected by threaded connections and these connections form the weakest parts of the string. In
general, there are two kinds of connections: API threaded connections and premium threaded
connections. API connections can be divided into two categories, round threaded connection and
buttress threaded connection, which are manufactured according to API standards[1]. However,
premium connections are patent products of different manufacturers. It has been proved by field
practice that using premium threaded connections instead of API ones is the most effective method to
prevent OCTG from excessive failure. In recent years, Shanghai Baosteel, Tianjin Pipe Corporation
and Wuxi Seamless Pipe Corporation have all developed their own patent premium threaded
connections[2]. This makes the research on premium connections in China reach a new stage.
This paper summarizes the experience that we have achieved in the development and application
process of premium threaded connections for OCTG. As an example, the characteristics of different
WSP premium connections are compared and the problems that still exist are pointed out. Thus this
paper can be taken as references in designing of more premium threaded connections.

The main problems of API threaded connections

API threaded connections are the American Petroleum Institute standard connections which got
extensive application in the early twentieth century. Now, API threaded connections are still widely
used in various oil fields all around the world[3]. Generally, API thread includes round thread and
buttress thread, as shown in Fig.1.
The main advantages of API threaded connections are as follows: 1) Easy processing and easy
detection.2) Low requirements for processing accuracy. 3) Good interchangeability. However, API
threaded connections also have many disadvantages such as: 1)Low connecting strength. Especially
for round threaded connection, its connecting strength is only 60-80% of pipe body. 2) Poor sealing
performance.3) Stress concentration. Stress corrosion resistance performance is poor because the high
stress level after makeup. These shortcomings limit the application scope of API threaded
connections[4]. With the increase development of HTHP and offshore deepwater wells in recent years,

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54 Advances in Material Science, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing

the drilling engineers require effective solutions to meet the new challenges placed on threaded
connections for OCTG to withstand the extreme loads. So high performance premium threaded
connections are developed to meet these requirements.

(a)Round threaded (b)Buttress thread

Fig.1 API threaded connections

Development of premium threaded connections

Premium threaded connections are a new generation of thread form which are developed on base of
API ones[5]. As an example, the design thoughts of WSP series premium connections which are
developed by Wuxi Seamless Pipe Corporation are described here, and thus to provide reference for
the development of more premium threaded connections for OCTG.
WSP-1T
WSP-1T connection is the fist premium connection of Wuxi Seamless Pipe Corporation(WSP).
The connection is suitable for nature gas wells and steam injection wells. The structure of this
connection is shown in fig.2.
The feature of WSP-1T is as below: 1)The thread is modified API buttress thread which is 8 teeth
per inch(25.4mm) for tubing and 5 teeth per inch for casing. In order to improve the connecting
efficiency and the SSC corrosion resisting property, the interference between female thread and male
thread was decreased to 1/3 that of API connections. For WSP-1T tubing, the tooth crown is parallel
to the pipe axis. And for this reason the thread is easier to fasten. 2)Metal to metal seal adopts box
spherical surface to pin cylndrical surface. For this structure, the contact stress on seal surface does
not decline when the connection endures tensile load, bending load and temperature load. The
spherical surface doesn’t easy to be damaged because it is located in the box. 3) The torque shoulder is
reversed, the angle is 15°.

Fig.2 WSP-1T Fig.3 WSP-2T

WSP-2T
WSP-2T is suitable for ultradeep wells, extended-reach wells, high pressure gas wells. This
connection is the second premium connection of WSP company and allows much higher torque than
common API ones(The make-up torque is 3 times that of API ones), hence it can be used as rotation
cementing casing.. The structure of WSP-2T is shown in fig.3.
 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 744 55

WSP-2T has two-step torque shoulder and cone to cone metal seal structure. The two-step
shoulder ensures rugged, tolerant, high performance gas-tight connection even in critical
environments such as high compression, bending or fatigue resistance. Metal to metal radial seal is
reliable at high pressure and combined load. The metal to metal seal is to be protected by the two-step
shoulder. So the WSP-2T connection has excellent gas seal tightness property.
WSP-2T is characteristically low in stress too. These features make these connection has excellent
anti-galling performance. Resultant hoop stress due to make-up and internal pressure is kept below
specified minimum yield strength, a most desireable feature for sour environment
WSP-3T
WSP-3T is the third premium connection of WSP. This connection is mainly for solving the
technical problems of interchagebale with other premium connections. The most remarkable
characteristic of WSP-3T is that it is interchagebale with NEWVAM and HSC. The two connections
are widely used and occupy a large market share. The structure of WSP-3T is shown in fig.4.
The WSP-3T thread has a taper of 1:16.The metal to metal seal structure is transited by several
circular arcs. The main seal is cone to cone metal seal structure which provides excellent gas seal
property. And the reverse angle torque shoulder provides a positive torque stop,which allows for
accurate power tight make-up and minimizes hoop stresses in the connection.

Fig.4 WSP-3T Fig.5 WSP-FJ

WSP-FJ
WSP-FJ(FJ means flush joint) is a 100% inside and outside flush integral connection providing
maximum clearance with optimum strength for liners, moderate depth casing, and tight-hole tubing
strings. The main feature of this connection is that it is threaded on plain-end pipe with the OD of the
connection totally flush with the pipe body. The structure of WSP-FJ is shown in fig.5.
The thread load flank has a -9°reverse angle to resist jump out. The thread stabbing flank is
45°angle, thus it is suitable for fast, trouble free make-up.The connection has multiple seal system:
An external seal and an internal seal work independently of each other to achieve sealing against
annular and well bore pressures. This multiple seal arrangement ensures gas-tight sealing integrity to
100% of the rated burst and collapse of the pipe body.
The weakest point of WSP-FJ is its low connecing strength. It is designed for 50% to 65%
efficiency under tension.

