Section 2

Casing and Tubing

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................2-3
Topic Areas.............................................................................................................................................2-3
Learning Objectives................................................................................................................................2-3
Unit A: Casing and Tubing Uses................................................................................................................2-3
Unit A Quiz ............................................................................................................................................2-4
Unit B: Typical Casing Strings ..................................................................................................................2-5
Conductor Casing ...................................................................................................................................2-5
Surface Casing........................................................................................................................................2-5
Protective Casing (Intermediate Casing) ................................................................................................2-6
Production Casing...................................................................................................................................2-6
Liners ......................................................................................................................................................2-7
Tubing String..........................................................................................................................................2-8
Unit B Quiz.............................................................................................................................................2-9
Unit C: Casing and Tubing Threads.........................................................................................................2-10
Casing Threads .....................................................................................................................................2-10
Tubing Threads.....................................................................................................................................2-11
Thread Selection ...................................................................................................................................2-12
Make-Up Torque Selection...................................................................................................................2-12
Thread Care ..........................................................................................................................................2-13
Unit C Quiz...........................................................................................................................................2-14
Answers to Unit Quizzes..........................................................................................................................2-15

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Use for Section Notes…

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Introduction
For well operations to take place, lengths of Topic Areas
tubular goods are joined together and run down-
hole. Then, surface and downhole equipment This section presents the following topics:
can be connected so that drilling and cementing
operations can proceed. A. Casing and Tubing Uses

Due to the nature of our work, Halliburton B. Couplings and Threads

personnel must be familiar with basic drilling C. Casing and Tubing Threads
operations. An understanding of the factors
involved in making up joints of casing, tubing,
and drill pipe will help you work more Learning Objectives
effectively with customers as well as better
understand the ways in which Halliburton Upon completion of this section, you should be
equipment is used with these tubular goods. familiar with the
• Purpose and use of tubular goods
• Types of threads and how to select and care
for them

Unit A: Casing and Tubing Uses

Casing design involves three major steps: A casing designer’s main job is to select the
weight and grades of casing that will be just
1. Determining the sizes and lengths of casing
strong enough to withstand the loading
strings you will run
conditions of the well. Since casing is made
2. Calculating the type and size of loading from steel pipe, cost generally increases with
conditions weight, but tensile strength and grade change
3. Choosing the weights and grades of casing also affect prices. When selecting casing sizes
that will not fail when exposed to these and final weights and grades, consider the
loads availability of tubular goods. You may not be
able to purchase certain types of casing in your
This section will discuss the basics for area. In extreme cases, you may have to base the
developing a casing program. An ideal casing casing design on what is available; the main goal
string design allows you to control common and is to simply make sure the specific string is
uncommon well conditions safely and suitable for the well.
economically. Specifically, the casing program
should be appropriate for the geological To plan a well, you must first choose a
environment and allow safe well production. casing/bit system. When choosing this system,
Although it would be easy to choose a single you should consider
casing weight and grade to satisfy most well • Past experience with the area
conditions, you might be going to unnecessary
expense depending on the complexity of the • Geological factors
well. • Abnormal pressure

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• Troublesome zones (such as salt) and on the casing also has an effect upon the
sloughing shale collapse and burst values.
• Lost circulation zones You may also encounter compression and
bending forces, which often occur in non-
Remember, the casing size and weight chosen vertical holes. The degree to which these forces
will determine casing inside diameter (ID). This, are exerted will also effect the burst and collapse
in turn affects maximum bit diameter and limits resistance of the pipe. Another secondary
the size of the next casing string. condition is load change during cementing due
The basic loading conditions on a casing or to the placement of fluids of differing densities.
tubing string that must be considered are API bulletins, as well as the Redbook, contain
collapse, burst, and tension. All pipe designs minimum burst, collapse, and tension casing
must carry a safety factor that considers the values. To use API’s monogram, casing
uncertainty of the magnitude of these forces. manufactures must use minimum standards set
The Red Book (Halliburton Cementing Tables) by the API. Non-API casing is often
lists collapse and burst (internal yield) manufactured using the same standards, but for
limitations for common pipe sizes and grades. In critical wells, be sure that the material meets all
addition, the Redbook provides limitations on API standards.
the tensile force (parallel to the axis of the
casing string) that is allowed for different pipe
sizes, grades, and coupling types. Tensile force

Unit A Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit A.
1. The casing program should be appropriate for the __________________________ and allow safe
well production.

