THREAD GAUGING TECHNIQUES

API Tubing and Casing

Threads

Connection Thread Styles

Straight Threads

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

API Connection Names

EUE External Upset Tubing

STC Short Thread Casing

NUE Non-Upset Tubing

LTC Long Thread Casing

BTC Buttress Casing

Datum

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

What are Tubing & Casing Threads

Purpose: Join two pieces of pipe together to produce a gas tight seal

API Specification 5B covers all Tubing and Casing dimensions

There are two types of pipe sizes

Tubing sizes: 1 4
Casing sizes: 4 20

There are two cone angles or tapers

All 8-round threads are Taper Per Foot (TPF)
Buttress sizes 4- 13 are 1 TPF
Buttress sizes 16- 20 are 1 TPF

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

How Threads Lock Up and Seal

There are no lock washers or jam nuts on tapered threads to lock them together

The pin and box tapered threads interfere and allow them to form a seal when
torqued together as the flanks of the threads compress against each other.

However, a clearance remains between the crests and roots of the threads,
resulting in a helical leak path

Thread compounds or pipe dope plug up this helical path to produce a seal
under high pressures

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

8R Thread Form

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

What is a Datum Plane?

Datum Plane- a starting point or reference location. Also referred to as

the face or end of pipe.
Datu
Datum A

Datum
B
m

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

How do we get started?

Request the product thread drawing

Verify the thread form is correct

Verify the threading insert is correct for the thread on the drawing

Request a gage set up report

List all the gage serial numbers used to inspect the part

Verify the ball contact sizes are correct

Set the gages to a zero on a calibrated standard

Thread the part and start the inspection

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

TDWIN TAPER Drawing 7 LTC Pin

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Thread Lead Inspection with an LG-5002

Measuring the part

The LG-5002 measures the same way on the
part as on the standard.

Set using a Standard

Double-check your zero setting
Measure the part
Compare the standard to the machined lead

1.Place the fixed ball contact in the first full

depth thread.
2. Move the fixed ball back one thread and
check again.
3.

Record your measurement for comparison.

Note: Lead setting standards designs are based on the taper of the connection.

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Thread Height Inspection

Set using a setting standard

Double check your zero setting

Measure the part

The TH-3002 is used the same

way on the part as on the
standard.
1.Measure only within the perfect
thread length. Perfect thread
length is labeled L2 on the
product drawing.
2.Align the gage base parallel to
the thread axis and tilt the base
back and forth to obtain the
lowest reading.
3.

Record your measurement.

8 Round thread height = .072125

10 Round thread height = .05560
Buttress TPF thread height = .0620
Buttress 1TPF thread height = .0620

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Pin Taper Inspection with an ET-7000

Zero the dial on the first thread.

Do not lock the bezel clamp!

To inspect, move the gage up the taper 1

(8-round = 8 threads, Buttress = 5 threads)
After moving back 1 up the taper, double-check
your radial position of the gage to the part or chuck

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Pin PD Inspection with the MRP-2001

(Crest Cone Diameter Inspection)

While
The
MRP
holding
Shoe
the
makes
gage
contact
against
with
theuse
theof Standard
MRP-2001
is preset
to size
by the
crest
part
cone
sweep
left and right to find
A &face,
B Rod
Standards
the largest indicator value. Then,
The MIC TRAC can be used instead of the
rotate the gage 90 and repeat
standards

A Standard

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

What do you do with the MRP readings?

Largest and smallest indicator readings provide data for calculating Average Cone
Diameter (ACD) and Thread Ovality. They both use the same data but calculate
the readings in different ways.

