Casing Design Principles

Drilling Engineering

Definition

Vertical setting depth of casing = CSD

Vertical depth of next hole
= TD
Formation pressure at next TD = Pf
Mud weight to drill hole for current
casing = m
Mud weight to drill hole for next casing
= m1

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Conductor Casing
Assume:
a. The Internal pressure is zero.
b. The external pressure is caused by the
mud in which the casing was run.

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Collapse pressure at mud line = External pressure due to a column of seawater
from sea level to mud line.
= (0.465 psi/ft) x mudline depth
= C1 (psi)
Collapse Pressure at casing seat = C1 + 0.052 x m x (CSD-mud line depth)
. (1)
= C2 (psi)

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Surface Casing
If casing seat above 3000 ft, Assume:
a.
The Internal pressure is zero.
b.
The external pressure is caused by the mud in which the casing
was run.
Collapse pressure at casing seat = A1+0.052 x m x (CSD-mud line
depth)
If casing seat below 3000 ft, used formula for intermediate and production casing.

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Intermediate and Production Casing

Assume:
1. Well in lost circulation
situation.
2. The fluid column inside the
casing will drop to a geight
such that remaining fluid inside
the casing just balances the
formation pressure of the thief
zone.
3. Predicting of the thief zone in
practice is difficult.
4. The TD of next hole section
represents the worst case
situation and this depth should
normally be used.

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Assuming that the thief zone is at the casing seat, then :
External pressure at shoe = CSD x 0.465
Internal Pressure at shoe = L x m1 x 0.052
Where:
L = Length of mud column inside the casing, ft
L=

CSD x 0.465
0.052 x m1

Depth of top of mud column = CSD - L

Casing Design Calculation

(Collapse Calculations)
Three collapse points will have to be calculated.
Collapse pressure, C = External pressure Internal Pressure
1.

Point A (at surface)

C1 = Zero

2.

Point B (at depth (CSD-L) = 0.052 (CSD-L) x m 0

C2 = 0.052 (CSD-L) m

3.

Point C (at depth CSD)

C3 = 0.052 CSD x m 0.052 L x m1

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)
The burst loads on the casing should be
evaluated to ensure the internal yield
resistance of the pipe is not exceeded.
Fluids on the outside of the casing pipe
(back-up) supply a hydrostatic pressure that
helps resist pipe burst. The net burst
pressure is the resultant.

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)

The following situations should be considered during the drilling

and production phases for burst design:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Well influx and kick circulation.

Cementing
Pressure Testing
Stimulation
Testing
Near surface tubing leak
Injection

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)
The most important part of the string for
burst design is the uppermost section. If
failure does occur then the design should
be ensure that it occurs near the bottom of
the string. Although tension consideration
influence the design of the top part of the
casing.

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)

1.

Assuming gas flow to surface

Calculate formation breakdown pressure at shoe:
FBP = FG x CSD
Where: FG = Fracture gradient in psi/ft
2.
Calculate the internal pressure (pi) at the casing seat using the maximum
formation pressure in the next hole section, assuming the hole is full of
gas (Pf is considered to be at TD).
Pi = pf G x (TD CSD)
Where : G is the gas gradient (typically 0.1 psi/ft)
3.
Burst pressure at Surface (B1) :
(B1) = Pf G x TD
4.
Burst pressure at casing shoe (B2): Internal pressure back-up load
= Pi 0.465 x CSD
(B2) = pf G x (TD CSD) 0.465 x CSD
The back-up load is assumed to be provided by mud which has deteriorated to
salt-saturated water with gradient of 0.465 psi/ft.

Casing Design Calculation

(Burst Calculations)
Production Casing
The worse case occurs when gas leaks from the top of the production
tubing to the casing. The gas pressure will be transmitted through the
packer fluid from the surface to the casing shoe.
Burst pressure :Internal press. Ext. Press.
Burst at surface : B1) = Pf G x CSD
Maximum anticipated surface press.
whichever is the greater.
Burst at shoe = (B2) = B1+0.052pp x CSD CSD x 0.465

where:
Pf = formation press. at prod. casing seat (psi).
pp = density of completion fluid (packer fluid), ppg
0.465 psi/ft = density of back up fluid outside the
casing to represent the worst case

Casing Selection based on

Collapse and Burst Calculations

Casing Selection based on

Collapse and Burst Calculations
1.
2.

Plot graph of pressure against depth. Starting the depth and

pressure scales at zero. Marks the CSD on this graph.
Collapse line: mark point C1 at zero depth and point C2 at CSD.

3.

4.
5.

Draw a straight line through points C1 and C2 For intermediate

casing, mark C1 at zero depth, C2 at depth (CSD-L) and C3 at
CSD. Draw two straight line through these points.
Burst line: Plot point B1 at Zero depth and point B2 at CSD. Draw
a straight line through point B1 and B2. For production casing, the
highest pressure will be at casing shoe.
Plot adjusted collapse and burst strength of the available casing
Adjust strengthened = manufacturers value / Safety factor.
Select a casing that satisfy both collapse and burst

Casing Tension Design