Advanced Casing and Tubing Design

This five-day course covers the relevant subjects required to understand the structural mechanics of downhole tubulars. Material aspects, connection selection, performance properties, load cases, design factors, and buckling are just a few of the many topics that are covered. The course is designed to concentrate on the fundamentals, and on the last day, a 3 hour open book casing and tubing design exercise, aimed at consolidating and re-enforcing the principles and design techniques that have been covered during the week is carried out.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the delegates will be able to:

• Understand the structural mechanics of downhole tubulars
• Understand material aspects, connection selection, performance properties, load cases, design factors, and buckling
• Apply casing and tubing design techniques
• Hand calculation
• Learn design Considerations

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for drilling and completion engineers, well engineers, petroleum, operations and production personnel and service company personnel with a basic knowledge of well design principles through to experienced drilling engineers who desire a more theoretical, detailed knowledge of the subject.

Course Outline

Day 1
Introduction to Casing and Tubing Design

• Objectives
• Method

Basic Concepts - Purpose of Tubular Strings - In this section the fundamental concepts of casing and tubing design are presented. These elements provide the foundation for the
remainder of the course.

• Pipe Types
• Loading Modes
• Design Factors
• Pipe Functions
• Design Requirements

Material Aspects - This section takes an in depth look at the material aspects of design. Basic material science concepts are followed by a detailed look at API 5CT, 5B, and ISO15156.

• Pipe Mechanics
• Pipe Designation - Size, Weight, Tolerances
• Grade
• Lengths
• Sour Service

Day 2

Connections - The components of a connection and connection selection techniques are thoroughly discussed. Upon completion, participants should be able to select an appropriate API or proprietary connection.

• API
• Proprietary

Performance Properties - Rating calculation methods for each of the five design factors are presented in this section. API 5C3 is discussed in detail.

• Tension
• Compression
• Internal Yield Pressure
• Collapse
• Yield Strength and Threshold Stress

Fundamental Design Principles - Load calculation methods for each of the five design factors are presented in this section. A significant amount of the lecture is devoted to the correct method for calculating axial load. Buckling calculations are simple once the participants have mastered the above.

• Conventional and Service Life Design Methods
  • Burst
  • Collapse
  • Tension/Compression
  • Triaxial w/ Class Exercise
• Buoyancy and Buoyancy Factors
• Free Body Diagrams w/ Class Exercise
• Theory of tubular buckling w/ Class Exercise

Day 3

Casing Loading and Design Considerations - Load cases from various operators are presented and the importance of Load Case rationalization is discussed.

• Tubular Selection
• Cost
• Service Load Cases

Day 4

Hand Calculation: A comprehensive casing design hand calculation summarizes the methods presented in the course.

1. Service Life Design Load(s) Equations
a)    Calculation Procedures
b)    Summary of Equations

• Burst
• Collapse
• Axial Load (Tension/Compression)
• Triaxial Equivalent Stress Intensity

Example String Designs (Hand Calculation, Class Exercise)

a)    Production Casing

Specialist Design Considerations - a discussion of the more specialist aspects of casing design, for those that are interested:

• Multi-String Mechanics and Wellhead Growth.
• Wellhead Lock Device Force Demand
• Annulus Pressure Build-Up, APB, theory and discussion.
• Torque and Drag considerations for the running of casing, both flooded casing and extended reach (ERD) floated casing, theory and discussion.

Day 5

A 3 hour open book casing design exercise to consolidate and re-enforce the course principles and design techniques.
RECAP

Course Methodology

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

• (30%) Based on Case Studies
• (30%) Techniques
• (30%) Role Play
• (10%) Concepts
• Pre-test and Post-test
• Variety of Learning Methods
• Lectures
• Case Studies and Self Questionaires
• Group Work
• Discussion
• Presentation

Course Fees

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Course Timings

Daily Course Timings
08:00 - 08:20       Morning Coffee / Tea
08:20 - 10:00       First Session
10:00 - 10:20       Coffee / Tea / Snacks
10:20 - 12:20       Second Session
12:20 - 13:30       Lunch Break & Prayer Break
13:30 - 15:00       Last Session