Casing size selection is determined from the inside outward and it starts from the bottom hole.

The sequence of design is based on the following steps;

1. Proper sizing of tubing is determined by inflow performance analysis.

2. Completion equipment is planned to install with tubing string. Determine which part has the
biggest OD. This will directly impact of production casing.

3. Bit size for drilling the production section.

4. Casing size must be smaller than bit size and its ID must be bigger than the biggest component
in completion string.

5. Once you get the last casing string, the upper string is selected by repeating bit selection and
casing selection similar to step #3 and #4.

You may need to use the following table (Table 1) to determine bit size and casing size. This is
based on API casing therefore if you use special casing, you may need to check with the casing
company to give you exact casing ID.
Table 1 – Commonly Used Bit Sizes That Will Pass Through API Casing
Example: According to the previous example, this is the casing design based on pore pressure
and fracture gradient (Figure 1).

Figure 1– Casing Design Based On Pore Pressure and Fracture Gradient

The casing string should be set at 3000’ TVD, 6,000’ TVD and 12,000’ TVD.

The Rig needs to drill and set the conductor casing to 500’ TVD in order to rig up the well
control equipment.
Completion information

• Tubing string – 3-1/2” tubing

• Completion equipment – TRSV, Side Pocket Mandrel, Packer, etc.
• The biggest size of completion equipment is 5 inch.

According to the Table 1, the bit and casing plan for this well is described below.
Note: this plan is based on size selection only. The load cases are not accounted for in this
example.
Production Section
Bit size = 8-1/2”
Casing = 7”, 26 ppf, ID 6.276”
Intermediate Section
Bit size = 12-1/4”
Casing = 9-5/8”, 40 ppf, ID 8.835”
Surface Section
Bit size = 14-3/4”
Casing = 13-3/8”, 48 ppf, ID 12.715”
Conductor Casing
Bit size = 17-1/2”
Casing = 16”, 55 ppf, ID 15.375”

Figure 2 – Casing Details

In order to determine what casing grades to be used in the well, you need do the detailed
calculations based on several load cases as burst, collapse, tensile, etc. We will cover the details
later on.

 Ref Book -> Applied Drilling Engineering Book special offer 

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6 Responses to Casing Size Selection – How To Select Casing Size to

Match the Drilling and Completion Goal

1. alvis
JUNE 15, 2014 AT 11:23 PM
thanks for the information, looking forward to casing size selection based on load cases as burst,
collapse, tensile, etc.
Reply

o DrillingFormulas.Com
JULY 14, 2014 AT 7:27 AM
I am collecting this information and it will be shared later.
Reply

2. Kim Tae Jung

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 AT 11:53 PM
Thank you for the good information.
What i am wondering is that when we use casing and when we use liner.
Why don’t we use liner for the economic reason instead of using casing?
Reply

o DrillingFormulas.Com
APRIL 1, 2015 AT 3:47 AM
Liners are widely used for several applications and they reduce cost of tubular ass well. You can apply
this concept to see how many strings you need and then load calculation must be applied to determine
where you can use liners in the well.
Reply

3. Raj
OCTOBER 9, 2015 AT 7:27 PM
Hi very good info, as you mentioned in the post are there any other posts explaining the
calculations based on several load cases as burst, collapse, tensile.
 pls help
Thank You
Reply

o DrillingFormulas.Com
OCTOBER 10, 2015 AT 7:22 PM
We will post information later.
Reply
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