THE

UofNIVERSITY
TULSA
TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

Yi Zhang, the University of Tulsa, Drilling Research Projects

This r eport is prepared for TUDRP Advisory Board Meeting, November 14-15, 2005, Tulsa-Oklahoma.

Background of the Investigator

Yi Zhang, Petroleum Engineer. He got his Bachelor Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Xian
Petroleum Institute (China) in 1995, and Master Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Beijing Petroleum
University (China) in 1998. He worked for China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) from 1998 to
2005 as a Petroleum Engineer in drilling areas. Currently, he is enrolled in the Ph.D.'s program and is working
as a Research Assistant in TUDRP, PE Dept. at the University of Tulsa.

Statement of Problem
The ability to successfully run very long casing strings in Extended Reach (ER) wells is essential in order to
develop reserves at increasing departures1 . Even though casing running has been extensively studied, for casing
running in high angle wells, it is evident that both theoretical understanding and modeling are beginning to lag
behind operational experience. Failure to reach target depth often has a profound consequence on well
deliverability and overall cost.
Because Frictional losses due to drag are a primary limitation for expending the reach of casing running in
ER wells, drag analysis is recognized as an important part of the risk management process2 . Currently, during
well planning and drilling operation, two kinds of drag and torque models are mainly used, one termed by soft
string models and one termed by stiff string models. Soft string models assume that the string is a weighted
cable without stiffness, completely flexible and continuous contact with lower part of wellbores, no couplings.
Stiff string models additionally take into account strings stiffness and clearance effects. But, couplings are the
fundamental mechanical feature. Not considering the couplings of casing strings, existing drag and torque
models can not give satisfactory results. A number of casing strings get stuck during casing operation. Some
problems are a result of inaccurate prediction from existing models. To the effect of couplings of casing on

Yi Zhang

TUDRP

frictional losses, nowadays we still have no clear understanding. So, a special model to effectively stimulate
casing running in high angle wells is needed. We need to 1) define a drillstring model to predict drag for casing
running in high angle wells, which considers the impact of couplings on casing stiffness and the overall model;
2) develop a computer simulator for pratical applications. TUDRPs past research for casing running in 2-D
wellbores, which dont consider couplings, provides a good base for corresponding 2-D and 3-D stiff string
models with couplings.
In order to reduce drag, petroleum industry also adopts many techniques such as using lubricants, rollers
and casing floatation. The main benefit is that the effective weight of the casing string tends to be much low or
even zero, so the frictional drag will be much low or zero. Figure 8 shows the scenario of normal contact
situation between the casing and wellbore, casing flotation and the contact of casing with upper part of wellbore
wall. However, an increased susceptibility is that the method also will greatly add the risk of buckling of the
casing string with zero effective weight. To date, no relative researches and experiments are reported. How
about the effect of casing floatation and fluid interaction on buckling of casing strings? We dont have a clear
understanding. Based on TUDRPs past some valuable buckling research on Coiled Tubing and the Horizontal
Buckling Facility, experimental work will also be explored.

Literature Review
1. Soft String Model, Johancsic et al. Model3
The main assumptions of the soft string model are as follows1,3,4,5 :
1) A drillstring is like a cable or a chain with no bending stiffness, which means two shear components
in the force balance equation are zero;
2) At build-on or horizontal sections, the drillstring contacts the wellbore continually and takes the
form of the well trajectory;
3) The borehole walls are rigid ;
4) The drag force on the drillstring at any location is proportional to the side force acting there, and the
coefficient of proportionality appears in the model as a sliding- friction coefficient;
5) The hole clearance effects are ignored;
6) The drill strings dynamic effects are ignored.
In 1983, Johancsic, Friesen and Dawson first developed a drillstring torque and drag model for directional
wells that ignored drillstring stiffness and considered with drillstrings as soft strings with weight. The model
assumes that sliding friction forces result from contact of the drillstring with the wellbore. The contact force

TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

In Horizontal and High Angle Boreholes

between drillstring and the wellbore wall is decided by drillstrings weight and tension. Determination of the
friction coefficient is fundamental to practical application of this model. Field data was utilized to back
calculate the sliding friction coefficient.
Ft = w cos Fn

(1.1)

M = Fn r

(1.2)

Fn = ( Ft sin )2 + ( Ft + w sin )2

(1.3)

Where
Fn =net normal force acting on element, lbf
Ft =axial tension acting at lower end of element, lbf
Ft =increase in tension over length of element, lbf
M=torsion at the lower end of element, ft- lbf
M =increase in torsion over length of element, ft-lbf

r=characteristic radius of drillstring element, ft

w=buoyant weight of drillstring element, lbf/ft
=azimuth angle at lower end of drillstring element, degrees
=increase in azimuth angle over length of element, degrees

=inclination angle at lower end of drillstring element, degrees

= increase in inclination angle over length of element, degrees

=average inclination angle of element, degrees
=sliding friction coefficient between drillstring and wellbore
This model is proven beneficial for traditional drilling in well planning, drillstring design, drillstring tension
and torque calculation, and the friction coefficients calculation. But if we these effects like string stiffness, hole
clearance, couplings, or if strings are under the condition of big tension force in high angle wells, the
application of model is limited.

2. Stiff String Model by H-S. Ho 6

In 1988, H-S. Ho developed an improved stiff string model for torque and drag based on the theory of
drillstring large deforma tion. The model is expressed as follows:

Yi Zhang

d
r r
Ft + M b2 / 2 EI N + wg t = 0
ds

d 2M b
r r
+ K n ( Kb M t + K nM b ) + Ft K b + N n + wg n = 0
2
ds
d
dM b
r r
( Kb M t + K nM b ) K n
+ N b + wg b = 0
ds
ds

dM t
= Nr
ds

TUDRP

(2.1)
(2.2)
(2.3)
(2.4)

Where
Fn =net normal force acting on element, lbf
M t =drillstring torque, ft- lbf
M b =bending moment, ft- lbf
EI=drillstring bending stiffness, lb-ft2
Kb =total bending curvature
K n =natural tortuosity of drillstring centerline
w=buoyed weight of drillstring element, lbf/ft
r
g =vector of drillstring weight per unit length
r
t =unit base vector in tangential direction, positive uphole
r
n =unit base vector in principal normal direction
r
b =unit base vector in binormal direction

=sliding friction coefficient between drillstring and wellbore

s=pipe length from bit, ft
N=contact force, lbf
N n =contact force in principal direction, lbf
N b =contact force in binormal direction, lbf
Based on the assumptions of soft string models, the author additionally considers the effects of drillstring
stiffness and hole clearance. Actually, the model is very complicated to be solved. After neglecting some parts,
the author used a finite difference method to deal with the non-linear BHA analysis for the collar section. Case
studies indicate the difference between his model and the cable analogy model.

TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

In Horizontal and High Angle Boreholes

3. Researches from TUDRP 7,8

3.1 Buckling behavior and axial force transfer of coiled tubing (CT)
The axial compression load required to produce a helical configuration and the corresponding pitch are:
Fh =

8 EI
rR 2 wsin
1+ 1 +
rR
2 EI

1
rR 2 wsin
=
1+ 1+
2 EI
p 2rR

(3.1)

(3.2)

Where
Fh =axial compression force required to produce a helical configuration, lbf;
R=the radius of curvature of the bore hore, ft;
r=radial clearance between a bore hole and drill pipe, in.
In a well of constant curvature, the contact force for a buckled pipe is:

16 4 EIr 4 2 r
EI F

N=
+ 2 F + 2 + + w sin cos
4
p
p
R R

(3.3)

Where
F=axial compression force, lbf;

=angular displacement of CT, rad.

In order to verify the accuracy of model, a number of experiments were conducted by using the TUDRP
horizontal buckling facility.

