PE 577 A Workovers: Design and Operations

Tubing Design
And
Tubing Forces and Movement

1
Tubing Selection Criteria

– Tubing Size
– Tubing Materials
– Tubing Strength
– Tubing Connections

Tubing size drives casing

sizing, not the other way
around

2
Tubing Selection Criteria

1. Maximum or optimum flow rates

2. Maximum surface pressure
3. Corrosive fluid environment
4. Possible stimulation work (acidizing and fracturing)
5. Tensile strength
6. Burst and collapse

3
Tubing Selection - Tubing Size

– Flowing wells – nodal analysis

– Artificial Lift Considerations

– Gas Lift
– Rod Pump
– ESP
– Hydraulic Pump

– Sand Control Devices

– Workover Considerations:

– Is the tubing fishable?

4
Wash Pipe – Fishable Tubing Sizes

5
Artificial Lift Considerations

 Gas Lift
– Adequate size for passage of injected gas at expected field
Incremental GOR’s.
– Adequate clearance for gas lift mandrels is also important.
– Preparation for slickline operations
– Flexibility for repair of gas lift valves

6
Artificial Lift Considerations

 Rod Pump
– Tubing size needs to be large enough for rod clearance, rod
guides (particularly for directional wells), tubing and insert
pumps
– Need to consider anchoring tubing
– Need to prepare for tubing movement in unanchored tubing
– Tubing size may need to increase with fluid viscosity

7
 Directional Effects on Rod Wear in Tubing

Figure 1. A-6 Survey Data

INC (deg) DLS (deg/100ft) # of Failure

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0

1000

2000
MD (ft)

3000
Pump Intake @3167

4000

5000

6000

8
Scab Liner Class Discussion

What is a scab liner?

What about squeezing?

9
Scab Liner
Case History

10
Scab Liner Case History

Morning Report stated:

“Blew the well down & opened the BOP. Pulled 118 jts 2 3/8”, 8 rd EUE
using rig elevators. Got to 2 3/8” buttress with turned down collars. Called
pusher and ordered slip type elevators for 2 3/8” tubing. Elevators arrived
after about 1 hour. Installed elevator.

Pulled 44 jts of 2 3/8” buttress tubing. Tubing changed to 2 3/8” 8 rd EUE

with slimhole collars (2 7/8” OD). Continued to pull with slip type elevators.
Pulled 14 joints when started to get buildup on tubing. Pulled 10 joints,
having to scrape build up off of the tubing and having to clean elevators with
wire brush.

Pulled next stand 10-15’ out of hole when tubing fell through elevators.
Called in and SDFN.
11
Scab Liner
Case History

12
Permanent Buckling

Permanent buckling or corkscrewing of the tubing can occur if the initial

slack-off weight is too great. For a given slack-off force, the outer wall
stress in the tubing (So) may be calculated by:
Fm d o ∆rFm
So = +
As 4I
Permanent buckling of the tubing will occur if the calculated
value of So exceeds the yield strength of the tubing.

13
Drift Diameter

14
Can we fish with wash pipe????

Choice 1
Choice 2

4” liner drift 3.303”

2 3/8 EUE tubing connection 3.063”
2 3/8 “turned down” connection 2.875”

Can’t wash over!$!$!$

15
Elevator types

Drill pipe “bottle” type elevators

Side door tubing and casing elevators

Slip type tubing and casing elevators

16
Elevators

17
Scab Liner Case History

Slip type elevators

18
Scab Liner Case History

Slip type elevators

19
Scab Liner Case History

Slip type elevators

20
Buckling Effects of Unanchored Tubing

The following table indicates the difficulties with producing high

volumes at depths greater than 10,000’ with unanchored 2 3/8”
tubing, assuming a C912-365-168 Unit, with an 80% pump efficiency,
and assuming a maximum stroke of 168”:

Pump Size Pump Unit Tubing Production

(Inches) Speed Torque Stretch (BPD)
(SPM) (in-lbs.) (inches)
1.25 8.0 870,768 16.7 166

