1 / Propreties of Casing 

:
1-Casing size :
There are three types of Casing Size designations
-Outer diameter : is the diameter of the casing measured from outer wall
across to outer wall and is the diameter measurement casing is identified
with.

-Inner diameter: is the diameter of the casing measured from inner wall to
inner wall.

-Drift diameter : is the guaranteed minimum diameter of the casing, the

drift diameter is important because it indicates whether the casing is large
enough for a specified size of bit to pass through.

2-casin weight :
Casing and tubing weights are one of specifications which are expressed in
lb/linear ft and are designated as either plain end weights or nominal
weights.
-Plain-end weight per foot : is the weight per foot of the pipe body
excluding the threaded portion and coupling.
-Nominal weight per foot : is the weight per foot that is reflected in casing
tables and is an approximate average weight per foot of the pipe with API
connections, including upsets, threads, and couplings.
-Average weight per foot : is the total weight of an average joint of
threaded pipe with one coupling divided by the total length of the average
joint.
The difference between nominal weight and average weight is generally
small and most design calculations are performed by using nominal weight
per foot.
3- casin grade :
Steel Casing pipe grades are identified by letters and numbers which
indicate various characteristics of the Casing pipe steel ( as example P110).
It is a specification according to its yield stress, ultimate tensile strength,
chemical composition, heat treatment or other characteristics. There are
many grades of casing steel pipes that make up oilfield tubulars.

API Grade Minimum Yield Stress Minimum Tensile Stress

(PSI) (PSI)
H-40 40000 60000
J-55 55000 70000---95000
K-55 55000 70000---95000
C-75 75000 95000
N-80 80000 100000
L-80 80000 100000
C-95 95000 105000
P110 110000 125000

Describe the various types of connection used on casing :

- Collar :
A threaded coupling used to join two lengths of pipe such as production
tubing, casing or liner. The type of thread and style of collar varies with
the specifications and manufacturer of the tubing. 

- Coupling :

A short length of pipe used to connect two joints of casing. A casing

coupling has internal threads (female threadform) machined to match
the external threads (male threadform) of the long joints of casing. The
two joints of casing are threaded into opposite ends of the casing
coupling.
- API round thread – short (CSG) and long (LCSG) :

used in pipe sizes of 4-1/2″, 7” and 9-5/8”.

The (CSG) design is the same except that the coupling and the threaded
pins are shorter. This design is externally threaded on both ends of a
non-upset pipe. The single lengths are joined with an internally threaded
coupling.

Thread compound must be used to fill these voids in order to obtain a

seal. (LCSG) is not made in casing sizes larger than 13-3/8” because of
the possibility of joint pull-out that can occur with the heavier weight
casing.
- API Buttress Thread and Coupling (BCSG) :

This is used in conductor and surface casing applications, also where a

higher joint strength is required , this design is externally threaded on
both ends of a non upset pipe (as in the (CSG) and (LCSG)). The single
lengths are joined with an internally threaded coupling.
Thread compound must also be used in order to obtain a seal with
(BCSG). BCSG is also run in horizontal wells where doglegs can cause high
bending loads on the larger size casings. But (BCSG) leak resistance is
lower that that of (LCSG) and (CSG).
- Non API thread (Premium) :

Proprietary connections are available which offer premium features not

available on API connections. 
Among the special features for proprietary connections are:

 clearance OD of coupling for slimhole completions  

 metal-to-metal seals for improved high pressure seal integrity  
 high bending strength for deviated holes  
 multiple shoulders for high torque strength  
 a streamlined connection OD for easy running in multiple completions. 
 recess-free bores through the connection ID for improved flow
characteristics 
 higher tensile strength for deep holes 
 an integral connection to reduce the number of potential leak paths 
 resilient seal rings for continuous corrosion protection 
 high compressive strength for compressive loading situations 

- VAM connection :
This connection has a metal to metal seal for superior leak resistance. An
internally threaded coupling with internal shoulders provide positive
 make up torque and a non-turbulent bore. Also, due to its superior joint
and bending strength, it is used as the completion liner for the horizontal
wells.

- API Extreme line connection :

All work plug gauges are supplied with a handle.

Price include one set of feeler gauges with each set of working plug and ring
gauges.
All gauges will be supplied with a Calibration Report with stand-off dimensions
from a MASTER that has been certified by the National Institute of Standards
and Technology. (N.I.S.T.)

PMC Lone Star manufactures API working, reference and regional masters per
API specification 5B, latest edition and furnished with English values.
All of our gages are made of tool steel hardened to Rockwell C 60-62 and are
cryogenically frozen to insure their stability. Each gage is put through a series of
in-process and final inspections with tolerances to ±0.0002 of an inch (±5 μm).
We then qualify each gage using a certified master gage, and provide a
calibration report detailing the measured dimensions and the serial number of
the master gage used for the inspection. The quality and reliability of our gages
have made them the overwhelming choice of coupling shops, pipe and tube
mills around the world.

2 / Casing Design :
 1- the main considerations in selecting the casing size and setting
depths :
The initial selection of casing setting depths is based on the pore pressure and
fracture pressure gradients for the well which are usually available from offset
well data.

- pore pressure :
The pressure of fluids within the pores of a reservoir, usually hydrostatic
pressure, or the pressure exerted by a column of water from the formation's
depth to sea level. When impermeable rocks such as shales form as sediments
are compacted, their pore fluids cannot always escape and must then support
the total overlying rock column, leading to anomalously high formation
pressures. Because reservoir pressure changes as fluids are produced from a
reservoir, the pressure should be described as measured at a specific time,
such as initial reservoir pressure.

The effective stress at depth Z is equal to the effective stress at depth A, and
thus, the pore pressure at depth Z is simply
Pz = Pa + (Sz–Sa).

