Grant Prideco has introduced TurboTorque rotary-shouldered connections, a new solution for harsh drilling environments. It is designed specifically to deliver superior performance in deepwater, ultra-deep, extended reach, HP/HT, and horizontal wells.
TurboTorque is the industry’s first rotary-shouldered connection to offer a double-start thread and a taper that is fully optimized for each product size.
According to the company, eXtreme Torque (XT) connections have met demanding drilling requirements for years. “Now operators can get measurably improved performance with new TurboTorque connections,” says Randall Edwards, GrantPrideco’s senior VP, sales and marketing, drilling products and services division.
“TurboTorque connections are the industry’s first line of connections designed to meet the specific and different needs of each pipe size. Rather than designing one thread form and extrapolating upwards and downwards throughout the product line, we took a ‘one size does not fit all’ approach and engineered multiple connection designs to meet the different needs of each pipe size.
“The TurboTorque family of connections features a proprietary double-start thread form that reduces revolutions from stab to makeup by at least 50% to significantly cut drilling time and costs.”
In addition to faster makeup and breakout speeds, the product’s connections deliver increased torque capacity, optimized hydraulics, improved clearance and fishability, reduced risk of failure, and extended life. Its connections also provide better mechanical and hydraulic performance than XT connections, yet they run as fast as or faster than API connections.
The TurboTorque family of connections was thoroughly engineered and tested to validate design and performance across all sizes. Tests included finite element analysis, stress concentration factor (SCF) determination, torque to yield, multiple make and break, comparative fatigue testing, and multiple field trials.
“TurboTorque connections deliver radically faster make-up and breakout speeds, resulting in more efficient rig operations,” says Edwards. “For those unusual drilling situations, a unique ‘torque on demand’ feature can deliver an additional 8% of torque capacity when needed. Coupled with optimized hydraulics, a more streamlined profile, improved fatigue resistance and extended life, we believe that TurboTorque will enable the successful completion of world-class wells while delivering operational savings.”
