Research on casing deformation prevention technology based on cementing slurry system optimization

The casing deformation prevention technology based on the optimization of cement slurry is proposed to reduce the casing deformation of shale oil and gas wells during hydraulic fracturing. In this paper, the fracture mechanism of hollow particles in cement sheath was firstly analyzed by discrete element method, and the effect of hollow particles in cement on casing deformation was investigated by laboratory experiment method. Finally, field test was carried out to verify the improvement effect of the casing deformation based on cement slurry modification. The results show that the formation displacement can be absorbed effectively by hollow particles inside the cement transferring the excessive deformation away from casing. The particles in the uncemented state provide deformation space during formation slipping. The casing with diameter of 139.7 mm could be passed through by bridge plug with the diameter of 99 mm when the mass ratio of particle/cement reaches 1:4. According to the field test feedback, the method based on optimization of cement slurry can effectively reduce the risk of casing deformation, and the recommended range of hollow microbeads content in the cement slurry is between 15% and 25%.

Influencing factors and prevention measures of casing deformation in deep shale gas wells in Luzhou block,southern Sichuan Basin,SW China

Based on structural distribution and fault characteristics of the Luzhou block,southern Sichuan Basin,as well as microseismic,well logging and in-situ stress data,the casing deformation behaviors of deep shale gas wells are summarized,and the casing deformation mechanism and influencing factors are identified.Then,the risk assessment chart of casing deformation is plotted,and the measures for preventing and controlling casing deformation are proposed.Fracturing-activated fault slip is a main factor causing the casing deformation in deep shale gas wells in the Luzhou block.In the working area,the approximate fracture angle is primarily 10°-50°,accounting for 65.34%,and the critical pore pressure increment for fault-activation is 6.05-9.71 MPa.The casing deformation caused by geological factors can be prevented/controlled by avoiding the faults at risk and deploying wells in areas with low value of stress factor.The casing deformation caused by engineering factors can be prevented/controlled by:(1)keeping wells avoid faults with risks of activation and slippage,or deploying wells in areas far from the faulting center if such avoidance is impossible;(2)optimizing the wellbore parameters,for example,adjusting the wellbore orientation to reduce the shear force on casing to a certain extent and thus mitigate the casing deformation;(3)optimizing the casing program to ensure that the curvature radius of the curved section of horizontal well is greater than 200 m while the drilling rate of high-quality reservoirs is not impaired;(4)optimizing the fracturing parameters,for example,increasing the evasive distance,lowering the single-operation pressure,and increasing the stage length,which can help effectively reduce the risk of casing deformation.

Reshaping force for deformed casing repairing with hydraulic rolling reshaper and its influencing factors

Hydraulic rolling reshaper is an advanced reshaping tool to solve the problem of casing deformation,which has been widely used in recent years.When it is used for well repair operation,the reshaping force provided by ground devices is generally determined by experience.However,too large reshaping force may destroy the deformed casing,and too small reshaping force may also prolong the construction period and affect the repairing effect.In this paper,based on Hertz contact theory and elastic-plastic theory,combined with the process parameters of shaping,and considering the structural characteristics of the deformed casing and reshaper,we propose a mathematical model for calculating the reshaping force required for repairing deformed casing by hydraulic rolling reshaper.Meanwhile,the finite element model and numerical method of hydraulic rolling reshaper repairing deformed casing are established by using the finite element method,and the reliability of the mathematical model is verified by several examples.On this basis,the control variable method is used to investigate the influence of each parameter on the reshaping force,and the influence degree of each parameter is explored by orthogonal simulation test and Pearson correlation analysis.The research results not only provide an important theoretical basis for the prediction of reshaping force in on-site construction,but also provide a reference for the subsequent improvement of the shaping process.

