Recently many new critical service, high performance, casing and tubing connections, all claiming superior performance have become available to the petroleum industry. To prevent failures due to misapplication, a system must be developed to expedite rational engineering judgement for selecting one connection over another. One such system can be realized in the form of a Focused Acceptance Test Program. In a Focused Acceptance Test Program (1) the intended applications of the connections are clearly defined, (2) a generic connection specification is developed, and (3) the suitability of a specific connection for those particular applications are demonstrated by way of a physical "focused" test program and/or mathematical analysis.

Focused Acceptance Testing is a cost effective physical test method designed to thoroughly demonstrate the connection capabilities at the loads and along the load paths expected in the intended application. Emphasis is placed on procedures and test load sequences with acceptance criteria based on realistic field service conditions.

This paper presents Focused Acceptance Testing as a logical and cost effective method for qualifying critical service connections for their intended applications. By following such a system, users will be able to select connections for a particular application on a rational engineering basis.

Keywords:
strain gage data, application, requirement, upstream oil & gas, generic connection specification, physical testing, service life envelope, logic programming, load capacity diagram, specimen
Subjects:
Casing and Cementing, Casing design
Copyright 1986, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference
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