Helical buckling of pipes in extended reach and horizontal wells -- Part 2: Frictional drag analysis

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2905993· OSTI ID:5593765

Wu, J; Juvkam-Wold, H C ^[1]

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1. Texas A M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Petroleum Engineering Dept.

This paper studies the frictional drag of helically buckled pipes (drillstring and tubing) in extended reach and horizontal wells to correctly predict the actual bit weight or packer load, in cases where helical buckling of pipes may have occurred. Helical buckling of pipes in such wells may occur, since large axial loads are often required. The differential equation of axial force balance with consideration of the axial friction for helically buckled pipes is resolved, and the solution shows that when the pipes are helically buckled, the frictional drag will become very large. The actual bit weight for drilling or packer load for well completion may therefore become much smaller than estimated under the unbuckled pipe conditions. The analytical solution is also shown to agree with the results from laboratory experiments, which simulate the real wellbore-pipe conditions. An example is provided to show the calculation procedure and the importance of the results.

• OSTI ID: 5593765
• Journal Information: Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States) Vol. 115:3; ISSN 0195-0738; ISSN JERTD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DEFORMATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRAG
DRILL BITS
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
FRICTION FACTOR
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PIPES
STRESS ANALYSIS
WEIGHT
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS