Troubleshooting

Bad positioning of tongs on break-out (gripping thin section of box)

Ensure that tong free area on box connection is respected

False break-out torque reading (torquing equipment calibration)

Make sure that torquing equipment is calibrated

Downhole make-up (downhole dynamics, likely combined with improper make-up)

• Check bottom-hole assembly tool dynamic recording (if available)

• Use downhole make-up search technique (see section below)

• Increase make-up torque (if not at maximum accounting for dope friction factor)

• Follow 5 points of "insufficient torque applied" (see below)

Insufficient torque applied during run-in-hole

• Check torquing equipment calibration (lower than expected make-up can lead to downhole torquing)

• Confirm what the recommended (max) make-up torque is (performance sheet)

• Apply recommended make-up torque (accounting for thread compound friction factor)

• Respect the tong-free area on box connection

• Monitor make-up torque on next run-in-hole and break-out torque on next pull-out-of-hole

Suspected connection damage

Get inspection company to confirm

False make-up torque (torquing equipment calibration, gripping thin section of box)

• Check torquing equipment calibration

• Check that clamping pressure is not excessive

• Confirm what the recommended (max) make-up torque is (performance sheet)

• Apply recommended make-up torque (accounting for thread compound friction factor)

• Respect the tong-free area on box connection

• Monitor make-up torque on next run-in-hole and break-out torque on next pull-out-of-hole

False break-out torque reading (torquing equipment calibration, IRN not capable of giving break-out torque reading)

• Check torquing equipment capability to give break-out torque

• Check torquing equipment calibration

• Respect the tong-free area on box connection

Downhole dynamics (likely combined with improper make-up)

• Check bottom-hole assembly tool dynamic recording (if available)

• Check torquing equipment calibration

• Check that clamping pressure is not excessive

• Confirm what the recommended (max) make-up torque is (performance sheet)

• Apply recommended make-up torque (accounting for thread compound friction factor) and increase make-up torque (if feasible)

• Respect the tong-free area on box connection

• Monitor make-up torque on next run-in-hole and break-out torque on next pull-out-of-hole

Pitting: lack of protection by thread compound, no application on sealing shoulders

• Make sure shoulders receive thread compound

• Make sure protectors are clean

Galling: lack of compound application, contamination of compound

• Make sure shoulders receive thread compound

• Check condition of saver sub

• Make sure that joints with galled shoulders are segregated and repaired

Micro-washout: insufficient pressure on shoulders, presence of contaminant, out of length connection

• Check compound is not contaminated (by foreign material)

• Make sure brush hair is not falling off

• Make sure recommended make-up torque is applied

Pitting: lack of protection by thread compound (compound breaking by drilling/completion fluid)

• Make sure connections receive 100% coverage of thread compound

• Make sure protectors are clean

• Make sure dope is compatible with drilling fluid

Galling: lack of compound application, contamination of compound

• Make sure that joints with galled shoulders are segregated and repaired

• Check condition of saver sub

• Make sure connections receive 100% coverage of thread compound

Connection Washout

• Remove impacted connection from service (look for other connection to confirm limited damage)

• Check connection length (stretch or compression)

• Check torquing equipment calibration

• Check that clamping pressure is not excessive

• Confirm what the recommended (max) make-up torque is (performance sheet)

• Apply recommended make-up torque (accounting for thread compound friction factor)

• Respect the tong-free area on box connection

• Monitor make-up torque on next run-in-hole & confirm issue is fixed