Faculty of Engineering

Petroleum Engineering Department

Drilling Engineering II
Fourth Stage

Lecture # 14
Casing Design

Pshtiwan Jaf 1
[email protected]
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties
• Casing strength properties are normally specified as:
1. Yield strength for pipe body and coupling
2. Collapse Strength
3. Burst strength for plain pipe and coupling

2
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
A. Yield Strength
• When any steel body is slowly loaded by a compression or tension, a gradual
decrease or increase in its length is observed.

• If the plot between applied load vs elongation, which can be notices that up to a
certain load, any increase in load will be a companied by a proportional increases
in length accordance with hook’s law:

𝝈=𝑬𝜺

Where: σ = applied stress= load / cross-sectional area

ε = Deformation (strain) = Elongation / original length 3
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
A. Yield Strength, cont.
• Hook’s law only applicable along the straight portion on the graph referred to as “Elastic
Range”. (line O-A)
• The point on the load-elongation graph, where Hook’s law is no longer applicable marks a
change from elastic to plastic behavior.
• Along the plastic portion the metal yields, resulting in permanent deformation and loss of
strength. Point B in Figure below defines the yield strength of the material.
Ultimate Strength
Load

4
Elongation
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength
• Collapse strength is defined as the maximum external pressure required to
collapse a specimen of casing.

• In practice, two types of collapse are observed elastic and plastic.

• In elastic collapse the specimen fails before it deforms, while in plastic collapse a
certain deformation takes place prior to failure of the specimen.

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 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Elastic Collapse
• The elastic collapse pressure, Pc, may be determined from the following formula:

2𝐸 1
𝑃𝑐 = 2 × 2
1−𝑣 𝐷 𝐷
−1
𝑡 𝑡
Pc: Elastic collapse pressure, psi
E: Elasticity of the steel = 30 x 106 psi
v: Poisson's ratio = 0.3
D: outside diameter of casing, inch
t: casing thickness, inch
• By substituting E & v:
46.95 × 106
𝑃𝑐 = 2
𝐷 𝐷
−1
𝑡 𝑡 6
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Elastic Collapse, cont.
46.95 × 106
𝑃𝑐 = 2
𝐷 𝐷
−1
𝑡 𝑡

• The above equation is applicable to the range of

(D/t) values given in this table:

• Grades indicated without letter designation are

not API grades but are grades in use.
7
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Plastic Collapse
• The minimum collapse pressure (Pp) in the plastic range could be calculated from:

𝐴
𝑃𝑝 = 𝑌 −𝐵 −𝐶
𝐷ൗ
𝑡
Where:
A, B and C: are constants depending on the grades of steel used
Y: is yield strength

• The above equation is applicable for the range of (D/t) values given in the below table.
8
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Plastic Collapse, cont.
• The (D/t) range firstly should be
determined, and if it falls in the range given
in the table and the values of (A, B and C)
can be read directly from the table.

• Grades indicated without letter designation

are not API grades but are grades in use.

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 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Transition Collapse Pressure
• The collapse pressure (Pt) of steel in the transition zone between elastic and
plastic failure is described by the following formula:

𝐹
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑌 −𝐺 𝐶
𝐷ൗ
𝑡
Where: F & G are constants, given by:
𝟑
𝟑𝑩Τ𝑨
𝟒𝟔. 𝟗𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑭𝑩
𝟐 + 𝑩Τ𝑨
𝑭= 𝟐
& 𝑮=
𝟑 𝑩Τ𝑨 𝟑 𝑩Τ𝑨 𝑨
𝒀 − (𝑩Τ𝑨) 𝟏 −
𝟐 + (𝑩Τ𝑨) 𝟐 + (𝑩Τ𝑨) 10
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
B. Collapse Strength, cont.
Transition Collapse Pressure, cont.
𝐹
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑌 −𝐺 𝐶
𝐷ൗ
𝑡

• The range of (D/t) values applicable to the

above equation is given in this table
together with F & G values.

