Systems and methods for making and breaking threaded joints using orbital motions

Abstract

A method for making a threaded joint between first and second tubulars, each tubular including a central axis, a first end, a second end, a throughbore extending between the first second ends, an internally threaded box-end connector at the first end, and an externally threaded pin-end connector at the second end, the method including: (a) moving the first tubular axially relative to the second tubular to position the pin-end connector of the first tubular at least partially within the box-end connector of the second tubular. In addition, the method includes (b) orbiting the pin-end connector of the first tubular about the central axis of the second tubular; and (c) rotating the first tubular about the central axis of the first tubular during (b). Further, the method includes (d) threading the pin-end connector of the first tubular into the box-end connector of the second tubular dining (b) and (c).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making a threaded joint between a first elongate tubular and a second elongate tubular, each tubular including a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a throughbore extending between the first end and the second end, an internally threaded box-end connector at the first end, and an externally threaded pin-end connector at the second end, the method comprising:
 (a) moving the first tubular axially relative to the second tubular to position the pin-end connector of the first tubular at least partially within the box-end connector of the second tubular;   (b) orbiting the pin-end connector of the first tubular about the central axis of the second tubular;   (c) rotating the first tubular about the central axis of the first tubular during (b); and   (d) threading the pin-end connector of the first tubular into the box-end connector of the second tubular during (b) and (c).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the central axis of the first tubular parallel to the central axis of the second tubular during (b) and (c). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 radially offsetting the central axis of the first tubular from the central axis of the second tubular by a radial offset distance;   decreasing the radial offset distance during (d).   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising orienting the first tubular at an acute angle θ relative to the second tubular during (b) and (c). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising decreasing angle θ during (d). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising spiraling the central axis of the second tubular inward relative to the central axis of the first tubular during (b) and (c). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) occurs in response to (b). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising driving the rotation of the first tubular about the central axis of the first tubular during (c) with a device removably coupled to the first tubular. 
     
     
         9 . A method for breaking a threaded joint between a first elongate tubular and a second elongate tubular, each tubular including a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a throughbore extending between the first end and the second end, an internally threaded box-end connector at the first end, and an externally threaded pin-end connector at the second end, the method comprising:
 (a) orbiting the pin-end connector of the first tubular about the central axis of the second tubular;   (b) rotating the first tubular about the central axis of the first tubular during (a); and   (c) unthreading the pin-end connector of the first tubular from the box-end connector of the second tubular during (a) and (b); and   (d) moving the first tubular axially relative to the second tubular to remove the pin-end connector of the first tubular from the box-end connector of the second tubular.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising maintaining the central axis of the first tubular parallel to the central axis of the second tubular during (a) and (b). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising increasing a radial offset distance between the central axis of the first tubular and the central axis of the second tubular during (d). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising increasing an acute angle θ between the central axis of the first tubular and the central axis of the second tubular during (a) and (b). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising spiraling the central axis of the second tubular outward relative to the central axis of the first tubular during (a) and (b). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein (b) occurs in response to (a). 
     
     
         15 . A method for assembling a tubular string for an oil and gas operation, wherein the tubular string comprises a plurality of elongate threaded tubulars, each tubular including a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a throughbore extending between the first end and the second end, an internally threaded box-end connector disposed at the first end, and an externally threaded pin-end connector disposed at the second end, the method comprising:
 (a) lowering the tubular string into a borehole;   (b) lowering a first tubular axially toward the tubular string to position the pin-end connector of the first tubular into a box-end connector disposed at an upper end of the tubular string;   (c) orbiting the pin-end connector of the first tubular about the central axis of the tubular string;   (d) rotating the first tubular about the central axis of the tubular string during (c); and   (e) threading the pin-end connector of the first tubular into the box end connector of the tubular string during (c) and (d) to lengthen the tubular string.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising maintaining the central axis of the first tubular parallel to the central axis of the tubular string during (c) and (d). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising decreasing a radial offset distance between the central axis of the first tubular and the central axis of the tubular string during (e). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising decreasing an acute angle θ between the central axis of the first tubular and the central axis of the tubular string during (e). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (d) occurs in response to (c). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (f) lowering the tubular string further into the borehole after (e);   (g) lowering a second tubular axially toward the tubular string to position the pin-end connector of the second tubular into a box-end connector disposed at an upper end of the first tubular;   (h) orbiting the pin-end connector of the second tubular about the central axis of the first tubular;   (i) rotating the second tubular about the central axis of the first tubular during (h); and   (j) threading the pin-end connector of the second tubular into the box end connector of the first tubular during (h) and (i) to lengthen the tubular string.   
     
     
         21 . A method for making a threaded connection between a threaded rod and a bolt, where the threaded rod includes a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a radially outer surface extending between the first end and second end, and where the radially outer surface includes a set of external threads, and where the bolt includes a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and has a throughbore extending axially between the first end and second end, and where the bolt has a set of internal threads, the method comprising:
 (a) disposing the bolt onto the threaded rod such that the axis of the bolt is parallel to the axis of the threaded rod;   (b) orbiting the bolt about the central axis of the threaded rod;   (c) rotating the bolt about the central axis of the bolt during (b); and   (d) threadably engaging the internal threads of the bolt with the external threads of the threaded rod during (b) and (c).   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising maintaining the central axis of the bolt parallel to the central axis of the threaded rod during (b) and (c). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising decreasing a radial offset distance between the central axis of the bolt and the central axis of the threaded rod during (d). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising decreasing an acute angle θ between the central axis of the first tubular and the central axis of the tubular string during (d).