Section 2

Section 130: Displacement

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................2-3
Terms You Need To Know for This Section .............................................................................................2-3
Calculating Displacement Caused by Couplings .......................................................................................2-5
Calculating Displacement of Couplings.................................................................................................2-5
Significance of Coupling Displacement.................................................................................................2-6
Check Your Knowledge .........................................................................................................................2-7
Buoyancy Factors for Steel Pipe in Various Density Fluids......................................................................2-8
How BF is Calculated ............................................................................................................................2-9
Check Your Knowledge .........................................................................................................................2-9
Answers to Exercises ...............................................................................................................................2-10

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 Section 130: Displacements

Introduction
In the previous section, you learned how to calculate the amount of material required to
fill up the empty space between a pipe and an uncased hole in the ground. In these
calculations, we assumed that the pipe was an endless string, without joints. In reality,
any rigid pipe, whether tubing, casing, or drill pipe, has joints (couplings) in it.
Sometimes these couplings will contain metal that will stick out into the annular space,
displacing a small amount of the material we place there. Each coupling adds only a
small amount of material, and the total volume displaced by the couplings is usually
insignificant compared to the total volume of material required. However, in certain
circumstances, such as in a long string of pipe in a small annulus, the volume of material
displaced by the couplings can be significant. In this section, you will learn to calculate
the volumes the couplings occupy.

Terms You Need To Know for This Section

Buoyancy The tendency of an object to weigh less in a fluid versus its weight in air.
Buttress Thread Heavy, flattened threads, built for extra strength in couplings, as
shown below.

Drift Diameter The minimum ID of the pipe anywhere along its length at standard
temperature and pressure.
Density The mass or weight of a substance per unit volume.

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 Section 130: Displacement

External Upset End (EUE) On tubing, casing, or drill pipe, the outside thickening at
each end of the joint so that the internal diameter of the joint remains the same.

Extreme Line Joint Threaded joints of pipe, which a pin (male) end a box (female)
end for joining the pipes, such as shown below.

Integral Joint Tubular threaded together without the use of a coupling.

Internal Upset End (IUE) On tubing, casing, or drill pipe, the inside thickening at
each end of the joint so that the external diameter of the joint remains the same.
Long Coupling A coupling with extra threads and length for use where extra strength
is required.
Short Coupling A coupling with less threads and length for normal use.

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 Section 130: Displacement

Calculating Displacement Caused by Couplings

Tables 131, 133, 134, and 135 (Section 130, Page 2 and Pages 4 through 15) provide the
information you need for calculating the amount of volume taken up by the following
components:

The metal in the tubing, drill pipe, or casing by itself (without joints and without
being plugged at the end)

External upsets

Internal upsets

Couplings (collars)

Integral joints (built-in joints)

Calculating Displacement of Couplings

Use the following steps to calculate the amount of displacement taken up by the
couplings in a 4,000-ft section of a well that has 40-ft lengths of 8 5/8-in. casing
weighing 36 lb/ft.

1. Locate the OD of the pipe in the left-most column, labeled Size O.D. (In.). For our
example, select 8 5/8-in. casing on Page 12. (The extreme right column repeats this
information for ease in aligning the numbers in the columns.)

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 Section 130: Displacement

2. Go across to the next column labeled Wt. Per Ft. With Cplgs. Lbs. to select the
correct weight of the pipe per foot of length (36 lb/ft).

The next column, labeled Inside Dia. In., lists the inside diameter of this casing
as 7.825 inches, and the next column, labeled Drift Dia. In., lists the minimum ID
of the pipe as 7.700. (Drift diameter is defined as the minimum ID of the pipe
anywhere along its length at standard temperature and pressure.)

The next two columns list the displacement of the pipe, without plugs in the end,
in Lin. Ft. Per Gallon and Lin. Ft. per Cu. Ft., if you need this information.

The remaining columns list the displacement of the different types of couplings
in a per-gallon or per-cubic foot basis.
3. To find the displacement caused by a short coupling in couplings per gallon of
material, go to the ninth column, labeled Cplg. Per Gallon (under the heading
Displacement of Cplgs. (Short)). This column shows that 2.29 short couplings
displace one gallon of material. If 40-ft lengths of casings are used in a 4,000-ft
section of a well, then the pipe string has the following number of couplings:
Number of couplings = (4,000 ft) (40 ft per joint) 1 coupling/joint
= 100 couplings
4. Use the following calculation to determine the total displacement caused by these
couplings:
Displacement = (Number of couplings) (Number of couplings per gallon)
Displacement = (100 couplings) (2.29 couplings/gal) =
= 100 couplings 2.29 couplings
1 1 gal
= 100 couplings 1 gal = 100 gal = 43.7 gal
1 2.29 couplings 2.29
In this example, the couplings would decrease the total material required by 43.7 gal.
This could be significant if the annulus is relatively small.

Significance of Coupling Displacement

Using the procedure you learned in Section 122, you can calculate the volume of material
needed to fill the empty annular space between an 8 5/8-in. casing and an 11.0-in.
diameter hole that is 4,000 ft deep, and compare it to 43.7 gal. See Page 98 of Section
122.

Note - The significance of the volume displaced by couplings and joints varies
with the job. However, as the volume displaced by couplings and joints
approaches 10% of the annular space, it could become significant and
should be considered in your calculations.

