Open Access

ARTICLE

Optimization of Casing Design Parameters to Mitigate Casing Failure Caused by Formation Slippage

Chaoyang Hu¹, Chi Ai^1,*, Fengjiao Wang^1,*

1 Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China.
Fengjiao Wang. Email: wangfengjiao8699@126.com.

* Corresponding Author: Chi Ai. Email:

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring 2018, 12(2), 85-98. https://doi.org/10.3970/sdhm.2018.00115

Abstract

There has been lack of work efforts on how to optimize cementing and completing parameters in order to prevent casing failure induced by formation slippage in pertroleum industry scope. Once the weak plane fails, the formation will become easily undertaken slippage across a large area along its interface. The plenty of horizontal planes of weakness in reservoir formations, as reported for a number of oilfields, can easily undertaken slippage once it fails. To address the problem, three-dimensional finite element models were established by taking into considerations the elastoplastic mechanical characteristics of both the casing and the near-wellbore rock. Two types of casing impairment scenarios were considered: Casing collapse (that causes tubing stuck in the well) and complete casing shear-off. In this study, the critical slip displacement of casing shear damage under both cemented and un-cemented conditions was calculated, and the critical displacement of casing with various wall thicknesses and steel grades was compared. A new cementing practice for the Daqing oilfield was then proposed by optimizing casing parameters according to API standards, and a new research method was also put forward by proposing new casing materials to effectively mitigate casing failure caused by formation slippage for the future. Modeling results indicate that the stress and deformation associated with casing in the un-cemented condition is more diffused and the critical slippage displacement is larger than that in the cemented condition. Therefore, the un-cemented condition is more effective in preventing casing shear failure and easier for casing repair, for the case of casing damage caused by formation shear slippage. Casing elongation is the key parameter of casing shear failure in the un-cemented condition. Lower grade casing exhibits a larger critical slippage displacement because of its higher elongation capacity under stress. Casing with lower grade and smaller thickness provides more advantages in preventing casing damage in formations abundant with horizontal weak layers. If the elongation of casing can be largely improved, the critical displacement value can be increased by 21.40%. Higher grade and thicker casing is adapted for mitigate casing failure caused by formation slippage.

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