Recommended Practice on Procedures for Testing Casing and Tubing Connections

ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 5C5 THIRD EDITION, JULY 2003

REAFFIRMED, AUGUST 2010

ISO 13679:2002 (Identical), Petroleum and natural gas industries—Procedures for testing casing and tubing connections

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Copyright © 2003 American Petroleum Institute

API Foreword

This standard is under the jurisdiction of the API Standards Subcommittee on Tubular Goods (API C1/SC5). This API standard is identical with the English version of ISO 13769:2002. ISO 13679 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries, SC 5, Casing, Tubing, and Drilling Pipe.

This standard shall become effective on the date printed on the cover but may be used voluntarily from the date of publication.

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Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Upstream Segment, API, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Contents Page

API Foreword ii

Foreword vi

Introduction vii

1. Scope 1

2. Normative references 1

3. Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms 2

   1. Terms and definitions 2

   2. Symbols and abbreviated terms 4

4. General requirements 8

   1. Connection geometry, test load envelope and performance data sheet 8

   2. Quality control 9

5. General test requirements 9

   1. Test classes 9

   2. Test matrix 10

   3. Test programme 14

   4. Calibration and accreditation requirements 15

   5. Rehearsal tests 16

   6. Material property tests 16

   7. Make-up and break-out procedures 17

   8. Internal pressure leak detection 18

   9. Internal pressure leak trap device 18

   10. External pressure leak detection 25

   11. Data acquisition and test methods 28

   12. Thermal cycling tests 30

6. Connection test specimen preparation 32

   1. General connection test objectives 32

   2. Connection test specimen identification and marking 33

   3. Connection test specimen preparation 33

   4. Connection test specimen machining 35

   5. Machining tolerances 36

   6. Tolerance limits on machining objectives 37

   7. Grooved torque shoulder 37

7. Test procedures 38

   1. Principle 38

   2. Make-up/break-out tests 38

   3. Test load envelope tests 40

   4. Limit load tests 52

   5. Limit load test path (see Figures 18 and 19) 55

8. Acceptance criteria 57

   1. Make-up and break-out tests 57

   2. Test load envelope tests 58

   3. Limit load tests 58

9. Test reports 59

Annex A (normative) Connection geometry and performance data sheet 60

Annex B (informative) Connection test load envelope and limit loads 67

Annex C (normative) Data forms 85

Annex D (normative) Connection full test report 115

Annex E (normative) Connection testing summary report 118

Annex F (informative) Frame load range determination 121

Annex G (informative) Interpolation and extrapolation considerations 122

Annex H (informative) Special application testing 124

Annex I (informative) Rationale for design basis 130

Annex J (normative) Independent seal testing of connections with metal-to-metal and resilient seals 133

Bibliography 139

Table 1 — Test matrix — Test series and specimen identification numbers 11

Table 2 — Connection test specimen objectives for all CAL 32

Table 3 — Guidelines for selecting connection test specimens for testing a metal-to-metal

sealing, tapered thread connection with a torque shoulder 33

Table 4 — Tolerance limits on machining objectives 36

Table 5 — Specimen description and summary of test series for a metal-to-metal sealing, tapered thread connection with a torque shoulder 38

Table 6 — Test Series A load steps (see Figures 13 or 14, as applicable) — Testing in quadrants I,

II, III, IV (no bending) at ambient temperature 42

Table 7 — Test Series B load steps without bending for connection rated equal to pipe body

(see Figure 15) — Testing in quadrants I and II without bending at ambient temperature 46

Table 8 — Test Series B load steps with bending for connection rated equal to pipe body

(see Figure 16) — Testing in quadrants I and II with bending at ambient temperature 47

Table A.1 — Connection geometry and performance property data sheet 61

Table A.2 — Example Series A test load envelope for a connection rated equal to pipe body — 178 mm D  10,16 mm wall thickness  grade P-110 (7 in 29 lb/ft P-110) strength

(see Figure A.1) 62

Table A.3 — Detailed load steps 63

Table B.1 — Areas and dimensions 70

Table B.2 — Required dimensions for critical cross-section computation 84

Table F.1 — Typical results from frame load range determination (200 kN to 2 000 kN) 121

Figure 1 — Connection application level test programme 12

Figure 2 — Collared leak trap device for internal pressure leak detection 19

Figure 3 — Flexible boot leak trap device for internal pressure leak detection 20

Figure 4 — Ported box leak trap device for internal pressure leak detection 20

Figure 5 — Internal pressure leak detection by bubble method 22

Figure 6 — Example of a plot for determining leak detection sensitivity 23

Figure 7 — Leak detection by helium mass spectrometer method 24

Figure 8 — Example set-up for Test Series A 25

Figure 9 — Example of leak detection system for Test Series A 26

Figure 10 — Test Series C thermal/mechanical cycles for CAL II, III, and IV 30

Figure 11 — Connection test specimen nomenclature and unsupported length 34

Figure 12 — Torque shoulder pressure bypassing grooves 37

Figure 13 — Test Series A load path for connection rated greater than or equal to pipe body

in compression 44

Figure 14 — Test Series A load path for connection rated less than pipe body in compression 45

Figure 15 — Test Series B load paths without bending for connection rated equal to pipe body 49

Figure 16 — Test Series B load paths with bending for connection rated equal to pipe body 50

Figure 17 — Test Series B load paths for connection rated less than pipe body in compression

and with bending 51

Figure 18 — Limit load test paths for connections rated equal to or stronger than pipe body 53

Figure 19 — Limit load test paths for connections weaker than pipe body 54

Figure B.1 — Pipe body and connection test load envelopes at specified dimensions 68

Figure C.1 — Recommended layout of mother joints for test and material specimens 86

Figure G.1 — Example premium connection design space 123

Figure J.1 — Ported box leak trap device for internal pressure leak detection showing

modifications for resilient seal 135

Figure J.2 — Connection acceptance levels with resilient seal ring 136

Figure J.3 — Alternative testing sequence for a connection with metal-to-metal (MTM) and

resilient seal (RS) features 138

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 13679 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, Subcommittee SC 5, Casing, tubing and drill pipe.

