Thread Inspection Services: 105M+ Feet Inspected Since 2020

This requires experienced personnel who understand both the physical condition of the connection and the makeup process. Inspectors identify visible damage, confirm the connection has been properly prepared, monitor makeup performance, recognize abnormal torque-turn results, and address potential concerns before the connection becomes part of the well.

Since 2020, Superior Performance has inspected more than 105 million feet of casing and tubing across a wide range of premium, semi-premium, and API connections.

That represents nearly 20,000 miles of tubulars inspected and prepared by field personnel who understand what it takes to support a safe, efficient, and successful casing or tubing running operation.

In this article:

1. What Is Thread Inspection?
2. Why Is Thread Inspection Important?
3. Monitoring Connection Makeup
4. How Much Casing and Tubing Has Superior Performance Inspected?
5. OEM Footage Breakdown
6. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Thread Inspection?

Thread inspection is the process of evaluating, preparing, and monitoring casing and tubing connections before and during the running operation.

The process begins with a detailed visual inspection of the pin and box connections. Inspectors evaluate the threads, metal-to-metal sealing surfaces, connection IDs, and surrounding areas for damage or conditions that could affect proper makeup or sealing performance.

However, the service does not stop after the connection has been visually accepted.

The connection must also be properly cleaned, prepared, doped, handled, stabbed, and made up in accordance with the applicable OEM requirements and customer procedures. During makeup, trained personnel monitor the connection to help verify that torque, turns, rotation speeds, shoulder engagement, and other applicable parameters remain within the required specifications.

A connection can appear visually acceptable and still experience a makeup problem if it is improperly cleaned, contaminated, incorrectly doped, cross-threaded, rotated too quickly, or made up outside the required parameters.

For this reason, Superior Performance approaches thread inspection as a complete connection-quality process rather than a single visual check.

Why Is Thread Inspection Important?

Every connection in a casing or tubing string contributes to the overall integrity and performance of the well.

Damage to the threads or sealing surfaces can prevent a connection from achieving the proper seal. Improper preparation or makeup can also affect connection performance, even when no obvious visual damage is present.

A complete thread inspection and makeup-monitoring process helps reduce several major operational risks:

• Connection leaks caused by damaged or improperly prepared sealing surfaces

• Improper makeup caused by galling, cross-threading, contamination, or incorrect thread compound application

• Connections made up outside the applicable torque, turn, or rotation-speed requirements

• Rejected torque-turn graphs and unnecessary connection breakouts

• Rig downtime caused by problems that could have been identified earlier

• Potential damage caused by improper pipe handling or connection stabbing

Identifying these issues before or during makeup allows the operator and service team to stop, inspect, troubleshoot, and correct the problem before the connection becomes part of the well..

Monitoring Connection Makeup

Proper connection makeup is one of the most important parts of the thread inspection process.

During makeup, the connection must be monitored to help ensure it is assembled within the applicable OEM specifications. Depending on the connection design, this may include monitoring:

• Makeup torque

• Delta torque

• Total turns

• Delta turns

• Shoulder engagement

• Rotation speed

• Makeup position

• Torque-turn graph shape

• Final torque

• Abnormal spikes, drops, or irregular graph behavior

The torque-turn graph provides a record of how the connection behaved during makeup. Experienced personnel review this information to identify abnormal results that may indicate contamination, galling, cross-threading, equipment issues, improper stabbing, excessive speed, or another concern.

When a connection falls outside the required parameters, operations should stop so the connection can be evaluated. Depending on the situation, this may involve breaking out the connection, reinspecting the pin and box, troubleshooting the equipment or process, and remaking the connection.

Monitoring the makeup process helps ensure that a visually acceptable connection is also assembled correctly.

How Much Casing and Tubing Has Superior Performance Inspected?

Superior Performance has inspected a total of 105,236,746.56 feet of casing and tubing since 2020.

This experience includes premium, semi-premium, and API connections used throughout land, offshore, drilling, completion, workover, and other tubular operations.

The footage represents more than the number of joints visually inspected. It reflects years of experience preparing connections, monitoring makeups, reviewing torque-turn results, communicating concerns, and helping customers address issues before they affect the running operation.

With nearly 20,000 miles of casing and tubing inspected, Superior Performance has developed the practical field experience needed to recognize potential connection concerns and respond quickly when something does not look or perform as expected.

OEM Footage Breakdown

Here's the breakdown of inspected footage by manufacturer since 2020:

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Schedule Thread Inspection on Your Next String?

Superior Performance is a certified partner for GB CD thread inspection and 12 other OEM connections. Contact us to book thread inspection services, source rental tools, products, and other services, or request the full equipment and services catalog.

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About Superior Performance

Superior Performance is a leader in the premium tubular business. Our knowledge of rig operations lets us prevent problems and offer products that avoid downtime at the rig site. Our services include: Multi-Service Provider, Rental Tools, Power Equipment. We also offer thread inspection services, casing I.D. caliper, and Laser Tally. 

Our team provides drilling contractors and operators with construction services covering most work scopes associated with rig and drilling packages, upgrades, refurbishment, and repair.