High gas sealibility makeup for API buttress connections

Claim 1

A method of connecting threaded pipe sections to form a made-up thread casing, comprising the steps of: a) providing a first pipe section including an externally threaded pin member having a face at its end, said first thread section having been marked with a triangle stamp in accordance with API Specification Std. 5B, Section 2 (13th ed. May 31, 1988); b) providing a second pipe section including a corresponding internally threaded box member having a face at its end; c) plating the threads of said box member with tin; d) applying a thread lubricant containing Teflon™ or a material substantially similar to Teflon™ to the threads of said threaded box member; e) helically rotating the pin member and box member together until the base of said triangle stamp at least aligns with the face of said threaded box member or helically rotating further, but in no event helically rotating so far that said triangle stamp is completely covered by said threaded box member; f) determining that the made-up casing is acceptable during helically rotating together of the pin member and box member when (1) the face of the end of the box member is properly positioned relative to the triangle mark on the first pipe section, and (2) the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or g) determining that the made-up casing should be rejected when either (1) the face of the end of the box member completely covers the triangle mark when less than a minimum of the predetermined make-up torque range is applied to the made-up casing; or (2) the face of the end of the box member does not align with any point within the area circumscribed by the edges of said triangle stamp when a maximum of the predetermined make-up torque range is applied to the joint, and h) terminating the helical rotation when the made-up casing is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.

Claim 2

A method of connecting threaded pipe sections to form a made-up thread casing, comprising the steps of: a) providing a first pipe section including an externally threaded pin member having a face at its end, said first thread section having been marked with a triangle stamp in accordance with API Specification Std. 5B, Section 2 (13th ed. May 31, 1988); b) providing a second pipe section including a corresponding internally threaded box member having a face at its end; c) plating the threads of said box member with tin; d) applying a thread lubricant containing Teflon™ or a material substantially similar to Teflon™ to the threads of said threaded box member; e) helically rotating the pin member and box member together until the base of said triangle stamp at least aligns with the face of said threaded box member or helically rotating further, but in no event helically rotating so far that said triangle stamp is completely covered by said threaded box member; f) determining that the made-up casing is acceptable during helically rotating together of the pin member and box member when (1) the face of the end of the box member is properly positioned relative to the triangle mark on the first pipe section, and (2) the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range, or g) determining that the made-up casing should be rejected when either (1) the face of the end of the box member completely covers the triangle mark when less than a minimum of the predetermined make-up torque range is applied to the made-up casing; or (2) the face of the end of the box member does not align with any point within the area circumscribed by the edges of said triangle stamp when a maximum of the predetermined make-up torque range is applied to the joint, and h) terminating the helical rotation when the made-up casing is determined to be acceptable or to be rejected.