WSP-HK
WSP-HK(HK means hook thread) is a threaded and coupled premium connection. It has excellent
resistance to bending and compression loads. The structure of this connection is shown in fig.6.
The thread is modified hook thread profile with -5° reverse angle on the load flank, not only
provides the connection with superior tension strength but also increases its resistance to compression
and bending. The structural makes WSP-HK useful in highly deviated and long horizontal wells.The
56 Advances in Material Science, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing

metal-to-metal seal is a newly patented taper to taper seal system which offers excellent gas tight
sealing even under severe combined loads, as encountered in deviated or long horizontal wells
applications.

Fig.6 WSP-HK Fig.7 WSP-IF

WSP-IF
WSP-IF(IF means internal flush) is similar to WSP-FJ and is a connection without coupling too.
However, the pin thread and box thread of WSP-IF is machined on a hot-forged upset and 100% pipe
body tension strength is produced by upset. The structure of WSP-IF is shown in fig.7.
The WSP-IF thread is two-step, non-interference thread style. Machining the threads on two
different diameters provides very deep stabbing for stable make-up alignment. The stress profile is
lower because the thread is divided into two parts. Superior galling resistance of the non-interference
thread profile has been proven by finite element simulation and the field application.
Metal-to-metal internal pressure seal is rated at 100% of the pipe body and the 100% external
pressure seal is created at the torque shoulder. High torque strength is provided by the 30° reverse
angle shoulder. The shoulder also provides excellent resistance to compression and bending loads.
WSP-BIG
WSP-BIG(BIG means big coarsepitch) is suitable for large dimension casing ranging from
406.4mm to 660.4mm. The structure of WSP-BIG is shown in fig.8.

Fig.8 WSP-BIG Fig.9 WSP-JT

WSP-BIG is a coupled connection and is suitable for offshore, desert drilling. It can be used such
as conduit pipe, surface casing etc. This design is easy to run and has no cross threading. WSP-BIG
has no metal to metal seal. The difference between this connection and API ones is its thread profile.
It is 3 teeth per inch(versus Buttress 5 teeth per inch). The taper is 1:7(versus Buttress 1:12). The
thread height is 2.5mm(versus Buttress 1.58mm).The Thread load flank is 0°angle to resist jump-out.
The thread stabbing flank is 45° angle, thus it is suitable for fast, trouble-free make-up. Meanwhile,
the tooth crown is parallel to the pipe axis. So the thread is easier to fasten.
 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 744 57

WSP-JT
WSP-JT has high capacity performance and a simplified servicing design. The most remarkable
characteristic of WSP-JT is that it is interchagebale with API connections. This connection offers a
power-tight, high-torque design and can be used for multilateral programs, tubing work stings and
other applications. The structure of this connection is shown in fig.9.
For WSP-JT, the two extend pin noses occupy the open J area of the API connection. This design
lets the pin ends shoulder push together for high torque, power-tight make up.WSP-JT has different
thread pitch in field side and factory side. The pitch in field side is exactly same as API thread. Hence
the field side thread of WSP-JT can be fully interchangeable with API thread. However, the thread
pitch in factory side is samller than the field side, so that it can prevent the factory side thread from
breaking-out when the field side thread being made up.
In general, table 1 summarizes the design features of the WSP premium threaded connections.

Table 1 Design feature and resulting improvement

Design feature Resulting improvement
Increased tensile capacity
Negative load flank angle on thread Increased bending capacity
Increased external pressure capacity
Optimized gap between stabbing flanks on
Increased resistance to compression loads
pin and box threads
Different corner radius on load flanks on
Increased resistance to galling
pin and box threads
Different load flank angles on pin and box Increased external pressure capacity
threads Increased resistance to galling
Fast make-up and increased resistance to
Larger angle on thread stabbing flank
cross threading

Conclusions
The development of premium threaded connections for OCTG in China still need to do a lot of work.
Some domestic OCTG production enterprises need to form premium connection products series of
their own and to form their own brand. We should produce more high performance OCTG, meet the
needs of the domestic market, and strive to entre the international market as soon as possible.

References
[1] API Specification 5B: Specification for Threading, Gauging and Thread Inspection of Casing,
Tubing, and Line Pipe Threads, 5th Edition, 2008.
[2] GAO Lian-xin SHI Jiao-qi: Recent situation and future of premium tubing/casing connections.
Oil field equipment, 2008,37(2):15-19
[3] Mallenhalli, Nandakumar K. Method determines leak resistance of 8-round thread. Oil and gas
journal, 1992,90(3):51-53
[4] Guangjie,Yuan, Zhengqiang Yao, etc. Numerical and experimental distribution of temperature
and stress fields in API round threaded connection. Engineering failure analysis,
2006,13(8):1275-1284
[5] M.Sugino: Development of an innovative high-performance premium threaded connection for
OCTG. OTC paper 20734, Houston, May 2010
Advances in Material Science, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.744

Development of Premium Threaded Connections for Casing and Tubing

10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.744.53

DOI References
[4] Guangjie, Yuan, Zhengqiang Yao, etc. Numerical and experimental distribution of temperature and stress
fields in API round threaded connection. Engineering failure analysis, 2006, 13(8): 1275-1284.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2005.11.006