A method of forming a wired drill pipe, comprising: providing a generally cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) having a pin end connector (206, 256, 402) at a first end and a box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706) at a second end; coupling a generally cylindrical first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate the pin end connector (206, 256, 402), wherein the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) is substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), an end of the first electrical contact extending beyond a shoulder in the pin end connector, the first electrical contact being configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact in a first adjacent pipe segment when the pipe segment (200, 250, 700) is coupled to the first adjacent pipe segment; coupling a generally cylindrical second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), an end of the second contact extending beyond a shoulder (212, 710) in the box end connector, wherein the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) is substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) and is configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact in a second adjacent pipe segment when the pipe segment (200, 250, 700) is coupled to the second adjacent pipe segment; and connecting a first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) to the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000), the first conductor extending therebetween, the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) being substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), and characterised in that the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are rigidly coupled to the pin end and box end connectors (206, 256, 402, 204, 254, 400, 706), the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) being disposed proximate an inner shoulder of the pin end connector (206, 256, 402) and the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) being disposed proximate an inner shoulder (212, 710) of the box end connection (204, 254, 400, 706); and wherein, after use of the pipe segment, the pin end connector (206, 256, 402), the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), and the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are machined such that the machined pin end connector, box end connector, and first and second electrical contacts maintain electrical contact with the corresponding electrical contacts in the adjacent pipe segments during subsequent use. providing a generally cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) having a pin end connector (206, 256, 402) at a first end and a box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706) at a second end; coupling a generally cylindrical first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate the pin end connector (206, 256, 402), wherein the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) is substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), an end of the first electrical contact extending beyond a shoulder in the pin end connector, the first electrical contact being configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact in a first adjacent pipe segment when the pipe segment (200, 250, 700) is coupled to the first adjacent pipe segment; coupling a generally cylindrical second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), an end of the second contact extending beyond a shoulder (212, 710) in the box end connector, wherein the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) is substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) and is configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact in a second adjacent pipe segment when the pipe segment (200, 250, 700) is coupled to the second adjacent pipe segment; and connecting a first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) to the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000), the first conductor extending therebetween, the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) being substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), and characterised in that the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are rigidly coupled to the pin end and box end connectors (206, 256, 402, 204, 254, 400, 706), the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) being disposed proximate an inner shoulder of the pin end connector (206, 256, 402) and the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) being disposed proximate an inner shoulder (212, 710) of the box end connection (204, 254, 400, 706); and wherein, after use of the pipe segment, the pin end connector (206, 256, 402), the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), and the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are machined such that the machined pin end connector, box end connector, and first and second electrical contacts maintain electrical contact with the corresponding electrical contacts in the adjacent pipe segments during subsequent use.