3.2 Two-dimensional models of casing running in high angle wells

In 1997, Alejandro J. Lagreca V. carried out a preliminary study of casing running in high angle wells. He
developed 2-D mathematical models without couplings. The following models (Equation 4.1 and Equation 4.2)
are separately developed for short dogleg wells and long dogleg wells:

EI

*
d 3Y *
*
* dY
+
wX
cos

Ht
= Ht * wX * sin
dX *3
dX *

EI

*
d 3Y *
* * dY
*
+
wX
cos

+
P

H
= H t ** wX * sin
t
*3
*
dX
dX

Where
X * , Y * =Cartesian system of coordinates at neutral point;

(4.1)
(4.2)

Yi Zhang

TUDRP

H t =distributed lateral force;

**

H t =total lateral force;

P=axial compressive load at the start point of well curvature.

4. Limitation of existing models

Assuming no couplings. However, couplings are an important feature of casing.

The assumption of continuous contact. But in reality, the casing-wall contact can be: no contact, one
point contact, arc contact.

Objectives
To develop a stiff drillstring model to predict drag for casing running with couplings in high angle wells;
To get experimental conclusions of casing buckling under the conditions of floatation and fluid
interaction;
To develop a computer simulator for drag predictions during casing running;
To verify the computer simulator with field data.

Approach
Theoretical Part

Review models developed by Weiyong Qiu, Lagreca and H-S. Ho, etc;
Develop a mathematical model considering couplings based on Weiyong Qiu and Lagreca models;
Develop numerical algorithms to solve underlying equations;
Compare modeling results with field data.

Experimental Part
The Horizontal Buckling Facility will be used to study the buckling behavior of casing strings und er
floating conditions. It has a 68- ft long plexiglass 2.5 O.D. pipe and 2 O.D. inner pipe. Sensors measure the
top and bottom forces, with a maximum load of 1000 lbs. The load applicator is powered by a motor with
variable speed that allows controlled displacement. The applied load, inner pipe displacement are automatically
acquired using a computer.
The existing inner tubing will be replaced with the three small casings shown in Table 1. The size of the
hollow casings is determined to make sure that the casing floats in the liquid. During the test, water will flow in
the annulus, and the critical force to buckle the hollow casing will be experimentally determined. The test
matrix is given in Table 1.

TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

In Horizontal and High Angle Boreholes

Pipe Type
Pipe 1

Table 1. Proposed Test Matrix

Fluid in Annulus
Casing
O.D.
Media
(in)
(m)
water
air
0.9
0.0227

I.D.
(in)
0.742

(m)
0.0188

Pipe 2

water

air

1.136

0.0288

0.957

0.0243

Pipe 3

water

air

1.52

0.0387

1.38

0.0351

Preliminary Timetable
2005

2006

Fall Spring Summer Fall

2007
Spring

Summer

2008
Fall Spring Summer

Literature review
Experiments
A stiff string
model for drag
prediction
Computer
program
Model
verification with
field data
Final report

Deliverables

A stiff string model to predict drag for running casing with couplings in high angle wells;

Experimental results on critical force to initiate casing buckling under floating conditions;

A computer simulator for drag prediction during casing running;

Semi-annual ABM reports and the Final Report.

References
1. C.J. Mason, F.M. Allen, A.A. Ramirez, L.Wolfson, Casing Running Milestones for Extended-Reach
Wells, SPE/IADC 52842
2. Colin J. Mason, Jesse Lopez, Sigve Meling, Robert Munger, Casing Running Challenges for ExtendedReach Wells, SPE 84447