2. The casing size and weight chosen will determine casing ________________________.

3. The basic loading conditions on a casing or tubing string that must be considered are
______________, ________________, and _______________.

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Unit B: Typical Casing Strings

In this unit, we will describe the purpose and use the rig. If such a shallow flow is encountered,
of tubular goods used in a typical well. the well should not be completely shut in. It is
likely, in most cases, that insufficient pipe is set
to prevent fluids or gas from breaking around
Conductor Casing the outside of the conductor casing to surface. In
other words, the diverter system protects the rig
and personnel until the problem can be
corrected.
Conductor
Casing

Surface Casing
The surface casing string (Fig. 2.2) is designed
to protect formations near the surface from
deeper drilling conditions. The surface casing
string has several important functions. First, it
protects shallow freshwater sands from
contamination by drilling fluids and produced
fluids. Surface casing is cemented back to the
Reservoir surface so freshwater zones will have a cement
sheath and a steel casing to protect them. Depth
and cement requirements are mandated by
regulatory agencies.
Figure 2.1 - Conductor Casing
Surface casing allows you to drill to the next
casing seat. BOPs are nippled up on the surface
The conductor casing prevents washouts of casing; the well can be controlled if abnormal
poorly consolidated surface soil and rock while conditions cause an inflow of formation fluid to
drilling the surface hole. Should the surface the wellbore. The surface casing is designed so
erode, or become unstable, drilling rig stability that the casing can be totally shut in using
is compromised. surface equipment. When drilling into abnormal
pressure, casing seats must be able to withstand
Conductor casing normally has a large diameter increasing mud weights. Casing should be set
(16 to 30 in.). It is either set with a spud rig or deep enough to prevent broaching to the surface.
driven to the point of refusal (150 to 250 Finally, surface casing supports all casing strings
blows/ft) with a drive or vibration hammer. run in the well.
Setting depths is normally 90 to 150 ft and rarely
deeper that 300 ft.
Conductor casing allows you to install a diverter
system, and provides a flow line high enough to
allow mud return to steel mud pits while drilling
the surface hole. A blowout preventer (BOP)
may sit on the conductor casing above a large-
diameter (± 10 in.) vent pipe. If shallow
hydrocarbons are found, and the well flows, you
can close the BOP and divert flow away from

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Conductor
Casing Conductor
Casing

Cement
Cement
Surface
Casing Surface
Casing

Intermediate
Casing

Cement

Reservoir
Reservoir

Figure 2.2 - Surface Casing (Set inside the Figure 2.3 - Protective Casing (Set inside
conductor casing) the surface casing and extending from total
depth to surface)

Protective Casing (Intermediate One major advantage of protective casing is that

Casing) it allows underbalanced drilling of deeper
formations and isolates troublesome ones. It
allows you to isolate sloughing shales,
A protective (intermediate) casing string (Fig.
abnormally pressured saltwater flows, and
2.3) provides hole integrity during later drilling
formations that contaminate the mud to prevent
operations. This intermediate string protects
interference during drilling operations
formations behind it from high mud weights. It
also prevents drilling fluid contamination during
underbalanced drilling. Specifically, it performs Production Casing
the functions covered in the following
paragraphs.
The production casing string (oil string) (Fig.
A protective casing string allows you to control 2.4) is set and cemented through the producing
the well when encountering subsurface pressure zone and acts as a backup for the tubing string
higher than the mud weight. If this takes place, during production. It is the primary string
and fluid (or gas) enters the wellbore, drilling responsible for isolating the desired production
fluid will be forced from the wellbore at surface. interval(s). This string must be able to withstand
The petroleum industry refers to this as a "kick". full wellhead shut-in pressure if the tubing leaks
In order to stop the formation-to-wellbore fluid or fails.
flow, the surface control equipment must be
closed or partially choked off. A positive surface After cementing the production casing, holes
pressure will result. The protective casing is (perforations) are made in the casing (and
designed to withstand this pressure. Since it cement sheath) which allows fluid to enter the
covers low fracture gradient formations, it wellbore. This is most often accomplished using
maintains wellbore integrity during well- explosive charges ran on wireline units provided
kicking. Protective casing also allows you to by the logging service line.
control the well if it is swabbed in, or if gas When replacing the tubing or downhole tools
purges all drilling fluids form the well. during well maintenance operations, you must
make sure the production casing will allow you

