March 2nd, 2010
Traditionally, oil rigs and workover rigs (which are used to increase production from established rigs) employ a vertical hoisting mechanism, or draw-works. This takes in or spools out a drilling line to raise or lower a travelling block – a system carrying the jointed drill-pipe assembly. The draw-works is connected to a derrick, which is connected to the ground. In this system, the weight of the tubular components is not transferred to the wellhead, and therefore stress on the flanges is minimised.
With the depletion of oil reserves new drilling methods, such as directional (non-vertical) drilling have become common. New technology allows the angle of bore to extend 90 degrees and beyond. For rigs like these, coiled tubing, rather than jointed pipe, is used.
While this offers numerous advantages compared to conventional drilling operations, there are drawbacks. The main one being that instead of a draw-works, an injector head is used. This is connected directly to the wellhead, via flanges or couplings. The wellhead is therefore subjected to considerable loads. As well as the weight of the tubing in the well, there are additional stresses generated by the twisting movements of the coil on the surface. The components affected include the Christmas tree joints, tee-joint pipe fittings, blow-out preventers, risers and casing flanges.
The method used to transmit the load back to the ground, rather than the wellhead, is a system of simple chains, which are ineffective. Now, rigid framework rigs are being tested. In the meantime, we at Chemipetro recommend rig owners buy the strongest flanges and pipe fittings they can.
Tags: 45 & 90 degree elbows, Flanges, Pipe Fittings, Pipe Flanges
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September 24th, 2009
While literally hundreds of specialised pipe fittings are available, there are others that are commonly used for piping systems.
Elbow pipe fittings are amongst the most common worldwide. This fitting is designed to change the direction of a flow running through a pipe, usually at a 90 degree or 45 degree angle. 45 & 90 degree elbows are installed between two lengths of pipe. The ends of the fitting can be either butt welded, threaded or socketed. If each end of the fitting is of a differing size it is called a reducer elbow.
The Tee pipe fitting is used in applications that require a flow to be combined or split. The most common type are those that have the same inlet and outlet size. However as per elbow fittings they can also be reducing tees. Tee pipe fittings make up an integral part of level water cooling solutions. This type of fitting is one component of a T Line.
The principle behind pipe fittings is to connect sections of straight piping. They can be used to adapt the piping to different sizes or shapes and are necessary to regulate the flow through the pipe.
Steel piping or black iron was once the most common material used in piping that carried water or flammable gases. However this steel had a tendency to rust and so fell out of favour. While steel of this type is no longer used stainless steel fittings are very much in favour.
Stainless steel provides good corrosion resistance features, and thanks to its demand around the world is an affordable option for industries or applications that demand high levels of rust or corrosion free properties.
As a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of pipe fittings, we at Chemipetro should be any organisation’s first port of call for high quality common pipe fittings.
Tags: 45 & 90 degree elbows, high quality pipe fittings, Pipe Fittings, reducing tees
Posted in Pipe Fittings | No Comments »
