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Abstract
This paper presents a method to calculate the load bearing
capacity of surface casings. The method clearly describes how
to calculate the immediate capacity of the conductor and how
to estimate the soil set-up with time. The recommended
equations for set-up calculations are based on the results of
three proof-load tests performed on partially set-up
conductors. The paper also lists a series of key parameters
that need to be controlled for a successful jetting operation.
The overall method has been calibrated against 20 successful
installation records.
Introduction
When BP and Amoco merged, considerable differences
existed between the two companies with respect to deepwater
drilling practices. In particular, surface casings (also known as
jetted conductors, or surface conductors, or jetted pipes) were
designed and installed with drastically different methods,
leading to considerable debate and disagreement in the newly
integrated drilling community over which method was most
appropriate for future wells. Both companies previous
methods had been successful in preventing loss of
wellhead equipment.
The work described in this paper consisted of harmonizing
past practices by developing and implementing an innovative
design and installation method for deepwater surface casings.
The work included:
Clearly documenting and understanding BP and
Amocos pre-merger practices.
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
SPE 77357
Q0 :
SPE 77357
t =
with:
Qt Q0
.................................................2)
D L Suave
t : Change in average friction factor along the
Q0 :
Qt :
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
L=
with:
L:
B + B 2 4 AC + 4 AFS 2 Wlanded
...................5)
2 A
Required conductor length below mudline.
SPE 77357
Conservatism.
The method includes some inherent conservatism. The
set-up curves are clearly lower bounds that are based on proofload tests and not load tests to failure. Also, any drag due to
hole deviation and/or doglegs will reduce the weight to
be landed
In addition, the shear strength profile used is an average
profile that may or may not be conservative depending on
individual site location.
and
D:
L:
t:
Su0 :
Su1 :
section
Length of upper conductor section (usually
equal to 80 ft)
Weight per unit length of lower conductor
section
WOB utilization Ratio, should be between
0.8 and 1.0
SPE 77357
2.
3.
4.
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
SPE 77357
SPE 77357
w1 :
L1 :
w2 :
............................................................................Equ. A-1)
with:
time, in days
Qt :
Conductor capacity at time =t
WOBlast: Weight on Bit measured at final penetration
D:
Surface conductor diameter
L:
conductor length below mudline
Su AVE : Average undrained shear strength over the
length of the conductor
t:
with:
Q0 = R w1 L1 + w2 ( L L1 ) + WWH + w DC L + WCADA
................................................................................... A-5)
Therefore:
with:
Su1 :
with:
Q0 :
On the one hand, combining A-5 and A-6 into A-1 gives:
Qt = R w1 L1 + w2 ( L L1 ) + WWH + w DC L + WCADA
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
If the quantities Wlanded , FS1, and FS2 are given, the load to be
resisted is also a function of one unknown, L.
The fundamental equation giving L simply states that the load
to be resisted is equal to the capacity of the conductor:
L:
Required conductor length below mudline.
A = 0.055 [2 + log( t ) ] D Su1
B = R (wDC + w2 ) + 0.055 [2 + log(t )] D Su0
FS1 w2
C = R [WWH + WCADA + L1 (w1 w2 )]
FS1 WWH + FS1 L1 (w2 w1 )
L=
B + B 2 4 AC + 4 A FS 2 Wlanded
2 A
......... A-11)
SPE 77357
SPE 77357
Conductor
Site
length
(ft)
A
B
C
135
65
175
Conductor Immediate
Diameter
capacity
(in)
(kips)
30
30
36
135
91
130
Set up data
Set-up
Time
4 hrs
1 day
5 days
Calculated
t
Measured
capacity
>170 kips1)
125 kips
>300 kips1)
0.07
0.11
0.15
Notes: 1) Conductor was not failed but proof loaded to indicated load, which represents a lower bound estimate of the actual capacity.
0.16
Site C
Calculated
0.14
0.12
Site B
0.1
0.08
Site A
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0.01
0.1
10
10
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
SPE 77357
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
50
Depth (ft)
100
Upper Bound
Average
Lower Bound
150
200
250
300
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
1.4
1.6
0
lower bound average
upper bound average
average of averages
50
Depth z (ft)
100
150
200
y = 193.69x - 12.335
2
R = 0.9988
250
y = 298.32x + 8.0006
2
R = 0.9972
y = 235.12x - 4.4865
2
R = 0.9992
300
3.5
SPE 77357
Table 2:
Determination of Average Shear Strength along the Conductor Length (as per Fig. 3)
Su0
Su1
(ksf)
(ksf/ft)
z: depth in feet
Lower bound profile
Average profile
Upper bound profile
-0.0268
0.0191
0.0635
0.0034
0.0043
0.0052
Mudline
Soil
Surface
conductor
Weight to be landed =
Weight of casing in air
+ Weight of cementing string in air
+ Weight of fluid inside casing
+ Weight of fluid inside cementing string
- Weight of the fluid displaced by casing assembly
Fig. 4: Mud weights in the hole during landing of first casing string
11
12
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
20
40
SPE 77357
140
160
0
Max available WOB
50
Depth(ft)
100
150
200
Note:
dashed line indicates no reciprocation
solid line indicates reciprocation
250
WOB - Klbs
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
DEPTH BML
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210
220
Actual WOB Profile
Reciprocation Up Drag
Fig. 6 Example of Good Conductor Jetting WOB Record and Comparison with Recommended Profile
SPE 77357
13
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
50
Depth(ft)
100
150
200
250
290
270
SAFE
Well Records
250
2 day set-up
3 day set-up
4 day set-up
230
5 day set-up
6 day set-up
210
10 day set-up
3.9
3.33+
UNSAFE
190
2.6
5
2.5
170
5
Note:
0.6
150
130
120
170
220
270
320
370
420
Fig. 8: Comparison of design curves with landed weights calculated buoyant in water for 20 successful
installations in GoM Deepwater.
14
PHILIPPE JEANJEAN
290
SPE 77357
270
Well Records
2 day set-up
250
3 day set-up
4 day set-up
5 day set-up
230
6 day set-up
10 day set-up
210
3.9
3.33+
190
SAFE
2.6
5
2.5
170
UNSAFE
5
Note:
0.6
150
130
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Fig. 9: Comparison of design curves with landed weights calculated buoyant in 12-ppg mud for 20 successful
installations in GoM Deepwater.