1.5 6.75 902,877 24.0 159

1.75 6.75 910,158 32.7 174

2 6.75 866,877 42.7 162

21
Buckling Effects of Unanchored Tubing

Buckling of unanchored tubing has two tell tale signs:

– Rod parts in the bottom of the well

– Tubing wear in the bottom of the well

22
Artificial Lift Considerations

Hydraulic Pump Considerations:

– multiple tubing strings are
usually required: one (two) for
the power fluid and one for the
production stream
– retrieving hydraulic pump
tubing strings usually dictates
setting pump above
perforations

23
Artificial Lift Considerations

Submersible Pump Considerations:

– Casing size needs to be large enough to fit a suitably sized
pump and electric cable.
– Must decide if ESP clearance will allow washover operations
or not
– If using Y-tool, must decide on size of production logs run
below tubing.
– An expected higher workover frequency could impact other
decisions.

24
Other Tubular Size Considerations

Sand Control Devices :

– Casing size needs to be large enough for all downhole
equipment
– Passage of screens or slotted liners and adequate clearance
for the gravel pack.

25
Other Tubular Size Considerations

Workovers:

– Clearance between the casing and tubing needs to be appropriately sized

to allow for workover/washover operations.

– Hard Rock Completion?

– Soft Rock Completion?

– The decision on the likelihood of needing washover operations can be a

critical event for a well economics

26
Workover tubular design must take into account the
production history of the well

Casing restrictions “Tight pipe” due to may be encountered due to:

 Casing collapse and distortion

 Scale deposition
 Asphaltene and paraffin build up

Primary detection occurs during tripping tools and encountering it

accidentally, or using a casing scraper to look for casing restrictions

27
Casing Scrapers

“All weight” casing scrapers are

spring loaded and retract to the
smallest ID for that size of
casing.

“Positive” casing scrapers are also

spring loaded, but equipped
with a stop that does not allow
retracting past a certain drift ID
corresponding to a weight, say
7”, 26# casing
Always run a “bumper sub” with a scraper

28
Caliper Logs - Pipe Inspection

a) Initial well b) Axial compression c) Shear causing

shape causing helical lateral offset
buckling
29
Tubing Materials

– Standard API steel grades for tubing are H-40, J-55, K-55, L-80, N-80, C-
90, C-95, T-95 and P-110

– The number refers to the minimum yield strength of the steel expressed in
Ksi (thousands of psi)

– The letter reference was not designed to have a specific meaning - except
different letters were assigned by API to minimize errors in ordering
different grades of pipe. Letters for each grades sharing the same
minimum yield have slightly different material characteristics

30
31
Tubing Selection - Physical Properties
Tensile Strength is Stress Required to produce .5% extension, to T-95, .6 for P-110

32
Test Specimens

33
Specimen Locations

34
Tubing Selection - Physical Properties 1

Minimum Minimum
API Yield Strength Tensile Elongation Hardness
grade ( psi) Strength % in Maximum Typical
minimum maximum (psi) 2-inches HRC HRC

H-40 40,000 80,000 60,000 29.5 - -

J-55 55,000 80,000 75,000 24.0 - 14
L-80 80,000 95,000 95,000 19.5 23.0 -
N 80 80,000 110,000 100,000 18.5 - 24
C-90 90,000 105,000 100,000 18.5 25.4 -
C-95 95,000 110,000 105,000 18.0 - 25
T-95 95,000 110,000 105,000 18.0 25.4 -
P-110 10,000 140,000 125,000 15.0 - 35

35
Pipe Chemical Requirements

36
Tolerances

37
Tubing Selection Criteria

– Tubing Size
– Tubing Materials
– Tubing Strength
– Tubing Connections

Tubing size drives casing

sizing, not the other way
around

38
Tubing Materials

Inspected Tubing

% of Wall Loss % Minimum Color Band

Remaining Wall

0-15% 85% Yellow

16-30% 70% Blue
31-50% 50% Green
Over 50% < 50% Red

39
 Tubing Materials

Inspected Tubing Derating?

