The nominal weight of a drill pipe is the weight specified by the manufacturer and is usually based on a standardized measurement. However, the actual weight of the drill pipe is typically slightly higher than the nominal weight due to manufacturing tolerances and the material's actual density. Therefore, the nominal weight is usually less than the actual weight.
- Option (B) is correct because the nominal weight is generally less than the actual weight of the drill pipe.
- Option (A) is incorrect because the nominal and actual weights are not the same.
- Option (C) and Option (D) are incorrect because the nominal weight is not greater than the actual weight.
Thus, the correct answer is option (B).