EFFECT OF TOOL JOINTS ON CONTACT FORCE AND AXIAL

FORCE TRANSFER IN HORIZONTAL WELLBORES

(PROPOSAL)

RESEARCHER : Ozgur Bulent DUMAN

Petroleum Engineer graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Petroleum and
Natural gas Engineering Department, Turkey, in 1997. He had a scholarship from
Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and joined Tulsa University Drilling Research
project (TUDRP) in Spring 99.

SPONSOR

: TPAO AND TUDRP

OBJECTIVES
Developments of pipe body-wellbore contact and post-buckling configuration will be
observed.
Contact forces between tool joints and wellbore will be measured.
Axial force transfer through the pipe will be measured.
Analytical model will be developed to calculate contact force at tool joints and axial force
at the bottom.

APPROACH
Conduct an extensive review of related literature.
Analytical and experimental study of the influence of tool joints on the contact force and
axial force transfer.
Comparison between the experimental results and analytical models.

DELIVERABLES
Experimental results and comparison between the analytical model.
Development of a computer program to evaluate contact forces, axial forces and critical
buckling forces by considering tool joints effect.
Semiannual and Final Reports.

EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE

December 2000

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................3

PROBLEM STATEMENT................................................................3

PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................4

RESEARCH AT TUDRP ..................................................................7

EXPERIMENTAL FACILITY..........................................................7

SCOPE ...............................................................................................7

FIGURES...........................................................................................8

NOMENCLATURE ..........................................................................10

REFERENCES ..................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
One of the most important problems in drilling horizontal wells is transmitting the axial
load to the bit. Frictional drag in horizontal wells is bigger than that of vertical or nearly
vertical wells. Frictional forces make it difficult to transfer axial load from the surface to
the bit. Low weight on bit (WOB) decreases rate of penetration (ROP) and results in loss
of money. If the string is buckled helically, the load transmission becomes even more
difficult. Large lateral forces cause excessive drill pipe and tool joint wear. In addition,
helical buckling results in early fatigue and failure of the drillstring and change of bit
angle.

Critical buckling load is very sensitive to the radial clearance. Presence of tool joints will
decrease the radial clearance, consequently, increase the critical buckling load.
Interestingly, this problem has not been paid enough attention.

The oil industry needs an experimentally verified analytical expression for the critical
buckling force and lateral contact force of tool jointed pipe. The first step should be
experimental evaluation of pipe with connectors under the axial compressive load. This
evaluation will provide basis for making improvements in the future.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Because of the gravitational forces, pipe lies on the lower side of the hole in horizontal
wells. If coiled tubing is used, pipe contacts the wellbore thorough the horizontal section
of the well (Fig-1). However, if drill pipe is used, pipe contacts the wellbore at tool joints
(Fig-2). Fig-3 illustrates that the deflection of pipe increases with the increase of axial
compression load. The contact point between drillpipe body and wellbore is shown in
Fig-4. Further increase in axial compression load may result in a wrap contact between
pipe body and wellbore (Fig-5).

Nevertheless, depending on the critical buckling force, wrap contact and even point
contact may not occur. If the critical (sinusoidal) buckling force is low enough, pipe may
buckle laterally (snaking) before the point contact and/or wrap contact occurs.
The sinusoidal buckling force of pipe in horizontal wells is given by Dawson and Paslay1.

EIAgSin
............................................................ (1)
r

Fcrit = 2

is equal to 90 o in horizontal wells.

If the axial force keeps increasing, the deflection will increase, and finally pipe will
buckle into helix. The helical buckling load for long pipes in horizontal wells is given by
Wu and Juwkam-Wold2.

Fhel

2 EIWe
= 2 2 2 1

............................................(2)

However, it is unknown whether the aforementioned equations can be applicable to tool

jointed pipe or not. They need to be verified experimentally.

PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW

Euler3 (1744) found the critical load, depending on the end conditions, for an originally
perfectly straight elastic column.

