Drill Collars

Drill collars are thick-walled tubularpieces machined from solid steel bars,forming a component of the bottomhole assembly that provides weight-on-bit for improved drilling performance.VAM Drilling has been making drillcollars for more than 50 years andwas the first company to make smalldiameter pierced drill collars from solidbar. Bars are trepanned on equipmentspecially designed by VAM Drilling.

Today, VAM Drilling provides a full rangeof slick and spiral drill collars in AISI4145H-modified steel, ERS 425™ SourService steel and non-magnetic alloys.

Drill collars from VAM Drilling areavailable with the following features:

■ ODs from 2-7/8” to 14”;

■ Mechanical propertiesguaranteed to 1” below thesteel’s surface at ambienttemperature;

■ Enhanced fatigue resistance(threads cold rolled, pin-reliefgroove and box bore back forAPI standard connections);

■ Phosphate-coated threads toprevent galling; and

■ Hardbanding is availableupon request.

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In order to reduce differential pressuresticking, the surface of drill collars canbe spiral-grooved. VAM Drilling spiraldrill collars are the perfect solution fordeep, directional or deviated drilling.Cross sections of the drill collarsreduce the contact area with thewall of the hole.

The grooving consists of three right-hand spirals, machined on VAMDrilling’s unique triple-headed millingmachines. Stress relief featuresimprove the bending strength ofpin and box API connections and,therefore, durability. Bore back on boxand stress relief grooves on pin aredefined by API.

VAM Drilling spiral drill collars reducewall contact area and eliminatedifferential sticking.

Spiral Drill Collars

OD (in) Spiral Depth (in) Tolerance Spiral Lead (in) Tolerance

2-7/8 N/A N/A N/A N/A3-1/8 3/19 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)3-3/8 3/19 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)3-1/4 3/19 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)3-1/2 3/19 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)4-1/8 17/90 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)4-1/4 17/90 (+/– 1/16”) 36 (+/– 2”)4-1/2 15/68 (+/– 1/16”) 38 (+/– 2”)4-3/4 15/68 (+/– 1/16”) 38 (+/– 2”)

5 15/68 (+/– 1/16”) 38 (+/– 2”)5-1/4 1/4 (+/– 1/16”) 42 (+/– 2”)5-1/2 1/4 (+/– 1/16”) 42 (+/– 2”)5-7/8 1/4 (+/– 1/16”) 42 (+/– 2”)

6 26/93 (+/– 1/16”) 42 (+/– 2”)6-1/4 26/93 (+/– 1/16”) 42 (+/– 2”)6-1/2 14/45 (+/– 1/16”) 46 (+/– 2”)6-5/8 14/45 (+/– 1/16”) 46 (+/– 2”)

7 13/55 (+/– 1/16”) 46 (+/– 2”)7-1/4 13/55 (+/– 1/16”) 64 (+/– 2”)7-1/2 13/55 (+/– 1/16”) 64 (+/– 2”)7-3/4 11/43 (+/– 1/16”) 64 (+/– 2”)

8 11/43 (+/– 1/16”) 68 (+/– 2”)8-1/4 8/29 (+/– 1/16”) 68 (+/– 2”)8-1/2 8/29 (+/– 1/16”) 68 (+/– 2”)8-3/4 3/8 (+/– 1/16”) 68 (+/– 2”)

9 15/37 (+/– 1/16”) 72 (+/– 2”)9-1/4 15/37 (+/– 1/16”) 72 (+/– 2”)9-1/2 15/37 (+/– 1/16”) 72 (+/– 2”)9-3/4 15/37 (+/– 1/16”) 72 (+/– 2”)

10 7/16 (+/– 1/16”) 76 (+/– 2”)11 15/32 (+/– 1/16”) 80 (+/– 2”)

11-1/4 15/32 (+/– 1/16”) 80 (+/– 2”)

SPIRAL DRILL COLLAR TYPICAL SIZE

Spiral Design (3 spirals)

6-3/4” and less 7” to 8-1/2” 8-3/4” and larger

Slip and Elevator Recesses

VAM Drilling offers optional slip and elevator recesses toimprove handling efficiency and safety. Slip and elevatorrecesses are machined in accordance with the standardsAPI RP7G and ISO 10407:1993. The upper radius of theelevator recess is cold rolled to increase product life. Slip andelevator recesses can be used together or separately. Specialdrill pipe elevator designs can be supplied for automatedhandling operations to decrease non-productive time.

