OCTG: Oilfield Tubular Goods
Temperature Control for Oilfield Tubular Goods
In the oilfield tubular manufacturing process, accurate real-time temperature feedback is crucial for maintaining product quality, reliability, & cost-effectiveness. Inaccurate temperature measurements caused by various interferences can result in compromised quality, & increased scrap rates.
Williamson Pyrometers use carefully selected narrowband wavelength sets & application-specific ESP filtering to overcome temperature measurement challenges associated with oilfield tubular. These features enable accurate, continuous, & repeatable temperature measurements at all points in the oilfield tubular manufacturing process.
Wavelength Technologies
Surface scale, surface contamination, emissivity variation, sensor alignment, temperature gradients and changes in surface texture are all significant issues for OCTG temperature measurement. Williamson steel infrared temperature sensors are uniquely able to compensate for these problematic application issues because Williamson sensors are as much as 20 times less sensitive to temperature gradients, surface contamination, and scale.
Tube End Processes: Heating, Quenching, & Annealing
Application Overview
Tube ends are often heated then upset (formed) to increase or decrease the diameter or wall thickness to allow pipes to be joined end-to-end. In addition, after drilling, threading, welding or mechanical deformation, a heat treatment is performed in order to harden the metal or to eliminate residual stresses.
Williamson Wavelength Advantage
Surface scale, surface contamination, emissivity variation, sensor alignment, temperature gradients and changes in surface texture are all significant issues for this application. Williamson sensors are uniquely able to compensate for these problematic application issues because Williamson sensors are as much as 20 times less sensitive to temperature gradients, surface contamination and scale.
Williamson dual-wavelength sensors are recommended for most tube end heating applications; however, short-wavelength single-wavelength sensors are recommended when viewing through flames. Because ID and OD temperatures can vary, it is best to measure both.
Pyrometer Benefits
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Ensures desired metallurgical qualities & malleability
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Reduces input costs associated with overheating
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Provides accurate & real-time temperature feedback
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Helps achieve desired mechanical & crystalline properties
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Guarantees temperature uniformity
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Optimizes process speed & efficiency
Wavelength Technology
Tube-End Heating
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Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology corrects for emissivity variances & tolerate optical obstruction from oil & graphite lubricant
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08 – Wavelength set is 20 times less sensitive to surface oxidation, scale, & surface contaminants than Short- Wavelength & Two-Color technologies
Tube-End Quenching
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Short-Wavelength (SW) technology is four times less sensitive to emissivity variation compared to long-wavelength pyrometers
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The SW-2A model tolerates optical interference from steam
Tube-End Annealing
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DW-12 – Uses a carefully selected wavelength set & proprietary technology to correct for surface oxides & scale associated with common alloys
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MW-20 – Uses an application-specific ESP algorithm & advanced wavelength set to tolerate the formation of thick, transparent oxide layers associated with high-strength alloys
Welded Seam
Application Overview
Welded Seam: Maintaining the optimal temperature range is especially critical when welding thick-wall profile tubes, as they require higher surface temperatures to ensure the entire wall is hot enough to fuse properly. The welding process creates a thin heated area that includes a significant temperature gradient. Williamson’s Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology effectively self-aligns to the hottest area viewed, eliminating the need for precision alignment & ensuring a repeatable measure of temperature from one pipe to the next.
Williamson Wavelength Advantage
In addition to the usual application issues – emissivity variation, surface contamination, and surface scale, – alignment is by far the most critical issue for this application.
Traditional infrared thermometers require precise alignment & must maintain a full field of view to produce valid or reliable temperature readings. Williamson, however, uses a different approach.
Williamson’s proprietary Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology provides a significant operational advantage by utilizing greater separation between measured wavelengths to automatically align to small wandering target. This guarantees an accurate & repeatable welded seam temperature measurement.
Pyrometer Benefits
- Ensures Quality Uniform Welds
- Reduces Scrap & Optimizes Line Speed
- Documented Thermal History of Each Pipe
Wavelength Technology
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Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology is 20 times more heavily weighted towards the hottest temperature viewed compared to Two-Color & Short-Wavelength technologies
- Dual-wavelength automatically compensates for emissivity variation, changes in alloy & surface.
- Dual-wavelength overcomes misalignment by self-aligning to the hottest temperature viewed.
