7.
4 Design Procedure
A graphical approach to drillstring design is recommended. If one section of the string
does not meet requirements it must be upgraded. The procedure is as follows:
1. Choose a weight and grade of pipe to satisfy the collapse conditions
2. Using the pipe chosen in 1. calculate the tension loading, including buoyancy
effects. Draw the tension loading line and also the maximum allowable load line.
3. Modify the tension load as given in 2. by applying a design factor, MOP and Sh/St
factor. Three design lines are thus generated.
4. If any of these design lines exceed the maximum allowable load, a higher rated
drillpipe must be used for that section of pipe.
5. Calculate the new tension loading line for the new drill string and repeat steps 3.
and 4.
Design Example :
Design a 5” 19.5 lb/ft drill string using new pipe to reach a TD of 12000 ft in a
vertical hole. The BHA consists of 20 drill collars 6 1/4” x 2 13/14” (82.6 lb/ft)
each 30 ft long. For design purposes assume the following:
MW = 10 ppg
MOP = 100000 lbs
Length of slips = 12”
Design factors = 1.125 (collapse)
= 85% (tension)
1. Collapse loading
at 12000’ Pc = 0.052 x 10 x 12000 = 6240 psi
From Table 11
OD Grade Wt Collapse rating
5” E 19.5 lb/ft 10000 = 8889 psi (x 1.125)
5” E 25.6 lb/ft 13500 =12000 psi (x 1.125)
choose: 19.5 lb/ft grade E drill pipe (ID = 4.276”)
2. Tension loading line (Figure 17)
at 12000’ F1 = (P x A)
where: P = 0.052 x 10 x 12000 = 6240 psi
26
The Drillstring
A = π/4 (6.252 - 2.8122) = 24.47in2
F1 = (6240 x 24.47) = 152693 lbs
W1 = 20 x 30 x 82.6 = 49560 lbs
at 11400’ F2 = (P x A)
where: P = 0.052 x 10 x 11400 = 5928 psi
A = π/4 (6.252-52) + π/4 (4.2762-2.81252) = 19.19 in2
F2 = (5928 x 19.19) = 113758 lbs.
W2 = 11400 x 19.5 = 222300 lbs (Nominal weight used as approximation)
Calculating the tension at the top and bottom of each section:
at bottom of collars T = -152693 lbs
at top of collars T = -152693 + 49560 = -103133 lbs
at bottom of drill pipe T = -103133 + 113758 = 10625 lbs
at top of drillpipe T = 10625 + 222300 = 232925 lbs
Plot these figures on a graph, along with the maximum allowable load
= 0.85 x 395000 = 335750 lbs
3. Construct Design loading lines:
a. multiply actual loads by 1.3 to obtain the design loads (Td)
at surface Td = 1.3 x 232925 = 302802 lbs
at 11400’ Td = 1.3 x 10625 = 13812 lbs
b. add 100000 MOP to obtain Td
at surface Td = 232925 + 100000 = 332925 lbs
at 11400’ Td = 10625 + 100000 = 110625 lbs
c. apply slip crushing factor
at surface Td = 1.59 x 232925 = 370351 lbs
at 11400’ Td = 1.59 x 10625 = 16894 lbs
Plot these 3 design lines on Figure 17
4. Above 2000’ the design loading line exceeds the maximum allowable
tensile load, therefore a stronger section of pipe must be used from 0
- 2000’.
Choose 25.6 lb/ft grade E drill pipe.
Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 27
5. Re-calculate tensile loading for new string and repeat 3. and 4.
(Figure 18).
Figure 17 Calculated Tension Loading on Drillpipe
Figure 18 Revised Tension Loading on Drillpipe
28
The Drillstring
6. Final design
0 - 2000’ 25.6 lb/ft Grade E
2000’ - 11400’ 19.5 lb/ft Grade E
11400’ - 12000’ 6 1/4” x 2 13/16” collars
In practice two grades of drill pipe are usually available on the rig. In the North Sea
5”, 19.5 lb/ft. grade E and 5”, 19.5 lb/ft, grade G are common. The combination of
these two grades plus HWDP will meet most requirements.
Pipe size - inches
Slip Coeff. Lateral
Length of load- 23/8 27/8 31/2 4 41/2 5
Friction factor K
Safety Factor Sh/St
0.06 4.36 1.27 1.34 1.43 1.50 1. 58 1.66
0.08 4.00 1.25 1.31 1.39 1.45 1.52 1.59
12” 0.10 3.68 1.22 1.28 1.35 1.41 1.47 1.54
0.12 3.42 1.21 1.26 1.32 1.38 1.43 1.49
0.14 3.18 1.19 1.24 1.30 1.34 1.40 1.45
0.06 4.36 1.20 1.24 1.30 1.36 1.41 1.47
16” 0.08 4.00 1.18 1.22 1.28 1.32 1.37 1.42
0.10 3.68 1.16 1.20 1.25 1.29 1.34 1.38
0.12 3.42 1.15 1.18 1.23 1.27 1.31 1.35
0.14 3.18 1.14 1.17 1.21 1.25 1.28 1.32
Table 9 Lateral load factor of slips
Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 29
