Every year there are over 96,000,000 lbs of used thread protectors generated in the United States.  Most of these thread protectors are constructed of HDPE plastic and contaminated with pipe dope. Currently a large majority of these protectors are taken to landfill for disposal, improperly buried at the well site or removed by a vendor that does not provide full traceability and tracking for this waste material.  As the ultimate owner of the thread protectors the oil company or drilling contractor becomes the responsible party for disposal. This type of waste falls under the cradle to grave waste responsibilty and ownership guidelines.

All of these types of disposal have several negative impacts as the land filling of plastic not only takes up a large amount of acreage but in addition to HDPE plastic takes over 100 years to break down or begin to decompose and many times there are additional fees and special requirements for this type of disposal. If protectors are disposed of in other ways such as improperly buried or removed utlizing a non-licensed vendor that cannot provide traceabilty or recycling within its own facility, then this could be damaging and does not satisfy the best management practices suggested by the federal and state agencies such as the EPA and TCEQ. Currently the suggested practice is to recycle protectors under Waste Minimization Opportunities Generated in Oil Gas Operations.

Rail Road Commission of Texas (RCT) SR=SOURCE REDUCTION R=RECYCLING Thread protectors Nonexempt SR: SR: Return to vendor or send to recycler Waste Minimization Opportunities

Recognizing this need for a viable solution the obvious best choice is to recycle. This ongoing need was the foundation in which Tri-Star Protector was built to become the industry leader in this area. With over 18 years experience we offer a comprehensive program for partiscipating companies to provide an environmentally friendly procedure to handle thread protectors generated during and after the drilling process that meets all federal and state requirements.

Programs are generally designed to address each customer's specific needs, highlights include:

• All thread protectors are 100% cleaned and recycled with no landfill or incineration disposal.
• Custom designed programs to each customer's specific requirement with minimal or full recovery and or logistical support.
• Full tracking and traceability including detail shipment reports of product received and tonnage recycled provided. Reports can be incorporated into environmental policy and waste reduction programs.
• All cleaning and recycling operations are conducted above and beyond envionmental guidelines as required under federal EPA and state agency guidelines.
• Program has benefits of minimal cost with maximum exposure for green environmental status. In addition, typical recycle programs can be cumbersome and cost prohibitive with no measureable results.
• Tri-Star Protector is fully insured with over 18 years experience and numerous contracts with oil companies and drilling contractors.
• Program offers a wide range of logistic services to remove, store and transport protectors. Including enviro thread protector transport bags and storage trailer rental. 

Thread protectors are generated at well site. After pipe is installed they are no longer needed. At this point they become a waste item which disposal / recycling becomes the responsibility of the Oil Company and/or the Drilling contractor as they are the buyer of pipe for which thread protectors are used in a packaging protection basis.

This is where Tri-Star Protector Service program begins. The first step (figure 1) in the process involves the removal and/or storage of thread protectors from the well site when pipe is installed at drilling location. In addition this is also where the critical step of documentation for recycleing disposal process begins. At this stage there is a numbered Location Thread Protector Pick Up form created. This document not only contains Tri-Star Protector Service environmental certification numbers it is also where location, well site, AFE and other controlled information will be entered to insure the traceability for all protectors generated.

The second stage (figure 2) of the process involves transportation of the material to Tri-Star's facility where all incoming material is weighed utilizing a truck scale located at Tri-Star's recycling facility. With each incoming shipment that is weighed there is scale ticket generated that details the tonnage quantity of protectors that were recycled.

The third stage of process (figure 3) all incoming thread protector material is cleaned to remove all grease and containments.

The fourth and final stage of process (figure 4) is where protectors are sorted and any material that is designated for resale under contract recovery sale agreements is packaged for shipment. All other protectors are sent to a scrap facility where they are then remanufactured into new products.

Upon completion of our program all participating companies have full documentation and traceability for all spent thread protectors generated from well site locations. In addition, the environmental benefits are numerous as well. It is always better to recycle than landfill. The documentation and tonnage recycle reports detailing quantity that was recycled can be used in many internal and government environmental and waste reduction programs.

As thread protectors are removed they are usually stacked in piles that can clutter the well site, which not only must be moved multiple times but also can become a safety hazard if not stored in a proper manor. Tri-Star Protector Service's program usually begins at the well site or storage yard / field office. There are several options available to companies if storage and handling options are needed those options are listed below.
         
     · Enviro Transport Bags - Environmentally approved bags to store and transport thread
       protectors. Bags can be loaded and unloaded with forklift material handling equipment.
     · 48 X 102 Flatbed Transport with side kit - Transport trailers with side boards that can
       be used for storage and over the road hauling.
     · Well site thread protector storage bins - Heavy duty / enclosed steel bins. All bins
       meet or exceed well site safety requirements and can be loaded and or dumped via side
       door utilizing forklift.    

 As thread protectors are generated and ready for transport they then can be sent to Tri-Star Protectors Recycle facility. This removal and transport can be facilitated by Oil Company or Drilling contractor utilizing there own trucking company. Generally a favorable backhaul rate can be negotiated with transport companies who deliver pipe to well site locations. If participating companies do want wish to arrange transport of thread protectors, Tri-Star can arrange to have material removed on an as needed basis. Company representatives make the initial call providing location, estimate of quantity of material, and hours material can be loaded. All transport vendors contracted or hired by Tri-Star Protector Service are fully insured with additional umbrella insurance coverage from Tri-Star.

The last step in the process is the most critical for environmental control, tracking and trace ability. Throughout the process of recovery, transport, and recycling there is documentation created during each step of process. With this documentation participating companies satisfy the most important part of compliance for environmental well site management. Which is full traceability for thread protectors generated during the drilling process and more importantly the ability to provide detailed controlled reporting and accountability for spent thread protectors upon the completion of drilling program. In addition the reporting certifies that all of material was recycled thru a fully licensed recycle facility that provides on site recycling. As the most important consideration is not how or who transports material it is where is the ultimate destination of product. This program totally satisfies the waste guide lines set forth in the EPA cradle to grave category from a generators stand point.