VAM Drilling slip and elevator recesses improve downholehandling efficiency and safety.

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DrillCollar

OD

BoxEnd

RRadius

1”Radius

3”

3”

3”

42”

20”+2–0

18”+2–0

16”+1–0

ElevatorRecess

SlipRecess

(in) (in) (in) (in) (°) (in) (in) (°)4-1/8 3-11/16 7/32 1/8 4 3-3/4 3/16 3.54-1/4 3-13/16 7/32 1/8 4 3-7/8 3/16 3.54-3/4 4-1/4 1/4 1/8 5 4-3/8 3/16 3.54-7/8 4-3/8 1/4 1/8 5 4-1/2 3/16 3.5

5 4-1/2 1/4 1/8 5 4-5/8 3/16 3.55-1/4 4-3/4 1/4 1/8 5 4-7/8 3/16 3.55-3/4 5-1/8 5/16 1/8 6 5-1/4 1/4 5

6 5-3/8 5/16 1/8 6 5-1/2 1/4 56-1/4 5-5/8 5/16 1/8 6 5-3/4 1/4 56-1/2 5-7/8 5/16 1/8 6 6 1/4 56-3/4 6 3/8 3/16 7.5 6-1/4 1/4 5

7 6-1/4 3/8 3/16 7.5 6-1/2 1/4 58 7-1/4 3/8 3/16 7.5 7-1/2 1/4 5

8-1/4 7-1/2 3/8 3/16 7.5 7-3/4 1/4 58-1/2 7-3/4 3/8 3/16 7.5 8 1/4 5

9 8-1/8 7/16 1/4 9 8-1/2 1/4 59-1/2 8-5/8 7/16 1/4 9 9 1/4 5

10 9-1/8 7/16 1/4 9 9-1/2 1/4 511 10-1/8 7/16 1/4 9 10-1/2 1/4 5

11-1/4 10-3/8 7/16 1/4 9 10-3/4 1/4 5

Elevator Recess

OD Depth Radius

Slip RecessApprox

OD Depth Angle

Drill Collar

OD

Drill Collar Manufacturing Flow Chart

HeatTreatment Straightening

Boring

Finishing andFinal Inspection

PhosCoatingShipping

UltrasonicInspection

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ThreadingHardbanding(optional)

Spiraling(optional)

Inspection Recess Machining(optional)

ColdRolling

Drill collars are manufactured to customer requirements and, where applicable, tospecifications such as API, ISO, NS1, DS1, etc. and are inspected 100% after completion.

VAM Drilling drill collars forstandard use are made of AISI4145H chromium molybdenumalloy steel. The concentration ofresidual elements, such as sulphurand phosphorus, is reducedduring the steel-making process,producing homogeneous steelwith excellent physical properties.

VAM Drilling can supply drill collarsfor use on sour gas wells whereresistance to hydrogen

embrittlement, caused by thepresence of H2S, is expected.VAM Drilling’s ERS 425™ SourService grade material has beendeveloped to provide bottom-holeassembly (BHA) products withimproved impact strength (KCV),fracture toughness (K1c) andresistance to sulfide stress cracking(SSC) in wells with a Sour Serviceenvironment. The mechanicalproperties of ERS 425 meetor exceed the requirements

of API Specification 7.1 andISO 10424:2004. In NACE testsTM 0177, the resistance of ERS425 to SSC significantly surpassesthe resistance of standard4145H-modified steel. ERS 425drill collars have provided superiorperformance in Sour Serviceapplications around the world.In addition, VAM Drilling suppliesspecial non-magnetic (Amagnit™

501) drill collars for extreme serviceor directional drilling applications.

Yield Ultimate Hardness Reduction MinApplication Material Size Strength Strength (Brinell) Elongation of Area Charpy

Min (ksi) Min (ksi) (HB) (%) (%) (ft-lbs @ +20°C)

Standard AISI 4145H Up to 6-7/8" 110 140285 to 340 13 45 40

Service Mod Bar Above 6-7/8" 100 135

Sour Service ERS 425™Above 7"

100 135 285 to 341 13 45 48(up to 8-1/2")

Non-Magnetic Amagnit™ 501Up to 7" 116 135

275 min 25 50 74Above 7" 112 130

Materials

Drill Collar Material Table

Hardbanding

For more informationon hardbanding typesplease see page 106.