Drill Bit Brazing
Application Overview
Drill bits must be securely attached to the end of oilfield tubular goods used in drilling operations. During this process, the drill bit is heated to a precise temperature that is optimal for the brazing process, allowing the braze material to melt & fuse the silicon carbide tab to its surface. Achieving the optimal temperature is crucial to ensure a strong & durable bond between the silicon carbide & the drill bit. Precise alignment with the small braze seam & the associated temperature gradient are significant challenges, making accurate & consistent temperature measurements extremely difficult for most pyrometers on the market. Williamson’s Dual- Wavelength (DW) technology automatically self-aligns to the hottest temperature in the FOV, eliminating the need for precision alignment & ensuring precise temperature readings throughout the drill bit brazing process.
Pyrometer Benefits
- Ensures Quality Uniform Braze
- Ensures strong bond between the silicon carbide & drill bit
- Reduces Scrap & Optimizes Production
Wavelength Technology
- Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology is 20 times more heavily weighted towards the hottest temperature viewed compared to Two-Color & Short-Wavelength technologies
- Dual-wavelength overcomes misalignment by self-aligning to the hottest temperature viewed.
Induction Bending
Application Overview
During the induction bending process, the pipe is passed through a coil creating an electromagnetic field that heats the pipe as it inches forward. This heating allows the pipe to be bent & shaped. Maintaining a uniform temperature throughout the process is crucial as overheating can cause the pipe to melt or deform, while under-heating can result in cracks, & any form of inconsistent heating can cause poor deformation.
Williamson Wavelength Advantage
When an induction furnace is used, most traditional infrared pyrometers struggle with the surface scale that typically forms. Williamson dual-wavelength sensors are as much as 20 times less sensitive to scale compared to competitive two-color sensors because of the greater separation between wavelengths
In most cases the infrared pyrometer is mounted to view the pipe as it exits the induction coil. The traditional sensor configuration may be used when there is plenty of space to mount it safely out of harm’s way. However, for applications where space is a premium or optical access to the heated pipe is challenging, a fiber-optic configuration is preferred. When access to the heated pipe is an issue, Williamson offers a range of non-conductive rigid light pipes that can be inserted into tight spaces, including through the windings of the induction coil.
Pyrometer Benefits
- Helps Achieve Consistent – Uniform Product Properties
- Establishes Shorter Heating Cycles
- Reduces Associated Input Costs & Scrap Rates
- Ensures temperature uniformity
- Provides accurate & real-time temperature feedback
Wavelength Technology
Surface oxidation, scale, heavy steam, & water associated with induction bending create significant optical obstructions, making many non-contact temperature measurement tools ineffective. Williamson’s Dual-Wavelength (DW) technology effectively measures temperature through water & steam, guaranteeing a consistent temperature & high-quality bend.
- Williamson Dual-Wavelength sensors compensate for emissivity variation and are as much as 20 times less sensitive to scale compared to two-color technology.
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08 – Wavelength set views through water & steam
FBE Coating
Application Overview
Fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) coating is specifically designed for pipes that require corrosion resistance, ensuring long-lasting protection in challenging environments. Pipe temperatures at the entrance to all three preheating zones are crucial process control parameters that ensure each pipe reaches optimal temperatures for the coating to cure effectively. These pipe temperatures directly affect process speeds & can be used to establish consistent preheating processes.
Williamson Wavelength Advantage
The emissivity of pipe and tube varies dramatically from alloy to alloy and from supplier to supplier. In addition, changes in surface texture and surface contamination will influence the emissivity value.
Pyrometer Benefits
- Ensures Desired Surface Characteristics & Corrosion Resistance Across The Pipe
- Ensures Strong & Uniform Adhesion of FBE Coating
- Optimizes Process Speed & Efficiency
Wavelength Technology
The FBE epoxy process starts with surface preparation to ensure a strong bond between the pipe & the coatixng. The pipe’s exterior is shot-blasted, creating a textured surface that varies with the pipe’s hardness, followed by an acid wash to remove oxides. This results in a highly reflective, non-greybody surface.
Williamson offers unique pyrometer solutions designed to address challenging measurement issues associated with each zone respectively.
Zone 1 & 2: Temperatures at the first two preheating zones is used to ensure that pipes is are heated at the appropriate rate.
- Short-Wavelength (SW) technology is 4 times less sensitive to emissivity variation than a standard long-wavelength pyrometer
Zone 3: Temperatures at preheat zone 3 is indicates whether or not the pipe will reach the desired temperature necessary for proper epoxy adhesion.
- Multi-Wavelength (MW) technology accurately measures temperature despite unique non-greybody emissivity caused by shot-blast & chemical cleaning processes
Consult With One of Williamson’s Temperature Experts
We would love to discuss your temperature measurement application with you.
