Casing design loads

Introduction to Casing Design Loads (Collapse, Burst and tension Load)

1 Collapse Load
The design load case for collapse is based on a partial evacuation of the casing
string.
For partial evacuation during the drilling phase, the internal pressure profile is
based on mud losses to pore pressure. Full evacuation after a blow-out is
evaluated as a special case.
For the production casing with gas lift facilities, full evacuation above the packer is
used as worst design load case. The external pressure profile for collapse is
constructed in two sections; that for the cement column and that for the annulus
fluid column.
Corrosion, wear and downrating because of tension is treated separately.
The uniaxial design factor used for collapse design is 1.0. The collapse capacity
should be downrated according to the maximum temperature to which the casing
will be exposed when the collapse load can occur.

2 Burst Load
For the drilling phase, the worst case internal pressure loading corresponds to full
displacement of the casing to gas and the well closed in at surface. Since the HCwater contact in the structure is known, the chosen gradient should be assumed to
originate from this depth. When the gas/oil ratio is very low, the relevant oil gradient
may be used.
For burst loading during the production phase, a tubing failure with CITHP acting
on top of the packer fluid is used as worst design load case. The external pressure
profile is equal to the one used for collapse load.
When evaluating the burst capacity of a casing, a down rating because of wear,
corrosion, temperature and applied compression is required before the design
factor is introduced.
The uniaxial design factor for burst design is 1.1.

3 Tensile Load

3.1 Installation Loads

The dynamic and static installation loads are experienced during the installation of
the casing and during cementation and pressure testing.These loads should
include:

Casing weight (in air) loads

Pressure (buoyancy) loads

Bending loads

Dynamic drag loads

Shock loads

Point loads

Static drag loads

The maximum expected axial load during the dynamic part of the installation phase
is the greater of:
Either:
Casing weight (in air) load
+

Pressure (buoyancy) load

Bending load

Drag load

Or:
Casing weight (in air) load
+

Pressure (buoyancy) load

Bending load

Shock load

The maximum expected axial load during the static part of the installation phase is
the greater of:

Either:
Casing weight (in air) load
+

Pressure (buoyancy) load

Bending load

Point load due to pre-cementation pressure test (against a retrievable packer)

Or:
Casing weight (in air) load
+

Pressure (buoyancy) load

Bending load

+
Point load due to post-cementation pressure test (against the sealed float
shoe)
The uniaxial design factor for tension design is 1.3.

3.2 Service Loads

The calculations on service loads are done to ensure that the triaxial incremental
stresses in the pipe body resulting from changes in pressure, temperature, and
applied point loads relative to the "as-cemented" condition, do not cause the casing
to fail. Also instability, i.e. occurrence of buckling is checked for.
The calculations on service loads can be divided into three main groups as follows:

3.2.1. Pressure loads

Triaxial stress analysis
i).

Tangential stress

ii).

Radial stress

iii).

Axial stress

a).

Increase in internal fluid density

b).

Partial evacuation

c).

Reduction in external fluid density

iv).

Von Mises Equivalent stress

v).

Use of the WELLCAT program

Buckling potential analysis

i).

Reduced axial force

ii).

Buckling resistance

3.2.2. Temperature loads

Triaxial stress analysis
i).

Linear casing expansion

ii).

Annulus fluid expansion

Buckling potential analysis

i).

Reduced axial force

ii).

Buckling resistance

3.2.3. Point loads

Example: Loads applied to production packers when installing the completion
The following design factors are applicable:

Uniaxial tension design factor:

1.3

Uniaxial compression design factor:

1.0

Triaxial design factor:

1.25