Just about all the cross-sectional area is there for
tensile loading, but what about burst?
Barlow’s formula for burst is:

P = (2*S*t) / D,

where:
P = internal pressure, psig
S = unit stress, psi
t = nominal wall thickness, in.
Hydrotesting? D = outside diameter of pipe, in.
40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZa7YqiQor4
Tubing Materials

 Hydrogen Sulfide Effects

– Generally accepted that hydrogen embrittlement or sulfide
corrosion cracking does not occur in material having a
hardness of 23 Rockwell C or below.

– The only API grade of pipe that meets this limitation on its
hardness is L-80 pipe (or below).

– At temperatures above 180°F the problem of hydrogen

embrittlement is significantly reduced

41
Tubing Materials

 Hydrogen Sulfide “Sour Service”

– NACE defines sour service if the partial pressure of hydrogen
sulfide exceeds .05 psia.

– Partial pressure is defined as the product of parts per million

hydrogen sulfide (PPM) times the maximum pressure (psia)
divided by 1,000,000

42
Tubing Materials

 Is 10 PPM hydrogen sulfide “sour” at 1000 psi? 10,000 psi?

– 10 PPM x 1000 psi / 1,000,000 = .01 psi < .05 psi

• NOT Sour

– 10 PPM x 10,000 psi / 1,000,000 = .1 psi > .05 psi

• Sour

43
Tubing Materials

CO2 Effects
– Conventional tubing steel grades will corrode rapidly
due to the formation of carbonic acid

– In a gas well this can occur early in the life of the well if
there is any produced water

– In oil fields with entrained CO2 this will most likely not
occur until later in the life of the well after significant
water breakthrough has occurred.
44
Tubing Materials 2

CO2 Effects
– Tubing materials which need to be used for these
conditions are Chromium Steels and Chromium Duplex
Alloys.
• Most common is the use of 9% and 13% Chromium Steel
• They are expensive - around 3 to 4 times the cost of
conventional carbon steel tubulars

Because of the cost, carbon steel products are often used

for the tubing (but not the casing!) and then the condition
monitored through a regular (annual) tubing inspection
program.
45
Tubing Connections

There are two standard API coupling connections:

– .API non-upset (NU) connection is a 10-round thread form cut

on the body. Note that since the thread is cut on the pipe, this
joint has less strength than the pipe body.

– API External Upset End (EUE) connection is an 8-round thread

where the joint has the same strength as the pipe body. Most
common connection

46
Tubing Connections 3

The API round thread connection forms several metal-to-metal

seals between the tapered portion of the pin and box surfaces.
The separation between the root and crest of the threads is a
clearance of only 0.003”. This needs to be filled with thread
compound solids in order to establish a bearing pressure which
is greater than the differential pressure across the connection.
Other threads such as Buttress and 8-Acme connections
require thread compound solids in a similar manner to transmit
bearing loads from one threaded surface to another.

47
API Connections 3

48
API Connections - Interference 3

T *P*N
Interference =
2

Where: P = Lead
T = Taper
N = Number of turns past the hand tight position

Note: For API connections Lead and Taper are constant for a
given type of thread. Therefore, the amount of interference is
a function of the number of turns past the hand tight position.

49
Stress Distribution in Made-up API Connections 3

50
Buttress Connections 3

51
Tubing Connections 3

Connections may be rated on leak testing by industry consortia.

3 broad classification of connections by likelihood of leaks:

Level I (worst) API Buttress, API NU 8 rd 0.001 failures/1000 conn.

Level II API EUE 8 rd, Butt & NU with seal 0.0001 failures/1000 conn.
Level III – V Various Special Connections 0.00001 – 10-7/1000 conn.

52
Tubing Connections 3

Example:

A typical string with 100 API EUE 8 rd joints would fail every 50 times (two
leak paths per coupling). Hydrotesting and other connection testing
systems help (external testing), and many strings are never stressed to
their rated pressures.

Definite differences in the quality of connection on leak probability. Each

class is estimated to be 10 times better than the preceding class.

Integral joints have the inherent advantage of 1 leak path per connection.

