Patent ID: 6056324
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: E21B,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making up a threaded connection between a pin connector and a box connector, wherein the pin connector includes a neck having external, tapered threads with leading stab flanks and slanted, trailing load flanks, and a first, generally annular, axial load surface, wherein the box connector includes a collar having internal, tapered threads with leading stab flanks and slanted, trailing load flanks, and a second, generally annular, axial load surface, wherein the neck and the collar provide two combinations of a bump seal and a corresponding conical seal surface, by meshing the external threads with the internal threads by relative rotation between the pin connector and the box connector and without otherwise applying axial forces to drive the two connectors together to make up the threaded connection, comprising the following steps:a. inserting the neck of the pin connector into the collar of the box connector until the stab flanks of the external threads contact the stab flanks of the internal threads;b. rotating at least one of the pin connector and box connector relative to the other to mesh the external threads with the internal threads and so advance the neck into the collar, and to sealingly engage one of the combinations of a bump seal with the corresponding conical seal surface on one axial side of the meshed threads and sealingly engage the other combination of a bump seal and the corresponding conical seal surface on the other axial side of the meshed threads forming a generally annular sealed zone between the external threads and the internal threads and between the two bumps seals, and producing radial load resistance between the bumps seals and the respective conical seal surfaces as the bump seals are advanced along the corresponding conical seal surfaces;c. applying fluid pressure to the sealed zone to radially contract the neck and radially expand the collar to reduce the radial load resistance between the bump seals and the respective conical seal surfaces;d. further rotating at least one of the pin connector and box connector relative to the other and so advance the neck into the collar until the first axial load surface contacts the second axial load surface; ande. releasing fluid pressure from the sealed zone to allow the neck to radially expand and the collar to radially contract to wedge the load flanks of the external threads with the load flanks of the internal threads and generate axial loading between the first axial load surface and the second axial load surface.