CAPACITY

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

The Diameter of a circle = 2 x Radius Diameter

The Radius= Diameter
Radius
2

Area of a circle= 3.14 x (Radius)^2

Area of a circle= 3.14 x Diameter ^2

2

Area of a circle = 3.14 x Diameter^2

4

Volume of a pipe = Area of circle x Height

Volume required to pressure up tubing = Volume of tubing x Pressure x 0.0000045

Eg. Vol of tubing 130 BBLS

Pressure testing to 3500 psi
Volume required to pressure up tubing = 130 x 3500 x 0.0000045 = 2.0475 BBLS

Volume required to pressure up tubing = 3500psi / 100 x 0.0003 x 130bbls = 1.365 BBLS

Capacity

1 BBL = 42 Gallons
1 BBL = 5.6146 ft^3
1 ft^3 = 7.4805 Gallons
1 ft^3 = 0.1781 BBLS
1 Gallon = 0.02381 BBLS
1 Gallon = 0.1337 ft^3

The capacity of a size of tubing can be worked out using the Cementing tables book.

Capacity = Depth x Capacity factor for tubing

Eg. If you have a well with 8500 ft of 5 1/2" 17 lb/ft tubing.

Capacity = 8500 x 0.0232 = 197.2 BBLS (Factor obtained from Red Book)
 CAPACITY

The Red book also has sections for calculating casing capacity and hole capacity, these are worked out
using the same methods.

If there is more than one string in the hole, (step- down completion), calculate each string individually and
then total the results.

Capacity of 5 1/2" = 8500 x 0.0232 =197.2 BBLS 5 1/2" 17#

Capacity of 4 1/2" = (11700 - 8500) x 0.0149 = 47.68 BBLS

8500 ft
Total capacity = 197.2 + 47.68 = 244.88 BBLS
Round up to 245 BBLS 4 1/2" 13.5#

11700 ft
There is also a rule of thumb for calculating the barrels per foot if red book isn't at hand
BBLS per ft = 0.0009714 x Diameter^2

Note: Diameter is in inches (OD) and is not as accurate since the weight of the tubing is not known

To calculate an annular capacity : 9 5/8" 47#

Capacity = Depth x Capacity Factor of 7" 29#

Annulus

9800 ft
Eg.
Capacity = 9800 x 0.0256 = 250.88 BBLS (Factor obtained from Red Book)
251 BBLS
 DISPLACEMENT

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Displacement occurs when running tubing into a well, the metal displaces some of the
completion fluid. It's handy to know so that the gains across the trip tank are expected and
not the beginning of a kick.
When calcualting displacement you MUST know if the tubing is open ended or plugged as it
affects your calculation.

Open ended Plugged

5 1/2" 17#

8750 ft

For open ended pipe :-

Displacement of tubing = displacement factor of tubing x depth

Displacement = 0.00619 x 8750 = 54.1625 BBLS

For plugged pipe :-

The displacement of the actual tubing is the same as for open eneded in this case 54 BBLS, but to
find the total displacement you have to work out the capacity of the tubing and add the two together.

Total displacement = displacement of tubing + capacity of tubing

Capacity = 0.0232 x 8750 = 203 BBLS
Total displacement = 54 + 203 = 257 BBLS

Note : Another way to work out displacement for plugged tubing is to use the formula for capacity of
hole. This is an easier way as you have only one formula to work out.

Displacement of plugged tubing = Capacity of hole = capacity factor of hole x depth

Capacity of 5 1/2" hole = 0.0294 x 8750 = 257.25 BBLS
 HYDROSTATICS

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Hydrostatic pressure

Fresh water = 8.33 PPG

Fresh water = 0.433 psi/ft
Fresh water = 62.4 lbs/cu.ft
Fresh water = API gravity 10
Fresh water = Specific Gravity 1

Hydrostatic pressure = gradient x true vertical depth

Eg. A well is full of 10.4 PPG mud, what is the hydrostatic pressure at 6700 ft ?
Since we know the weight of the fluid we can work out it's gradient.
Gradient of mud = 0.433 x 10.4 (Properties of fresh water)
8.33
Gradient of mud = 0.5406 psi/ft (round up to 0.541 psi/ft)
Hydrostatic = 0.541 x 6700 = 3624.7 psi

Eg. A well is filled with 50 lbs/cu.ft oil, what is the hydrostatic pressure at 7400 ft ?
Gradient =0.433 x 50 (Properties of fresh water)
62.4
Gradient = 0.3469 psi/ft (round up to 0.347 psi/ft)
Hydrostatic = 0.347 x 7400 = 2567.8 psi
 TENSILE STRENGTH

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Tensile strength of pipe

This is in your red book but if you don't have one this is how you would work it out

Yield = grade x cross sectional area

Eg. 5 1/2" 17# tubing L80

OD area =3.14 x (5.5)^2 = 23.74 sq.ins

4
ID area = 3.14 x (4.892)^2 = 18.78 sq.ins
4
C.S.A. = 23.74 - 18.78 = 4.96 sq.ins

Yield = 80,000 x 4.96 = 396800 lbs

 TUBING STRETCH

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Pipe Stretch

From the red book there is a table for calculating pipe stretch using the tables provided :-

Stretch = L x P x C L = Length of pipe in feet

1000 x 1000 Stretch is in inches
P = pull on the pipe
C = constant from red book

Eg. 9640 ft of 5 1/2" 17# tubing with a 25000 lbs pull on it will stretch ?

Stretch = 9640 x 25000 x 0.0804

1000 x 1000

Stretch = 19.37 inches

Using Hooke's Law

Stretch = FxL Stretch is in inches

AxE F = force pulled in pounds
L = length of pipe in inches
A = cross-sectional area
E = elasticity of steel ( 30,000,000)

Stretch = 25000 x (12 x 9640) = 2892000000 = 19.43 inches

4.96 x 30000000 ###

Stretch due to changes in temperature

Temperature affects the tubing as an increase in temperature will cause it to increase in length or
stretch, similarly a decrease will cause it to contract.

To calcualte this change you must first work out the average temperature :-

Ta = Ts + BHT
2

Ta = average temperature
Ts = surface temperature
BHT = bottom hole temperature

Eg. If the surface temperature is 65F and BHT is 225F, what's the average temperature ?

Ta = 65 + 225 = 145F
2
 TUBING STRETCH

Now that we know the average temperature we can work out the change in length :-

e = L x C x Tc

e = change in pipe length due to temperature (inches)

L = length of pipe (feet)
C = coeeficient of expansion of steel = 0.0000828 in/ft/F
Tc = change in temperature = Ta - Ts

If we have 12,000 feet of tubing, how much will it expand ?

Tc = 145 - 65 = 80F
e = 12000 x 0.0000828 x 80 = 79.488 inches

Stretch due to it's own weight

e= 72(L x L) [g-2w(l-m)]
E

e = change in length due to weight ( inches )

L = measured length of pipe ( feet )
E = Modulus of elasticity of steel ( 30,000,000 )
g = density of steel (lbs/ cu.in ) = 0.2832061
w = density of fluid (lbs/cu.in )
m = constant ratio ( 0.28 )

If we have 12000 ft of tubing in 10.3 PPG mud, how much will it stretch ?

w = 10.3 = 0.0445887 cu. Ins

231

L x L = 12000 x 12000 = 144000000

e = 72(144000000) [0.2832061-(2 x 0.0445887)(1 - 0.28)]

30000000

e = 345.6 [ 0.2832061-( 0.0891774)(0.72)]

e = 345.6 [ 0.2832061- 0.064207728]
e = 345.6[0.218998372]
e = 75.686 inches
 SLACK-OFF

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Slack -off
If you are setting the completion in compresion you have to calculate how much slack off is required
to get the desired weight down.

Slack = Weight down x packer depth x Slack-off factor

1000 1000

Eg. How much slack off is required to obtain 15000 lbs weight down on a packer at 5000 ft with 3
1/2" EUE tubing?

Slack = 15000 x 5000 x 0.17

1000 1000

Slack = 15 x 5 x 0.17
Slack = 12.75 inches

If the size of tubing is not in the red book it can be worked out by using this formula :-

Factor (unknown pipe) = cross-sectional area (known pipe) x factor (known pipe)
cross-sectional area (unknown pipe)

Eg. What is the slack off factor of 5 1/2" 17# tubing?

