GRAPHICAL EVALUATOR FOR TUBULAR MAKEUP

1 . A method of connecting a first threaded tubular to a second threaded tubular, comprising:

engaging threads of the tubulars;

rotating the first tubular relative to the second tubular, thereby making up the threaded connection;

during makeup of the threaded connection:

measuring torque applied to the connection;

measuring turns of the first tubular; and

detecting a shoulder position;

displaying the measured torque and turns;

overlaying a reference curve onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing the measured torque and turns to the reference curve; and

graphically displaying the evaluation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the reference curve is a maximum,

the method further comprises overlaying a minimum reference curve,

the threaded connection is evaluated by comparing the measured torque and turns to the maximum and minimum reference curves, and

the evaluation is graphically displayed by filling a region between the reference curves with a color.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

overlaying a maximum final torque and minimum final torque onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a measured final torque to the maximum and minimum final torques; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum final torques with a color.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

overlaying a maximum shoulder torque and minimum shoulder torque onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a measured shoulder torque to the maximum and minimum shoulder torques; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum shoulder torques with a color.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

overlaying a maximum delta turn and minimum delta turn onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a calculated delta turn to the maximum and minimum delta turns; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum delta turns with a color.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, during makeup of the threaded connection:

calculating a torque gradient with respect to turns,

wherein the shoulder position is detected by comparing the calculated torque gradient to a shoulder threshold gradient.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying the calculated torque gradient;

overlaying a maximum delta gradient and minimum delta gradient onto the displayed torque gradient;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a calculated delta gradient to the maximum and minimum delta gradients; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum delta gradients with a color.

8 . A tubular makeup system, comprising:

a power drive operable rotate a first threaded tubular relative to a second threaded tubular;

a torque cell;

a turns counter; and

a programmable logic controller (PLC) operably connected to the power drive and in communication with the torque cell and turns counter,

wherein the PLC is configured to control an operation, comprising:

engaging threads of the tubulars;

rotating the first tubular relative to the second tubular, thereby making up the threaded connection;

during makeup of the threaded connection:

measuring torque applied to the connection;

measuring turns of the first tubular; and

detecting a shoulder position;

displaying the measured torque and turns;

overlaying a reference curve onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing the measured torque and turns to the reference curve; and

graphically displaying the evaluation.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the reference curve is a maximum,

the operation further comprises overlaying a minimum reference curve,

the threaded connection is evaluated by comparing the measured torque and turns to the maximum and minimum reference curves, and

the evaluation is graphically displayed by filling a region between the reference curves with a color.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:

overlaying a maximum final torque and minimum final torque onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a measured final torque to the maximum and minimum final torques; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum final torques with a color.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:

overlaying a maximum shoulder torque and minimum shoulder torque onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a measured shoulder torque to the maximum and minimum shoulder torques; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum shoulder torques with a color.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:

overlaying a maximum delta turn and minimum delta turn onto the display;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a calculated delta turn to the maximum and minimum delta turns; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum delta turns with a color.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises, during makeup of the threaded connection:

calculating a torque gradient with respect to turns,

wherein the shoulder position is detected by comparing the calculated torque gradient to a shoulder threshold gradient.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the operation further comprises:

displaying the calculated torque gradient;

overlaying a maximum delta gradient and minimum delta gradient onto the displayed torque gradient;

evaluating the threaded connection by comparing a calculated delta gradient to the maximum and minimum delta gradients; and

graphically displaying the evaluation by filling a region between the maximum and minimum delta gradients with a color.