Patent ID: 6363598
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: E21B,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of determining the orientation of a first pipe in a pipe string having a series of joints, the pipe string being inserted into a well bore, each joint having a pin member threadingly connected to a coupling member, the pin member and the coupling member being placed in a fully engaged position when installed in the pipe string, the method comprising:positioning a pin alignment mark on each pin member; positioning a coupling alignment mark on each coupling member; machining a plurality of threads on each pin member and each coupling member to a calculated depth so that the pin alignment mark is circumferentially aligned with the coupling alignment mark when the pin member and the coupling member are in the fully engaged position; observing the orientation of a second pipe in the pipe string to determine a circumferential position of the first pipe; and wherein the machining step further comprises: preparing a pin marking gage having a pin gage alignment mark and a coupling marking gage having a coupling gage alignment mark, the gages adapted to threadingly engage each other in a first contact position whereby the pin gage alignment mark is circumferentially offset a predetermined distance from the coupling gage alignment mark; machining a plurality of threads to an initial pin depth onto an exterior annular surface of the pin member; threadingly connecting the coupling marking gage to the pin member until the gage and the pin member are in the first contact position; altering the initial pin depth of the threads of the pin member based on the circumferential offset between the pin alignment mark and the coupling gage alignment mark; machining a plurality of threads onto an interior annular surface of the coupling member, thereby defining a shoulder stop at an initial coupling depth; threadingly connecting the pin marking gage to the coupling member until the gage and the coupling member are in the first contact position; and altering the initial coupling depth of the shoulder stop based on the circumferential offset between the coupling alignment mark and the pin gage alignment mark.