Vetco Gray Inc.

Thomas Lowell Steen

Joseph W Pallini

Stephen David Peters

David Lawrence Ford

Daniel Caleb Benson

William Rey Patterson, Jr

Jeffrey Allen Raynal

Baozhi Zhu

Kevin Edward O'Dell

John Edward Nelson

Nicholas Peter Gette

Xichang Zhang

Chau Hoang

Christopher Loftin

Benjamin Michael Snyder

Ebony LaShaun Towns

Micah Antonio Thomas, Jr

Roberto Jose Manzano

Joseph William Pallini

William Rey Patterson Jr

A connection is established between a pin connector and a box connector defined on a pair of tubular members such as casing segments in the field of oil and gas recovery. The pin connector and box connector include features for the protection of metallic-sealing surfaces during assembly, disassembly, transport and handling of the tubular members. The pin connector includes a stabbing flank with an inwardly tapered annular flank surface thereon, and an alignment protrusion extending outward with respect to the pin-side metallic sealing surface in a direction normal to a cone angle defined by the inwardly tapered annular flank surface. The alignment protrusion engages internal surfaces of the box connector to concentrically align the pin connector with the box connector, and thereby protects the metallic sealing surfaces from damage that might otherwise result from collisions between the pin connector and the box connector.

Alignment guide feature for metal to metal seal protection on mechanical connections and couplings

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for characterizing a threaded coupling such as between two tubular members, e.g., casing segments employed in the field of oil and gas recovery. In one embodiment, a virtual model of the coupling is generated, and the virtual model is re-arranged to simulate plastic deformation of at least part of the coupling. The re-arranged model is analyzed to derive a stress/strain distribution of the coupling subject to subsequent loading, and an SAF (stress amplification factor) is determined from the analysis that reflects the effect of cyclic loading of the coupling. The method facilitates a thorough assessment of the performance of the coupling in fatigue.

Stress amplification factor analysis methodology for assessing fatigue performance of threaded connectors

A key assembly is press fit into an annular space between a box and pin member to resist relative rotation of the box and pin members. The key assembly includes wedge like members that contact one another along complementary tapered surfaces, and when in contact generate radial forces into the box and pin member to secure the connection between the box and pin. The outer wedge is inserted first into the annular space between the box and pin members, and has rows of elongate teeth that project radially outward into contact with an inner surface of the box member. Because the outer wedge is pushed radially outward against the box member rather than axially sliding therebetween, the teeth protrude into the surface of the box member thereby increasing the anti-rotation force created by the outer wedge.

Anti-rotation wedge

A system for joining pipe segments, the system including a first pipe connector connected to a first pipe segment, and a second pipe connector threadingly connectable to the first pipe connector, and connected to a second pipe segment. The system further includes a recess in the outer surface of the first pipe connector, and an elongated key having first and second lengthwise surfaces. One of the lengthwise surfaces has protrusions that embed into a transverse surface of the second pipe connector when the key is mounted into the recess. The thickness of the key decreases with distance radially inward from the outer surface.

Threaded connector locking device

A pipe connection includes a pin having external threads and a box having internal threads. A circumferentially extending row of pin teeth are located on an exterior portion of the pin. A slot extends through a side wall of the box. A key is carried in the slot, the key having a row of key teeth that mate with the pin teeth. The key is mounted to the box such that a movable portion of the key is radially movable relative to the box between radially outward and radially inward positions. The key is biased toward the inward position, so that the key teeth ratchet on the pin teeth during make-up of the pin and the box. The key and pin teeth have a saw-tooth configuration to resist unscrewing rotation of the pin and the box. The key may be an integral part of the side wall of the box or a separate component.

Ratcheting anti-rotation lock for threaded connectors

An anti-rotation system for use in retaining a threaded connection between a pin and a box. The anti-rotation system includes a key that sets in a recess formed in one of the box or pin. The key is selectively in contact with one of the other of the box or pin, and is activated when the threaded connection begins to decouple. The key is profiled and operates in a cam like fashion to wedge itself between the box and pin when these members begin to decouple and prevents further relative rotation.

Anti-rotation system for box and pin connection

A broach style anti-rotation device for connected tubular members is described. In embodiments, the broach tool is inserted into a slot in an outer diameter surface of the pin, and teeth of the broach, which have a successively greater height when moving from the front to the tail of the broach, cut a slot in a surface of the box. Sidewalls of the broach and its teeth engage shoulders of each slot to prevent the rotation of the tubular members relative to each other.

Broach style anti rotation device for connectors

Garden stake

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Thomas Lowell Steen