Introduction to the Usage of Oilfield Drilling Steel

Oilfield drilling steel plays a crucial role in oilfield drilling operations, and its usage involves multiple aspects, including the selection of drilling tools, the use and management of drill pipes, and operational points during the drilling process. The following is a detailed introduction to the usage of oilfield drilling steel:

I. Selection of Drilling Tools
Selection Based on Strength:
Under the premise of meeting strength requirements, it is advisable to choose low-grade drill pipes as much as possible. This can reduce procurement costs and decrease the likelihood of accidents.
Selection Based on Drilling Needs:
Select drilling tools made of drilling steel with corresponding strength and wear resistance according to specific drilling depths and geological conditions.
II. Use and Management of Drill Pipes
Preparation Before Lowering the Drill Pipe into the Well:
Before using the drill pipe in the well, it should be neatly arranged on a mobile drill pipe rack at a certain height above the ground (e.g., above 0.3m) with sufficient support blocks to prevent rusting caused by water, moisture, and mud.
The drill pipe rack should be kept parallel and on the same horizontal plane to prevent bending and deformation of the drill pipe.
The drill pipes at both ends of the rack should be clamped tightly with stop blocks to prevent rolling and falling.
Handling of Drill Pipe Joints:
During the process of lifting the drill pipe onto or off the drill floor, the drill pipe joints must be equipped with protective threads (steel protective threads are recommended) to prevent the joint threads and shoulder surfaces from being bumped or damaged during lifting.
Before performing single-joint operations at the wellhead, clean and inspect the joint threads and shoulder sealing surfaces, and apply special thread compound to prevent sand, dust, and other foreign matter from mixing into the thread compound, affecting the performance of the protective oil or scratching the threads and shoulder sealing surfaces.
Precautions During the Use of Drill Pipes:
When new drill pipes are used in the well for the first time, it is recommended to tighten and loosen the joints twice at the wellhead with a torque slightly lower than the specified value to strengthen the surface hardness of the threads and enhance their anti-sticking performance.
When connecting drill pipes at the wellhead, manually align and guide the threads to prevent the male joint from impacting the end face or threads of the female joint, causing damage.
Before each lowering into the well, change the disconnects of the drill pipe stands so that each joint can undergo one tightening and loosening operation during three trips in and out of the hole, reducing the occurrence of sticking, unthreading, and leakage issues.
During the drilling process, select reasonable rotational speed and drilling pressure based on factors such as formation, wellbore diameter, and the configuration of the bottomhole drilling tools. Avoid the rotational speed of the drill pipe reaching the critical speed, which can cause resonance and accelerate fatigue failure of the drilling tools.
III. Operational Points During the Drilling Process
Monitoring and Adjustment:
During the drilling process, closely monitor the working state of the drilling tools, including rotational speed, drilling pressure, torque, and other parameters. Adjust the drilling parameters in a timely manner according to geological conditions and drilling needs.
Prevention of Stuck Pipe:
Reasonably control the drilling pressure to avoid excessive resistance on the bottomhole drill bit due to excessive drilling pressure, which can lead to pipe sticking.
Handling of Abnormal Situations:
When encountering abnormal situations (such as formation changes, drilling tool failures, etc.) during the drilling process, take measures in a timely manner to ensure the smooth progress of drilling operations.
IV. Maintenance and Management After Using Drill Pipes
Cleaning and Inspection:
After completing the drilling operations, thoroughly clean, rinse, and blow dry the inner and outer surfaces of the drilling tools, joint threads, and shoulder sealing surfaces with water.
Inspect the drill pipe surface for cracks, scratches, intact threads, eccentric wear on the joints, flat and scratch-free shoulder surfaces, and defects such as bending and extrusion damage on the pipe body.
Storage and Protection:
Neatly arrange the inspected and qualified drill pipes on the drill pipe rack according to different specifications, wall thicknesses, hole sizes, steel grades, etc.
Apply rust-preventive oil to the threads and shoulder sealing surfaces, put on protective threads, and take various protective measures.
For drill pipes that are stored outdoors and not used for a long time, cover them with waterproof tarpaulins and regularly check the corrosion of the inner and outer surfaces of the drill pipes.
Repair and Replacement:
Promptly repair or replace drill pipes with issues to prevent affecting subsequent construction operations.

In summary, the usage of Oilfield drilling steel involves multiple aspects, including the selection of drilling tools, the use and management of drill pipes, operational points during the drilling process, and maintenance and management after using drill pipes. When using oilfield drilling steel, it is necessary to operate and manage strictly according to relevant regulations and operating procedures to ensure the safety, efficiency, and smooth progress of drilling operations.