A pipe segment (200, 250, 700), comprising: 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; a generally cylindrical first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) coupled to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate an inner shoulder of 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) and is configured to make direct 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; a generally cylindrical second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) coupled to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate an inner shoulder of the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), 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 direct 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 a first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) connected to the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) and extending there between, the conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), wherein the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) is connected to the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) by a first electrically conductive connection (230, 717); the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) is connected to the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) by a second electrically conductive connection (228, 717); wherein the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are installed and then machined to form at least part of the inner shoulders (212, 214) of the pin and box end connectors (206, 256, 402, 204, 254, 400, 706). 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; a generally cylindrical first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) coupled to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate an inner shoulder of 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) and is configured to make direct 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; a generally cylindrical second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) coupled to the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702) proximate an inner shoulder of the box end connector (204, 254, 400, 706), 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 direct 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 a first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) connected to the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) and extending there between, the conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body (202, 252, 702), wherein the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) is connected to the first electrical contact (223, 273, 410) by a first electrically conductive connection (230, 717); the first conductor (226, 276, 404, 406, 716) is connected to the second electrical contact (220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) by a second electrically conductive connection (228, 717); wherein the first and second electrical contacts (223, 273, 410, 220, 270, 408, 600, 712, 900, 1000) are installed and then machined to form at least part of the inner shoulders (212, 214) of the pin and box end connectors (206, 256, 402, 204, 254, 400, 706).