Helical hardbanding

Abstract

A tubular component (e.g., a drill pipe, work string pipe, etc.) with one or more hardbanding treatments on an external surface of the tubular component. One or more or all of the hardbanding treatments have a helical or spiral shape. The hardbanding treatment provides 1) enhanced durability to the central region of the tubular component at potentially lower costs, 2) enhanced strength and/or rigidity of the central region of the tubular component to reduce the amount of bending or flexing of the tubular component during the insertion and/or removal of the tubular component into/from a wellbore, and/or 3) improved fluid and debris flow about the central region of the tubular component.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for hardbanding a tubular component comprising:
 providing a tubular component; said tubular component includes a body that has an exterior surface, a box and threaded pin member; said box is secured to a first end of said body; said threaded pin member is secured to a second end of said body; said box has a maximum outer diameter; said threaded pin member has a maximum outer diameter; a minimum outer diameter of said body is less than said maximum outer diameter of said box and said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member;   applying a hardbanding treatment on said exterior surface of said body; said hardbanding treatment is spaced from said box and spaced from said threaded pin member; said hardbanding treatment forms a continuous helically-shaped band on said exterior surface of said body wherein adjacent bands of said continuous helically-shaped band are spaced from one another; said continuous helically-shaped band has first and second ends; said first and second ends are spaced from one another; and   wherein said step of applying results in said continuous helically-shaped band forming one or more complete rotations about said exterior surface of said body; and   wherein said continuous helically-shaped band includes a first base hardbanding layer and a first top hardbanding layer; and wherein said step of applying includes a) applying said first base hardbanding layer to said exterior surface of said body to form a continuous helically-shaped first base hardbanding layer on said exterior surface of said body, and b) applying said first top hardbanding layer on a portion or all of a top surface of said first base hardbanding layer so as to form a continuous helically-shaped first top hardbanding layer on at least a portion of said first base hardbanding layer; and   wherein a top portion of said first top hardbanding layer is fully spaced above said exterior surface of said body; and   wherein a top portion of said first base hardbanding layer extends upwardly above said exterior surface of said body.   
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein formation of said continuous helically-shaped band further includes applying a second base hardbanding layer to said exterior surface of said body to form a continuous helically-shaped second base hardbanding layer on said exterior surface of said body; and
 wherein said first and second base hardbanding layers are positioned adjacent to one another; and   wherein a top portion of said second base hardbanding layer extends upwardly from said exterior surface of said body; and   wherein said first top hardbanding layer is positioned on a top surface of said second base hardbanding layer and on a portion of said top surface of said first base hardbanding layer.   
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band is formed of a metal alloy that includes three or more of carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium, iron, molybdenum, and niobium. 
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band is formed of a metal alloy that includes three or more of carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium, iron, molybdenum, and niobium. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein a maximum height of said continuous helically-shaped band extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said box and said threaded pin member; said maximum height of said helically-shaped continuous band that extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member. 
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 31 , wherein a maximum height of said continuous helically-shaped band extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said box and said threaded pin member; said maximum height of said helically-shaped continuous band that extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member. 
     
     
         34 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 28 , further including the step of applying said first hardbanding treatment on a region of said exterior surface of said body that was absent a prior hardbanding treatment. 
     
     
         35 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 33 , further including the step of applying said first hardbanding treatment on a region of said exterior surface of said body that was absent a prior hardbanding treatment. 
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , further including the step of at least partially cleaning said exterior surface of said body to remove oxides from said exterior surface prior to applying said first and second layers of hardbanding to said body. 
     
     
         37 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said step of applying includes using a welding process and a wire or a cored wire; said welding process is DC straight polarity and uses an electrode negative setting. 
     
     
         38 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of said continuous helically-shaped band is positioned about a central region of said body. 
     
     
         39 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band has a longitudinal length of 1-95% of a longitudinal length of said body. 
     
     
         40 . A tubular hardbanded component comprising:
 a body having an exterior surface;   a box secured to a first end of said body and a threaded pin member connected to a second end of said body; said box has a maximum outer diameter; said threaded pin member has a maximum outer diameter; a minimum outer diameter of said body is less than said maximum outer diameter of said box; a minimum outer diameter of said body is less than said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member; and,   a hardbanding treatment positioned at least partially about said exterior surface of said body and spaced from said box and said threaded pin member; said hardbanding treatment forms a continuous helically-shaped band on said exterior surface of said body wherein adjacent bands of said continuous helically-shaped band are spaced from one another; said continuous helically-shaped band has first and second ends; said first and second ends are spaced from one another; said continuous helically-shaped band forming one or more complete rotations about said exterior surface of said body; said continuous helically-shaped band includes a first base hardbanding layer and a first top hardbanding layer; said first base hardbanding layer is positioned on said exterior surface of said body to form a continuous helically-shaped first base hardbanding layer on said exterior surface of said body, said first top hardbanding layer is positioned on a portion or all of a top surface of said first base hardbanding layer so as to form a continuous helically-shaped first top hardbanding layer on at least a portion of said first base hardbanding layer; a top portion of said first top hardbanding layer is fully spaced above said exterior surface of said body; a top portion of said first base hardbanding layer extends upwardly above said exterior surface of said body.   
     
     
         41 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein formation of said continuous helically-shaped band further includes a second base hardbanding layer that is positioned on said exterior surface of said body to form a continuous helically-shaped second base hardbanding layer on said exterior surface of said body; and said first and second base hardbanding layers are positioned adjacent to one another; a top portion of said second base hardbanding layer extends upwardly from said exterior surface of said body; said first top hardbanding layer is positioned on a top surface of said second base hardbanding layer and on a portion of said top surface of said first base hardbanding layer. 
     
     
         42 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band is formed of a metal alloy that includes three or more of carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium, iron, molybdenum, and niobium. 
     
     
         43 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band is formed of a metal alloy that includes three or more of carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium, iron, molybdenum, and niobium. 
     
     
         44 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein a maximum height of said continuous helically-shaped band extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said box and said threaded pin member; said maximum height of said helically-shaped continuous band that extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member. 
     
     
         45 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 43 , wherein a maximum height of said continuous helically-shaped band extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said box and said threaded pin member; said maximum height of said helically-shaped continuous band that extends above said exterior surface of said body is less than a differential height between said minimum outer diameter of said body of said tubular component and said maximum outer diameter of said threaded pin member. 
     
     
         46 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein said first hardbanding treatment is applied on a region of said exterior surface of said body that was absent a prior hardbanding treatment. 
     
     
         47 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said first hardbanding treatment is applied on a region of said exterior surface of said body that was absent a prior hardbanding treatment. 
     
     
         48 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein at least a portion of said continuous helically-shaped band is positioned about a central region of said body. 
     
     
         49 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 47 , wherein at least a portion of said continuous helically-shaped band is positioned about a central region of said body. 
     
     
         50 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 40 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band has a longitudinal length of 1-95% of a longitudinal length of said body. 
     
     
         51 . The tubular hardbanded component as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said continuous helically-shaped band has a longitudinal length of 1-95% of a longitudinal length of said body.