DRILL ROD THREADS

Tips to avoid common problems

and improve productivity
Written by Chris Lambert, Senior Product Manager
 When you own a car, you learn that a little
preventative maintenance goes a long way in
ensuring it stays in good shape and runs well
over many years. The same principle applies to
drill rods. With proper use and handling in the
field, drill rods will last longer, give you better
results and ultimately lead to lower operational
costs.

Consider that rods typically make up 3 percent of

total drilling costs. But if a rod fails prematurely
or unexpectedly, it can mean a significant jump
in those costs. For example, re-drilling a hole for
one month can increase costs by 9 percent.

››
The good news is that with the right care and
handling routine for your rods, you can avoid
those setbacks and keep your drilling operations
productive.

Be sure to inspect your rods or accessories

regularly for excessive wear and discard those
that are too damaged. Here’s a look at the
reasons rods fail prematurely—and ways to
avoid those problems.
THREAD WEAR
The wear from sliding steel-on-steel surfaces, or galling, is the most common way rods
fail. This wear comes from the adhesion that occurs when mating surfaces have similar
hardness; the rate of adhesion wear decreases as the surface hardness increases.

While some wear can be tolerated without compromising performance, worn

surfaces are prone to further wear. Excessive contact or sliding pressure or damaged
accessories can accelerate the problem. Unattended, the degree of wear can worsen to
the point where it can cause early failure or even seize the joint.

Thread compound is critical to the life of a joint. A poor

choice of compound or diluted compound can provide
insufficient friction or allow the mating surfaces to interact,
resulting in adhesive wear.

Clean and lubricate joints regularly, preferably after every

break.
Compounds containing 50 percent zinc particulate generally provide a higher friction
factor and better resistance than those containing copper, lead or graphite particulate.

Choose joints with mating surfaces of dissimilar hardness.

Studies show that a system with dissimilar hardness can extend useful life several
times over one with similar hardness. Boart Longyear’s patented RQ threads undergo
a unique case-hardening process whereby the pin end is strengthened to prevent
adhesion wear. With regular care, the RQ thread shows minimal wear after 60 make/
break cycles, compared with competing threads that show obvious wear after 30 make/
break cycles.

Inspect and replace damaged or worn accessories.

Reduce thread contact pressure by adjusting feed rate and/or

rotation speed.
FATIGUE AND CRACKING
Fatigue failures are brittle failures or cracks that occur under stress or load levels that
are significantly below static load ratings but are applied or cycled a large number of
times. An example is a rod string rotating in a deviated hole.

There are many other reasons for fatigue failures or cracked pins
or boxes. Severe stabbing when inserting a pin into a box end
can compromise the fit of the joint and cause fatigue failures.
Joints may not be closed properly due to insufficient make-up
or an excessive stand-off gap. Threads can be deformed from
overload or excessive loads, hammering, foreign debris, or
wear debris in the joint. Poor-quality thread compound or worn
accessories can also cause accelerated wear.

Clean threads of excessive foreign or wear

debris.

Use hydraulic tools to apply the minimum

make-up torque required.

Only use non-damaging tools (e.g. rubber

mallet) when breaking rod joints.

Reduce deviation, drilling loads and/or pullback.

Improve lubrication of the string.

Consider upgrading your thread compound.

Do not mix rods from different manufacturers.

Doing so may cause equipment failure and operator injury.
BOX WEAR
Similar to the steel-on-steel wear of the joints, the box
end of the joint is subject to abrasive wear against
the wall of the drill hole. As the box end decreases in
thickness, the load capacity of the joint is reduced.

Wear can also be due to incorrect torque used when

connecting the joints. Insufficient force can lead to
cracking, while excessive force can lead to bulging, as
the shoulder flares or rolls over. Joints with insufficient
make-up will begin to leak as pullback load increases
and the shoulder relaxes.

Monitor the load capacity of the joint.

A gauge, such as Boart Longyear’s “go/no go” gauge, can determine whether a portion
of the shoulder has retained the majority of its original thickness and corresponding
load capacity.

Apply the appropriate amount of additional make-up torque.

As a rule of thumb, the make-up torque on each joint should be adjusted to match the
expected drilling torque.

Reduce thread contact pressure by adjusting feed rate and/

or rotation speed.
 MIDBODY WEAR
As load or rotation increases, the contact pressure between the string and the hole or
casing wall increases, contributing to wear on the midbody.

Hole deviations increase the contact pressure and friction between the string and the
hole. High pullback or thrust load combined with high rotation speed can also increase
contact pressure and friction. You will notice a polished spot from heavy wear in a spiral
pattern on one side of the string.

Improve lubrication of the string.

Rod grease is often used to reduce friction. Alternatively, drilling fluids can be used.

Reduce drilling loads, pullback or rotation speed, or repair

the hole.

Consider upgrading to stronger rods.

Specialized processing doubles the bend strength of the midbody on Boart Longyear
rods.

›› Hole deviations increase the contact

pressure and friction between the string
and the hole.
BENDING
Bending stresses increase under high load or rotation, especially in oversized or deviated
holes or caves, and may cause permanent bending of the string. Bent rods lead to
increased contact pressure and friction against the hole or casing wall, evidenced by
increased vibration and torque. Many factors contribute to rod bending, including RPMs,
lubrication, hole angle, casing or bit size, and vibration.

Lubricate properly.
Fluid dampens vibration and reduces friction,
which helps prevent bending.

Minimize vibrations.
Consider adjusting the speed. Changes as
small as 50 RPM can produce significant
reduction.

Do not exceed deviation ratings.

Plan deviations for portions of the string

under low pullback.

Consider using stronger joints for higher load capacity or

lightweight rods for reduced stiffness.
 LEAKAGE
Leakage is often an early indication of one of the
aforementioned problems.

For example, if the pin is not aligned when inserted

into the box end, it will stab into the shoulder, causing
permanent damage and resulting in leakage. Other
reasons for leakage include joints that are not closed
properly or have an uneven fit, pins or box shoulders that
have been damaged in handling, or threads or shoulders
that are significantly worn or deformed from excessive
load.

In summary, many of the problems that cause rods to

fail can be prevented with a few straightforward steps.
A consistent care and handling regimen will help keep
your rods in good condition and your operations running
efficiently, giving you better results at lower cost.

››
A consistent care and handling regimen
will help keep your rods in good condition
and your operations running efficiently,
giving you better results at lower cost.
Chris Lambert
Senior Product Manager
Chris.Lambert@BoartLongyear.com

www.boartlongyear.com

Original download from insite.boartlongyear.com