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Type B hardbanding is recommended on drillcollars with slip and elevator recesses and isapplied in a 4” long wear pad above theelevator recess, a 1” long wear pad abovethe slip recess and a 10” long wear padunder the slip recess.

For drill collars with a slip recess only, type Chardbanding is applied to a 10” long wearpad under the slip recess and a 4” long wearpad above the slip recess.

For drill collars without any recess, type Ahardbanding is applied in a 10” long wearpad located 30” from the end of the pin.

30"min.

10"

1"

1"

10"

1"

4"

1"

10"

1"

4"

Type A Type B Type C

Hardbanding (flush or raised)

b 0"3/32"+1/16"

b0"

3/32"

+1/32"

Flush Raised

2-7/8 1-1/2 2-3/8 PAC 2-45/64 31 2,0703-1/8 1 2-3/8 REG 3 31 3,0303-1/8 1-1/8 2-3/8 REG 3 31 3,0303-1/8 1-1/4 NC23 3 31 3,3303-1/8 1-1/4 2-3/8 REG 3 31 3,0303-3/8 1-1/2 NC26 3-17/64 31 3,5803-1/2 1-1/2 NC26 3-17/64 31 4,6103-3/4 1-1/2 NC26 3-29/64 31 4,6704-1/8 2 NC31 3-61/64 31 6,8504-1/4 1-3/4 NC31 3-61/64 31 8,1604-1/4 2 NC31 3-61/64 31 6,8504-3/4 1-3/4 NC38 4-37/64 31 9,9904-3/4 2 NC35 4-33/64 31 10,8004-3/4 2 NC38 4-37/64 31 9,9904-3/4 2-1/4 NC38 4-37/64 31 9,9904-3/4 2-1/4 NC35 4-33/64 31 9,2004-3/4 2-1/2 NC38 4-37/64 31 9,9904-7/8 2-1/4 NC38 4-37/64 31 11,900

5 2-1/4 NC38 4-49/64 31 12,9005-1/4 2-1/4 NC38 4-61/64 31 12,9005-3/4 2-1/4 NC46 5-5/8 31 17,7005-3/4 2-1/4 NC40 5-25/64 31 17,000

6 2-1/4 NC46 5-23/32 31 23,4006 2-13/16 NC46 5-23/32 31 22,400

6-1/4 2-1/4 4-1/2 H-90 6 31 28,7006-1/4 2-1/4 NC46 5-29/32 31 28,0006-1/4 2-1/2 NC46 5-29/32 31 25,7006-1/4 2-3/4 NC46 5-29/32 31 23,1006-1/4 2-13/16 NC46 5-29/32 31 22,4006-1/4 2-13/16 NC50 5-59/64 31 23,0006-1/4 3 NC46 5-29/32 31 20,3006-1/2 2-1/4 NC46 6-3/32 31 28,0006-1/2 2-1/4 4-1/2 H-90 6 31 28,7006-1/2 2-1/4 NC50 6-7/64 31 29,7006-1/2 2-1/2 NC46 6-3/32 31 25,7006-1/2 2-13/16 NC46 6-3/32 31 22,4006-1/2 2-13/16 NC50 6-7/64 31 29,7006-1/2 2-7/8 NC50 6-7/64 31 29,7006-1/2 3 4-1/2 H-90 6 31 21,1006-3/4 2-1/4 NC50 6-19/64 31 36,7006-3/4 2-1/2 NC50 6-19/64 31 35,8006-3/4 2-1/2 NC46 6-9/32 31 25,7006-3/4 2-13/16 NC50 6-19/64 31 32,3006-3/4 2-7/8 NC50 6-19/64 31 31,5006-3/4 3 NC50 6-19/64 31 30,000

OD ID Connection Bevel Overall RecommendedDiameter Length Make-Up Torque*

(in) (in) (in) (ft) (ft-lbs)

* Performances calculated for products manufactured as per API.

