Arnco Hardbanding

Hardbanding is the process of depositing a layer of super hard metal onto drill pipe tool joints, collars and heavy weight pipe in order to protect both the casing and drill string components from wear associated with drilling practices.

The Petroleum Industry Glossary:

Hardbanding is the process of laying on a coating or surface of [super-hard metal] on a [softer metal part] at a point or on an area of severe wear or abrasion - putting a hard surface on a softer metal by welding or other metallurgical process.

Where it may be impractical or prohibited by structural constraints to manufacture a part from the harder metal, hard-surfacing of the part is a practical solution. Hardbanding is the term given to hardfacing drill pipe – hardbanding is a specific form of hardfacing.

How is hardbanding applied?

Hardbanding is most commonly applied using a modified MIG welding apparatus designed specifically to apply hardbanding onto a tubular surface. With this process, a continuous consumable wire electrode and a shielding gas are fed through a welding torch. An electric arc transferred between the wire electrode and parent metal melts the hardbanding wire and forms a fully metallurgically bonded hardbanding overlay. There are, however, other hardbanding application methods that are occasionally used including laser and plasma arc processes.

How effective is hardbanding?

Hardbanding is extremely effective in reducing wear and extending the life of drill pipe tool joints, casing, marine risers, and blow out preventer components. Due to extreme variations in both drilling methods used and types of formations being drilled, individual results vary greatly. Because of this, it’s an absolute necessity to select the appropriate hardbanding alloy for specific well programs.

How often does hardbanding have to be reapplied?

Depending on drilling conditions and hardbanding performance, hardbanding will have to be reapplied anywhere from several weeks to many months of service. Hardband re-application is a costly and time consuming process which usually involves transporting drill string components to inspection or other facilities that are capable of hardbanding operations. Mobile hardbanding units may also be deployed to or near drilling operations for on-site application. Use of these machines depends on the availability or supply of units offered in any given area.

What are the different types of hardbanding?

Hardband products can generally be divided up into two categories: Tungsten Carbide (non casing-friendly) and Casing Friendly hardband products. Casing friendly material can be metallurgically classified as “chromium-carbide”, “Titanium Carbide”, “Niobium Boride”, and other, based materials. Please see the “Hardbanding Info” under “Industry Resources” on the Arnco website for a more detailed description of how these types of hardbanding materials evolved.

What is “cracking hardbanding” and, why does it crack?

Cracking hardbanding describes a hardbanding product that exhibits what is referred to in the hardfacing world as “check relief cracking”. “Check relief cracking” occurs when low-melting phases form over grain boundaries as the molten weld puddle cools. In other words, a specific type of carbide forms on the grain boundaries of the microstructure that create stress as the material cools immediately after being deposited on the parent metal – as a result, fine cracks form. Hardfacing materials that exhibit cracking cannot be used for structural uses, though for abrasion or wear resistance they are widely acceptable, as in the case of hardbanding for tool joint and other drill string component applications.

Where can I find information about hardbanding equipment?

For more information on hardbanding equipment, please see the Hardbanding Info section of our website.

Arnco Products

Hardbanding Alloys

What are the differences between Arnco’s 100XT™, 150XT™ and 300XT™ hardbanding alloys?

Arnco 100XT is Arnco’s most casing friendly product, exhibiting one of the lowest casing wear percentages ever measured. The inherent trade-off to a product exhibiting casing wear this low is it’s durability which, while adequate, wears at a higher rate than our most durable product, 300XT

The Arnco 150XT is intended to be a good compromise between the 100XT and 300 XT products. It exhibits low casing wear characteristics with increased durability above the 100XT, and remains crack-free / rebuildable.

The Arnco 300XT is our most durable casing-friendly product. The 300XT offers unmatched tool joint protection while still providing excellent casing-wear characteristics.

Where can I find the Specification Manuals for Arnco Products?

The specification manuals can be found within the drop down menus located at the right side of any page on the Arnco website, or at the bottom of the home page.

WearSleeve

What is the Arnco WearSleeve™ and how does it work?

The Arnco WearSleeve™ is an innovative product that provides a hardbanding solution using a removable, pre-fabricated sleeve with hardbanding already applied. The WearSleeve™ allows for the application and removal of hardbanding on tool joints to be accomplished by use of a simple pre-hardbanded, threaded sleeve. Combined with the use of specially threaded tool joints, the WearSleeve™ allows for hardbanding to be easily installed or removed by hand on the rig floor.

What are the advantages of the Arnco WearSleeve™?

The Arnco WearSleeve™ offers several advantages over traditional hardbanding processes:

Transportation cost associated with shipping drill pipe to and from hardbanding facilities is dramatically reduced by way of having only to ship the WearSleeves.
The risk of damaging internal pipe coatings from hardbanding reapplication is eliminated with the use of the WearSleeve.
Replacing hardbanding in remote locations or offshore is greatly simplified with the use of the WearSleeve™.

I would like to try out the Arnco WearSleeve; who should I contact for more information?

For more information on the Arnco WearSleeve™, please contact the Arnco Headquarters:

Arnco@ArncoTech.com

Arnco Technology Trust
3657 Briarpark Drive
Houston, Texas 77042
832.214.5200

Wear Testing

How are hardbanding alloys tested?

