SPE Drilling & Completion
Volume 24, Number 2, June 2009, pp. 276-285

SPE-102850-PA

Buckling of Tubulars in Simulated Field Conditions

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DOI  More information 10.2118/102850-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/102850-PA

Citation

  • Menand, S., Sellami, H., Tijani, M., Akowanou, J., and Simon, C. 2009. Buckling of Tubulars in Simulated Field Conditions. SPE Drill & Compl  24 (2): 276-285. SPE-102850-PA. doi: 10.2118/102850-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 1.2.3 Torque/Drag Modeling, BHA Performance Prediction
  • 1.2.2 Drillstring Design
  • 1.4.1 Drilling and Well Control Equipment
  • 1.2.5 Materials Selection (Casing, Fluids, Cement)

Keywords

  • buckling, drill pipe, torque, drag, dogleg

Summary

First, this paper presents the new developments integrated in a recently advanced model for drillstring mechanics and takes into account the buckling phenomenon in any actual well trajectory. Second, this paper shows the influence of tortuosity and friction on the buckling phenomenon for some practical and critical cases met in the drilling industry. These tortuosity and friction effects are demonstrated with an experimental setup that confirms theoretical features. Finally, we compare results obtained from existant models with results obtained from our new model to evaluate the tortuosity and friction effects on the critical buckling load found in the literature.

Introduction

The ever-increasing complexity of well trajectories and drillstring designs has renewed and amplified the importance of understanding the buckling behavior of well tubulars inside wellbores. A realistic model is essential to make such complex field operations a success. For example, a fine prediction of axial-force transfer in a long horizontal or extended-reach-drilling well without compromising the drillstring-mechanical integrity is important.

While many equations have been derived for perfect vertical, inclined, horizontal, and curved wellbore without friction or rotation effect, no theory has been developed or applied to actual well conditions--that is, for a drillpipe rotating in a naturally tortuous wellbore. After a brief literature review, an advanced model dedicated to drillstring mechanics is presented and used to predict the onset of buckling in actual well conditions (with rotation and friction effect). A comparison of the model then is proposed with an experimental setup that reproduces the tortuosity of a wellbore.

© 2009. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 28 June 2006
  • Meeting paper published: 24 September 2006
  • Revised manuscript received: 3 November 2008
  • Manuscript approved: 24 November 2008
  • Published online: 1 June 2009
  • Version of record: 1 June 2009