Cross sectional area of 3 1/2" 9.3# tubing = 2.59 sq. ins.

Cross sectional area of 5 1/2" 17# tubing = 4.96 sq. ins.

Factor = 2.59 x 0.17 = 0.089

4.96
 BUOYANCY

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

Buoyancy

Density of steel = 65.4206

The air weight of a tubing string is calculated by the length of the tubing multiplied by it's lbs/ft.
Eg. 10,000 ft of 5 1/2" 17# tubing, if suspended in air would weigh :-
Air weight = 10,000 x 17 = 170,000 lbs

When the tubing is suspended in a well, the weight is reduced due to the tubing partially 'floating'
To calculate the buoyancy factor we need to know the weight of the fluid in PPG

Buoyancy Factor = 65.4206 - weight of fluid (PPG)

65.42

Eg. If the well is full of 10.3 PPG mud, what is the buoyancy factor and what is the buoyant weight of
the 5 1/2" string?

B.F. = 65.4206 - 10.3

65.42
B.F. = 0.84

Buoyant weight = buoyancy factor x air weight

Buoyant weight of 5 1/2" = 170,000 x 0.843 = 143310 lbs

5 1/2" 17#
9 5/8" casing

10.3 PPG 5 1/2" 17# tubing

10,000 ft

Another way to calculate the buoyancy is by what is known as the pressure x area method. This is calculated
from the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the string acting across the cross-sectional area of the tubing.

Eg. Using the same example from above :-

Cross-sectional area of 5 1/2" 17# = 4.96 sq.ins (worked out previously)

Hydrostatic pressure of 10.3 PPG at 10,000ft
Gradient = 10.3 x 0.433 = 0.535 psi/ft
8.33
Hydrostatic = 0.535 x 10000 = 5350 psi
Force pushing upwards = 5350 x 4.96 = 26536 lbs
The air weight is the force acting down = 170000 lbs
 BUOYANCY

Buoyant weight = Air weight of tubing - Force acting on CSA at depth

Bouyant weight = 170000 - 26536 = 143464 lbs

The difference in the two answers is due to the first method taking into account the upsets at every joint, for this
calcualtion the difference can be considered negligible.

5 1/2" 17#

10.3 PPG

10,000 ft

If the tubing is plugged then the second method must be used to work out it's buoyant weight.

Eg. Same conditions as previously except the tubing is plugged.

Hydrostatic pressure = 5350 psi.

Air weight = 170000 lbs
Area = (5.5 x 5.5) x 3.14 = 23.75 sq.ins
4
Force pushing upwards = 5350 x 23.75 =127062 lbs

Buoyant weight = 170000 - 127062 = 42938 lbs

 SPACEOUT

This is a guide for refreshing your memory on some of the calculations in completions. The
formula's are in red and bold text for ease.

HOP 0.86 ft The HOP (Hang-off Point) is where the hanger lands
out in the wellhead. It is used as a reference point for
Pup Joint 18.96 ft working out the spaceout as it is a known distance from
the drillfloor.
Pup Joint 5.92 ft ( Make up loss has been taken off length)

The length that we require is from the HOP to the end of the assembly *Note. Remember to take the
make up loss off of the pin end. In this example the total length is 25.74 ft.

When running the completion the customer may require to tag a restriction in the well for correlation
so that the completion is spaced out, for example 5 feet from that restriction.

In this instance the tubing would be run until the restriction is tagged and then picked back up the 5
feet required, the pipe would then be marked and the spaceout calculated from there.

6.5 ft
Drillfloor

37.83 ft

97.6 ft
38.97 ft

39.96 ft Wellhead (HOP)

36.44 ft

Pipe In Pipe Out

Hanger 25.74 ft 31.33 Joint length below drillfloor
Elevation 97.6 ft 38.97 (70.3 ft)
39.96 (101.26 ft)
36.44 (137.7 ft)

123.34 ft 137.7 ft

So the spaceout required is the difference between the pipe in and pipe out, in this case 137.7 ft -
123.34 ft = 14.36 ft. A pup joint of around this length or a combination of pups to make up this
difference is required.