53
PH-6 connection

54
PH-6 connection

Integral Joint

1 leak path
Good Torsion
Hydril Connection
Off-patent
Easily obtained

55
Video

– ERW tubing Manufacturing

56
Tubing Strength

When defining the required tubing strength there are

three parameters which need to be calculated:

• Burst pressure (Pb)

• Collapse pressure (Pc)
• Tension load (TL)

57
Burst Strength

S.F.*((Pi + .052*MW*D) - (Pe + .052*MW*D))

• MW = fluid density (ppg)

• D = TVD (ft)
• Pi = Tubing Surface Pressure
• Pe = Casing Surface Pressure
• S.F. = Safety Factor

58
Burst Strength

Normally the maximum burst pressure differential will occur at

the surface, either during production or a stimulation

– Fracture Stimulation
– Acid Stimulation
– Gas filled tubing, shut in

– Exception would be rod pump or ESP wells

• “blown drains”

59
Collapse Strength

S.F.*((Pe + .052*MW*D) - (Pi+.052*MW*D))

• MW = fluid density (ppg)

• D = TVD (ft)
• Pi = Tubing Surface Pressure
• Pe = Casing Surface Pressure
• S.F. = Safety Factor

60
Collapse Strength

Normally the maximum collapse pressure differential will occur

at the bottom of the tubing, during production operations.
Tensile loading still reduces collapse resistance of tubulars.

– Swabbing
– Acid lift back

– Exception would be reverse circulation

• “Coiled tubing’s bane”

61
Tensile Strength

Maximum Tension load = Pipe Weight (lbm/ft) x TVD

- applied tensile load

Example of applied loads

– Buoyancy or pressure/area forces
– Slackoff
– Temperature Effect
– Ballooning Effect
– Buckling force?

62
Dogleg Running Load

Invariably, the maximum tensile load occurs at the surface -

hence the concern over the top joint tension.

– Dogleg running load could cause the maximum tensile load to

at some point in the wellbore, other than the surface.
 de − di 
2 2
1/ 2
 0.2 * T 1/ 2 
Fb = 3385 * d e * C * TL *  2
1/ 2
2
tanh  L 
 d e + d i  (
 e i )
 d 4 −d 4 12 


63
Safety Factor

64
Safety Factor

65
Tubing Selection - Physical Properties 1

Minimum Minimum
API Yield Strength Tensile Elongation Hardness
grade ( psi) Strength % in Maximum Typical
minimum maximum (psi) 2-inches HRC HRC

H-40 40,000 80,000 60,000 29.5 - -

J-55 55,000 80,000 75,000 24.0 - 14
L-80 80,000 95,000 95,000 19.5 23.0 -
N 80 80,000 110,000 100,000 18.5 - 24
C-90 90,000 105,000 100,000 18.5 25.4 -
C-95 95,000 110,000 105,000 18.0 - 25
T-95 95,000 110,000 105,000 18.0 25.4 -
P-110 10,000 140,000 125,000 15.0 - 35

66
Safety Factor

67
Safety Factor

68
 Collapse and Burst Safety Factors

Why does collapse rating have

to take tension into account?

Why does burst not take tension

into account and usually
Is 1-1.2

Why is tension safety factor

1.5 – 1.8?

69
Production Tubing Design Example

Packer Depth: 8500’ TVD (vertical well)

Perforations: 8750’ - 8800’
Reservoir Pressure Gradient 11.6 PPG MWE
Gas S.G. = .65 no H2S
Completion Fluid Weight 11.8 PPG

Required:

2 7/8” tubing design

70
Production Tubing Design Example

1. Determine the Max. Anticipated Surface Pressure (MASP)

Gas Gradient = .0032(MWE) + .161(SG) – (260/TVD)

= .0032(11.6) + .161(.65) – (260/8760)

= .1121 psi/ft

MASP = BHP - Gas Gradient*TVD

= 11.6*.052*8750 - . 1121*8750

= 4297 psi

71
Production Tubing Design Example

2. Determine the minimum burst resistance of the tubing

= MASP * S.F.

= 4297 * 1.2

= 5156 psi

Eliminate all tubing which doesn’t meet this requirement!