• Grades indicated without letter designation

are not API grades but are grades in use. 11
 Casing Strength
Casing Strength Properties, cont.
C. Burst Strength
• Burst strength is defined as the maximum value of internal pressure required to
cause the steel to yield.
• The minimum burst pressure for casing is calculated by use of Barlow’s Formula:

2𝑌𝑡
𝑃𝑏 = 0.875
𝐷
Where:
• t = thickness of casing (in)
• D = casing diameter (in)
• Y = minimum yield strength (psi)
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 Casing Specification
Casing Specification
• A casing is specified by the following parameters:

A. Outside diameter and wall thickness

B. Type of coupling Discussed previously

C. Grade of steel
D. Length of joint
E. Weight per unit length

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 Casing Specification
Length of Joint
• API has specified three ranges in which a pipe length must lie. These as follows:

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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length
• API defines three types of casing weight:
a) Nominal Weight
b) Plain end weight
c) Threaded and coupled weight

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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.
a) Nominal Weight
• The term “Nominal Weight” is used primarily for the purpose of identification of
casing types during ordering. It is expressed in Ib/ft or Kg/m.

• Nominal weight (Wn) is calculated from the following formula:

𝑊𝑛 = 10.68 𝐷 − 𝑡 𝑡 + 0.0722 𝐷2 𝐼𝑏/𝑓𝑡

• Casing weights required for design purpose are reported as nominal weights, See
the handouts
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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.

17
 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.

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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.

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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.

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 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.
b) Plain End Weight
• The plain end weight is the weight of the casing joint without the inclusion of
threads and couplings.

• The plain end weight can be calculated by use of the following formula, taken
from API Standards, Bulletin SC3:

𝑊𝑝𝑒 = 10.68 𝐷 − 𝑡 𝑡 𝐼𝑏/𝑓𝑡

21
 Casing Specification
Weight per unit Length, cont.
c) Threaded and Coupled Weight
• The threaded and coupled weight is the average weight of a joint including the
threads at both ends and a coupling at one end when power-tight.

• This weight is calculated from the following formula:

𝑁𝐿 + 2𝐽
20 − 𝑊𝑝𝑒 + 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠
𝑊= 24
20
W = threaded and coupled weight (Ib/ft),
𝑁𝐿 = coupling length (in)
𝐽 = Distance in the power-tight position (in)
𝑊𝑝𝑒 = plain end weight (Ib/ft)
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 Casing Design Criteria
Casing Design Criteria
• The criteria for casing design as follows:
➢ Collapse Pressure
➢ Burst Pressure
➢ Tensile Force
➢ Compression Load
➢ Other Loadings
➢ Safety Factors
➢ Combination String
➢ Biaxial Effects
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 Casing Design Criteria
Collapse Pressure
• Collapse pressure originates from the column of mud used to drill the hole, and
acts on the outside of the casing.

• Since the hydrostatic pressure of a column of mud increases with depth, collapse
pressure is highest at the bottom and zero at the top.

• Therefore:
𝐶 = 0.052 𝜌 ℎ

• In designing for collapse, the casing is assumed empty for surface and production
casing and partially empty for intermediate casing. 24
 Casing Design Criteria
Burst Pressure
• The burst criterion in casing design is normally based on the maximum formation
pressure that can be encountered during the drilling of next hole section.

• Also, it is assumed that in the event of a kick, the influx fluid(s) will displace the entire
drilling mud, thereby subjecting the entire casing to the bursting effects of formation
pressure.

• At the top of the hole the external pressure due to the hydrostatic head of mud is zero
and the internal pressure must be supported entirely by the casing body. Therefore,
burst pressure is highest at the top and least at the casing shoe.

• In production casing, the burst pressure at the shoe can be higher than the burst
pressure at the surface in situation when the production tubing leaks gas to the casing.
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 Casing Design Criteria
Tensile Force
• Tensile force in casings originate from casing-own weight, bending force, and
shock loading.
• In casing design the upper most joint of the string is considered the weakest in
tension as it has to carry the total weight of the casing string.
• Selection is normally based on a safety factor of 1.6 – 1.8 for the top joint.

Compression Load
• A compression load arises in casings that carry inner strings. Production strings
do not develop any compression load, since they do not carry inner strings.

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 Casing Design Criteria
Other loadings
• Other loadings that may develop in the casing include:
a) Bending with tongs during make-up.
b) Pull-out of the joint and slip crushing.
c) Corrosion and fatigue failure, both of the body and of the threads.
d) Pipe wear due to running wire line tools and drill string assembly, which can be very
detrimental to casing in deviated and dog-legged holes.
e) Addition loadings arising from treatment operations such as squeeze cementing,
acidizing and hydraulic fracturing.