Ovality

Average Cone Diameter

How egg-shaped or out of round

the pipe is

The diameter of the part would be,

if it were round
(Largest Diameter - Smallest Diameter) = ACD
2

LARGE
READING

Largest Diameter - Smallest Diameter = Ovality

SMALL
READING

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Averaged
Diameter

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Ovality

+.005

.010

.0025

+.005

.010

.015

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Averaged
Diameter

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Ovality

-.005

.010

.0075

-.005

.010

.005

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Averaged
Diameter

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Ovality

-.015

+.001

.007

-.015

+.001

.016

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Average Cone Diameter

Average Cone Diameter is the distance across the face of the pipe or coupling.
Determining the round diameter of a connector requires locating the largest and the smallest
diameter readings on the part and taking the average of these two readings.
Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Averaged
Diameter

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Averaged
Diameter

+.005

.010

.0025

+.005

.005

.000

LARGE
READING

SMALL
READING

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Thread Ovality
Thread Ovality is the amount of out-of-roundness in a piece of pipe or a coupling.
Determining ovality requires locating the largest and the smallest diameter readings
on the part and adding the smallest reading to the largest reading. The ovality is the
difference between these values. Ovality readings are always positive (no sign
attached).
Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Total
Ovality

Largest
Diameter

Smallest
Diameter

Total
Ovality

+.005

.010

.015

+.005

.005

.010

LARGE
READING

SMALL
READING

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Thread Form Inspection

TP-8R Profile inspecting pin and coupling thread. Always check the first starting thread.

Remember: When deburring the thread with a flapper wheel, burrs can be rolled into the thread groove.
When the connections are made up on the rig, burrs will cause galling.

Pin Length Inspection

Always keep the scale

parallel to the pipe axis.
(Note: A digital depth gage can be used in
place of a scale.)

L2=Perfect thread length.

Crest of thread must have a
full radius top.
L2
L4

L4=Last scratch length.

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

15 Minute
Break
API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Datum A

Coupling Threads

Datum B

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

How do we get started?

Request the product thread drawing

Verify the thread form is correct

Verify the threading insert is correct for the thread on the drawing

Request a gage set up report

List all the gage serial numbers used to inspect the part

Verify the ball contact sizes are correct

Set the gages to a zero on a calibrated standard

Thread the part and start the inspection

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

TDWIN TAPER Drawing 7 LTC Coupling

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Coupling Thread Lead Inspection with an LG-5002

Set to zero using a standard

Double check your zero setting

Measure the part

The LG-5002 measures the same way on the

part as on the standard.
1.Place the fixed ball contact in the first full
depth thread.
2.Move the fixed ball back one thread and
check again.
3.Record your measurement for comparison.

Remember: Each different taper requires a different lead setting standard

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Coupling Thread Height Inspection with a TH-3006

Set to zero using a standard

Double check your zero setting

Measure the part

The TH-3006 is used the same way on the part as on the

standard.
1. Align the gage parallel to the thread axis.
2. Lift up and down to obtain the lowest reading.
3. Record your measurement.
Thread Heights: 8-Round = .0721
Buttress = .0620
API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Coupling Taper Inspection with an IT-6000

Zero the dial on the first thread.

Do not lock the bezel clamp!
To inspect, move the gage down
the taper 1 or:
Note the radial location of the gage
8 threads for 8-round
to the part or chuck.
5 threads for Buttress
(6 or 12 oclock is best)
After moving 1 down the taper,
double check your radial position of
the gage to the part or chuck.

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Coupling PD Inspection with an MRP-2002

(Crest Cone Diameter Inspection)
B
Standard

While
MRP-2002
holdingisthe
preset
gagetoagainst
size with the
the
use
part
of face,
A & sweep
B Rodleft
Standards
& right to
find the largest indicator value
The MIC TRAC can be used instead
of rod standards.
Rotate the gage 90 and repeat

A
Standard

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

MRP Reading Refresher

The Average Cone Diameter and Thread Ovality are calculated the
same for the coupling as for the pin
Refer to the previous slides for more detail
Ovality
How egg-shaped or out of round
the pipe is

Average Cone Diameter

The diameter the pipe would be,
if it were round

LARGE
READING

SMALL
READING

(Largest Diameter - Smallest Diameter) = ACD

2

Largest Diameter - Smallest Diameter = Ovality

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Coupling Length Inspection

Q

Q is measured from the

coupling face to the start of
the 35 chamfer.

Always keep the scale

parallel to the coupling
axis.

NL/2
Coupling Length
(NL)

NL/2 = the coupling

length.
NL = Length of coupling.

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

API Tubing and Casing Tapered Threads

Gagemaker Thread Inspection

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