J-55, 6.5# EUE OK

#/ft Grade Tension Burst Collapse

2 7/8 6.5 H-40 72,480 5,280 5,580
2 7/8 6.5 J-55 99,660 7,260 7,680
2 7/8 6.5 N-80 144,960 10,570 11,160
2 7/8 6.5 C-90 163,100 11,890 12,380
2 7/8 6.5 P-105 190,260 13,870 14,010

72
Production Tubing Design Example

3. Determine string weight and min. required tensile strength.

B.F. = 1 - MW/65.45

= 1 - 11.8/65.45

= .82

String weight = (#/ft) * TVD * B.F.

= 6.5 * 8500 * .82

= 45,305 lb.

73
Production Tubing Design Example
Minimum Tensile Strength = String wt. * safety factor

= 45,305 lb. * 1.8

= 81,549 lb.

Minimum Collapse Resistance

= MW * .052 * TVD * S.F.

= 11.8 * .052 * 8500 * 1.0

= 5215 psi

*** 2 7/8”, J-55, 6.5 #, EUE 8 Rd. will work.

#/ft Grade Tension Burst Collapse
2 7/8 6.5 H-40 72,480 5,280 5,580
Burst = 7,260 psi 2 7/8 6.5 J-55 99,660 7,260 7,680
2 7/8 6.5 N-80 144,960 10,570 11,160
Collapse = 7,680 psi 2 7/8 6.5 C-90 163,100 11,890 12,380
Joint str. = 99,660 lbs 2 7/8 6.5 P-105 190,260 13,870 14,010

74
Production Tubing Design Example

What if you would like to set packer in 20,000 lb. tension?

Minimum Tensile Strength = String wt. * safety factor

= (45,305 lb. + 20,000) * 1.8

= 117,549 lb.

Must use other tubing, or “modify” safety factors.

#/ft Grade Tension Burst Collapse
2 7/8 6.5 H-40 72,480 5,280 5,580
2 7/8 6.5 J-55 99,660 7,260 7,680
2 7/8 6.5 N-80 144,960 10,570 11,160
2 7/8 6.5 C-90 163,100 11,890 12,380
2 7/8 6.5 P-105 190,260 13,870 14,010

75
Production Tubing Design Example

Derate tubing collapse resistance for tension

TRF = Load/Rating = 20,000/99,000 = .2

Biaxial Factor = [(1-.75(TRF)2].5-(.5)(TRF)

= [(1-.75(.2)2].5-(.5)(.2)

= 0.88

For 2 7/8”, J-55, 6.4# Tubing, collapse resistance is 7,680 psi

#/ft Grade Tension Burst Collapse
2 7/8 6.5 H-40 72,480 5,280 5,580
Derated collapse = .88 * 7680 psi 2 7/8 6.5 J-55 99,660 7,260 7,680
2 7/8 6.5 N-80 144,960 10,570 11,160
2 7/8 6.5 C-90 163,100 11,890 12,380
= 6793 psi > 5215 psi 2 7/8 6.5 P-105 190,260 13,870 14,010

76
Production Tubing Design

The point is, you can’t design tubing (particularly with packers)
without taking into account the forces induced on the tubing
during the service life of the well.

77
Tubing Movement and Forces

78
Tubing End Conditions

1. Latched – tubing cannot move at packer

2. Landed – tubing cannot move downward at packer
3. Unrestrained – tubing can move up or down at packer

79
Packers

Reasons for running a packer include:

1. Isolation of well fluids and pressures;

2. Keeping gas mixed with liquids to assist with production;
3. Separation of producing zones;
4. Formation of an annular hole section for gas lift injection
or subsurface hydraulic pumping systems;
5. Safety - providing better well control; and
6. Holding well service fluids (such as kill weight fluids) in
casing annulus.

80
Packers

There are two broad categories of production packers:

Permanent packers
• they can only be removed by being milled out
• they can withstand large differential pressures

Retrievable packers are:

• they can be removed through tubing movement
• may be very difficult and expensive to mill out
• have more moving parts, with more leak paths

81
Packers

There are three methods of connecting a packer with a tubing string;

1. The tubing is latched or fixed to the packer allowing no movement of

the tubing (retrievable tension-set, compression-set, or mechanical-
set packers). Depending on the packer, the tubing can be left in
either tension, compression or neutral.