Lubinski4 (1950) was the first person who introduced a mathematical model of buckling
in the oil and gas well operations. His solution for the critical load of buckling gave

precise results for short strings. However, his solution didnt give correct results for long
strings.
In 1962, Lubinskis4 classical paper was published. In this paper, he expressed the wellknown force/pitch relationship for helical buckling.

8 2 EI
F=
...........................................................................(3)
p2
Lubinskis papers led many authors to develop analytical models of buckling for many
cases.
Cheatham and Pattillo6 (1982) showed that Lubinskis solution could be applicable
during the loading (compression is increasing) whereas their solution is valid during
unloading (compression is decreasing).

4 2 EI
8 2 EI
F
............................................................(4)
p2
p2
There is a factor of two between two cases.
Dawson and Paslay1 (1984) simplified Paslay and Bogys7 result to find the critical
compressive load in inclined holes (eq.1). They stated that the presence of tool joints
would reduce the radial clearance and increase the critical buckling loads. Nevertheless,
no experimental results have been reported to prove this. Schuh8 (1991) presented
equations for curved wellbore and he stated that the Paslay-Dawson1 equation is the best
representation of the buckling phenomenon. Mitchell9 (1996) presented a practical
solution for deviated wells. He expressed some criteria for lateral and helical buckling to
occur in deviated wells.

Miska and Cunha10-11 (1995) derived new equations to find the critical buckling force.
They included rotary torque effect and concluded that the effect of torque can be
disregarded except at high torque conditions.
Chen12 et al (1990) developed new equations for helical buckling of pipe in horizontal
wellbores.
1

EIw 2
F = 2 2
................................................................(5)
r
*

Wu and Juwkam-Wold1,13 proved that the equation developed by Chen12 et al (1990) is

actually the average axial load during the helical buckling process.
Chen and Cheatham14 (1990) investigated wall contact forces on helically buckled
tubulars in inclined wells. Mitchell15 (1988) expressed the most general relationship for
contact forces.

rF 2
Wn =
4 EI

...............................................................................(6)

Sadiq and Juwkam-Wold16 (1995) derived a lateral contact force equation by using
Lubinskis5 pitch-force equation and verified this with experimental results. They didnt
use tool-jointed pipe in their experiment.
The only study in the literature discussing tool joints effect was presented by Mitchell17
(1999). He derived new equations for calculating the contact force between the tool joints
and wellbore. He suggested that connector radial clearance should be used in lateral
buckling stability criteria, as Dawson and Paslay1 suggested, instead of the pipe body
radial clearance.

No experimental results have been reported to support this theory.

It can be understood from the analysis of related literature that the effect of tool joints has
not been taken into account yet.

RESEARCH AT TUDRP
An M.Sc. study is currently being conducted to investigate axial force transfer and lateral
contact force through coiled tubing. This study will be extended by including tool joints.

EXPERIMENTAL FACILITY
Tulsa University Drilling Research Project (TUDRP) has an experimental facility (Fig-6)
that will be used for this study. The facility will allow us to measure the axial force
transfer capacity of the pipe and contact forces.

SCOPE

Effect of tool joint on contact force and axial force transfer will be studied.

Post-buckling configuration of tool jointed pipe in horizontal wells will be

investigated.

Ft

Fb

Lc

Fig-1 Coiled tubing in a horizontal well

Fb

Ft
f
Lc

Fig-2 Drillpipe in a horizontal well

Ft

Fb
f

Lc

Fig-3 Drillpipe goes under compression in a horizontal well

Ft

Fb
f

Lc

Fig-4 Point Contact between pipe body and wellbore

Ft

Fb
f

Lc

Fig-5 Wrap contact between pipe body and wellbore

Load
Cell

Load
Cell
o
o

F
Lc

Pump

Fig 6) TUDRP Experimental Facility

NOMENCLATURE
A=Cross sectional area of pipe, in2. [cm2],
E= Youngs modulus, psi [kPa],
f=Frictional forces, lbf [N],
F= Axial compressive force, lbf [N],
F*, Fhel = Helical buckling force, lbf [N],
Fcrit = Critical (Sinusoidal) buckling force, lbf [N],
g= Gravitational force, lbf [N],
I= Moment of inertia, in4 [cm4],
Lc= Lateral contact force at tool joints, lbf [N],
P= Helical pitch of buckled pipe, in [cm],
r= Radial clearance between pipe and hole, in [cm],
w= Weight per unit pipe length, lbm/in [kg/cm],
Wn= Tubing/Casing contact load per length, lbf/in [N/m],
We=Effective weight of pipe per unit length in wellbore, lbf/in [N/m],
= Weight per cubic inch, lbm [kg],

