API 1033A-1997
Full Scale Performance Tests of Environmentally Acceptable Thread Compounds

Standard No.

API 1033A-1997

Release Date

1997

Published By

API - American Petroleum Institute

Scope

"INTRODUCTION This report summarizes the results of a combined American Petroleum Institute (API)/Joint Industry Project (JIP) test program to investigate the performance capabilities of thread compounds for oil field casing and tubing that are being developed and marketed to meet current and anticipated environmental requirements (Environmentally Acceptable Thread Compounds or ""EATC""s). This test program was developed by the API Committee 5@ Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Thread Compound Research as a continuation of API PRAC XX-51* . It was structured to complement a companion Joint Industry Project (JIP) sponsored by Mobil Exploration and Producing Technical Center (MEPTEC) through the Petroleum Environmental Research Forum (PERF). The API portion of the total test program was designed to provide benchmark/baseline sealing@ friction and galling data using three generic 'reference' compounds. The reference compounds were formulated to represent: 1. A ""nominal"" API Bulletin 5A2@ ""Modified Thread Compound"" formulation (A or API-Test); 2. A compound defining a poor sealing performance limit (C); 3. A compound defining a poor galling resistance limit (B). The JIP portion of the total program allowed for testing of three commercial formulations (JIP 1@ 2@ and 3)@ selected by the JIP participants@ under parametric ally identical conditions. The thread compounds were evaluated by means of full-scale make/break and pressure testing@ using three different connection types: 8-round tubing@ 8-round casing@ and buttress casing. The API TAC and the JIP separately contracted the Centre For Engineering Research Inc. (C-FER)@ in December 1993@ to conduct both portions of the test program. The funding for the API portion of the program was provided through the Production Waste Issues Group (PWIG) by the API Executive Committee on Environmental Conservation (ECEC). The funding for the JIP portion was provided by the JIP participants. *API Committee 5@ Report on PRAC Project 88. 89@ 91-51: ""Investigation of Pipe Thread Compounds@"" Nov.@ 1992"