2. Tubing is landed with a seal assembly and locator sub that allows
limited movement (e.g. permanent packers). Tubing can be set only
in compression or neutral.

3. Tubing is stung into the packer with a long seal assembly that allows
essentially unlimited movement (permanent packers and seal-bore
retrievable packers). Tubing is left in neutral.

82
Tubing Movement and Forces

Ai = area based on pipe ID (in2)

Ao = area based on pipe OD (in2)
Ap = area of packer bore (in2)
As = area of steel in pipe body (in2)
E = Young’s modulus of steel (30 x 106 psi)
L = Length of tubing (ft)
r = clearance between tubulars (in.)
∆pi = Change in pressure inside the tubing at the packer (psi)
∆po = Change in pressure in annulus at the packer (psi)

(after Allen & Roberts)

83
84
Define Initial Conditions

85
Piston Effect

[ ] [
F1 = (Ap − Ao )∆po − (Ap − Ai )∆pi ]

F1 L
∆L1 = −
EAs

86
Buckling Effect (Pressure)

F2 = 0
∆r 2 A p 2 (∆pi − ∆po )2
∆L2 = −
8 EI (Ws + Wi − Wo )

4
where: I = Moment of Inertia (in )
∆r = Clearance between the casing ID and the tubing OD (in)
Wi = Weight of fluid inside tubing (lbm/in)
Wo = Weight of fluid in annulus displaced by the tubing (lbm/in)
Ws = Weight of steel (lbm/in)

Wi = 0.0034d i 2 ρ i
Wo = 0.0034d o 2 ρ o

87
Ballooning Effect

(
F3 = 0.6 ∆p0 Ao − ∆pi Ai )


∆L3 = 
0. 2 L 

 R 2
( )
∆p0 − ∆pi 
7  
 1.0 x10   R −1
2


where: R = Ratio of tubing OD to ID

∆pi = Change in average pressure in the tubing (psi)
∆po = Change in average pressure in the annulus (psi)

88
Temperature Effect

F4 = 207 As ∆t

−6
∆L4 = 6.9 x10 L∆t

where: ∆t = Change in average temperature (°F)

Note no length term in force due to temperature change

89
Slackoff Effect

 Fm L   ∆r 2
F 2 
∆Lm =  + m 
  8 EI (W + W − W ) 
 EA s   s i o 

Fm = Mechanical force (lbf)

90
Total Effect

Fp = F1 + F3 + F4 + Fm

∆Lt = ∆L1 + ∆L2 + ∆L3 + ∆L4 + ∆Lm

91
Tubing Force and Movement Mitigation

– load the annulus with a weighted fluid

– hold pressure on the annulus during the stimulation
treatment
– heat the stimulation fluids
– increase the slack-off weight when landing the tubing

92
Top Joint Tension

For the case of a packer that does not allow tubing movement,
the forces acting on the top joint of tubing under conditions of
pressure and temperature different from the landing conditions
are composed of:

•The weight of the tubing

•The force effects of tubing movement
•The actual forces acting across the packer seal bore

Not that the weight of the tubing (Fta) will not include any
buoyancy effects because the tubing is latched.
93
Top Joint Tension 4

[ ] [
Fa = (Ap − Ao ) po − (Ap − Ai ) pi ]

Ftgs = Fta + Fa + F p
where: Ftgs = Top joint tension force (lbf)
Fta = Tubing tension force, i.e. weight in air (lbf)
Fp = Tubing movement force effects at packer
Fa = Actual forces across the packer bore seal (lbf)

94
Permanent Buckling

Permanent buckling or corkscrewing of the tubing can occur if the initial

slack-off weight is too great. For a given slack-off force, the outer wall
stress in the tubing (So) may be calculated by:
Fm d o ∆rFm
So = +
As 4I
Permanent buckling of the tubing will occur if the calculated
value of So exceeds the yield strength of the tubing.

