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Company Profile GB Tubulars was founded in 1980 with the introduction of the patented GB Casing and Tubing Connections. These connections are accepted among the standard premium connections by the industry. The Company is also a leading developer of high strength casing. This combination of connections and casing is unique to GB Tubulars, providing customers with a single source for critical tubular requirements. GB Tubulars, with headquarters in Houston, Texas is a worldwide distributor of Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG). The Company carries a substantial inventory of casing, specializing in sizes from 10- 3/4" OD to 20" OD, supplied from stock. Other sizes, weights and grades are available from GB Tubulars through various mill sources including:
The strength of GB Tubulars lies in its capabilities for quick delivery of casing, connections, and/or finished pipe from inventory to meet end-user requirements. These capabilities are supported with ongoing engineering and research that provides customers with a readily available source of technical support. GB Tubulars designed the GB Connector to aid advancement of 20" OD casing through a 21-1/4" ID blow-out preventor (BOP). The square bearing face on standard API Buttress couplings would catch the lip of the BOP and hang up while lowering the string. George Geary saw an opportunity to solve this problem with a connection that would self-center while passing through the restriction at the BOP. This was accomplished with a weld-on, integral joint connector having sloped shoulders. To make the connection attractive for the oil patch it has to be easy to use. So he designed the connector with standard API Buttress threads. This resulted in a connector with the following features:
Other benefits of the GB Connector (now known as the GB W Butt Connector) learned later from use and independent physical testing include:
The 20" GB W Butt Connector was so well received, that the connection was requested on smaller sizes, and then with Special Clearance OD’s. Before long the GB W Butt Connector was being used regularly on 10-3/4" through 20" OD in both carbon and N/L-80 alloy grades. In the mid 1980’s, as oil companies began drilling deeper, more critical wells, higher grade, alloy tubulars, such as C-95, P-110, and Q-125, were in increasing demand. It is not desirable to weld to these grades. Since welding was not an option, GB Tubulars incorporated the reinforcement at the center of the GB W Butt Connector into a coupling. This new coupling, the Twin Cantilever Coupling, or TCC, provided all the benefits of the Weld-On version and extended the technology to all sizes, weights and grades of casing and tubing. The TCC Coupling is now known as the GB Butt Coupling. Over the years, GB Tubulars has introduced additional connections for specific industry needs. These include the: (1) GB 3P Coupling and (2) GB W 3P Connector. The GB 3-Pitch connections use a 3-pitch thread (3P). This threadform has been designed for easy stabbing and quick make-up on 13-3/8" OD casing and larger. These sizes are frequently difficult to stab and make-up, particularly when run on moving work platforms, such as semi-submersible rigs. In summary, the GB Connections have been designed to solve specific industry needs without requiring special accessories, handling, and inspections. These connections are low-cost alternatives to the so-called premium connections on the market. Cost savings are the result of lower cost connections, standard handling and running equipment, and elimination of special cut accessories. To learn more about all of the GB Connections click here. GB Tubulars, Inc. © 2001 All Worldwide Rights Reserved. |
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