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This workbook calculates the wellhead growth expected from thermal loading for platform-completed wells.
The spreadsheet is applicable in any load combination where the average temperature of the casing strings is
increased when compared to geothermal (hot injection, production, etc).
Before using the spreadsheet, the following steps should be completed:
1. Data on the wellbore schematic, casing strings, well survey, mudline depth and platform elevation above
waterline, injection/production parameters and rates, geothermal temperature gradient, top-of-cement, fluid
properties above TOC should be gathered.
2. This data should be input into a suitable thermal program such as WTPROD, and the injection/production
temperatures should be calculated for all of the casing strings.
3. The average difference between the injection/production temperature and geothermal temperature over the
unsupported length of each casing string should be determined. A length-weighted average should be taken,
since the temperature results are given by depth. An example of length averaging is given in the "Averaging"
spreadsheet.
4. Using the "Growth" spreadsheet, the wellhead growth can now be calculated. All input data for the
spreadsheet are described in the spreadsheet itself. The spreadsheet also calculates the forces on each string,
which can be used for design purposes as appropriate.
Basic theory:
For a system with n casing strings, using strain compatibility and balance of incremental forces due to growth,
the growth in inches is given by:
L = Ki Li/Ki,
where summation is over all the casing strings that are tied to the wellhead, K i is the axial stiffness of the ith
casing string over the unsupported section, and Li is the unrestricted growth of the ith string due to the average
temperature increase (in deg F) over the unsupported section length Li (in inches),
Li = Tavg,i Li
( for casing materials is usually taken as 6.9E-6 / deg F)
The initial force distribution is calculated based on the fact that for each string landed, the force is taken up by
all the current strings according to their relative stiffness. After thermal growth, since incremental forces also
must balance, simple superposition gives the final force distribution.

Assumptions:
The following assumptions have been made in calculating the final growth.
1. All the casing/tubing strings are tied back to wellhead - i.e., no special suspensions.
2. Wellhead is such that it does not allow free upward displacement of any single casing string (i.e., all strings
are fixed to the wellhead).
3. No additional structural members (such as risers, support braces, etc.) between strings or between the
outermost string and platform are considered. This is a conservative assumption since any support tends to
reduce wellhead growth.
4. Initial thermal profile in all strings is assumed to be geothermal.
5. The contribution of buckled inner strings with long unsupported lengths (in particular, tubing) to wellhead
growth is ignored. This is a valid assumption within the design envelope, since the extent of buckling has to be
very severe and beyond the design envelope (neutral point above surface) before buckled strings can contribute
to wellhead growth.
6. Although the force system as a result of growth can cause one or more of the unsupported strings to buckle, it
is ignored insofar as wellhead growth is concerned. This results in a conservative estimate for wellhead growth.
The force re-distribution on each casing string is calculated separately, and may be used for casing design
purposes.
7. The datum for wellhead growth is its position after all strings (including completion) are set, and the tree is
run. All growth calculations are from this datum. Note that as strings are run and set, the wellhead moves, but
this movement does not impact facilities design for wellhead growth, since facilities are hooked only after the
tree is run.
1
8. Axial drag between casing strings is ignored. This is aPage
conservative
assumption, since drag will tend to
reduce string growth, and hence, wellhead growth. Moreover, in most wells, the unsupported section is usually
vertical, resulting in zero drag.
9. The axial contribution of pressure increase due to thermal expansion of annular fluids is ignored. This is

very severe and beyond the design envelope (neutral point above surface) before buckled strings can contribute
to wellhead growth.
6. Although the force system as a result of growth can cause one or more of the unsupported strings to buckle, it
is ignored insofar as wellhead growth is concerned. This
results
Read
mein a conservative estimate for wellhead growth.
The force re-distribution on each casing string is calculated separately, and may be used for casing design
purposes.
7. The datum for wellhead growth is its position after all strings (including completion) are set, and the tree is
run. All growth calculations are from this datum. Note that as strings are run and set, the wellhead moves, but
this movement does not impact facilities design for wellhead growth, since facilities are hooked only after the
tree is run.
8. Axial drag between casing strings is ignored. This is a conservative assumption, since drag will tend to
reduce string growth, and hence, wellhead growth. Moreover, in most wells, the unsupported section is usually
vertical, resulting in zero drag.
9. The axial contribution of pressure increase due to thermal expansion of annular fluids is ignored. This is
conservative, since this contribution tends to reduce wellhead growth.

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Growth
Wellhead growth spreadsheet
In the green highlighted area, enter each string from the outermost to innermost,
starting from the outermost casing that supports the wellhead.
To exclude a casing or tubing from consideration, simply make its wall thickness = 0.
See Notes below for help on inputs

INPUTS:
Constants
Safety Factor
Wellhead + Tree Wt (lbs)

1.330
65000

Calculations
ID

String Data
String
#
1
2
3
4
5
6

Type
Surface
Intermediate
Production
Tubing

OD
(In)
20.000
13.375
9.625
7.000

Material Properties (Change if appropriate)

E
3.00E+07 psi
alpha ()
6.90E-06 /deg F

TOTAL GROWTH
(Ki Li / Ki)

t
(in)
0.438
0.514
0.545
0.435

Yield
(ksi)
55
80
80
80

Unsupp.
Length
(ft)
584.0
584.0
2500.0
8500.0

(Modulus of Elasticity)
(Coefficient of Thermal Expansion)

7.76 inches
196.98 mm

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Average
T
(deg F)
44.00
104.00
130.00
100.00

Landing
Tension
lbs
53535
65675
320000
140000

(in)
19.124
12.347
8.535
6.13
0
0

C/S
Area
in2
26.917656
20.767668
15.546485
8.9716818
0
0

Growth
Notes:

1
2
3
4
5

Inputs Description:
Column B: String type, for reference. String #1 is the outermost string which supports the wellhead.
Col D & E: Nominal Yield Stress (ksi) and Nominal Wall thickness (inches)
Column F: The Measured Depth (ft) from Platform RKB to Top of Cement
Column G: The average temperature difference (deg F) between the load case and geothermal,
calculated over unsupported length. A thermal program like Enertech's WTPROD should be used.
Column H: The tension at surface (kips), as landed, including any pre-tension.
This may be calculated using a suitable casing/tubing design program,
or estimated from casing weight.
Be sure to zero out the input columns of any string not being entered.
Note that the spreadsheet does not display the zeroes.
Results Description:
Total Growth: The total growth of wellhead, from its initial position to the final position:
Initial position of the wellhead: The position of the wellhead after the tree is run.
Final position of wellhead: After imposition of the thermal load and temperatures reach a steady state.
Force Distribution: The axial force acting on each string, at initial position and final position

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Growth

Axial
Stiffness
(lb/in)
115229.7
88902.69
15546.49
2638.73
0
0

Unrestr.
growth
Li, in
2.13
5.03
26.91
70.38
0.00
0.00

Hooke's
law
force, lbs
245166
447086
418356
185714
0
0

Cumul.
Growth
Lk
245166
692252
1110608
1296322
1296322
1296322

k
115230
204132
219679
222318
222318
222318

(in)
2.13
3.39
5.06
5.83
5.83
5.83

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Forces
Initial (As landed)

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Sheet3
Length Averaging Example
Depth

Inj Temp

Geothermal

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Sheet4

String

K
K(lb/in)
T(lb)
Force
1
112532
53665
112532 -212267
2
86821
65353
199353 -98415.47
3
5979
320000
205332
310682
5.8E-011

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