Yi Zhang

TUDRP

3. C.A.Johancsik, D.B.Friesen, Papier Dawson, Torque and Drag in Directional Wells-Prediction and
Measurement, June 1984
4. R.F.Mitchell, Wellbore Trajectories and Drillstring Mechanics, March 2005
5. E.E.Maidla and A.K.Wojtannwicz, Field Comparison of 2-D and 3-D Methods for Borehole Friction
Evaluation in Directional Wells, SPE16663
6. H-S. Ho, An Improved Modeling Program for Computing the Torque and Drag in Directional and
Deep Wells, SPE18047,1988
7. Weiyong Qiu, Theoretical and Experimental Study of Buckling Behavior of Coiled Tubing and Axial
Force Transfer Modeling in Coiled Tubing Drilling, 1997.
8. Alejandro J. Lagreca V., Mathematical Modeling of Insertion Forces for Running In Casing Strings in
2-D Wellbores with Hole Curvatures (Dogleg Severity ) and High Deviation Angles, TU Drilling
Research Projects M.S. Thesis, 1997
9. Stefan Miska, collected works of Arthur Lubinski, Developments in Petroleum Engineering, Volume
One, Volume Two, 1987
10. Robert F. Mitchell and Stefan Miska, Helical Buckling of Pipe with Connectors and Torque,
IADC/SPE 87205
11. M.C.Sheppard,C.Wick,T.Burgess, Designing Well Paths To Reduce Drag and Torque, SPE Drilling
Engineering, December 1987
12. Gilles GABOLDE and Jean-Paul NGUYEN, Drilling data handbook,1999
13. R. Rezvani, B. Techentien, Torque and Drag Modeling for Horizontal Openhole Completions, SPE
97079
14. C.J.Mason, D.C-K Chen, The Perfect Wellbore, SPE 95279
15. Ermeneglldo Possamal,Roberto Bianchi, Casing Operations on Deep, Directional, and Horizontal
Wells: A New Approach on Planning and Follow -Up, IADC/SPE 23924
16. B.S. Aadnoy, Ketil Andersen, Friction Analysis for Long-Reach Wells, IADC/SPE 39391
17. P.R.Pasaly, Stress Analysis of Drillstring,SPE 27976
18. J.L.Holmquist and A. Nadai, A Theoretical and Experimental Approach to the Problem of Collapse of
Deep-Well Casing, Drilling and Production Practice, 1939
19. Yuejin Luo,Kaiwan Barucha,Robello Samuel, A simple, Practical Approach Provides a Technique for
Calibrating Tortuosity Factors, Oil&Gas Journal September 2003
20. P.Weijermans, J.Ruszka, Drilling with Rotary Steerable System Reduces Wellbore Tortuosity,
SPE/IADC 67715

TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

In Horizontal and High Angle Boreholes

Appendix

Fig.1 BP Extended Reach Wells Envelop

r
r
M + M

r
r
Ft + Ft

r
r
Ft + Ft
r
r
M + M

+ , +

EI

EI=0

r
Fn

r
Ff

+ , +
r
r
V + V

r
w

r
M

r
Ft
Fig. 2- Soft string model (EI=0)

r
Fn

r
Ff

r
w

r
M

r
V

r
Ft

Fig. 3- Stiff string model (EI?0)

r
r
Ft + Ft

r
r
Ft + Ft

r
r
M + M
+ , +
r
r
V + V

r
N1

r
r
M + M
+ , +
r
r
V + V

r
N1

r
Ff
r
w

r
V

r
N2

r
Fn

r
M
r
Ft

r
N2

Fig. 4 Stiff string model with couplings (EI?0)

(No contact)

r
r
Ft + Ft

r
r
M + M
+ , +
r
r
V + V

r
Ff
r
w

r
N2

r
V

r
V

r
M
r
Ft

Fig. 5 Stiff string model with couplings(EI?0)

(One contact point)

r
N1

r
Fn

r
w

,
r
M

r
Ft

Fig. 6 Stiff string model with couplings

(Arc contact between two couplings)

TUDRP

Modeling of Casing Running in High Angle Wells

11

In Horizontal and High Angle Boreholes

Normal Contact Situation

W>0

O
X

Casing floatation
W=Ws - W o + W i =0

W<0, good for

cutting transport

Fig. 7 The scenario of casing floatation etc.

Fig. 8 Current experimental facility