Design factors, nomenclature

and grades

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 Objectives of design factors
• To ensure that service loads do not exceed mill test
loads.
• To allow for unexpected events such as stuck pipe.
• To account for data uncertainties in its impact on
load determination
• To allow for features that are not included in an
analysis eg, if corrosion is not explicitly included;
• To account for the consequences of failure. For
example, tubing burst has a greater safety
implication than tubing collapse.

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 What are test conditions ?
• The tubing must be new, or newly inspected with well
defined dimensions, weight, wall thickness tolerances
and metallurgical properties.

• The tubing must be mechanically isolated from the

reservoir with no hydrocarbons in or outside the
tubing.

• The conditions (such as the pressure and

temperature) must be defined so that the maximum
tubing stresses can be predicted accurately.

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 Test conditions
• For burst design factors
• Dependant on the minimum wall thickness, API tolerance is 12.5%
for all new pipe

• Hydrostatic test pressure equivalent to 80% of nominal pipe rating

• For collapse design factors

• Collapse is considered a consequence less severe than burst

• Lower design factors are accepted, 1.1 is commonly used

• For axial loads design factors

• Takes into account factors such as bending, temperature effects and
uncertainty about friction

• Overpull and sour conditions do not meet the criteria for test

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 Recommended design factors

• Design factors are references

• Sound engineering judgement is to be use for its

application

• Failure is commonly associated with poor ability to

predict events and operating conditions

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 Nomenclature
• Used to describe the characteristics and properties of
tubing strings. Main properties described are :
• O.D. External diameter (inches)

• I.D. Nominal internal diameter (inches)

• Wt Weight (lbs per foot)

• Lr Length range

• Drift I.D. – Minimum internal diameter taking into account the tolerances
(inches)

• Grade – Used to identify general properties of the pipe, both API and
proprietary grades use different
nomenclature (i.e. J55, XT155…)

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 Summary
• Design safety factors account for a number of factors
such as uncertainty in the data, operating conditions
and tubing wear

• Apply to all main loads, axial, burst, collapse and tri-

axial loads

• Design factors are a reference and can not replace

sound engineering judgement

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