International standards for tubing

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has numerous manufacturing requirements for tubing. Many API standards have also been adopted by the International Standards Organization (ISO). This article discusses these standards and considerations when selecting tubing.

Purchasing tubing

The tubing purchaser and designer should be aware of API requirements and testing procedures (see API Spec. 5CT). All tubing should meet API minimum requirements. In critical wells, the purchaser may want to receive and review the manufacturer’s test results. For tubing used in sour wells (wells with H₂S content greater than 0.05 psi partial pressure), the specific sour service requirements should be reviewed.

When placing orders for tubing to be manufactured in accordance with API Spec. 5CT, the purchaser should consult API Spec. 5CT Sec. 4. At a minimum, the following requirements should be specified on the purchase order:

• The specification (API/ISO)
• Quantity
• Size designation[

outside diameter (OD), normally in inches]

• Weight designation
• Grade and type
• End finish (type of connection)
• Range length
• Seamless or electric weld
• Delivery date
• Shipping instructions

API tubing specifications contain several provisions that are optional for the purchaser and other stipulations that are by agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer. Some of these added provisions may be critical to a particular application; therefore, familiarity with API/ISO tubing specifications is needed.

Tubing connectors and joints

API developed specifications for three different connectors for use as tubing joints:

• External-upset tubing and coupling
• Non-upset tubing and couplings
• Integral-joint tubing

API Spec. 5CT includes an illustration of API tubing joint connections. All three connections have tapered and round thread forms with either 8 or 10 threads/in., depending on the size. When casing is used as tubing, long-thread coupling/short-thread coupling and buttress-thread coupling connections can be specified.

The API external-upset-end (EUE) tubing connection is widely used because it is a good, serviceable connection in most wells. The EUE joint has a designed joint strength in tension and pressure strength greater than that of the pipe body and, therefore, is considered a 100% joint efficient connection. For proper lubrication and sealing, the joint requires a good thread compound as outlined in API RP 5A3. To improve the seal performance of API EUE tubing in high-pressure service, a grooved coupling, which accepts nonmetallic seal rings, is sometimes used in the coupling (see API Spec. 5CT SR 13). To provide more clearance, API special clearance EUE couplings are available. API EUE joints come in OD sizes of 1.050 to 4.500 in.

API nonupset (NUE) tubing is used much less than EUE tubing. The cost of NUE is only slightly less than EUE, and the joint strength is substantially less. The coupling joint diameter of NUE is less than EUE, which offers some advantages when clearance is small. API NUE joints are available in sizes of 1.050 to 4.500 in.

API integral-joint tubing is available in OD sizes of 1.315 to 2.063 in. API integral-joint tubing has a 10-round form with a joint strength that is less than the body minimum yield, which restricts its use. The small OD of integral-joint tubing permits its use inside larger tubing strings or in wells as unloading or vent strings. The couplings should meet all the minimum requirements outlined in API Spec. 5CT. API Spec. 5B3 and API RP 5B14 cover threading, gauging, and thread inspection.

Several proprietary (non-API) connections are available. These joints are useful when greater leak resistance or more clearance is needed than that provided by the standard API joints. These specialty joints obtain their improved properties through the following:

• Unique thread profiles
• A torque shoulder
• Metal-to-metal seals
• Seal rings
• Internal upsets
• External upsets
• Integral joints
• etc.

Tubing reference tables, which summarize the available non-API tubing joints and tubing, are published yearly in trade magazines such as World Oil. Many operators commonly use these proprietary connections in critical wells. Before ordering or using a specific proprietary tubing connection in a critical well, the suitability of such a connection for a particular application must be assessed by either a review of service history or a comprehensive connection test program such as ISO 13679. See API RP 5C7 for guidelines on use of Coiled tubing.

Process of manufacture

Tubing made to API specifications uses seamless or electric-weld processes. Seamless pipe is defined as a wrought steel tubular product made without a welded seam. It is manufactured by hot-working steel or, if necessary, by subsequently cold-finishing the hot-worked product to produce the desired shape, dimensions, and properties. Because of the nature of the manufacturing, the cross section of the tubing wall area may be slightly eccentric and the tubing slightly oval and not perfectly straight.

Electric-welded pipe has one longitudinal seam formed by electric-resistance or electric-induction welding without the addition of filler metal. The edges to be welded are pressed together mechanically, and the heat for welding is generated by the resistance to flow of electric current. The weld seam of electric welded pipe is heat-treated after welding to a minimum temperature of 1,000°F or processed so that no untempered martensite remains. See API Spec. 5CT for exceptions.

Both seamless and electric-weld processes are acceptable for most oil and gas services, but some prefer seamless tubulars for sour service because the electric-weld process may result in a slightly different grain structure near the weld. Such differences are usually eliminated if the electric-weld tubing is heat-treated by the quenched-and-tempered process, which is mandatory for API grades L80, C90, T95, and P110. Couplings usually are made of seamless tubular product of the same grade and type as the pipe.

API grades

API standardized several grades of steel that have different chemical content, manufacture processes, and heat treatments and, therefore, different mechanical properties. API organized these tubing grades into three groups. Group 1 is for all tubing in grades H40, J55, and N80. Group 2 is for restricted-yield tubing grades L80, C90, and T95. Group 3 is for high-strength tubing in seamless grade P110. The API grade letter designation was selected arbitrarily to provide a unique name for various steels. Numbers in the grade designation indicate the minimum yield strength of the steel in thousand psi. API defines the yield strength as the tensile stress required to produce a specific total elongation per unit length on a standard test specimen.