Introduction

This International Standard is part of a process to provide reliable tubing and casing connections for the oil and natural gas industry which are fit for purpose. It has been developed based on improvements to API Recommended Practice 5C5 and proprietary test procedures, with input from leading users, manufacturers and testing consultants from around the world. This International Standard represents the knowledge of many years of testing and qualification experiences.

The validation of connection test load envelope and failure limit loads is relevant to design of tubing and casing for the oil and natural gas industries. Tubing and casing are subject to loads which include internal pressure, external pressure, axial tension, axial compression, bending, torsion, transverse forces and temperature changes. The magnitude and combination of these loads result in various pipe body and connection failure modes. Although pipe body test and limit loads are well understood in general, the same cannot be stated for the connection. These failure modes and loads are generally different and often less than that of the pipe. Consequently experimental validation is required. Well design matches the test and limit loads of both the connection and pipe to the well conditions to provide load capacities with suitable reliability.

The validation of test and limit loads requires testing at the extremes of performance parameters to these defined loads. Testing at the extremes of the performance parameters assures that the production population, which falls within these limits, will meet or exceed the performance of the test population. Thread connection performance parameters include dimensional tolerances, mechanical properties, surface treatment, make-up torque and the type and amount of thread compound. For typical proprietary connections, worst-case tolerances are known and defined in this International Standard. For other connections design analysis is required to define worst-case tolerance combinations.

Users of this International Standard should be aware that further or differing requirements might be needed for individual applications. This International Standard is not intended to inhibit a vendor from offering, or a purchaser from accepting, alternate equipment or engineering solutions for the individual application. This may be particularly applicable when there is innovative or developing technology. Where an alternative is offered, the vendor should identify any variations from this International Standard and provide details.

This International Standard consists of the following major parts. Based on manufacturer's-supplied data specified in Annex A and/or calculations in Annex B, tests are conducted in accordance with Clauses 4 to 8 and reported on the data forms given in Annex C. Annex D lists all the information that is to be provided in the full report whereas Annex E lists the information that is to be provided in a summary test report. This summary test report lists the minimum information necessary to fully specify the connection tested and its preparation is intended for broader distribution. Annex F gives an example of a load frame calibration. Annex G gives considerations for possible connection product line qualification. Annex H provides guidelines for supplemental tests, which may be required for special applications. Annex I gives the design rationale for this International Standard. Annex J gives requirements for connections that contain both a metal-to-metal seal and a resilient seal which are tested separately.

Supplementary tests may be appropriate for specific applications that are not evaluated by the tests herein. The user and manufacturer should discuss well applications and limitations of the connection being considered.

Representatives of users and/or other third party personnel are encouraged to monitor the tests. ISO 13679 covers the testing of connections for the most commonly encountered well conditions. Not all possible service scenarios are included. For example, the presence of a corrosive fluid, which may influence the service performance of a connection, is not considered.

This International Standard includes provisions of various nature. These are identified by the use of certain verbal forms:

• SHALL is used to indicate that a provision is a REQUIREMENT, i.e. MANDATORY;

  
  

  vii

• SHOULD is used to indicate that a provision is a RECOMMENDATION to be used as good practice, but is not mandatory;

  
  

• MAY is used to indicate that a provision is OPTIONAL, i.e. indicates a course of action permissible within the limits of the document;

  
  

• CAN is used to indicate statements of POSSIBILITY and CAPABILITY.

Petroleum and natural gas industries — Procedures for testing casing and tubing connections

1. Scope

   
   

   This International Standard establishes minimum design verification testing procedures and acceptance criteria for casing and tubing connections for the oil and natural gas industries. These physical tests are part of a design verification process and provide objective evidence that the connection conforms to the manufacturer's claimed test load envelope and limit loads.

   
   

   It categorizes test severity into four test classes.

   
   

   It describes a system of identification codes for connections.

   
   

   This International Standard does not provide the statistical basis for risk analysis.

   
   

   This International Standard addresses only three of the five distinct types of primary loads to which casing and tubing strings are subjected in wells: fluid pressure (internal and/or external), axial force (tension or compression), bending (buckling and/or wellbore deviation), as well as make-up torsion. It does not address rotation torsion and non-axisymetric (area, line or point contact) loads.

   
   

   This International Standard specifies tests to be performed to determine the galling tendency, sealing performance and structural integrity of casing and tubing connections. The words casing and tubing apply to the service application and not to the diameter of the pipe.

   
   

2. Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 3183-1, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Steel pipe for pipelines — Technical delivery conditions — Part 1: Pipes of requirement class A

ISO 3183-2, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Steel pipe for pipelines — Technical delivery conditions — Part 2: Pipes of requirements class B

ISO 3183-3, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Steel pipe for pipelines — Technical delivery conditions — Part 3: Pipes of requirement class C

ISO 10400:1993, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Formulae and calculation for casing, tubing, drill pipe, and line pipe properties

ISO 10422, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Threading, gauging and thread inspection of casing, tubing and line pipe threads

ISO 11960, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Steel pipes for use as casing or tubing for wells

ISO 13680, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Corrosion-resistant alloy seamless tubes for use as casing, tubing and coupling stock — Technical delivery conditions