Short Bolting Issues John Newhouse MidCon - Arkoma
Arkoma May 7, 2008 API RP All pipe fittings, valves, and unions placed on or connected with blowout prevention equipment, well casing, casinghead, drill pipe, or tubing and exposed to well pressure shall have a working pressure rating equal to or greater than the maximum anticipated well surface pressure. The BOP stack and related riser connections should not be short bolted (not less than three threads showing) and should be checked for properly torqued bolts. Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations
Arkoma May 7, 2008 Basis of Standard Bolt thread must protrude through entire nut for full strength to be realized Short bolting increases risk of failure by way of thread stripping First 1 or 2 pitches of the thread are typically partially formed because of a chamfer Extra three threads allows for only full-strength threads to be engaged with nut API’s recommendation of three threads is conservative − Allows sloppiness in makeup
Arkoma May 7, 2008 Effect of Chamfer Chamfer reduces integrity of first thread Full thread profile Images:
Arkoma May 7, 2008 Bolts below the double rams on BOP Stack Bonnet Bolts on the rams on BOP Stack BOP
Arkoma May 7, Choke
Arkoma May 7, 2008 Choke
Arkoma May 7, 2008 API RP 54
Arkoma May 7, 2008 High Pressure Non-BOP
Arkoma May 7, 2008 High Pressure Non-BOP
Arkoma May 7, 2008 Low Pressure