REFERENCES
1. Dawson, Rapier and Paslay, P.R., Drillpipe Buckling in inclined Holes, JPT
(October 84).

2. Wu, J., and Juwkam-Wold, H.C., Study of Helical Buckling of Pipes in Horizontal
Wells, paper (SPE 25503) presented at Production Operations Symposium held in
Oklahoma City, Ok, March 21-23,1993.

3. Love, A. E., A treatise on the Mathematical Theory of Elasticity, Dover

Publications Inc., New York City, pp. 3, 405, 414-419,425-426

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4. Lubinski, A., Developments in Petroleum Engineering-Collected works of Arthur

Lubinski, Edited by Stefan Miska, Gulf Publishing Company, 1987.

5. Salies, J.B., Experimental Study and Mathematical Modeling of Helical Buckling of

Tubulars in Inclined Wellbores, Ph.D. Dissertation, Tulsa University Drilling
Research Projects, 1994.

6. Cheatham, J.B., and Pattillo, P.D., Helical Postbuckling Configuration of a

Weightless Column Under the Action of an Axial Load, SPEJ (Aug.1984) 467-72

7. Paslay, P.R., and Bogy, D.B, The Stability of a Circular Rod Laterally Constrained
to Be in Contact with an Inclined Circular Cylinder, Journal of Applied Mechanics
December, 1964 (605-610)

8. Schuh, F.J., The Critical Buckling Force and Stresses for Pipe in Inclined Curved
Bore holes, SPE/IADC Paper No: 21942, presented at the 1991 SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference held in Amsterdam, 11-14 March 1991

9. Mitchell, R.F., Buckling Analysis in Deviated Wells: A Practical Method, SPE

Paper No: 3761, presented at the 1996 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition held in Denver, Colorado, 6-9 October 1996.

10. Miska, S. and Cunha, J.C., Helical Buckling of Long Weightless String Subjected to
Axial and Torsional Loads, paper presented at the Drilling Symposium of the
ASME Energy & Environmental EXPO 95, Houston, TX, January 19-February 1,

1995.

11. Miska, S. and Cunha, J.C., An Analysis of Helical Buckling of Tubulars Subjected
to Axial and Torsional Loading in Inclined Wellbore, paper presented at the
Production and Operation Symposium held in Oklahoma city, OK, 2-4 April, 1995.

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12. Chen, Yu-Che, Lin, Yu-Hsu, and Cheatham, John B., Tubing and Casing Buckling
in Horizontal Wells, JPT (February 90).

13. Wu, J., and Juwkam-Wold, H.C. and Lu, R., Helical Buckling of Pipes in Extended
Reach and Horizontal Wells-Part 1: Preventing Helical buckling,, Journal of Energy
Recourses Technology (September 1993), 190-195.

14. Chen, Yu-Che, and Cheatham, John B., Wall Contact Forces on Helically Buckled
Tubulars in Inclined wells, Journal of Energy Resources Technology V112, number
2, pp. 142-144, June 1990.

15. Mitchell, R.F., New Consepts for Helical Buckling, SPEDE (September 1988),
303-310.

16. Sadiq, T. and Juwkam-Wold, H.C., Lateral Contact Force in Horizontal Wells: An
Experimental Study, CADE/CAODC Spring Drilling Conference, Calgary, Canada,
April 1995.

17. Mitchell, R.F., Helical Buckling of Pipe with connectors, SPE/IADC Paper No:
52847, presented at the 1999 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference held in Amsterdam, 911 March 1999

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