High performance shoulder ring for pipe and other tubular goods in the oil and gas industry

Abstract

A coupled pipe connection system may include a coupling with internal threads adapted for joining two pipe sections by threaded engagement of external pipe threads with the internal coupling threads. A torque ring may be disposed within the coupling and between the first pipe and the second pipe. The torque ring may an outer cylindrical surface, at least a portion of which may include a plurality of tapered threads engaged with and tapered to match a mid-length axial section/J-space of the inner threads of the coupling. Annular faces of the torque ring may be beveled inwardly or outwardly and adapted for mating engagement with corresponding beveled annular faces of the pipe ends. Torque rings of gradually decreasing axial lengths may be incrementally swapped out as the number of make-up cycles increases. Couplings having internal shoulders of gradually decreasing axial lengths may be used instead of torque rings.