Operational Guideline FSOG 13-005 Rev01

10th February 2014

Recommended Guidelines for the Field

Inspection of TenarisHydril Connections
1 Scope
The purpose of this document is to provide a general guideline for the visual inspection of
TenarisHydril connections. These guidelines are for use solely in an operational field
environment and are not to be applied to newly manufactured product.
2 References
 TenarisHydril Running Manual (RM)
 API Specification 5CT
 API Recommended Practice 5A5
All reference documentation should be latest editions.
3 Qualified Personnel
Personnel authorised to utilise and apply the guidelines contained within this document are:
 Tenaris Field Service Specialists (FSS) qualified to the required experience level.
 Licensee or other third party trained personnel approved by Tenaris.
Tenaris will take no responsibility for the misinterpretation or misapplication of these
guidelines by non Tenaris personnel.
4 Introduction
In order to ensure a consistent application of a visual inspection criteria for TenarisHydril
connections in the field the following guidelines are recommended. These guidelines are
generic in their nature, if more detailed inspection or field repair is required a qualified
Tenaris field service specialist should be employed. Only Tenaris qualified personnel are
authorised to field repair any TenarisHydril connection.
5 Preparation and Cleaning
Any pipe to be inspected should be laid out in a single tier on racks of sufficient height to
allow safe and comfortable cleaning and visual inspection of the connections.
There must be sufficient space on the rack to allow each joint of pipe to be rolled at least 2
full rotations in order to allow adequate cleaning and thereafter correct visual inspection.
The racks utilised should be capable of sustaining the weight of the entire quantity of joints
loaded upon them with sufficient margin for safety as to prevent any risk of collapse.
The surrounding area should be flat, stable, dry and clear of all obstacles and debris in order
to create a safe working environment.
All thread protectors should be removed and stored clear of the inspection area for cleaning
and re installation upon completion of the inspection process.
If the pipe is required to be drifted this should be done with a correctly calibrated drift
mandrel conforming to sizes as indicated in API 5CT.
If the pipe is internally coated the drift mandrel outside diameter (OD) will have to be
adjusted for the coating thickness and should be made of Teflon.
Drifting of the pipe body should be conducted in accordance with the recommendations as
outlined in the TenarisHydril RM.

All thread compounds should be removed from the connections utilising any of the
recommended cleaning methods indicted in the TenarisHydril RM.
After cleaning, all threads and seal areas of the connections should be thoroughly dried.

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6 Inspection
Connection inspection shall be visual only, no thread gauges, seal gauges, standoff gauges or
any other type of measuring device shall be used.
Visual inspection should always be carried out in daylight if at all possible.
If visual inspection must be conducted in the hours of darkness, adequate lighting must be
provided. Lighting must be from at least 2 sources located approximately 45° apart and
orientated to prevent excessive shadow on the connections.

Light intensity must be sufficient to enable the script of this document or similar to be read
easily.

The connections to be inspected must be verified as genuine TenarisHydril manufactured

products, or manufactured by a TenarisHydril authorised licensee facility.

Visual inspection of the connections shall be carried out utilising inspection criteria as outlined
in section 8.

Pipe shall be classified into the following groups after visual inspection:

1. Threads, seals and body in good condition ready to be run.

2. Pipe body found to be no drift.
3. Pipe body or box OD found to have obvious internal / external damage requiring
further inspection.
4. Connections requiring re cut at a Tenaris licensed machine shop, or field repair
by qualified Tenaris personnel.
5. Connections recommended as requiring re - coating
For pipe classified as 1; The connections should be completely covered with an appropriate
storage compound then clean, dry thread protectors in good condition should be fully and
securely installed.
For pipe classified as 2; Apply a 2” red paint band round the OD of the pipe at the box end
and either side of the drift restriction. Then the words NO DRIFT should be marked on the
pipe OD at the point of no drift. See API RP 5A5.
For pipe classified as 3; Apply a paint band round the OD of the pipe at the area deemed to
require further investigation.
For pipe classified as 4; Apply a red paint band round the connection end deemed to be reject
and scribe with a marker the reason for rejection.
For pipe classified as 5; Note should be made of the pipe sequential number and an indication
of coating recommendation annotated in the inspection report.
For all the above classifications the connections, whether reject or acceptable, should then be
completely covered with an appropriate storage compound and clean, dry thread protectors in
good condition should be fully and securely installed.