Currently, the most widely accepted wear-testing standard comes from Mohr Engineering’s proprietary wear testing process located in Houston, TX. This process utilizes a machine that takes a simulated tool joint with a hardbanding specimen and simulates drilling conditions against a casing sample over a period of eight hours. Throughout the duration of the test, measurements related to tool joint and casing wear are recorded and used to derive a number of useful figures.

What is the best measure of hardbanding alloy durability and casing friendliness?

The most commonly used measures for hardbanding performance are Casing Wear %, Radial Hardbanding Wear (in inches), and the Hall Wear Factor. An ideal hardbanding alloy will display a low Casing Wear Percentage, low Radial Hardbanding Wear, and a low Wear Factor.

Casing Wear %- This measure indicates the percentage of casing wall material that has worn away during the 8 hour wear test. These figures can range from as little as 3-4% for very casing friendly hardbandings, all the way up to 100% - a total casing failure – for very abrasive materials. Arnco’s line of products range from approximately 3.8-6.2% Casing Wear Percentage.

Radial Hardbanding Wear (in inches)– This measure it commonly interpreted as a measure of hardbanding durability.

Also, a common measure of hardness is the Rockwell “C” Hardness Scale. Typically, casing friendly hardbanding alloys will display hardness Rockwell “C” values in the range from the low 50s to the low 60s. Tungsten Carbide Hardbanding and bare tool joint steel will typically show Rockwell Hardness measures in the low 70s and high 20s respectively.

Where can I find more information about hardbanding wear testing?

For more information about wear testing please see the Wear Testing section of our website for a more in depth analysis.

Applying Arnco Products

Where can I find information about hardbanding equipment?

For more information about hardbanding equipment, including Arnco’s recommended hardbanding equipment manufacturers, please see the Hardbanding Info section on our website.

How can I become an Arnco Certified Applicator?

For information on becoming an Arnco Certified Applicator please contact Arnco directly through our website

Can I apply Arnco products on top of one another?

*A non-cracking hardbanding product should never be applied over a cracking product due to the tendency for cracks to propagate into the non-cracking layer.

Can I apply Arnco products on top of tungsten carbide?

100XT™, 150XT™, and 300XT™ have been applied successfully over Tungsten Carbide. Users should be made aware that the application of different hardbandings one over another is dependent upon the integrity of the initial hardband layer and the compatibility of the two hardbandings.

For more information regarding the application of Arnco products of tungsten carbide, please contact us.

Can I apply Arnco products on top of another chromium-based hardbanding?

All Arnco Hardbanding wires can be applied on top of other chromium-based alloys ONLY if the existing chromium-based hardbanding alloy is non-cracking.

How can I reduce spatter during hardbanding application?

Spatter is common with hardbanding wires because of the open arc method of application as opposed to a wire that is applied while submerged in a flux (SAW). It can be controlled to a minimum depending upon several factors. Arnco personnel have witnessed the operation of many different configurations of hardbanding equipment that utilize all makes of welding equipment (Lincoln, ESAB, Miller, Safmig, etc.) What has been most readily noticed is that newer welding equipment usually produces less weld spatter. We realize that as welding equipment becomes aged, more maintenance is required. In doing so, there are some basic items that can be checked periodically to reduce spatter as well as other welding imperfections.

Make sure that the electrical connections of the welding cables are kept clean to ensure a good contact is made.
The length of the welding cables should be kept to a minimum so to not cause increased resistance and decreased current flow.
Make sure that the contact of the drill pipe tool joints to the chuck assembly is clean to ensure a good electrical connection.

How often should the welding torch contact tips be changed?

Contact tips should be changed on an “as needed” basis. Arnco personnel have observed that it is not uncommon for tips to be changed on a daily basis; sometimes twice a day. It depends on how fast the tip wears during welding. Some tips are better than others. All equipment components that contribute to good wire feed have to operate at optimum in order for the wire to exit the tip perpendicular to the welding surface. For example, if the equipment does not have a wire-straightening component or the straightening unit is not adjusted properly, the wire will have a tendency to “walk” from left to right as the torch is oscillated. In doing so, the exit opening (ID) of the contact tip will become elliptical in shape. This could cause excessive spatter and distort the form of the weld bead. In addition, excessive tension applied to the wire feed rollers will cause the wire to flatten. If the wire can then be fed through the cable and contact tip, chances are the flattened wire will immediately cause the tip to wear and form an elliptical hole at its opening. The key is to inspect tips frequently.

For any additional questions regarding hardbanding or Arnco products, please feel free to contact Arnco:

Arnco@ArncoTech.com

Arnco Technology Trust

3657 Briarpark

Houston, TX 77042

832-214-5200

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ARNCO Products

Arnco 100XT ™ delivers both adequate tool joint protection and one of the lowest casing wear factors in the industry.

Arnco 150XT ™ is our latest and most advanced crack-free, casing-friendly hardbanding.

Arnco 300XT ™ is the "third generation" of wear resistant hardbanding that combines minimal casing wear with unparalleled drill pipe tool joint protection.

The Arnco WearSleeve™ is a new class of product that will revolutionize the tool joint hardbanding industry.

ARNCO Hardbanding Specification Manuals

Our comprehensive specification manual is available to view and download in more than a dozen languages.

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