Drill Collar DataPipe Body

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3,640 2.58 495 16 N/A N/A 2-7/85,330 2.57 720 23 681 22 3-1/85,330 2.65 698 23 660 21 3-1/85,860 2.57 674 22 635 21 3-1/85,330 2.75 674 22 635 21 3-1/86,300 2.07 750 24 711 23 3-3/88,110 2.42 821 27 780 25 3-1/28,220 3.18 970 32 928 30 3-3/4

12,100 2.44 1,070 35 1,010 33 4-1/814,400 2.51 1,230 40 1,170 38 4-1/412,100 2.75 1,150 38 1,090 36 4-1/417,600 1.73 1,600 52 1,520 50 4-3/419,100 2.58 1,520 50 1,440 47 4-3/417,600 1.80 1,520 50 1,440 47 4-3/417,600 1.92 1,430 47 1,360 44 4-3/416,200 2.82 1,430 47 1,360 44 4-3/417,600 2.10 1,340 44 1,260 41 4-3/421,000 2.14 1,530 50 1,450 47 4-7/822,700 2.38 1,630 53 1,550 51 522,700 2.88 1,840 60 1,740 57 5-1/431,200 1.68 2,290 75 2,190 71 5-3/430,000 3.04 2,290 75 2,190 71 5-3/441,200 2.02 2,530 83 2,410 79 639,500 2.24 2,300 75 2,170 71 656,200 2.31 2,780 91 2,650 87 6-1/449,300 2.38 2,780 91 2,650 87 6-1/445,200 2.47 2,680 88 2,560 83 6-1/440,700 2.60 2,580 84 2,450 80 6-1/439,500 2.64 2,550 83 2,420 79 6-1/440,500 1.71 2,550 83 2,420 79 6-1/435,700 2.79 2,460 80 2,330 76 6-1/449,300 2.77 3,040 99 2,890 94 6-1/256,200 2.69 3,040 99 2,890 94 6-1/252,200 1.89 3,040 99 2,890 94 6-1/245,200 2.87 2,940 96 2,790 91 6-1/239,500 3.07 2,810 92 2,660 87 6-1/252,200 2.03 2,810 92 2,660 87 6-1/252,200 2.05 2,780 91 2,630 86 6-1/241,200 3.14 2,720 89 2,570 84 6-1/264,700 2.21 3,310 108 3,160 103 6-3/463,000 2.26 3,210 105 3,060 100 6-3/445,200 3.30 3,210 105 3,060 100 6-3/456,800 2.37 3,080 101 2,920 95 6-3/455,500 2.39 3,050 100 2,890 95 6-3/452,700 2.46 2,990 98 2,830 93 6-3/4

Torsional Bending Total Weight/Foot Sl Total Weight/Foot Sp ODStrength* Strength Ratio Weight Sl Weight Sp

(ft-lbs) (lbs) (lbs/ft) (lbs) (lbs/ft) (in)

2-7/8” – 6-3/4”Pipe Body Slick Spiraled

Drill Collar Data

7 2-1/4 NC50 6-31/64 31 38,4007 2-1/2 NC50 6-31/64 31 35,8007 2-13/16 NC50 6-31/64 31 32,3007 2-13/16 5-1/2 H-90 6-5/8 31 36,5007 2-13/16 5-1/2 FH 6-23/32 31 32,8008 2-1/4 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 60,3008 2-1/2 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 57,4008 2-13/16 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 53,3008 2-13/16 NC56 7-31/64 31 48,2008 3 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 50,7008 3 6-5/8 H-90 7-1/2 31 53,6008 3-1/4 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 46,9008 3-3/8 6-5/8 REG 7-33/64 31 44,900

8-1/4 2-13/16 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 53,3008-1/4 3 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 50,7008-1/4 3-3/16 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 47,9008-1/4 3-1/4 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 46,9008-1/2 2-13/16 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 53,3008-1/2 2-13/16 NC61 8 31 68,4008-1/2 3 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 50,7008-1/2 3-1/4 6-5/8 REG 7-45/64 31 46,900

9 2-13/16 7-5/8 REG 8-7/16 31 84,4009 2-13/16 6-5/8 FH 8-29/64 31 84,0009 3 7-5/8 REG 8-7/16 31 84,4009 3 6-5/8 FH 8-29/64 31 81,0009 3-1/2 6-5/8 FH 8-29/64 31 72,100

9-1/2 2-3/4 7-5/8 REG 8-13/16 31 92,6009-1/2 2-13/16 7-5/8 REG 8-13/16 31 91,6009-1/2 3 7-5/8 REG 8-13/16 31 88,6009-1/2 3 NC70 8-31/32 31 102,0009-1/2 3-1/16 7-5/8 REG 8-13/16 31 87,5009-1/2 3-1/2 7-5/8 REG 8-13/16 31 79,5009-3/4 3 7-5/8 REG LT 9-1/4 31 91,800

10 3 8-5/8 REG 9-33/64 31 109,00010 3 7-5/8 REG LT 9-1/4 31 91,80011 3 8-5/8 REG LT 10-1/2 31 131,000

* Performances calculated for products manufactured as per API.

