Dynamic Stress Analysis of Critical and Cyclic Loads for Production Casing in Horizontal Shale Wells

Mitchell, Robert F.; Zwarich, Nola R.; Hunt, Hai L.; McSpadden, Albert R.; Trevisan, Ruggero; Goodman, M.A.

doi:10.2118/194062-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…The semiempirical model predicts contact forces in the string and result from this model matches very well with drill-drag software. Furthermore, Mitchell et al (2019) developed a predictive dynamic model than could estimate tubular stresses in horizontal wells. In particular, this model provides an ideal means of prediction critical cyclic stresses that result due to excessive stimulation stages in shale gas horizontal well development.…”

Section: Predictive Mechanical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types - A review

Mohammed

Oyeneyin

Atchison

et al. 2019

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

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This paper focus on factors attributing to casing failure, their failure mechanism and the resulting failure mode. The casing is a critical component in a well and the main mechanical structural barrier element that provide conduits and avenue for oil and gas production over the well lifecycle and beyond. The casings are normally subjected to material degradation, varying local loads, induced stresses during stimulation, natural fractures, slip and shear during their installation and operation leading to different kinds of casing failure modes. The review paper also covers recent developments in casing integrity assessment techniques and their respective limitations.The taxonomy of the major causes and cases of casing failure in different well types is covered. In addition, an overview of casing trend utilisation and failure mix by grades is provided. The trend of casing utilisation in different wells examined show deep-water and shale gas horizontal wells employing higher tensile grades (P110 & Q125) due to their characteristics. Additionally, this review presents casing failure mixed by grades, with P110 recording the highest failure cases owing to its stiffness, high application in injection wells, shale gas, deep-water and high temperature and high temperature (HPHT) wells with high failure probability. A summary of existing tools used for the assessment of well integrity issues and their respective limitations is provided and conclusions drawn.

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Section: Predictive Mechanical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types - A review

Mohammed

Oyeneyin

Atchison

et al. 2019

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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A Practical Methodology to Assess Casing Integrity and Service Life with Salt Collapse Loads in Unconventional Developments

Coker¹,

Kalil²,

McSpadden³

et al. 2020

Day 1 Tue, March 03, 2020

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Damage from salt stress is always an unwelcome occurrence in oil and gas wells; particularly in unconventional wells where productive longevity and slim cost to benefit margins are at risk. Many studies have been conducted that offer fixes in the form of pat algorithms or universal design modifications. The authors believe that each field or well offers unique challenges. This paper will outline successful methods for estimating salt creep rate, estimates of damage from salt for a casing scheme and field conditions. These are used to determine the economic-driven optimum well designs and production practices for addressing salt damage in both new wells and those already damaged. Further studies may allow these methods to be used in many other fields and wells. It is important to ascertain the local load paradigm for a specific field-development. To this end the specific pipe manufacturing data was reviewed for as-built conditions. Also, the regional salt movement environment and salt creep rate were determined through review of field data from existing wells with issues. Standard casing design analysis was applied to determine the non-salt loading, temperature and pressure environments, and to eliminate non-salt loading as sole cause of damage. A first pass survey made of the well population was conducted with several applied stress analytical methods such as Hackney for combined salt and non-salt loads up to yield. A second pass on critical wells was performed with a finite element analysis (FEA) matched against published studies. Most analytical stress models developed for salt loading are based on limited or incomplete data. Nor do they account for non-salt loading or pipe manufacture defects. These limitations are complicated by large variations on what constitutes ‘failure’ in the oil and gas industry. The best analytical solutions stop short of providing a complete stress picture due to inability to predict behavior beyond the yield point. Thus, it is necessary to apply FEA models with calibration by lab data. Published FEA on salt collapse is reported for specific weight and grades of pipe. These results were matched and then it is shown how to replicate this analysis and related trends with new pipe and grade selections. No solutions were found that were universal with the most successful solutions being based on a limited geographic area. Field wide studies in areas with multiple salt zones were completed to provide a forecast time-to-failure for existing wells in a development population. Based on this study, recommended modifications to existing wells were made to extend life and optimize economics. Finally, a recommended optimum design can be proposed for new wells as well as recommended monitoring and action plans.

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The Unconventional Unconventionals: Tectonically Influenced Regions, Stress States and Casing Failures

Casero¹,

Rylance²

2020

Day 3 Thu, February 06, 2020

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Not all unconventional plays are created equal, in a substantial number of regions around the world the tectonic environment is quite different from the typically relaxed and more passive states found widely in most, if not all, of the US unconventional plays. This is merely a function of the relative proximity of such plays to distinct geological features characterized by active tectonic plates and with dynamic margins and recent activity. The Nazca plate associated with the Andes, the Arabian plate linked with the Al-Hajar mountains and the Indian plate connected with the Himalayan mountain range are just a few examples of tectonically influenced regions, where potential hydrocarbon traps are subject to complex states of stress generated by convergent plates, subduction zones and associated faulting. This scenario often translates into severe strike-slip and reverse fault stress states. Additionally, the presence of both multi-layered and laminated formation geology as well as the presence of overpressure and pressure differentials, typical of tight gas and shale gas, can exacerbate this situation even further. This situation can result in an extremely challenging environment for the successful execution of hydraulic fracturing and the associated development of unconventional resources. This paper will demonstrate, that such complex stress-states will directly affect well completions and hydraulic fracturing in a multitude of ways, but that some of the most impactful consequences are often severe casing failures, production-liner restrictions and complex fracture initiation scenarios. Casing failures are responsible for increased intervention costs as well as higher costs for the upgraded and strengthened wells. Equally, such issues can severely impair efficient execution of the completion plan and create a bottle-neck to subsequent well production. Horizontal, complex and pancake fractures will typically develop in strike-slip / reverse fault stress states, often resulting in fracture conductivity and connectivity loss that will greatly impair the eventual well performance. Layer interface slippage and natural fault re-activation are dominant mechanisms for hydraulic fracture induced casing failures. Examples of micro-fracs, micro-seismic and other diagnostics will be presented aiming to document the practical difficulties encountered while completing wells in these complex environments. This paper will demonstrate that unconventional development in such environments requires a renewed focus on all aspects of well design and construction, from directional drilling and lateral placement to casing selection and lower completion design. All these considerations are made with the goal of enabling the competent delivery of a highly effective and conductive fracture network, to efficiently access and produce the hydrocarbon resource.

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Dynamic Stress Analysis of Critical and Cyclic Loads for Production Casing in Horizontal Shale Wells

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types - A review

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types - A review

A Practical Methodology to Assess Casing Integrity and Service Life with Salt Collapse Loads in Unconventional Developments

The Unconventional Unconventionals: Tectonically Influenced Regions, Stress States and Casing Failures

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