Importance

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Abstract

Make-up of a pipe section and coupling to form a tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque is automatically controlled. The coupling is first rotated onto the pipe section to a hand-tight position and the length of the coupling and the distance from the open end of the coupling to the pin end of the pipe section are measured by a digital measuring device which inputs these measurements to a computer. The number of turns of the coupler required to attain optimum stand-off is calculated by the computer. The pipe section is held stationary and power tongs rotate the coupling further onto the pipe section while the applied torque and the number of turns are measured and provided as inputs to the computer. The computer determines that the made up tubular joint is acceptable or not acceptable during the rotation by determining if the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range at the same time that the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range.

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First Claim