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Buckling in
Horizontal Wells
Yu·Che Chen, Yu·Hsu Lin, and John B. Cheatham,
SPE, Rice U.
.. ,~
,
......,
.... ,,
,
---- ----------.,1.---------------------- .... ---------- -----
, "
...' .... , ....
. @). 2.5
4.0
2.5
2.25
Helical
Helical
Helical
Sinusoidal
(SPE 21257) JPT Fig. D·2-Dimensionless plot of critical buckling force as a function of rod length.
The objective of our paper was to point out t=7r(ElIk) V. =7r /.fi ~ ......... (R-4) Fer = sinusoidal buckling initiation
that pipe in a horizontal hole will buckle in- force, lbf [N]
because ~ = (kI4EI) v.. Thus, our results
itially into a sinusoidal shape and that addi- F* = helical buckling force, Ibf [N]
agree with those of Timoshenko and Gere
tional axial compression is required to form I = area moment of inertia, in.4
a helix. Our laboratory experiments were for the infinite beam.
[cm4]
valuable conceptual aids and confirmed this Only the analysis of an infinitely long
k = wlr
sequence of events. From the results of these beam is of interest for applications in
horizontal oil and gas wells. Our equation t = wave half-length, in. [cm]
experiments, we concluded that analyzing r = radial clearance between pipe and
the transition from a sine to a helix was un- for the initiation of sinusoidal buckling (Eq.
7) agrees with the buckling equation of hole wall, in. [cm]
necessary because this transition occurs dur- w = weight per unit pipe length,
ing a very small change in axial load. Dawson and Paslay. 3 We used our Eq. 12
to derive our equation for helical buckling Ibf/in. [N/cm]
For the relatively short rods used in the
(Eq. 14), which agrees with the experimen- ~ = (kI4EI) 'A
laboratory, the analysis fo~ the wave half-
length differs from the analysis for long pipe tal data of Lubinski and Woods 4 for helical
buckling as reported by Dawson and Pas- References
according to field conditions. We used Den
Hartog's 1 procedure to calculate the wave lay.3 Furthermore, our Eq. 15 agrees with 1. Den Hartog, J.P.: Advanced Strength of Ma-
half-length for sinusoidal buckling of a the helical-buckling analysis of Lubinski et terials, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New
at. 5 Thus, we think we have correctly York City (1952) 262-63.
finite-length beam. The wave half-length, 2. Timoshenko, S.P. and Gere, J.M.: Theory of
t, for sinusoidal buckling of an infinite beam shown that for a long pipe in a horizontal Elastic Stability, second edition, McGraw-Hill
is derived below. Differentiating our Eq. 4 well, buckling will be initiated in a sinusoid Book Co. Inc., New York City (1961) 97.
yields along the lower side of the hole at an axial 3. Dawson, R. and Paslay, P.R.: "Drillpipe
compressive force given by Buckling in Inclined Holes," JPT(Oct. 1984)
a(Fcr/-JkEi) !at=( -2/[3)(7rlr20 2 1734-38.
Fer =2[EI(wlr)] ~, ............ (R-5) 4. Lubinski, A. and Woods, H.B.: "Factors
+2t(r2~f7r)2, ................ (R-l) Affecting the Angle of Inclination and Dog-
and that helical buckling will not occur until
Legging in Rotary Boreholes," Drill. & Prod.
and from aFerlat=O, ........... (R-2) the axial force reaches a value given by Prac., API, Dallas (1953) 222-50.
it follows that t=7r!.fi~, ........ (R-3) F*=2.fi [EI(wlr)] v,. . ........ (R-6) 5. Lubinski, A., Althouse, W.S., and Logan,
J. L.: "Helical Buckling of Tubing Sealed in
which is our Eq. 6. With our notation, Packers," JPT (June 1962) 665-70.
Timoshenko and Gere's2 Eq. 2-40 Nomenclature
becomes E = modulus of elasticity, Ibf/in.2 [Pal (SPE 21308) JPT