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7 Inspection Criteria

Damage Evaluation Pin, Non Wedge Connections.

Threaded and Coupled Connection

Upseted Joint:
Integral Semi Flush Connection

Integral Upset End Connection

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 Damage Evaluation on Pin (Non Wedge Connections)
Pin Friction
Area Rust Pitting Scratch Galling Dent
Element Marks
Internal
1 Accepted Accepted Accepted N/A N/A Accepted
Bore
Remove with Recut the Remove with Remove with Recut the Recut the
2 Shoulder
emery paper thread (1) emery paper emery paper thread thread
Repair by Repair by Repair by Repair by Repair by
Seal Recut the
3 qualified qualified qualified qualified qualified
Radious thread
person person person person person
Sealing Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the
4
Area thread (1) thread thread thread thread thread
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Cylindrical
5 qualified qualified Accepted N/A N/A qualified
Section
person person person
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Complete Recut the Recut the Recut the
6 qualified qualified qualified
Thread thread (1) thread (2) thread
person person person
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Incomplete Recut the
7 qualified qualified Accepted Accepted qualified
Thread thread (2)
person person person
Repair by Repair by
8 Groove qualified qualified Accepted N/A N/A Accepted
person person

(1): Minor Rust / Pitting may be accepted subject to Tenaris Field Service Representative approval.
(2): Depending on damage severity and extension, repair is allowed only if performed by a Tenaris Field
Service Representative.

Any indication of material yield caused by over torque of the connections is cause for rejection.
Yielding of the pin may be noticeable by deformation of the pin nose compressing inward to the pipe
ID.
On dual step connections yielding will be indicated by flaring of the intermediate torque shoulders.
On TSH PH6, PH4 and CS connections the external 30° torque shoulder is also the external seal
therefore must be inspected as a sealing area.
The removal of rust, scratches or friction marks from the areas indicated in the table above can only be
carried out with the use of scotch brite or 240 grain emery paper. No other tools, devices or type of
material can be used.

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Damage Evaluation Box, Non Wedge Connections.

Threaded and Coupled Connection

Integral Semi Flush Connection

Integral Upset End Connection

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 Damage Evaluation on Box (Non Wedge Connections)
Box Friction
Area Rust Pitting Scratch Galling Dent
Element Marks
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Complete Recut the Recut the Recut the
1 qualified qualified qualified
Threads thread (1) thread (2) thread
person person person
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Incomplete Recut the
2 qualified qualified Accepted Accepted qualified
Threads thread (2)
person person person
Sealing Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the
3
Area thread (1) thread thread thread thread thread
Remove with Recut the Remove with Recut the Recut the
4 Shoulder Accepted
emery paper thread (1) emery paper thread thread
Repair by Repair by
Bearing Remove with
5 qualified Accepted N/A N/A qualified
Face emery paper
person person
Repair by Repair by
Sealing Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the
6 qualified qualified
Radious thread thread thread thread
person person
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Cylindrical
7 qualified qualified Accepted N/A N/A qualified
Section
person person person
Repair by
Remove with
8 Groove qualified Accepted N/A N/A Accepted
emery paper
person

(1): Minor Rust / Pitting may be accepted subject to Tenaris Field Service Representative approval.
(2): Depending on damage severity and extension, repair is allowed only if performed by a Tenaris Field
Service Representative.

Any indication of material yield caused by over torque of the connections is cause for rejection.
Yielding of the box will be noticeable by the deformation of the torque shoulder compressing.
inwards to the pipe ID creating a lip at the shoulder.
On dual step connections yielding will be indicated by flaring of the intermediate torque shoulder.
On TSH PH6, PH4 and CS connections the external 30° torque shoulder is also the external seal
therefore must be inspected as a sealing area.
The removal of rust, scratches or friction marks from the areas indicated in the table above
can only be carried out with the use of scotch brite or 240 grain emery paper. No other tools,
devices or type of material can be used.

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 Damage Evaluation Pin, Wedge Connections.