95
Permanent Buckling

In subsequent operations when stress changes occur as a result

of pressure and temperature changes, the stresses in the inner
(Si) and outer (So) tubing wall may be calculated from:

2 2
 R ( Pi − Po )   Pi − R Po
2 2
σb 
S i = 3  + +σ a ± 
 R − 1   R − 1
2 2
R 

2
 ( Pi − Po )   Pi − R Po
2 2 
S o = 3 2  + +σ a ±σb 
 R − 1   R − 1
2


96
Permanent Buckling

These stresses must not be allowed to exceed the yield strength

of the tubing. The sign for σb should be taken to maximize the
values of Si and So.

Where:

Fa
σa =
As
d o ∆rA p (∆Pi − ∆Po )
σb =
4I

97
Will this compression set packer unset?

Casing 5 ½”
Tubing 2 3/8”
Packer Depth 6000’
Annular Fluid 8.6 ppg
Tubing Fluid 6.9 ppg
Treating Pressure 1000 psi
Slackoff 7000 lbs

98
Will this compression set packer unset?
1,000 psi surface Area of 5 1/2" casing ID = 18.8 sq in.
pressure
Area of 2 3/8" tubing OD = 4.4 sq in.

Area of 2 3/8" tubing ID = 3.1 sq in.

tubing hanging from rig
Annular BHP = 6000' x .052 x 8.6 ppg

= 2700 psi

Tubing BHP = 6000' x .052 x 6.9 ppg

+ 1000 psi

= 3160 psi

8.6 ppg

6.9 ppg in tubing

Annular Pressure Force

7,000 lbs slackoff (18.8 - 4.4 sq. in.) x 2700 psi

= 38,800 lbs

6000' packer TVD

Tubing Pressure Force

(18.8 - 3.1 sq. in.) x 3160 psi

= 49,600 lbs

Resultant Force on Packer

7,000 + 38,800 - 49,600 = - 3,800 lb

Packer no longer in compression and unsets

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Workstring Design Calculations

The same basic design parameters apply to workstring design that apply
to drillpipe design when using a rotary shouldered connection. Tension
and torque are the two load parameters – tension relatively easy to
predict – torque less so but dependent on the power swivel.

The internal and external diameters are important to the hydraulic

capacity and fishing requirements of the workstring.

The tube body will have the same weight and grade in most instances, but
the differences will be in the connection.

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Workstrings

Rotary shouldered connection workstrings have the most robust tension

and torsion capabilities, but may damage the casing.

Tubing workstrings are not as robust but if equipped with high torque
connections, such as a PH-6, they are acceptable for heavy torsional
loads, such as milling or washover operations. Smaller workover rigs may
handle tubing workstrings much easier.

EUE 8 rd. connections are easily damaged during workover operations,

but are much less expensive.

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Workstrings

Drill collars are usually more difficult on a workover rig to handle than a
drilling rig. However, drill collars are strongly recommended when drilling
out cement, or other hard cleanout operations, to avoid sidetracking
through weakened or bad casing. Drill collars should be designed to
allow washover operations.

Drill bits are recommended when drilling cement out instead of mills, to
minimize chances of damaging casing.

All mills that are run in cased hole operations must be checked to ensure
milling surfaces will not contact the casing wall.

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Drillstring Selection Example

Depth - 12,700’
Hole Size - 7 7/8”
Mud weight - 10 ppg
MOP - 50,000 lbs
S. F. Collapse - 1.125
Drill collars - 6.25 x 2.25

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Drill collars

Length determined by Optimal WOB

Still need to keep drill pipe from buckling
WOB
Lc =
Where: Cosα * Np * BF *Wc

Lc = Drill collar length

WOB = Desired WOB
(usually 5-7,000#/bit dia. inch - drilling)
(2-4 drill collars in workovers)
α = Well Inclination
NPB = Neutral pt. of Buckling in Drill Collars
Usually .85
Wc = Drill collar weight #/ft

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BF = (1- MW/65.45)
= (1-10/65.45)
= .847
Wc = (OD2 - ID2)*2.66 - Slick
Wc = (OD2 - ID2)*2.56 – Spiral

Wc = (6.252 – 2.252)*2.66 = 90 #/ft

40,000lbs
Lc =
.998 * .85 * .847 * 90lbs / ft

618'
Using 30’ Drill Collars you need 21 (630’)