OD ID Connection Bevel Overall RecommendedDiameter Length Make-Up Torque*

(in) (in) (in) (ft) (ft-lbs)

Pipe Body

837” – 11”

61,400 2.54 3,590 117 3,380 110 757,300 2.61 3,500 114 3,290 107 751,600 2.73 3,360 110 3,150 103 764,900 2.40 3,360 110 3,150 103 752,400 1.72 3,360 110 3,150 103 796,500 2.50 4,810 157 4,560 149 891,800 2.54 4,720 154 4,460 146 885,400 2.60 4,580 150 4,330 142 877,200 3.02 4,580 150 4,330 142 881,100 2.66 4,490 147 4,240 139 895,400 2.50 4,490 147 4,240 139 875,100 2.75 4,360 143 4,110 134 871,900 2.81 4,300 140 4,040 132 885,400 2.93 4,910 161 4,630 151 8-1/481,100 2.99 4,820 158 4,540 148 8-1/476,600 3.07 4,730 155 4,440 145 8-1/475,100 3.10 4,700 154 4,410 144 8-1/485,400 3.27 5,250 172 4,960 162 8-1/2

109,000 2.59 5,250 172 4,960 162 8-1/281,100 3.34 5,160 169 4,870 159 8-1/275,100 3.46 5,040 165 4,750 155 8-1/2

135,000 2.28 5,960 195 5,430 178 9134,000 2.41 5,970 195 5,440 178 9135,000 2.31 5,880 192 5,340 175 9130,000 2.44 5,880 192 5,350 175 9115,000 2.56 5,610 184 5,080 166 9148,000 2.78 6,750 221 6,200 203 9-1/2147,000 2.78 6,720 220 6,170 202 9-1/2142,000 2.81 6,630 217 6,080 199 9-1/2164,000 2.34 6,620 217 6,070 199 9-1/2140,000 2.83 6,600 216 6,050 198 9-1/2127,000 2.93 6,370 208 5,820 190 9-1/2147,000 3.09 7,020 230 6,470 212 9-3/4175,000 1.98 7,420 243 6,800 222 10147,000 3.38 7,430 243 6,800 222 10209,000 2.84 9,140 299 8,410 275 11

Torsional Bending Total Weight/Foot Sl Total Weight/Foot Sp ODStrength* Strength Ratio Weight Sl Weight Sp

(ft-lbs) (lbs) (lbs/ft) (lbs) (lbs/ft) (in)

Pipe Body Slick Spiraled

Drill CollarPerformance Datasheet

The Drill Collar PerformanceDatasheet is an easy-to-usedocument summarizing theperformances and othertechnical characteristics ofdrill collars manufactured byVAM Drilling.

This document provides keyperformance characteristics suchas tensile strength, torsionalstrength, and make-up torquerange, as well as other product-specific performance data.

An overview of some additionalinformation available in the DrillCollar Performance Datasheet isshown below.

Useful datasheet definition:

■ Bending strength ratio: Thisbending criteria is defined in theAPI spec RP7G as an inertia ratiobetween pin and box connection.A rotary shouldered connectionthat has a BSR of 2.5 (or 2.5:1)is generally accepted as anaverage balanced connection.

Overview

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Product Description

Drill CollarInquiry Form

ITEM 1 2 3 4

Quantity (joints)

Nominal OD – inches

ID – inches

Overall length – feet

Hardbanding type

Hardbanding application

Hardbanding – inches

Hardbanding location

Slip recess ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Elevator recess ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Steel material ❏ Non mag ❏ 4145 ❏ Non mag ❏ 4145 ❏ Non mag ❏ 4145 ❏ Non mag ❏ 4145

Collar type ❏ Slick ❏ Spiral ❏ Slick ❏ Spiral ❏ Slick ❏ Spiral ❏ Slick ❏ Spiral

Connection

Relief groove pin ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Bore back box ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Fish neck ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Fish neck OD – inches

Fish neck length – inches

Make-and-Break ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No ❏ Yes ❏ No

Thread protector type (pressed steel, cast steel)

Applicable specification (API, DS1, NS1, etc.)

Packing

Comments

GE

NE

RA

LP

IPE