14703 FM 1488

Magnolia, TX 77354
Ph: (281) 259-8887
Fax: (281) 259-8158
Toll Free 1-800-243-2988

5060 74 Ave. S.E. Calgary,

AB, T2C 3C9
Ph: (403) 536-4592
Fax: (403) 269-3090
servicehouston@canrig.com

PO Box 250
Hassi Messaoud, Algeria
Ouargla
Ph: (213) 770984704
Fax: (213) 2973-9547

Procedure for changing out LWCV assy with torques bigger then
30,000 ft-lbs.
Version 1.0 January 2009
IMPORTANT: TJC (tool joint clamps) holding power depends mainly on the depth of the dies cutting into the
clamped surface. It is most important to hammer those dies into the surface under tension that is provided by the
holding bolts. Same as with link clamps assy (shown below instead of TJC) it is of great importance to keep
those half clamps symmetrical as the bolts tension power is achieved only with bolts straight not bend.
For hammering TJC we highly advice use of brass sledge hammers in lieu of steel ones. Brass almost entirely
eliminates possible injury due to chipping and flying metal pieces from hammer.

CHANGING SEQUENCE:
1. On offshore application with throwaway sub first disconnect and remove this sub together with round special TJC (tool
joint clamp) connecting it to the manual well control valve.
2. Check and if necessary tighten up every TJC left except lower part of the clamp above and below LWCV (automatic
IBOP) and attach thread protector on the bottom of the last valve
3. Close LWCV
4. Shut off hydraulics, disconnect hoses going to the valve actuator then cap off all the hydraulic connections. There
shouldnt be any significant of the hydraulic oil spill due to counterbalance valves cutting off both sides of the oil
supply to the actuator when pressure is cut off. After capping open connection hydraulic power need to be restored.
5. Mark with paint stick one side of the each part (upper and lower) TJC relatively to the pipes its gripping.
6. Loosen up and slide down bottom part of the upper TJC that bridges Top Drive quill with LWCV body, slide also this
connection on TLC below LWCV. If pin and box of the valve are same we dont know which one is tighter, if they
different there still is chance that one or both have some problems after being log in service. We find out it by braking
out the weaker. As each connection could develop some problems and cause extremely high torque during breakout
we follow the points below limiting possibility of serious scraping of valves clamping surface. In future this would
jeopardize proper clamping forces and effectively would cause necessity of valve repair or discarding.
7. Close BUW (backup wrench) and breakout weaker connection, apply new pipe dope to the connection then retorque it to original specification.
8. This torque normally would allow the lower part of the TJC to be tightened in exactly a same position that have a
grooves from its dies. If not bottom TJC for the connection we just made have to be hammered several times (while
tightening its bolts). It is very important to keep clamps symmetrical around pipe (having same spaces on both side of
half clamps) although this shouldnt be a problem since clamp above would guide the bottom one.
9. Loosen up bottom part of the TJC that was not yet broken on LWCV and slide it down.
10. Close BUW (backup wrench) and breakout connection, then again apply fresh pipe dope and tight it up to ~ 30 000
lbs-ft. Next time if valve is not new and threads were done already few times you can try this: instead torquing it up,
Canrig Service Technicians are required to participate in the Dupont STOP Program

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make one full turn out from the torque position and apply clamps in exactly same spot if the grooves from dies are
deep enough TJC will hold the full torque that need to be applied to break freshly made torque of the other LWCV
connection
At this weakened connection reset lower clamp with usual hammering of the dies.
Now slide down the other connection bottom clamp and break it out.
Next position quill relatively to the LWCV so the lower part of the TJC can be tighten up in exactly a same position that
have a grooves from its dies. Tighten up bolts to approximately 200 ft-lbs
Now slide down clamp from 30 000 lbs-ft connection and break it out
At this point maybe necessary to change setup of the lower BUW stop point to maximum position down. We do that if
there is not enough clearance between quill and BUW to remove valve or whole stack out to the deck. This is done
with BUW in higher position by turning ACNE thread counterclockwise till cant be turn no more
At this moment we can move BUW as high as possible to help stabilize LWCV/TIW after disconnecting it from quill
Move Top Drive to have bottom of TIW around 3 above well center with some wood plank on it to minimize force of
drop after disconnecting whole assy from the Top Drive.
Loosen up again bottom part of TJC that was holding torque while we breakout last connection, slide it down and tight
with 2 bolts to prevent from sliding of when handling it later
Spin out quill from the LWCV
Attach lifting cup and winch with sling to the top of the valve and by manipulating position of the Top Drive, BUW and
winch line remove it from BUW together with TIW (manual valve).
Remove TIW from the LWCV
If necessary remove actuator and slide it onto new valve while valve outside of Top Drive with manipulating it in
horizontal position.
Install in reverse new LWCV with actuator
Always we torque the smallest required value first then clamping connection that was rated at this value. Next is the
higher torque rated next connection followed also with installation of the clamps. To minimize time that all that takes
we always try to have top clamps not removed at all throughout the process (so we have to spend time beating only
on the ones that are new).
When installing new valve there is high chance that this is first torque on this valve. Try to follow standard
recommendation on it by backing each connection making sure that it took ~ 80% of makeup torque. Inspect threads
and face, then torque again. This should protect you from surprises when changing any component next time.