Process for coating a threaded tubular component, threaded tubular component and resulting connection

Abstract

A threaded tubular component for drilling or working hydrocarbon wells, including at one of its ends a threaded zone produced on its outer or inner peripheral surface depending on whether the threaded end is male or female in type, in which at least a portion of the end is coated with at least one lubricating dry film including at least 65% by weight of a polyaryletherketone, and a process for depositing the film.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A threaded tubular component for drilling or working hydrocarbon wells, the tubular component comprising:
 at one of its ends a threaded zone produced on its outer or inner peripheral surface depending on whether the threaded end is male or female in type,   wherein at least a portion of the end is coated with at least one lubricating dry film comprising at least 65% by weight of a polyaryletherketone.   
     
     
         24 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the polyaryletherketone is selected from a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a polyetherketone (PEK), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the lubricating dry film has a structure with a degree of crystallinity in a range of 10% to 35%. 
     
     
         26 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the lubricating dry film comprises at least one class 4 solid lubricant in a proportion by weight in a range of 10% to 35%. 
     
     
         27 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 26 , wherein the lubricating dry film comprises a perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer in a proportion by weight in a range of 10% to 30%. 
     
     
         28 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the lubricating dry film comprises a mechanical reinforcing agent selected from a list of the following pigments: carbon black, mica, wollastonite, nanometric aluminium oxide, nanometric titanium oxide, glass powders, nano-diamond, nanometric WS2 or WS2-fullerenes, in a proportion by weight in a range of 1% to 15%. 
     
     
         29 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the portion coated with lubricating dry film has previously undergone a surface preparation selected from the group constituted by sanding, manganese phosphatation, electrolytic deposition of Cu or Cu—Sn—Zn alloys, and Fe and Zn alloys deposited by projection. 
     
     
         30 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein the portion coated with lubricating dry film has previously been coated with an undercoat of polyetheretherketone with a semi-crystalline structure and containing mica pigments. 
     
     
         31 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , wherein an entire of the threaded zone is coated with the lubricating dry film. 
     
     
         32 . A threaded tubular component according to  claim 23 , further comprising a metal/metal sealing surface, the sealing surface being coated with the lubricating dry film. 
     
     
         33 . A threaded tubular connection comprising:
 a male threaded tubular component and a female threaded tubular component made up one into the other, wherein at least one of the threaded tubular components is in accordance with  claim 23 .   
     
     
         34 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component for drilling or working hydrocarbon wells, the tubular component having at one of its ends a threaded zone produced on its outer or inner peripheral surface depending on whether the threaded end is male or female in type, the process comprising:
 producing a mixture comprising a polyaryletherketone powder in suspension in water, in proportions in a range of 25% to 35% by weight;   applying the mixture to a portion of the end of the threaded tubular component;   drying the portion of the end thus coated at a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 150° C. for a period in a range of 5 to 10 minutes;   heating the thus coated portion of the end to a temperature in a range of 350° C. to 450° C. for 5 to 15 minutes at a rate of increase in temperature in a range of 10° C. to 20° C. per minute;   cooling the thus coated portion of the end to ambient temperature at a cooling rate of less than 10° C. per minute, to obtain a principally crystalline structure.   
     
     
         35 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein the mixture further comprises a coalescing agent with a rapid evaporation rate with a boiling point in a range of 100° C. to 200° C. and in proportions in a range of 2.5% to 10% by weight. 
     
     
         36 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein the mixture further comprises a non-ionic wetting and dispersing agent in proportions in a range of 2.5% to 10% by weight. 
     
     
         37 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one class 4 solid lubricant in proportions in a range of 3% to 12% by weight. 
     
     
         38 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 37 , wherein the class 4 solid lubricant is a perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer in a proportion by weight in a range of 3% to 12%. 
     
     
         39 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 37 , wherein the mixture further comprises a mechanical reinforcing agent selected from a list of the following pigments: carbon black, mica, wollastonite, nanometric aluminium oxide, nanometric titanium oxide, glass powders, nano-diamond, nanometric WS2 or WS2-fullerenes, in a proportion by weight in a range of 0.5% to 5%. 
     
     
         40 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein the portion of the end is coated using a pneumatic spray system, diameter of the system being in a range of 0.7 to 1.8 mm and air pressure being in a range of 4 to 6 bars. 
     
     
         41 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein a surface preparation selected from the group constituted by sanding, manganese phosphatation, electrolytic deposition of Cu or Cu—Sn—Zn alloys, and particles of Fe and Zn alloys deposited by projection is carried out before applying the mixture to the portion of the end. 
     
     
         42 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 34 , wherein a surface preparation producing an undercoat of polyetheretherketone with a semi-crystalline structure and containing mica pigments is carried out before applying the mixture to the portion of the end. 
     
     
         43 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component for drilling or working hydrocarbon wells, the tubular component having at one of its ends a threaded zone produced on its outer or inner peripheral surface depending on whether the threaded end is male or female in type, the process comprising:
 heating a portion of the end of the threaded tubular component to a temperature in a range of 360° C. to 420° C., or a temperature close to 400° C.;   projecting PEK and/or PEEK powders onto the portion of the end of the threaded tubular component;   maintaining the thus coated portion of the end at a temperature in a range of 360° C. to 420° C., or at a temperature close to 400° C., for a period in a range of 1 to 4 minutes;   cooling the thus coated portion of the end to ambient temperature at a cooling rate of less than 10° C. per minute, to obtain a principally crystalline structure.   
     
     
         44 . A process for coating a threaded tubular component according to  claim 43 , further comprising degreasing the portion to be coated before heating the portion.