Tubular connection with helically extending torque shoulder

1. A tubular connection, comprising:

a pin member having:

a first tapered constant pitch thread;

a first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the pin member from the first tapered constant pitch thread, the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is non-tapered; and

a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member;

a box member having:

a second tapered constant pitch thread;

a second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the box member from the second tapered constant pitch thread, the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is non-tapered; and

a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

the pin member and the box member configured such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun.

2. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the make-up surfaces are configured such that the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread contact first and begin aligning the box and pin in advance of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second helical torque shoulder surface.

3. The tubular connection of claim 2 wherein upon final make-up of the pin member and the box member the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is moved into wedged engagement with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface.

4. The tubular connection of claim 2 , wherein upon final make-up of the pin member and the box member the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface are engaged at a location that is one of (i) at a pin-nose/box-base location that intersects the inside diameter of the connection, (ii) at a pin-base/box-face location that intersects the outside diameter of the connection or (iii) at a middle-wall section of the connection as a center shoulder of the connection.

5. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the pin member and the box member are configured such that any interference generated between the root of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the crest of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface will occur no earlier than 0.5 turns before the point at which the connection reaches its yield torque.

6. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface are configured with a dovetail shaped.

7. The tubular connection of claim 1 wherein the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface have a load flank lead greater than the stab flank lead.

8. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein:

a root diameter of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is smaller than both a starting root diameter of the first tapered constant pitch thread and an ending root diameter of the first tapered constant pitch thread;

a root diameter of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is smaller than both a starting root diameter of the second tapered constant pitch thread and an ending root diameter of the second tapered constant pitch thread.

9. The tubular connection of claim 8 wherein:

the pin member includes a first transition zone axially between the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the first tapered constant pitch thread, the first transition zone including a first seal surface;

the box member includes a second transition zone axially between the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second tapered constant pitch thread, the second transition zone including a second seal surface;

in full made up condition the first seal surface engages the second seal surface for sealing.

10. The tubular connection of claim 9 wherein:

the axial length of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is less than the axial length of the first tapered constant pitch thread;

the axial length of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is less than the axial length of the second tapered constant pitch thread.

11. The tubular connection of claim 10 wherein:

the axial length of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is between about 15% and 60% of the axial length of the first tapered constant pitch thread;

the axial length of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is between about 15% and 60% of the axial length of the second tapered constant pitch thread.

12. The tubular connection of claim 8 wherein:

the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface extends for no more than seven turns and the first tapered constant pitch thread extends for at least ten turns;

the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface extends for no more than seven turns and the second tapered constant pitch thread extends for at least ten turns.

13. The tubular connection of claim 1 , wherein the load flank lead of the helical torque shoulder is configured to be substantially equal to the constant pitch thread lead.

14. A tubular connection, comprising:

a pin member having:

a first tapered constant pitch thread;

a first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the pin member from the first tapered constant pitch thread, the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is non-tapered;

a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member; and

a first center shoulder seal surface configured between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface;

a box member having:

a second tapered constant pitch thread;

a second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the box member from the second tapered constant pitch thread, the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface is non-tapered;

a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member; and

a second center shoulder seal surface configured between the second tapered constant pitch thread and the second helical torque shoulder surface;

the pin member and the box member configured such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun.

15. The tubular connection of claim 14 , wherein the make-up surfaces are configured such that the first tapered constant pitch threads and the second tapered constant pitch threads contact first and begin aligning the box and pin in advance of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface.

16. The tubular connection of claim 14 , wherein the pin member and the box member are configured such that such that any interference generated between the root of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the crest of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface will occur no earlier than 0.5 turns before the point at which the connection reaches its yield torque.

17. The tubular connection of claim 14 , wherein the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface are configured with a dovetail shape.

18. The tubular connection of claim 14 , wherein the load flank lead of the helical torque shoulder is configured to be substantially equal to the constant pitch thread lead.

19. A method of joining tubular length of tubular casing or piping, the method comprising:

utilizing a first tubular member having an associated pin member with a first tapered constant pitch thread, a first variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the pin member from the first thread structure, and a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member;

utilizing a second tubular member having an associated box member with a second tapered constant pitch thread, a second variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure, and a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

engaging the pin member and box member with each other into a stab position that is defined by interaction of the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread, and;

rotating at least one of the first tubular member or the second tubular member such that interaction between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread guides the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface into cooperating alignment with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface in a manner such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun.

20. A method of joining tubular length of tubular casing or piping, the method comprising:

utilizing a first tubular member having an associated in member with a first tapered constant pitch thread, a first variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the in member from the first thread structure, and a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member;

utilizing a second tubular member having an associated box member with a second tapered constant pitch thread, a second variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure, and a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

engaging the pin member and box member with each other into a stab position that is defined by interaction of the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread, and;

rotating at least one of the first tubular member or the second tubular member such that interaction between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread guides the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface into cooperating alignment with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface in a manner such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun, and such that any interference generated between the root of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the crest of the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface will occur no earlier than 0.5 turns before the point at which the connection reaches its yield torque.

21. A method of joining tubular length of tubular casing or piping, the method comprising:

utilizing a first tubular member having an associated in member with a first tapered constant pitch thread, a first variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the in member from the first thread structure, and a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the in member:

utilizing a second tubular member having an associated box member with a second tapered constant pitch thread, a second variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure, and a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

engaging the pin member and box member with each other into a stab position that is defined by interaction of the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread, and;

rotating at least one of the first tubular member or the second tubular member such that interaction between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread guides the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface into cooperating alignment with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface in a manner such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun, and such that the first tapered constant pitch threads and the second tapered constant pitch threads contact first and begin aligning the box and in in advance of the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface and the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface.

22. A method of joining tubular length of tubular casing or piping, the method comprising:

utilizing a first tubular member having an associated in member with a first tapered constant pitch thread, a first variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface with a dovetail shape and spaced axially along the pin member from the first thread structure, and a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member;

utilizing a second tubular member having an associated box member with a second tapered constant pitch thread, a second variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface with a dovetail shape and spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure, and a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

engaging the pin member and box member with each other into a stab position that is defined by interaction of the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread, and;

rotating at least one of the first tubular member or the second tubular member such that interaction between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread guides the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface into cooperating alignment with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface in a manner such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun.

23. A method of joining tubular length of tubular casing or piping, the method comprising:

utilizing a first tubular member having an associated in member with a first tapered constant pitch thread having a lead, a first variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface with a load flank lead substantially equal to the lead of the first tapered constant pitch thread, and spaced axially along the pin member from the first thread structure, and a first conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a pin-nose end of the pin member;

utilizing a second tubular member having an associated box member with a second tapered constant pitch thread having a lead, a second variable pitch non-tapered helical torque shoulder surface with a load flank lead substantially equal to the lead of the second tapered constant pitch thread, and spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure, and a second conventional torque shoulder surface configured at a shoulder end of the box member;

engaging the pin member and box member with each other into a stab position that is defined by interaction of the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread, and;

rotating at least one of the first tubular member or the second tubular member such that interaction between the first tapered constant pitch thread and the second tapered constant pitch thread guides the first variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface into cooperating alignment with the second variable pitch helical torque shoulder surface in a manner such that during make-up the first conventional torque shoulder surface and the second conventional torque shoulder surface will engage, if at all, no later than 0.5 turns after yielding of the helical torque shoulder has begun.