API tubing grade guidelines

The following guidelines apply to the use of API tubing grades.

• H40—Although an API grade, H40 is generally not used in tubing sizes because the yield strength is relatively low and the cost saving over J55 is minimal. Suppliers do not commonly stock this grade.
• J55—A commonly used grade for most wells when it meets the design criteria. Some operators recommend it be full-length normalized or normalized and tempered after upsetting when used in carbon dioxide or sour service (ring-worm corrosion problems); however, such heat treatments increase costs. J55 has been the "standard" grade for tubing in most relatively shallow (< 9,000 ft) and low-pressure (< 4,000 psi) wells on land.
• C75—No longer an official API grade and generally not available. It was developed as a higher-strength material for sour service but was replaced by L80 tubing.
• N80—A relatively old grade with essentially open chemical requirements. It is susceptible to H₂S-induced SSC (acronym). It is acceptable for sweet oil and gas wells when it meets design conditions. The quenched-and-tempered heat treatment is preferred. The N80 grade is normally less expensive than L80 grades.
• L80—A restricted yield-tubing grade that is available in Type 1, 9 Cr, or 13 Cr. Type 1 is less expensive than 9 Cr and 13 Cr but more subject to weight-loss corrosion. L80 Type 1 is used commonly in many oil and gas fields because of higher strength than J55. L80 is satisfactory for SSC resistance in all conditions but may incur weight-loss corrosion. Though popular in the past for CO₂- and mild H₂S-contaminated wells, Type 9 Cr largely has been replaced by Type 13 Cr. L80 13 Cr tubing has gained popularity because it has good CO₂ -induced weight-loss corrosion resistance properties; however, it is more costly. Type 13 Cr may not be suitable in sour service environments. Typically, the H₂S partial pressure should be less than 1.5 psi for safe use of L80 Type 13 Cr. The user should consult National Assn. of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) MR-01-75.
• C90—A relatively new API grade with two different chemical requirements: Type 1 and Type 2. Only Type 1 is recommended for use in sour service. Typically, this grade must be special ordered; its use has been generally supplanted by T95.
• T95—A high-strength tubular grade that has different chemical requirements: Type 1 and Type 2. Only Type 1 is recommended for sour service. T95 is SSC resistant but not weight-loss resistant.
• P110—The old P105 tubing grade, which allowed a normalized and tempered heat treatment, was discontinued, and the casing P110 grade, which is restricted to quench-and-tempered heat treatment, was adopted. This high-strength tubing typically is used in deep sweet oil and gas wells with high pressures. This grade is sensitive to SSC failures unless the temperatures are relatively high (> 175°F). The P110 grade is slightly more expensive than L80 Type 1 but usually less expensive than the C90 and T95 API restricted-yield grades.
• Q125—Although not a specific API tubing grade, users can order Q125 API tubing. Type 1 chemistry is preferred.

API markings

API products (tubing, pup joints, and couplings) should be stenciled or a combination of stamping and stenciling as per API Spec. 5CT. The sequence of stencil marking is as follows:

• Manufacturer’s name
• Monogram marking
• End finish
• Size designation
• Weight designation
• Grade and type
• Impact test temperature
• Heat treatment
• Manufacture process
• Supplementary requirements
• Hydrostatic test pressure
• Type of thread
• Size of drift
• Serialization of Grades C-90 and T-95
• Plating of coupling

Impact test temperature, heat treatment, supplementary requirements, type of thread, and plating of coupling are included if applicable. API Spec. 5CT includes information on color-coding used.

Tubing range (length) and size tolerances

API acknowledges two tubing length ranges: Range 1 from 20 to 24 ft and Range 2 from 28 to 32 ft. Range 2 is normally used. Shorter tubing joints (pup joints) are available in 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-ft lengths with a tolerance of ± 3 in. A complete set of tubing pups with the same connections as the tubing string typically is purchased for each well.

API test pressures

API requires that plain-end pipe be tested only to 3,000 psi maximum, except by agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer. Various tubing grades and sizes can be tested hydrostatically to higher values as listed in API Spec. 5CT. The API hydrostatic test pressures specified are inspection test pressures. They do not necessarily have any direct relationship to working pressures but should be considered when establishing design factors. Care should be taken if test pressures are to be exceeded in well operations. The following equation is used to determine the maximum hydrostatic test pressure.

....................(1)

where p_h = the 80% hydrostatic test pressure (rounded to the nearest 100 psi); σ_y = yield strength for pipe body, psi; t = wall thickness, in.; and d_o = tubing OD, in.

A maximum test pressure during manufacturing of 10,000 psi is imposed because of test equipment limitations. Manufacturers also can conduct hydrostatic tests at a fiber stress not exceeding 80% of the specified minimum yield strength . The hydrostatic test pressures are calculated from Eq. 1, except when a lower pressure is required to avoid leakage because of insufficient coupling strength or interface pressure between pipe and coupling threads. The lower pressures are based on formulas given in API Bull. 5C3. The production hydrostatic test pressure for threaded pipe are standard pressures listed in the API tables or a higher test pressure as agreed on by the purchaser and the entity performing the threading.

Nomenclature

ph	=	hydrostatic test pressure, m/Lt2, psi
do	=	outside diameter, L, in.
t	=	tube thickness, L, in.
σy	=	minimum yield strength of pipe, m/Lt2, psi

Noteworthy papers in OnePetro

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External links

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See also

Tubing design factors

Tubing inspection and handling

Tubing

Casing and tubing

PEH:Tubing_Selection,_Design,_and_Installation