Hydraulic fracturing induced casing shear deformation and a prediction model of casing deformation

To study the casing deformation(CD)in shale gas well fracturing caused by natural fracture slip,a fracture face stress model is built based on stress analysis,and a CD prediction model is established based on complex function to analyze factors affecting wellbore shear stress and CD.(1)The fracture and wellbore approach angles have significant impacts on the wellbore shear stress.In Weiyuan shale gas field,Sichuan Basin,under the common wellbore approach angle of nearly 90°,the wellbore is subjected to large shear stress and high risk of CD at the fracture approach angle range of 20° to 55° or its supplementary angle range.(2)When the fracture is partially opened,the wellbore shear stress is positively correlated with the fluid pressure,and negatively correlated with the fracture friction coefficient;when the fracture is fully opened,the wellbore shear stress is positively correlated with the natural fracture area.(3)The lower the elastic modulus and the longer the fracture length,the more serious the CD will be,and the Poisson’s ratio has a weak influence on the CD.The deformation first increases and then decreases with the increase of fracture approach angle,and reaches the maximum when the fracture approach angle is 45°.(4)At a given fracture approach angle,appropriately adjusting the wellbore approach angle can avoid high shear stress acting on wellbore,and reasonable control of the fluid pressure in the fracture can reduce the CD risk.The shear stress acting on casing is usually much greater than the shear strength of casing,so increasing casing strength or cementing quality have limited effect on reducing the risk of CD.Caliper logging data has verified that the CD prediction model is reliable,so the model can be used to establish risk analysis chart and calculate deformation value,to provide a reference for quick CD risk prediction in fracturing design.

Numerical Investigation on Dynamic Characteristics of Casing Deformation During Marine Hydrate Production

Formation subsidence is inevitable during marine hydrate decomposition,and the consequent casing deformation seriously threatens the security of sustainable hydrate production.Owing to insufficient observed data of formation subsidence in field,displacement boundary condition of casing is undetermined.Thus the conventional static methods are inapplicable for the calculation of casing deformation in hydrate production well.The present work aims at proposing an approach to investigate dynamic deformation of the casing during hydrate production.In the proposed methodology,based on the movement theory of hydrate decomposition front,hydrate decomposition process can be simulated,in which hydrate reservoir strength formation subsidence showed time-dependent characteristics.By considering the actual interactions among casing,cement and formation,three models of hydrate production well are developed to reveal the static and dynamic deformation mechanisms of the casing.The application of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study.Results show that buckling deformation and bending deformation of casing reduce the passing ability of downhole tools in deformed casing by 4.2%and 7.5%,respectively.With the progress of hydrate production,buckling deformation will increase obviously,while a little increase of bending deformation will occur,as the formation slippage induced by formation inclination is much larger than that caused by hydrate decomposition.The proposed approach can provide theoretical reference for improving casing integrity of marine hydrate production.

Thermal stresses analysis of casing string used in enhanced geothermal systems wells

In the enhanced geothermal systems wells, casing temperature variation produces casing thermal stresses, resulting in casing uplift or bucking. When the induced thermal stresses exceed casing material's yield strength, the casing deforms and collapses. The traditional casing design standard only considers the influence of temperature variation on casing material's yield strength. Actually, for commonly used grades of steel pipe, casing's material properties-such as yield strength, coefficient of thermal expansion, and modulus of elasticity change with temperature variation. In this paper, the modified thermal stress equation is given. Examples show that the allowable temperature of the material grade N80's casing is only 164 ℃, which is much lower than that of the traditional design standard. The effective method to improve the casing pipe's allowable temperature is pre-stressed cementing technology. Pre-stressed cementing includes pre-tension stress cementing and pre-pressure stress cementing. This paper focuses on the design method of full casing pre-tension stress cementing and the ground anchor full casing string pre-tension cementing construction process.

Effect of Plastic Deformation and H_2S on Dynamic Fracture Toughness of High Strength Casing Steel

The effects of plastic deformation and H2 S on fracture toughness of high strength casing steel（C110 steel） were investigated. The studied casing specimens are as follows： original casing, plastic deformation（PD） casing and PD casing after being immersed in NACE A solution saturated with H2S（PD＋H2S）. Instrumented impact method was employed to evaluate the impact behaviors of the specimens, meanwhile, dynamic fracture toughness（JId） was calculated by using Rice model and Schindler model. The experimental results show that dynamic fracture toughness of the casing decreases after plastic deformation. Compared with that of the original casing and PD casing, the dynamic fracture toughness decreases further when the PD casing immersed in H2 S, moreover, there are ridge-shaped feature and many secondary cracks present on the fracture surface of the specimens. Impact fracture mechanism of the casing is proposed as follows： the plastic deformation results in the increase of defect density of materials where the atomic hydrogen can accumulate in reversible or irreversible traps and even recombine to form molecular hydrogen, subsequently, the casing material toughness decreases greatly.