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 Section 130: Displacement

In the example in Section 122, we calculated that we would need 796 gal to fill the empty
annular space between 2.063-in. tubing and a 4 7/8-in. diameter, 1,000-ft deep well. The
column labeled Cplgs. Per Gallon (under the title of Displacement of Couplings) in Table
133 (Page 5 of Section 130) indicates that if the joints are made up with couplings, 108.1
couplings are required to displace 1 gal of material. Therefore, the volume they would
displace in 1,000 ft would be determined by the following calculation:
Number of couplings = (1,000 ft) (40 ft/joint) 1 coupling/joint = 25 couplings
Volume displaced = (25 couplings) (108.1 couplings/gal) = 0.23 gal
The volume displaced is 0.23 gal, only 0.03% of the total volume of 796 gal. Because this
percentage is so small, it is insignificant and it is not necessary to include it in your
calculations. Other uncertainties and unknowns would most likely be greater than this
small amount. The process is the same for other types of pipes, joints, and couplings. Use
the columns that correspond to your given application to calculate the displacement
caused by these items.

Check Your Knowledge

Use the Red Book to calculate answers for the following:

1. Calculate the amount of displacement (in gallons and in cu. ft) taken up by the
couplings in a 6,000-ft section of a 14-in. diameter well that has 40-ft lengths of 11
3/4-in. casing weighing 42 lb/ft and using short couplings.

2. Is the result from the previous problem significant?

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 Section 130: Displacement

Buoyancy Factors for Steel Pipe in Various Density

Fluids
An open-ended pipe weighs less when it is submerged in a fluid than it does in air, just as
you weigh less in a swimming pool than you do on land. Table 132, Page 3, of Section
130 provides buoyancy factors for steel pipe in various density fluids. Use this
information to calculate the weight of a steel pipe that is submerged in a fluid in a well.

To use the table, perform the following:

1. Locate the column labeled Lb./Gal and find the density of the fluid in which the pipe
will be submerged.
2. Go to the next column on the right, labeled Buoyancy Factor (BF), and record the
number.
3. Calculate the resulting weight, called the net or tare weight, with the following
formula:
Net weight = (Weight in air) (BF)
For example, if you have 1,000 ft of steel pipe that weighs 24 lb/ft in air, what is its
weight in 13-lb/gal mud? Go to Table 132 and find 13.0 in the Lb./Gal column. Next

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 Section 130: Displacement

to this number is the BF, .8013. Use the following calculation to obtain the net
weight of the pipe:
Total weight of pipe in air = (24 lb/ft) (1000 ft) = 24,000 lb
Net weight of pipe in 13-lb/gal mud = (24,000 lb) (0.8013) = 19,231.2 lb

How BF is Calculated

The buoyancy factor is determined with the following formula:

BF = (Density of steel pipe) (Density of fluid)
(Density of steel pipe)
In Table 132, the density of the steel pipe is 65.449 lb/gal and water is 8.33 lb/gal at
68F. For example, the BF for steel pipe in a 12.0-lb/gal fluid is determined with the
following calculation:
BF = (65.449 lb/gal) (12.0 lb/gal) = 0.8166
(65.449 lb/gal)
This is the value shown in the center column of Table 132 on Page 3.

Check Your Knowledge

3. If you have 2,000 ft of steel pipe that weighs 28 lb/ft in air, what is its weight in 12-
lb/gal mud?

4. How much would 3,000 ft of 1.90-in. OD, 2.75-lb/ft steel tubing weigh in salt water
with a sodium chloride content of 8%? (Hint: Go to Page 64 of Section 240 to find
the density of salt water. Then go to Table 132 of Section 130 and look up the BF for
the fluid.)

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Answers to Exercises
1. Calculate the amount of displacement (in gallons and in cu. ft) taken up by the
couplings in a 6,000-ft section of a 14-in. diameter well that has 40-ft lengths of 11
3/4-in. casing weighing 42 lb/ft and using short couplings. (Found on Page 15)
Number of couplings = (6,000 ft) (40 ft/joint) 1 coupling/joint = 150 couplings
Volume displaced = (150 couplings) (1.63 couplings/gal) = 92.0245 gal
Volume displaced = (150 couplings) (12.2 couplings/cu. ft) = 12.295 cu. ft
2. Is the result from the previous problem significant? (Volume from Table 122-B, Page
108)
Volume = 2.3638 gal/ft 6,000 ft
= 2.3638 gal 6,000 ft
1 ft 1
= 2.3638 gal 6,000 = 14,182.8000 gal
Percent taken by couplings = 92.0245 gal 14,182.8000 gal = 0.0065
.0065 100 = 0.65%
6.50% < 10%, so it is not significant
3. If you have 2,000 ft of steel pipe that weighs 28 lb/ft in air, what is its weight in 12-
lb/gal mud?
Total weight of pipe in air = (28 lb/ft) (2,000 ft) = 56,000 lb
Net weight of pipe in 12-lb/gal mud = (56,000 lb) (0.8166) = 45,729.6 lb
4. How much would 3,000 ft of 1.90-in. OD, 2.75-lb/ft steel tubing weigh in salt water
with a sodium chloride content of 8%? (Density of salt water is 8.81 lb/gal.)
Total weight of pipe in air = (2.75 lb/ft) (3,000 ft) = 8,250 lb
Net weight of pipe in salt water = (8,250 lb) (0.8655) = 7,140.3750 lb

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