Damage Evaluation on Pin Wedge Connections

Pin Friction
Area Rust Pitting Scratch Galling Dent
Element Marks
Sealing Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the
1
Area thread (1) thread thread thread thread thread

Repair by Repair by Repair by Repair by

Complete Recut the Recut the
2 qualified qualified qualified qualified
Threads thread (1) thread (2)
person person (3) person person (3)
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Incomplete Recut the
3 qualified qualified Accepted Accepted qualified
Threads thread (2)
person person person
Boring
4 Accepted Accepted Accepted N/A N/A Accepted
Area

(1) : Minor Rust / Pitting may be accepted subject to Tenaris Field Representative approval.
(2) : Depending on damage severity and extension, repair is allowed only if performed by a
Tenaris Field Service Representative.
(3) : If dents or scratches are found throughout the thread form the part shall be
rejected

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 Damage Evaluation Box, Wedge Connections.

Damage Evaluation on Box Wedge Connections

Box Friction
Area Rust Pitting Scratch Galling Dent
Element Marks
Sealing Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the Recut the
1
Area thread (1) thread thread thread thread thread
Repair by Repair by Repair by
Cylindrical
2 qualified qualified Accepted N/A N/A qualified
Section
person person person
Repair by Repair by Repair by Repair by
Complete Recut the Recut the
3 qualified qualified qualified qualified
Threads thread (1) thread (2)
person person (3) person person (3)
Repair by Repair by
Bearing Remove with
4 qualified Accepted N/A N/A qualified
Face emery paper
person person

(1) : Minor Rust / Pitting may be accepted subject to Tenaris Field Representative approval.
(2) : Depending on damage severity and extension, repair is allowed only if performed by a
Tenaris Field Service Representative.
(3) : If dents or scratches are found throughout the thread form the part shall be
rejected.

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8 Coupling OD
Tong marks on the coupling OD can be injurious dependent upon depth, orientation, type and
location.

A
A C

A. Tong marks, gouges and pits on the coupling OD can be accepted according to table
1. The area of the coupling near the bearing face has the minimum wall thickness and
therefore special care should be taken with tong marks located in that area.
B. Tong marks, gouges and pits on the OD of Special Clearance (SC) couplings should
not exceed 0.015” (0.38mm) in depth.
C. Coupling shall be rejected if any notch reaches past the bevel onto the face.

Table 1: API 5CT / API RP 5A5

Group 1,Group 2 (Except C90, T95 and C110) Grades C90, T95,
Steel Grades
and Group 3 C110 and Q125
Pits, Round Bottom
Pits and Round Bottom Grip Marks and Sharp
Coupling Diameter Gouges, Sharp Bottom
Gouges Bottom Gouges
Gouges & Grip marks
Tubing inch mm inch mm inch mm
< 3 1/2 0.030 0.76 0.025 0.64 0.030 0.76
 3 1/2 to  4 1/2 0.045 1.14 0.030 0.76 0.035 0.89
Casing (*) inch mm inch mm Inch mm
< 6 5/8 0.035 0.89 0.030 0.76 0.030 0.76
 6 5/8 to  7 5/8 0.045 1.14 0.040 1.02 0.035 0.89
> 7 5/8 0.060 1.52 0.040 1.02 0.035 0.89

(*) Includes Casing used as Tubing

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9 Integral Connection Box OD
Tongs should never be placed on the OD of integral connections, (see Tenaris Running
Manual). Therefore any tong marks on the surface OD of integral connections are cause for
rejection.

10 Pipe Body OD
Gouges, tears or other round or sharp bottom indentations located on the pipe body should
be inspected as per criteria indicated in API 5CT.

11 Connection Surface Finish

The connection surface treatment and condition should be inspected.
Check the general condition of the surface finish.
Check phosphate coating is not easily removed.
If phosphate coating has been removed from more than 20% of the overall connection
surfaces, re coating is recommended.
If chrome couplings are copper plated check for consistency and smoothness of surface finish.
If more than 10% of the copper plating is removed from the overall connection surfaces, re
coating is recommended.

Tenaris has produced this document for general information only. While every
effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within
this publication, Tenaris does not assume any responsibility or liability for any
loss, damage, injury resulting from the use of information and data herein.
Tenaris products and services are only subject to the Company’s standard terms
and Conditions or otherwise to the terms resulting from the respective contracts
of sale, services or license, as the case may be. The information in this
publication is subject to change or modification without notice. For more
complete information please contact a Tenaris’s representative or visit our
website at www.tenaris.com. ©Tenaris 2014. All rights reserved.

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