Abstract: The double shoulder drill pipe has been widely used with the increase of well depth. Compared with a standard API drill pipe joint, a secondary shoulder is a significant feature of a double shoulder drill pipe joint, which offers an additional loading surface and mechanical stop to ensure the high torque resistance and good seal performance of a joint. According to the mechanical characteristics of a double shoulder drill pipe joint, a suitable clearance should be obligated in front of a secondary shoulder. The magnitude of the clearance determines the loading ratio of a secondary shoulder, which affects the stress distribution of a joint. The results show that the threads near a secondary shoulder will bear more stress and the failure risk of a secondary shoulder is increased when the clearance is small. However, when the clearance is large, the primary shoulder and the threads near a primary shoulder bear more loads. A suitable clearance of a secondary shoulder can improve the performance of a joint by optimizing its stress distribution.