New solutions and opportunities for the drilling industry due to fit-for-purpose composite casing
New solutions and opportunities for the drilling industry due to fit-for-purpose composite casing
downhole
composite
pipes
Why discussing composites?
• Well construction cost reduction is priority today
• Currently relative small improvements are being made resulting in small cost savings
• New ideas and technologies are required to make significant improvements
• Composites offer unique properties enabling new solutions: o To reduce cost
o To (re-)move technical limits
downhole
composite
pipes
Composite properties
• High strength per weight ratio
• Low density (near buoyant in mud)
• H2S, CO2, corrosion resistant
• Electric isolator
• Non-magnetic
• Thermal isolator
• Low thermal expansion
SGSteel ~ 7.8 SGAlum = 2.7
SGComp ~ 2.0
downhole
composite
pipes
Composites
• Composites consist out of fibers and resin: • fibers for strength, i.e. glass, carbon, aramid, etc.
• resin matrix binds them together, i.e. epoxy, nylon, etc.
• Composite is an anisotropic material: strong in fiber direction
• Composites to be engineered to the application by placing fibers in the optimum direction
downhole
composite
pipes
Known applications
downhole
composite
pipes
Drilling applications
Composites not new in drilling industry: • High Pressure Riser
• Coil tubing
• Tubing
• Casing
Benefiting from corrosion resistance and low density Capabilities, capabilities and usage of composite pipes are growing Deep well applications require high axial and collapse pressure specifications
downhole
composite
pipes
Manufacturing
Filament winding:
Rotational Casting: • Fibers inserted dry in optimal
directions
• Resin injected using centrifugal force
• Curing under centrifugal force load
• Temperature controlled curing in completely closed environment
downhole
composite
pipes
Rotational Casting Technology
Rotational Casting to increase composite capabilities specifically for deep well applications:
o Better control on manufacturing process for better quality and higher specifications
o Produces pipes with industry standard constant outer diameter for easy handling and maximum drift
o Constant inner diameter according load requirements for maximum drift diameter
o Fibers can be placed in length and radial directions resulting for maximum drift diameter
o No void spaces for higher specifications
o Simple lining possible for extra wear resistance
downhole
composite
pipes
Connection Technology
• Connection need to handle high axial and combined loads in casing applications
• Extensive testing and modelling done to come to slender solution
• Steel-to-Composite cross-overs
downhole
composite
pipes
Composite Casing Design
• Finite Element Model to calculate lay-up design to match load requirements
• Variables include: o Fibre type, volume and
orientation
o Resin type and volume (Wall thickness)
o Curing characteristics
• Generic and project specific testing to confirm model results
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – corrosion resistance
Composite casing is placed over loss-zone containing corrosive water: no cementation possible
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – low weight
• Drilling or P&A’s from platforms with limited deck load
• Remote helicopter supported locations
downhole
composite
pipes
Solution – corrosion resistance
Steel forbidden to use in coal seam layers due to sparking:
• Slotted composite liner to stabilize coal
• Intersection easy to mill/drill, strong signal beacon / magnet
• Cased hole sidetracking possible for multilaterals
composite casing through coal seam
coal
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – Low Density
• Longer reach wells
• Maximum reach: friction force equals driving force vertical section mass x g = friction factor x horizontal section mass x g
driving force generated in the vertical section
friction force generated in high
angle part of the well
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity - Low Density
• Buoyance of 7” casing:
o in air: 7.4 ppf vs 22.8 ppf (steel) : ~ x3
o in 10 ppg mud: 2.8 ppf vs 19.5 ppf (steel) : ~ x7
• HSCC results in:
o Low weight in horizontal section for low friction
o Steel running string gives relative high driving force
• Installed without rotation: no load on connections
• Circulation possible to ease installation and additional running options:
o Apply pressure to ‘stiffen’ pipe
o Pump down casing
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – Transparency
• More efficient casing drilling
• BHA with standard MWD/LWD placed in ‘transparent’ composite casing section: o Less stick-out
o Stiffer drilling assembly for better drilling efficiency
o Shorter and lighter BHA
downhole
composite
pipes
Vertical weigth comparison Load for 3280ft well with 9-5/8” casing:
Conventional rig Super single rig
Material Specific Weight Buoyancy in mud
Hook load (klbs)
Steel casing 47.0 ppf 0.85 132
5” drill pipe 19.5 ppf 0.85 55
HSCC / ECCI 13.4 ppf 0.45 20
Mini rig
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – Low Density
Combining low casing friction, good hole cleaning and absence of casing running enables drilling of deviated wells without rotation
Drilling without top drive e.g. crane based
downhole
composite
pipes
Opportunity – Transparency
Observation wells with open hole logging tools in protected environment:
o Induction resistivity
o Cross-well resistivity
o Magnetic Resonance
o Spectroscopy
o Sigma
o Density
o Surveying
o Sonar
Logging thru casing @5000m TVD
• Composite Casing installed at 16,450 ft TVD
• 7” Casing in 8-3/8” hole
• Observation well to monitor gas injection front with Magnetic Resonance equipment
downhole
composite
pipes
Project specific testing
• There is no certification for deep-well composite
casings because they did not exist
• Trial and testing program agreed with customer
• Tested under supervision of independant agency
TNO and collaboration of Delft University of
Technology
downhole
composite
pipes
Conclusion
• Composite technology being used in drilling industry for long time
• Recent developments increase capabilities
• Much of Akiet’s success comes from listening to and learning from you, our customer, and developing custom made products as a result
• Fit-for-purpose products create new opportunities to reduce costs or move technical limits
downhole
composite
pipes
Substantiation of claims
• Example test results of earlier order for pipe and connection 7”
Target load (incl Safety Factors)
Test result
Tension 89 klbs 280 klbs
Compression 32 klbs 100 klbs
Burst 3945 psi 3988 psi Collapse 2639 psi 3002 psi
Torsion 2212 ft.lbs 12022 1)ft.lbs 1) No failure at limit of testing gear
Akiet BV www.akiet.com info@akiet.com +31 6 83 79 51 87
downhole
composite
pipes
downhole
composite
pipes
Installation of 7” HSCC on Rig in Oman