Materials and Corrosion

ENM233
11a. An Introduction to
Casing Wear
Prepared by
Owen Jenkins, M.A., C,Eng., C.Mar.Eng., MIMarEST, FEI,
SPE, NACE.
Owen Jenkins 2009, unless otherwise stated.

Objective

In this lecture we shall discuss of the

problem of Casing Wear and Corrosion.

Casing Wear &

Corrosion
Casing

Wear

What it is
Why it matters
What causes it
How we can measure it
How we can model it
What we can do about it

Casing Wear
What

Causes Casing Wear?

Caused by anything that rubs

against the inside of the casing
e.g.
Drill

pipe
Tool Joints
BHA components
Wirelines
Liner strings
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Wear Groove in 133/8" Casing:

Caused by Drill String Rotation

Wear Groove

Burst Along Wear

Groove in 9 5/8" Casing

Photos Western Well Tool, 2003.

Another Burst Along

a Wear Groove

Burst
Along
Wear
Groove in
13 3/8
Casing

Photo Western Well Tool, 2003.

Severely Key-Seated Flex Joint

Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

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Worn Riser

Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

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Wear and
Corrosion in
4" Tubing:
Wireline
Damage

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Casing Wear
Why

does it matter?

Well Safety & Integrity

Maintaining

burst and collapse ratings

Preventing leakage at connections

Economics = Money!
Well

life: through-life considerations

minimising well maintenance costs
maximising value of initial investment
Re-use of bore for sidetracks, multi-laterals
Re-use of materials

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Uncontrolled Casing and

Riser Wear Can Be Costly and
Dangerous

Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

14

Wear Mechanisms
Two-body abrasive
Cutting and machining
Two-body

adhesive

Galling

Three-body

abrasive

Usually

the least bad - low grade ball

bearings!
Grinding and polishing
Wear

and Lubricity

Related,

but not to be confused: high wear

CAN occur in well lubricated conditions
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MACHINING
Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

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GALLING
Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

17

GRINDING
Photo Maurer Technology, 1999.

18

Relative Wear

2-body wear

3-body wear

{
Grinding
{ Polishing

Machining 100
Galling
10
1
0.01

19

Machining

20

Machining

Tool Joint Hardbanding - Usually

rough tungsten carbide

Hard Inclusions in Softer Matrix

Soft matrix wears away, exposing

hard inclusions

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Galling

High side, galling wear in Dogleg

22

Galling: Conditions
High
No

Lateral Loads

Solids in Fluid

Similar

Tool Joint / Casing

Hardness

Sometimes

High Chromium
Content in Casing
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Polishing Wear
Mechanism

This wear
mechanism
can occur
with
POWDER
traditional
rubber drill
pipe
protectors.

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Grinding
STEEL
HEAT

TYPICALLY FAILS PLASTICALLY

SURFACE HARDENING
Fc

BRITTLE FAILURE
Fc

SAND GRAIN

BRITTLE FAILURE

Maurer Technology, 1999.

PLASTIC FAILURE

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Grinding
Conditions
Strong

Particles
Sufficient Sizes
Absence of Soft Particles
High Lateral Loads

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Other Causes of
Casing Leaks

Connections

Inspect all threads before running: independent

inspector recommended, properly trained by
supplier/manufacturer
Joint Analysed Make-up recommended for critical
service applications
Correct thread compound properly applied (difficult in
poor weather conditions)
Thread protectors which actually protect threads: must
always be in place when pipe is being handled
Proper handling: no hooks in ends of pipe, use strops
and slings around pipe body
Avoid all impacts
Proper stabbing - use stabbing guides
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Materials and
Corrosion ENM233
11a. An Introduction to Casing Wear

Prepared and presented by

OWEN S. JENKINS LTD.

4, Charlton Avenue, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5GL, United
Kingdom.
Tel. +44 (0)13398 87779. Mobile phone: +44 (0)7803 296779.
Email: owen@osjl.co.uk Website: www.osjl.co.uk

Owen Jenkins 2009, unless otherwise stated.

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