OCTG and drill pipe inspections are a vital part of the oil and gas industry. Therefore, regular and thorough inspections are necessary to make sure all equipment meets the criteria for the given job. Inspections also help to avert any future problems resulting from or contributing to damaged tubulars.
Why Inspections Matter
OCTG and drill pipe inspections are an essential component of the drilling process. Periodic inspections ensure that drilling operations are safe and problem-free.
It’s important to discover issues before they pose a problem. Inspections help identify potential problems before they cause costly equipment damage and worker injuries. Inspections also help to prevent leaks from damaged OCTG and their negative impact on the environment.
A cracked drill pipe or damaged thread can have a catastrophic impact on a drilling project, not just concerning repair costs but also downtime and lost revenue. Thorough inspections are important to keep a drilling operation up and running over the long term. It’s a matter of cost, operational efficiency, environmental protection, and safety.
What’s Involved in an Inspection?
OCTG inspections are based on several key industry standards. For example, consider the following:
- API RP 5B1 (casing, tubing, and line pipe threads)
- The API RP 7-2 (rotary shouldered thread connections)
- API RP 7G-2 (drill stem elements)
- Also, the API Spec 5B (casing, tubing, and line pipe threads)
- API Spec 7-1 (rotary drill stem elements)
- DS-1 Volume 3 (drill stems)
- NS-2 (drill strings)
Drill pipe inspections ensure that the dimensions and tolerances for all tubulars comply with these requirements.
Likewise, inspectors try to utilize non-destructive testing (NDT) as much as possible to minimize disruption to equipment and operations. High-stress areas get extra attention. Inspectors typically combine visual inspections with techniques involving ultrasonic, electromagnetic, magnetic particle, thermographic, radiographic, microwave, acoustic, and laser shearography technologies.
What Do Inspectors Look For?
Inspectors look for anything that isn’t to specifications or that might indicate future problems. For instance, this includes:
- Cracks in threads, box connections, and outside upsets
- Galled, pulled, or over-torqued threads
- Also, seal damage
- Pitting, corrosion, dents, and other damage
- Lastly, connection washouts
API Inspection Levels
Different types of projects require different levels of inspection. These levels include:
- Standard inspection – for low-risk projects and those with a low operating life
- Moderate inspection – for projects with medium risk and standard operating life
- Critical inspection – for high-risk projects and those with a long operating life
- Extreme inspection – for projects with very high risk and very long operating life
NOV Tuboscope Provides OCTG and Drill Pipe Inspections
MSI Pipe Protection Technologies is an NOV Tuboscope company that offers a variety of pipe protection equipment. Therefore, we design our protective products to help companies pass all the necessary OCTG inspections. We also strictly manufacture our products in accordance with ISO certifications and API standards. The combination of Tuboscope’s renowned pipe inspection service with our adherence to product quality assurance is always to your benefit. Overall, this positions us to continue protecting your critical assets while also maintaining your ability to deliver protected pipe.
For orders and information on pipe protection products for your OCTG investments, speak to an expert today at 877-276-9208. We’re committed to helping you deliver protected pipe, all day, every day.
