Saves time, Cuts costIncreases torque capacityOptimizes hydraulicsImproves clearance and fishabilityReduces risk of failureExtends lifeNOV Grant Prideco's industry-leading eXtreme® Torque (XT®) connections have been meeting the requirements of the most challenging drilling applications for years. These patented connections have proven especially well suited for extended reach, horizontal, deep water, HPHT and ultra-deep environments. Now, NOV Grant Prideco introduces a new line of connections intended to drill deeper and further, faster than ever before.
TurboTorque connections are the industry's first family of connections designed to meet the specific and different needs of each pipe size.
All TurboTorque connections feature a proprietary double-start thread form, making them radically faster than competitive connections.
TurboTorque's unique design reduces revolutions from stab to makeup by at least 50% to significantly cut drilling time and costs. Other benefits include increased torque capacity, optimized hydraulics, increased clearance and fishability, reduced risk of failure and extended life. Simply put, TurboTorque provides improved performance compared to XT, yet runs as fast or faster than API connections.
TurboTorque connections have been thoroughly engineered and tested to validate both design and performance. Tests included finite element analysis, torque-to-yield, multiple make and break, comparative fatigue testing and several field trials.
TurboTorque®Running Procedures
TurboTorque® and TurboTorque®-M Field Inspection Procedure
TurboTorque® and TurboTorque®-M Field Inspection Drawings
TurboTorque™ Design Philosophy
For over 25 years, NOV Grant Prideco has taken the lead in the development of rotary-shouldered connections. The double-shouldered HI-TORQUE® (HT) connection is still a high-performance workhorse of the drilling industry. Even so, the HT design was based on API thread forms, ultimately limiting performance. The XT® design departed from the constraints of API with an improved thread form and reduced taper. This design optimization resulted in additional improvements in torque capacity and streamlined profiles. For completions, under-balanced drilling (UBD) and other pressure sensitive operations, the Grant Prideco® XT-MTM connection provided the industry’s first pressure rated rotaryshouldered connection.
Still leading the industry, NOV Grant Prideco has further refined the development and optimization of rotaryshouldered connection design. TurboTorque connections are the industry’s first rotary-shouldered connections that are designed to meet the specific and different needs of each individual pipe size. Taking a “one size does not fit all” approach, the TurboTorque product line is composed of four distinct configurations, optimized to best meet some very specific objectives.
Historically, connections have been weak in comparison to the pipe body for the smallest sizes of drill pipe ranging from 2-3/8 to 2-7/8 inch diameter. In such a case, design must be focused on maximizing tension and torque capacity with secondary emphasis on larger inside diameters for improved hydraulics. Less important is speed of makeup.
For 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inch sizes, connection torque capacity is of primary importance. The common use of these sizes makes speed of makeup more desirable than incremental hydraulic gains.
The typical tool joint to pipe body torque and tension ratios for 5 to 5-7/8 inch sizes are relatively balanced. These sizes are commonly used offshore and in higher profile projects. Design must focus on speed of makeup and streamlined connection profiles for increased hydraulic performance.
For the large 6-5/8 inch pipe size commonly run in elevated spread rate projects such as deep water, speed of makeup is a primary design objective. In addition, make-up torques can be excessive, at times surpassing the capacity of the rig equipment. Design parameters must be balanced to reduce the make-up torque and improve hydraulic performance.
