The selection of the number of casing strings and their respective setting depths or seat generally is based on a consideration of the pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients of the formations to be penetrated. This article is a part of our Casing Design Full Guide.
Casing Seat Depth Selection Procedure
First: Calculate Pore Pressure & Fracture Pressure
- The pore pressure can be estimated from offset wells. For wildcat wells, the pore pressure is estimated by geophysicists using seismic data.
- The fracture gradient is the bottom hole pressure required to keep the fracture open divided by the reservoir depth.
The fracture gradient can be estimated from the Eaton equation,
where:
F = fracture gradient, psi/ft
D = reservoir depth, ft
S = overburden stress, psi
P = bottom hole reservoir static pressure, psi
α = V / (1-V), α varies between 0.3 and 0.5.
V = Poisson’s ratio, dimensionless.
The pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients can be expressed in terms of equivalent mud density in pcf. The accuracy of them are the secret of a successful Casing Setting Depth Selection in Casing Seat Design.
Equivalent Density (pcf) = Pressure Gradient, psi/ft x 144
Example shows how to calculate pressure gradient :
Calculating pressure gradient is the first step to the casing seat depth selection. The static reservoir pressure (pore pressure) at 8000 ft is 3700 psi. What is the equivalent mud density in lb/ft^3 (pcf)?
Solution:
The pressure gradient is pressure divided by depth, or,
Pressure gradient = 3700 / 8000 = 0.46 psi/ft; and
Equivalent Density = 0.46 x 144 = 66 pcf
The pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients expressed in equivalent mud density are plotted versus depth as shown below.
Second Step: Draw mud density Line
A line representing the planned mud density is also plotted. The planned mud density is chosen to provide trip safety margins above the anticipated formation pore pressure, to allow for reductions in effective mud weight created by upward drill pipe movement (swabbing) during tripping pipe operations. The safety margin allows for errors made in estimating the pore pressure.
A commonly used margin of error is 4 pcf or one that will provide 200-500 psi of excess (overbalance) mud hydrostatic bottom hole pressure over the formation pore pressure. Similarly, a 4 pcf kick margin is subtracted from the true fracture gradient line to obtain a design fracture gradient line. If no kick margin is provided, it is impossible to take a kick at the casing setting depth without causing a fracture and a possible underground blowout.
Third Step: Draw Casing Seat Depth Selection Drawing
From A To B
To reach the desired casing depth selection objective, the effective drilling fluid density shown at Point a is chosen to prevent the flow of formation fluid into the wellbore. To carry this drilling fluid density, without exceeding the fracture gradient of the weakest formation exposed within the wellbore, the protective intermediate casing string must be extended to at least a depth at Point b. This is, where the fracture gradient is equal to the mud density to drill to Point a.
From C To D
Similarly, to drill to Point b and set intermediate casing, the drilling fluid density shown at Point c will be needed and will require surface casing to be set at least to the depth at Point d. If possible, a kick margin is subtracted from the true fracture gradient line to obtain a design fracture-gradient line. If no kick margin is provided, it is impossible to take a kick at the casing setting depth without causing a fracture and a possible underground blowout.
Forth Step : Other Factors To consider
Other factors such as the protection of fresh groundwater reservoirs, the presence of lost circulation zones, pressure depleted zones that tend to cause pipe sticking problems, and governmental regulations can also affect casing setting depths. Experience in some areas might determine where the best casing seat might be in order to get a good cement job.
The conductor casing setting depth Selection
The conductor casing setting depth is based upon the amount required to prevent shallow washout of the shallow borehole when drilling to the depth the surface casing is set and to support the weight of the surface casing. The conductor casing must be able to sustain pressures that might be encountered during diverting operations without washing out around the outside of the conductor.
The conductor is often driven into the ground with a big hammer, the resistance of the ground determines how much conductor is set. The casing driving operation is stopped when the number of blows per foot exceeds some specified number.
Example for casing seat depth Selection:
A well is to be drilled to a depth of 15,000’. Determine the number of casing strings needed to reach this depth objective safely, and select the casing setting depth of each string. Pore pressure and fracture gradient data are given below. Allow a 4pcf trip margin, and a 4 pcf kick margin when making the casing seat setting depth selection. The minimum length of surface casing required to protect the freshwater aquifers is 2,000 ft. Approximately 180 ft. of casing is generally required to prevent washout on the outside of the conductor.
Solution:
1- Calculate equivalent mud density for pore pressure gradient and fracture pressure gradient @ Depth 1000
- Calculate the equivalent mud density for the pore pressure gradient:
Equivalent mud density @ 1000’
= (Pore Pressure / Depth) x 144
= (457/1000) x 144 = 65.8 pcf. - Calculate equivalent mud density for fracture gradient:
Equivalent mud density for fracture gradient
= Fracture Gradient x 144
= 0.62 x 144 = 89.3 pcf.
2- Calculate equivalent mud density for pore pressure gradient and fracture pressure gradient @ equivalent depth increments
Equivalent mud densities for the remaining depths are tabulated below. The planned mud density is found by adding 4 pcf to the pore pressure equivalent mud density. Similarly, the design fracture equivalent mud density is obtained by subtracting 4 pcf from the fracture gradient equivalent mud density.
3- Plot The graph with the above values
- The pore-pressure equivalent mud density.
- the planned mud density.
- the fracture gradient equivalent density.
- the fracture design equivalent mud density are plotted below.
4- Start Moving upward from A to B Then To C To D
From the graph, You will find the following:
- To drill to a depth of 15,000 ft, a 128.3 pcf mud will be required (Point A).
- This, in turn, requires intermediate casing to be set at 11,700 ft (Point B) to prevent fracture of the formation above 11,700 ft.
- Similarly, to drill safely to a depth of 11,700 ft to set intermediate casing, a mud density of 110 pcf is required (Point C).
- This requires surface casing to be set at 6,600 ft (Point D). Because the formation at 6,600 ft is normally pressured, the usual conductor casing depth of 180 ft is appropriate.
- Surface casing is set at 2000 ft to protect the freshwater aquifers.