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to kill the well (offset bottom hole pressure with cemented casing string. These hanging casing
fluid hydrostatic head), circulate workover strings are called liners and they are used in
fluids, and conduct some pressure testing. almost every deep well completion.
Casing in general and production casing/liners Four types of liners will be described briefly to
specifically, allow for a wellbore with consistent begin this section:
known internal diameter. This is critical when
• Drilling (or protective) liners
utilizing special downhole tools that require
these conditions. These tools are commonly • Production liners
inserted into the casing during completion and
production operations in order to obtain • Stub liners
wellbore isolation at desired points. • Scab liners
In some areas, conditions may allow you to use
small diameter lines; in these instances, Drilling Liners
production casing is set for well fluid
production. In other words, these are tubingless A drilling liner (Fig. 2.5) is a string of casing
completions – there is no backup string. that is hung from another casing of a larger
diameter which has already been cemented
downhole. It is used to case off open holes so
that deeper drilling may be performed. A drilling
Conductor
Casing
liner serves to

Cement
• help control water or gas production
Surface
Casing • isolate lost-circulation zones
• isolate high-pressure zones.
Intermediate
Casing
A drilling liner is subject to the same design
conditions as protective casing, and it provides
Cement
Production the same protections. Multiple drilling liners
Casing
may be required. As with all liners, the top of
the casing does not extend to the surface, but is
Reservoir
“hung off” at some point in the previous casing
Cement
Casing Shoe string.

Figure 2.4 - Production casing (Last full

string of casing, set from total depth to
surface).

Liners
In the past, it was common to have several
strings of casing in a deep well. All these strings
extended from the wellhead to different depths.
However, another method was devised to Figure 2.5 - Protective or Drilling liner (Set
accommodate varying well conditions. This inside protective casing at current hole total
time- and money-saving method involves the depth, but does not extend to surface)
hanging of a casing string from the bottom of a

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Production Liners Scab Liners

A production liner is a string of casing that is An unusual type of liner, a scab liner (Fig. 2.7)
hung from a drilling liner or casing in the is usually not cemented after it has been run
producing formation (Fig. 2.6). This type of downhole and, therefore, it is retrievable. It has a
liner is then cemented and perforated like any packoff on both ends and is used under the same
other completion string. It provides isolation and conditions as a stub liner.
support when casing has been set above the
Stub and scab liners can be set with part of their
production zone.
weight on the liner below or hung uphole on
existing casing.

Conductor
Casing

Cement
Surface
Casing

Intermediate
Casing

Scab Liner
Cement

Production
Liner
Reservoir
Production
Casing Shoe Liner
Cement
Reservoir

Figure 2.6 – Production liner (cemented in

place but hangs from the bottom of the
Figure 2.7 - Scab Liner
intermediate casing rather than extending to
the surface.

Tubing String
Stub Liners
The tubing string gives produced fluids a flow
A stub liner (also called a tie-back liner) is path to the surface and allows you to inject for
usually a short string of casing that provides an secondary recovery, storage, and disposal. By
upward extension for a drilling liner. It is run increasing the size of this string, you can reduce
when friction pressure and increase production or
• casing above the drilling liner has been injection rates. However, by increasing this
damaged in some way (by corrosion, etc.) diameter, you must increase all other casing
sizes in the well. In other words, you must make
• a liner is leaking sure the increased production/injection ratio
justifies the higher cost.
• greater resistance is needed for other reasons
(abnormal pressure, etc.).

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Unit B Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit B.
1. The first string in the well may be ___________ or ___________ casing. If the top soil is erodible,
then ___________ casing will be the first type run.

2. The conductor prevents ______________ under the rig.

3. Sometimes, conductor casing is set by simply _________________________ it into the ground.

However, if the soil is too hard, then the hole will be _____________ for it.

