Title: Finite element analysis for buckling behaviour of coiled tubing in horizontal wellbores

Authors: Xin Zhang; Xingping Xu; Longting Wang

Addresses: College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Dongying 257061, China. ' College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Dongying 257061, China. ' Shengli Oilfield, Dongying 257061, China

Abstract: The model of coiled tubing is built using non-linear finite element analytical method and the distortion of tubing in a vertical well is simulated dynamically. The buckling of coiled tubing in horizontal wellbores is discussed on the basis of computer simulations and the critical buckling load of coiled tubing is given. Then the unit lateral contact force corresponding to the helical configurations between CT and casing is obtained in vertical, inclined, and curved wells, respectively.

Keywords: coiled tubing; buckling load; nonlinear FEA; finite element analysis; horizontal wellbores; vertical wells; simulation; lateral contact force; drilling; boreholes; casing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2012.051126

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2012 Vol.45 No.4, pp.266 - 271

Published online: 20 Dec 2012 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article