• Only tensile force, collapse pressure, burst and compression load will be considered in
the casing design. Other loadings, with the exception of (e) cannot be determined by
direct application of mathematical equations and will be accounted so to the use of
safety factors. 27
 Casing Design Criteria
Safety Factors
• It is evident from the discussion of casing design criteria that exact loadings are difficult to
determine.

• For example; if mud of 0.5 psi/ft is assumed to exist on the outside of the casing during running
of the casing, this value cannot be expected to remain constant throughout the life of the well.

• Deterioration of mud with time will reduce this value to , say, a salt-water value of 0.465 psi/ft.

• Hence, calculation of burst values assuming a column of mud of 0.5 psi/ft on the outside of the
casing are not applicable throughout the life of the well.

• Therefore, casing design is not an exact technique, because of the uncertainties in determining
the actual loadings and also because of the change in casing properties with time, resulting
from corrosion and wear. 28
 Casing Design Criteria
Safety Factors, cont.
• A safety factor is used to allow for such uncertainties in the casing design and to ensure that
the rated performance of the casing is always greater than any expected loading.

• Each operating company uses it own safety factors for specific situations. These values have
been developed through many years of drilling and production experiences, Usual Safety
Factor are:
Collapse: 0.85 – 1.125
Burst: 1 – 1.1
Tension: 1.6 – 1.8

• The safety factor is determined as the ratio between the body resistance and the magnitude of
the applied pressure. Thus the safety factor (SF) in burst is given by:

burst resistance of casing

𝑆𝐹 = 29
burst pressure
 Casing Design Criteria
Combination Strings
• In a casing string, maximum tension occurs at the top and the design criterion requires
high grade or heavy casing at the top.

• Burst pressures are most severe at the top and, again, casing must be strong enough on
top to resist failure in burst.

• In collapse calculations, however the worst conditions occur at the bottom and the
casing must, therefore, be chosen for the bottom part to resist collapsing pressure.

• Hence, the requirements for burst and tension criteria are different from the
requirement collapse and a compromise must be reached when design for casing.

• This compromise is achieved form of a combination string. In other words, casings of

various grades or differing weight are used at different depths of hole, each grade of
casing being capable of withstanding the imposed loading condition at that depth.
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 Casing Design Criteria
Combination Strings, cont.
• Strong and heavy casing is used at the surface, light yet strong casing is used in
the middle section, and heavy casing may be required at the bottom to withstand
the height collapsing pressure.

• The combination string method represents the most economical way of selecting
casing consistent with safety.

• Although, as many grades as possible could be used for a string of casing,

practical experience has shown that the logistics of using more than two different
grades of casing create problems for rig crews.
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 Casing Design Criteria
Biaxial effects
• The combination of stresses due to the weight of the casing and external pressures are
referred to “biaxial stresses”.

• Biaxial stresses reduce the collapse resistance of the casing in the plastic failure mode
and must be accounted for in designing for deep wells.

• Biaxial loading generates forces within the surfaces of the casing which reduce the
casing collapse resistance but increase its burst resistance.

• The collapse resistance under tensile load (Pcc) is given by:

𝑊 𝑃𝑐 𝐴 𝑆𝑜 2
𝑃𝑐𝑐 = 4 −3 −1
2 𝐴 𝑆𝑜 𝑊

W = weight supported by casing, Ibs A = cross-sectional area of casing, in2 = 𝜋 𝑡 𝐷 − 𝑡

Pc = collapse resistance with zero tensile load, psi So = average yield stress of steel with zero load,32psi
 Casing Design Criteria
Biaxial effects, cont.
• Setting (K = 2 A So) gives
𝑃𝑐𝑐 𝑊 𝐾 2 𝑃𝑐𝑐 1
= 4 −3 −1 Or = 𝐾 2 − 3𝑊 2 − 𝑊
𝑃𝑐 𝐾 2𝑊 𝑃𝑐 𝐾
• The above equation could be solved graphically same as the graph of the drill
string.

• It can also presented in a tabulated form showing the percentage reduction in

collapse resistance for a given unit weight carried by the casing (see the table).

• To use this table, determine the ratio between the weight to be carried by the top
joint of the weakest casing and the yield strength of the casing, then from the
table, determine the corresponding reduction in collapse resistance.
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 Casing Design Criteria
Biaxial effects, cont.
• This reduction in collapse resistance applies to the top
joint only and the casing effectively becomes stronger
down the hole, since the weakest grade will be
carrying less weight with increasing depth.

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