4. ____________ casing supports all casing strings run in the well.

5. Protective casing is also know as _____________________ casing.

6. A hanging casing string is called a ____________.

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Unit C: Casing and Tubing Threads

Nearly all tubular goods used in completing a • Make-Up Torque selection
well come in joints that vary from 30 to 40 ft in
length. Joints have threads machined into their • Thread Care.
ends which serve to hold the string together.
Different types of tubular goods have threads
which differ in size, shape, and in the way they
Casing Threads
seal and make up to hold pressure.
Casing threads appear on both ends on the
Cut on a taper, the threaded pin end and box end outside of a joint of casing. Lengths of casing
screw together (Fig. 2.8). As the makeup torque are made up by using a collar (Fig. 2.9). A joint
increases, the pin threads(which have less metal screws into one end of the collar, while the next
than the box threads) begin to conform to the joint screws into the other end. Most casing
box. Continued makeup causes additional threads are not upset, that is flared, as are many
yielding until the pin end is wedged tightly into tubing threads.
the box. In this way, joints of tubular goods are
sealed together. Tensile loads and internal
pressures cannot easily force the separation of
the joined segments.

Figure 2.9 – Casing Joints and Collar

The most common threads (Fig. 2.10) in use

today for casing connections are:
• 8 round (8rd) thread has 8 rounded threads
Figure 2.8 – Pin End and Box End per inch
• Extreme line (Xline) thread has square
threads*
Since 1928, threads have been regulated by the
American Petroleum Institute (API). There are • Buttress thread has square threads.
five important areas of thread types, selection,
and care.
• Casing Threads
• Tubing Threads
• Thread Selection

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* Number of threads per inch varies based

upon the OD of the pipe.
Fig. 2.10 – Comparison of thread types.

Tubing Threads
The tubing or production string provides a flow
path to the surface for produced fluids. Tubing is
not cemented into place as is casing. Therefore,
the threads on tubing joints and collars (Figure
2.11) are designed to withstand great tensile
loads and internal pressures. Like casing joints, Figure 2.11 – Tubing Joints and Collar
tubing has threads on both ends.
Two types of tubing threads (Figure 2.12) are
• External Upset (EU) – used in most wells
for added strength
• Non-Upset – used in shallower wells and on
the surface.

Figure 2.12 – External and non-upset tubing

threads.

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Thread Selection
When working with the customer’s casing,
tubing or drill pipe, it’s up to Halliburton
personnel to be sure that service equipment fits
the tubulars. Selection of the proper pin size
(changeover from the casing/tubing to
Halliburton discharge piping) can sometimes be
difficult for the beginner.
In selecting the proper pin for casing, tubing or
drill pipe, the following information is needed:
• What type of thread is on the string?
Figure 2.13- Caliper and ruler
• What is the outside diameter (OD) of the
pipe on the string? (For drill pipe you would
need to know the OD of the tool joint or
coupling).
Make-Up Torque Selection
The type of thread varies depending upon which
type of pipe the customer has in the hole. The To avoid stripping threads by applying too much
OD tells you what size pin you need to connect torque and to avoid loose connections by
to the customer’s pipe. applying too little torque, it is necessary to be
For example, if you know the customer has 5 ½ aware of optimum torque levels for the type of
inch 8rd casing, your equipment should also tubular goods with which you’re working.
have an OD of 5 ½ inches and 8 round threads Charts, published by the API, are available to
per inch. help you.
On location, check the specifications, which are As an example, let’s assume that you want to
stenciled on the side of the joints. If the joints make up a float collar on the customer’s casing.
are not marked, you’ll need a caliper tool (Fig. The casing has this stamp: 5 ½ in. casing,
2.13) and ruler to identify pin dimensions. 15.5lb/ft, J-55, grade, 8rd, long thread.
To use the make-up torque charts, you need to
know all the information provided by this stamp.
The stamp tells you that the casing has:
• An outside diameter (OD) of 5 ½ inches
• 15.5 lb/ft nominal weight, threads and
coupling
• J-55 grade
• 8 round threads per inch
• long thread.