- Fracteur pressure gradient :

The fracture gradient is a critical parameter for drilling mud weight design in
the energy industry. A new method in fracture gradient prediction is proposed
based on analyzing worldwide leak-off test (LOT) data in offshore drilling.
Current fracture gradient prediction methods are also reviewed and compared
to the proposed method. We analyze more than 200 LOT data in several
offshore petroleum basins and find that the fracture gradient depends not only
on the overburden stress and pore pressure, but also on the depth. The data
indicate that the effective stress coefficient is higher at a shallower depth than
that at a deeper depth in the shale formations. Based on this finding, a depth-
dependent effective stress coefficient is proposed and applied for fracture
gradient prediction. In some petroleum basins, many wells need to be drilled
through long sections of salt formations to reach hydrocarbon reservoirs. The
fracture gradient in salt formations is very different from that in other
sedimentary rocks. Leak-off test data in the salt formations are investigated,
and a fracture gradient prediction method is proposed. Case applications are
examined to compare different fracture gradient methods and validate the
proposed methods. The reasons why the LOT value is higher than its
overburden gradient are also explained.

• Used to
– Select casing seat depth
– Prevention of lost circulation
– Plan hydraulic fractures.

- Other Factors that affect the Selection of Casing Points are:

• Shallow gas zones

• Lost circulation zones, which limit mud weights
• Well control
• Formation stability, which is sensitive to exposure time or mud weight
• Directional well profile
• Sidetracking requirements
• Isolation of fresh water sands (drinking water)
• Hole cleaning
• Salt sections
• High pressured zones.

- Wellbore Stability:
 A wellbore is a hole that is drilled to aid in the exploration and recovery
of natural resources, including oil, gas, or water. A wellbore is the actual
hole that forms the well. A wellbore can be encased by materials such as
steel and cement, or it may be uncased. The motivation for drilling a
wellbore is usually to extract oil or gas for a protracted period of time.

• We may be restricted by deterioration of the wellbore with time,

• If a formation is stabilized by our mud system for up to 10 days,
then drilling ahead for 12 days might prevent us logging the hole
or running casing

- Mud Requirements :

• We may have formations which have mutually exclusive requirements for the
mud.

• For instance if we have very reactive shale requiring ideally OBM at a higher
density to drill, but the mud will cause emulsion blocking in the reservoir, then
we need to separate the two with casing.
2 - The internal and external loads :

When casing is set in a hole . It is subjected to three significant forces:

1. external force which result from an external pressure :

This pressure tends to collapse the casing.

2. internal force which result from internal pressure :

this pressure tends to burst the casing

3. Longitudinal or axial loading on the casing :

Axial loading may be tension due to dead weight Or Compression due to
buoyancy.

• Burst:: Assume full reservoir pressure all along the wellbore.

• Collapse: Hydrostatic pressure increases with depth
• Tension: Tensile stress due to weight of string is highest at top

- Tension : ( Design Facteur = 1.8 )

API recommendations call for worst case, where there is no buoyancy
effect. Design is based on the weight of the entire casing string

It tends to pull the casing apart

It lowers the resistance of casing to collapse from external pressures.
 - Burst : ( Design Facteur = 1.1 )

The burst design should insure that formation fracture pressure at the casing
shoe will be exceeded before the casing burst pressure is reached. Therefore,
this design uses formation fracture as a safety pressure release mechanism to
assure that casing rupture will not occur at the surface and endanger lives.

Design for maximum pressure on the inside of the casing. API design
recommendations call for the worst case scenario, which is the annulus is
empty, and no external pressure. The pressure to design for is the estimated
formation pressure at TD for production casing, or estimated formation
pressure at the next casing depth.

The external pressure profile used for the standard burst load cases:
•Full mud gradient or deteriorated mud from the surface to the TOC.
•Cement mix-water gradient from the TOC to the outer casing shoe
(typically 8.3 to 8.6 ppg).
•Pore pressure profile from the outer casing shoe to the base of the
production casing.
 Burst Requirements : (Calcul)

Pburst = pore pressure *Design Factor

(Desing Factor = 1.1)

Worst possible condition :

For Burst design, assume no “backup” fluid on the outside of the casing
(p = 0 psig)

- Collapse : ( Design Facteur = 1.125 )

The collapse design is based on the most severe lost-circulation problem that is
felt to be possible or on the most severe collapse loading anticipated when the
casing is run.   Now lets consider the following: 

 The maximum possible external pressure that tends to cause casing

collapse results from the fluid that is in the hole when the casing is
placed and cemented. 
  The beneficial effect of the cement and of possible mud degradation is
ignored
 The detrimental effect of axial tension on collapse-pressure rating is
considered. 
 The collapse rating should be de-rated above the neutral point using
below equation.

The collapse may be plastic or elastic

• If the collapse occurs under elastic deformation ,casing is said to be elastic
failure.
• If the collapse occurs under plastic deformation ,casing is said to be plastic
failure.
• Collapse resistance; is the ability of casing to withstand external pressure
without occurring plastic or elastic failure.

Collapse Requirements :

Pcollapse = 0.052 * mud weight * depth * design factor

(if it’s the last pipe ) (The same pipe from surface to bottum)

IF differents pipe :
With :
D.F = 1.125
Worst condition :
where there is no pressure inside the casing, and we design for the maximum
mud weight at the casing depth.

Conclusion :

• If casing is lowered into a hole , the pressure outside the casing may be
greater than pressure inside the casing because of fluid pressure in the
formation opposite the casing or because of the column of fluid standing
between casing and hole.

• When the external pressure is greater than the internal pressure with
sufficient magnitude, there is a tendency for the casing to collapse.