Torque sub for use with top drive
A torque sub for use with a top drive is disclosed. A method of connecting threaded tubular members for use in a wellbore includes operating a top drive. The top drive rotates a first threaded tubular member relative to a second threaded tubular member. The method further includes measuring a torque exerted on the first tubular member by the top drive. The torque is measured using a torque shaft rotationally coupled to the top drive and the first tubular. The torque shaft has a strain gage disposed thereon. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting the measured torque from the torque shaft to a stationary interface; measuring rotation of the first tubular member; compensating the rotation measurement by subtracting a deflection of the top drive and/or the first tubular member; determining acceptability of the threaded connection; and stopping rotation of the first threaded member when the threaded connection is complete or if the threaded connection is unacceptable.
1. A method of connecting threaded tubulars for use in a wellbore, comprising:
operating a top drive, thereby rotating a first threaded tubular relative to a second threaded tubular;
measuring a torque exerted on the first tubular by the top drive, wherein the torque is measured using a torque shaft rotationally coupled to the top drive and the first tubular, the torque shaft having a strain gage disposed thereon;
wirelessly transmitting the measured torque from the torque shaft to a stationary interface;
measuring rotation of the first tubular;
compensating the rotation measurement by subtracting a deflection of at least one of:
the top drive, and
the first tubular;
determining acceptability of the threaded connection; and
stopping rotation of the first threaded when the threaded connection is complete or if the threaded connection is unacceptable.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting electrical energy from a stationary interface to the torque shaft.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the two threaded tubulars has a shoulder,
the method further comprises detecting a shoulder condition during rotation of the first tubular; and
the threaded connection is complete when reaching a predefined rotation value from the shoulder condition.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein detecting the shoulder condition comprises calculating and monitoring a rate of change of torque with respect to rotation.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein acceptability is determined using the rate of change of torque with respect to rotation after detecting the shoulder condition.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein acceptability is determined using a value measured at or after the shoulder condition.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the measured value is a torque value.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the measured value is a rotation value.
9. The method of claim 3 , wherein acceptability is determined using a relaxation rotation of the first threaded tubular.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotation measurement is compensated by subtracting the deflection of the top drive.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising calculating the deflection of the top drive using the measured torque.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting at least one of a calibration signal and a control signal from the stationary interface to the torque shaft.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotation measurement is compensated by subtracting the deflection of the first tubular.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a longitudinal load exerted on the top drive using the torque shaft, the torque shaft having a second strain gage disposed thereon.
15. A method of connecting threaded tubulars for use in a wellbore, comprising:
operating a top drive, thereby rotating a first threaded tubular relative to a second threaded tubular;
measuring a torque exerted on the first tubular by the top drive, wherein the torque is measured using a torque shaft rotationally coupled to the top drive and the first tubular, the torque shaft having a strain gage disposed thereon;
wirelessly transmitting the measured torque from the torque shaft to a stationary interface;
measuring rotation of the first tubular;
compensating the rotation measurement by subtracting a deflection of the first tubular; and
stopping rotation of the first threaded tubular when the threaded connection is complete.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting electrical energy from a stationary interface to the torque shaft.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
each of the two threaded tubulars has a shoulder,
the method further comprises detecting a shoulder condition during rotation of the first tubular; and
the threaded connection is complete when reaching a predefined rotation value from the shoulder condition.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting the shoulder condition comprises calculating and monitoring a rate of change of torque with respect to rotation.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising measuring a longitudinal load exerted on the top drive using the torque shaft, the torque shaft having a second strain gage disposed thereon.