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Nominal Torque, ft-lb

Size Weight,
Threads Short Thread Long Thread
Outside
Diameter and
in. Coupling
lb per ft Grade Optimum Minimum Maximum Optimum Minimum Maximum

5½ 14.00 H-40 1300 980 1630 __ __ __

14.00 J-55 1720 1290 2150 __ __

15.50 J-55 2020 1520 2530 2170 1630 2710
17.00 J-55 2290 1720 2860 2470 1850 3090

14.00 K-55 1890 1420 2360 __ 1790 __

15.50 K-55 2220 1670 2780 2390 2040 2990
17.00 K-55 2520 1890 3150 2720 __ 3400
6 5/8 20.00 H-40 1840 1380 __ __ __ __

20.00 J-55 2450 1840 3060 2660 2000 3330

24.00 J-55 3140 2360 3930 3400 2550 4250

20.00 K-55 2670 2000 3340 2900 2180 3630

24.00 K-55 3420 2570 4280 3720 2790 4650

Using this information, you can look up the Thread Care

optimum, minimum, and maximum torque to be
applied when making connections with this When working with both surfaces and down-
casing. To do this, hole equipment, you should be careful to protect
• find the chart for casing and your thread the threads. Because of the tremendous pressure
size. this equipment is designed to withstand, taking
care of thread could mean the prevention of a
• The first column of this chart is labeled serious accident and injury.
“Size:Outside Diameter.” Find the column
for 5 ½ in. OD casing. Before taking a piece of equipment to location,
you should
• Columns 2 and 3 are labeled “Nominal
Weight, Threads and Coupling lb per ft” and • Carefully remove the thread protectors.
“Grade.” Find the row for the casing you’re • Inspect the threads for damage (sometimes
working with (15.5 lb/ft and Grade J-55). diesel fuel or a solvent will be needed to
• Columns 7, 8 and 9 are labeled “Long remove grease to inspect for damage). Look
Thread,” and Optimum,” Minimum,” and for galling, cracking, or cross-threading. If
“Maximum” torque levels. For the casing you’re not sure, check with your supervisor.
you’re working with, these levels are 2170, • Put on safety glasses and clean the threads
1630, 2710 ft-lb, respectively. Thus, proper using a wire brush.
torque for this casing is between 1630 and
2710 ft-lb, and 2170 ft-lb is the best torque • If the threads will be chemically welded
to apply. (with Halliburton Weld-A), bentonite gel
will be needed along with a wire brush to
remove all grease from the threads on the
equipment as well as on the casing. Check to
see that all welds have met established API
codes.

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After a piece of equipment has been inspected, After you’ve finished using the equipment,
equal care should be taken in its use: reinspect it for damage. Be sure to clean the
thread protectors and carefully reattach them to
• Never allow threads to hit metal or hard
the equipment.
objects.
Remember, if you have a question about the
• Never drop or throw equipment. condition of a thread, ask a supervisor. One
• Be aware of proper torque when making up blown out pin could not only cause an accident,
a piece of equipment. but could also leave you with a workstring full
of cement.
• Place wrenches close to the threads but not
on them.

Unit C Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit C.
1. Threads have been regulated by the _______________ for over 50 years.

2. As a connection is screwed together, the pin threads begin to ______________ to the box threads.
Eventually, the pin end is ________ tightly into the box, which produces a __________ against
internal pressure.

3. Both the ____________ and____________ types of casing threads are square-shaped.

4. The two main questions you need to answer when choosing the proper pin size for casing or tubing
are: What is the type of ______________ on the string, and what is the ______________ of the pipe
on the string?

5. When inspecting threads, you should look for _________________, __________________, and
___________________.

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Answers to Unit Quizzes

Items from Unit A Quiz Refer to
Page
1. geological environment 2-3
2. inside diameter (ID) 2-4
3. collapse, burst, tension 2-4

Items from Unit B Quiz Refer to

Page
1. conductor, surface, conductor 2-5,6
2. washout (or erosion) 2-5
3. driven, drilled 2-5
4. Surface 2-6
5. intermediate 2-6
6. liner 2-8

Items from Unit C Quiz Refer to

Page
1. API 2-10
2. conform, wedged, seal 2-10
3. buttress, extreme line 2-10
4. thread, outside diameter 2-12
5. galling, cracking, cross-threading 2-13

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