GB Tubulars Company Profile

In 1979, George B. Geary (known in the industry as George Sr.) saw an opportunity to solve a nagging operational problem commonly experienced when running 20" OD casing.
Figure 1 Standard API Buttress Connections would hang up when advancing through the rotary table and into the BOP stack (see Figure 1). Because of this, additional manpower and rig time were required for what should have been routine casing runs.

GB Tubulars was formed with the introduction of the GB W Butt Connection for 20" OD casing in 1980. This weld-on connector featured tapered shoulders that caused the connectors to self-center at the BOP restriction (see Figure 2). This new connector, using API Buttress Threads, allowed the casing to run smoothly and saved rig time.

But, George Sr. didn’t stop there. He began stocking the 20" OD casing and supplying the 20" OD Casing/GB W Connector combination together providing the Operator with one-stop shopping. At the time, the GB W Butt Casing with a connector welded onto one end of a joint and a pin threaded onto the other end, offered a low cost alternative to API BTC Casing and provided additional savings with reduced rig time for 20" OD casing Runs.

Over the years, the weld-on Connector was applied
Figure 2 to casing sizes smaller than 20" OD including 18 5/8", 16", 13 3/8", and 10 ¾" OD in response to customer requests. Because of demand from the Operators these casing sizes were added to GB Tubulars’ inventory.
GB Butt Coupling
Figure 3

In the mid-1980’s, one Operator asked about running the GB W Butt with a Special Clearance OD on 13 3/8" OD casing so they could run that string inside of 16" OD casing. Until that time, little testing had been done on the GB Weld-on Connections. It was perceived to be better since it had half the threads of an API Buttress Coupled Connection. The GB Connection field history proved to be excellent, increasing the interest and demand for more severe down hole service applications.

Full-scale, combined-load laboratory tests were run on 13 3/8" OD, 68 ppf, N-80 Casing with GB W Butt SC Connectors. The results were remarkable and repeatable over 3 separate samples. These Special Clearance Connectors clearly outperformed full cross-section API Buttress Couplings. As a result, GB W Butt SC Connectors were used in more critical applications and by significantly more Offshore Operators. GB Tubulars really began to grow.

As Operators pushed wells into deeper waters, higher casing grades were required. Unfortunately, welding was not practical for grades higher than L/N-80. That’s when George Sr. developed the Twin Cantilever Coupling (GB TCC, also known as GB BUTT, see Figure 3). This improved Coupling with a heavy cross-section at the center proved equally superior to the API Buttress Couplings. As a result, the industry accepted the connection as a low-cost alternate to expensive so-called “premium” connections. In general, drilling engineers would use the GB Butt Coupling when anticipated downhole loading conditions exceeded the ratings for API Buttress Connections; but project economics made “premium” connections cost-prohibitive.

To this day, GB Tubulars has stayed true to their core business, developing specialty casing connections, including the new GB Drilling with Casing/Drilling with Liner Connections and keeping a large inventory of 10 ¾" OD through 20" OD Casing. Over the years, new tools have been added to the design arsenal including in-house Finite Element Analysis Capabilities, distributorships for various world-class mills so casing is on-the-ground when needed and the ability to provide a range of “premium” Connections.