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Drillpipe – Size, Grade, Weight, Class

4 ½”, 16.6#/ft, Grade E with 6.25”x 3.25” Tool Joints

Class 2 Inspection
( Pt * 0.9) − MOP Wc * Lc
Ldp = −
Wdp * BF Wdp

Ldp =?, Drill pipe length

Pt = 225,771 lbs, Tensile strength of drillpipe
Wdp = 18.4 #/ft, Drill pipe weight
Wc = 90 #/ft, Drill collar weight
Lc = 630’, Drill collar length

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4 ½”, 16.6#/ft, Grade E, Class 2 with 6.25”x 3.25” Tool
Joints

(225,771* 0.9) − 50,000 90 * 630

Ldp = −
18.4 * .847 18.4

9830 − 3082 = 6748'

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Obviously we need more pipe to make it to surface:
12,700 - 630’ = 12,070’ > 6748’ (need 5,322’ more)
Total Weight = Ldp * Wdp + Lc * Wc
Total Weight = 6,748’ * 18.4 + 630 * 90
Total Weight = 124, 163 + 56,700 = 180,863 lbs

Go to Premium Class, Grade X-95, XH tool joints

( Pt * 0.9) − MOP (Wc * Lc ) + (Wdp1 * Ldp1 )

Ldp2 = −
Wdp2 * BF Wdp2

(329,542 * 0.9) − 50,000 180,863

Ldp 2 = −
18.51* .847 18.51

15728 − 9771 = 5957' This is more than enough pipe

114
Final Drill String Design

Item L Air Wt. B. Wt

Drill Collars (6.25*2.25) 630’ 56,700 48,025

D.P. 1 (4.5, 16.60, E, Class 2 6748 124,163 105,166
D.P. 2 (4.5, 16.60, X95, Prem. 5322 98,510 83,438
12,700 279,373 230,629

Collapse pressure resistance of D.P. 1 = 5951 psi

Collapse pressure at 12,700’ = .052*10*12,700 = 6230 psi
Don’t evacuate drill pipe on bottom!

115
PH-6 connection

116
PACKER INSTALLATION CHECKLIST

CASING:

• A. BURST AND COLLAPSE STRENGTH:

• What maximum pressure may be safely applied to the annulus?

• B. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
• 1. Are there old perforations?
• 2. Will the casing stand full?
• 3. Good cement job? Liner Lap?

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PACKER INSTALLATION CHECKLIST

TUBING:

•A. JOINT YIELD STRENGTH:

• 1. Is the tubing top joint yield strength enough to withstand the calculated Top Joint Tension?
• 2. Is the tubing yield strength enough to set and retrieve the packer (and shear out the packer under
emergency conditions)?

•B. TUBING GRADE:

 Is the material yield strength enough to prevent permanent corkscrewing?

•C. BURST AND COLLAPSE STRENGTH:

 Will the tubing withstand the maximum calculated pressure differentials (both at the surface and at the
packer)?

•D. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 1. Can enough slack-off weight reach the packer to pack it off, release it, and/or to compensate for the
piston effect as necessary for the particular installation?
• 2. Will wireline tools of the necessary diameters and lengths run safely through the tubing string for the
particular installation?

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PACKER INSTALLATION CHECKLIST

•PACKER:

•A. PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE RATING:

• Are all maximum operating differential pressures and temperature extremes within the
operating range of the packer?

•B. FORCE AND LENGTH CHANGES:

• 1. LATCHED PACKERS:

• Is the Tubing to Packer Force in the correct direction for the chosen packer, such that the
packer will not move, and/or the packer valve will not be unexpectedly opened?

• Is the Tubing to Packer Force less than the packer shear value or latch seal nipple rating?

• 2. LANDED OR STUNG THROUGH PACKERS:

• Are enough seals being run to handle the maximum tubing movement?

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Look for Casing Collapse Conditions When:

1. Recementing casing
2. Bad primary cement job
3. Setting packers close to perforations
4. Multiple zones – testing, fracturing and acidizing
5. Old wells – no record of cement top outside casing.

120