Numerical investigation of tubular expansion and swelling elastomers in oil wells
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Sayyad Zahid Qamar
Abstract
Solid expandable tubular technology and swelling elastomer seals find extensive use in the repair of aging reservoirs. To improve productivity and cost-effectiveness, they have also become an integral part of new developments such as slim wells and completions with reduced or no cementing. This work reports the use of numerical simulation to investigate the joint use of expandable tubulars and swell packers in various petroleum drilling applications. Material properties of steel tubular and five different swelling elastomers are obtained through mechanical testing. Simulations are performed to study the sealing pressure at the elastomer-formation boundary. Different parameters are studied, such as elastomer material, expansion or compression ratio, seal length, seal thickness, tubular end condition, and formation type. Higher values of rubber elasticity, tubular expansion (expansion ratio), and elastomer compression result in higher seal contact pressure. Contact pressure is higher when the elastomer is pressing against wellbore formation as compared to steel outer casing (zero friction vs. friction), and when the formation is assumed to be rigid as compared to elastic or elastic-plastic. Results of this investigation can be used both for performance evaluation and design enhancement of coupled solid-expandable-tubular and swellable-packer applications.
Acknowledgment
Support provided by Sultan Qaboos University and Petroleum Development Oman is gratefully acknowledged.
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Author contributions: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Conflict of interest statement: The author declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Material properties
- The effects of ZnO nanoparticle reinforcement on thermostability, mechanical, and optical properties of the biodegradable PBAT film
- The effect of fibre surface treatment and coupling agents to improve the performance of natural fibres in PLA composites
- Effects of infill pattern and density on wear performance of FDM-printed acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene parts
- Preparation and assembly
- Study on the thermal insulation performance of the core–shell skeleton graphene oxide/carbon composite aerogel
- Engineering and processing
- Design criteria for the pin-foot ratio for joining adhesion-incompatible polymers using pin-like structures in vibration welding process
- Numerical investigation of tubular expansion and swelling elastomers in oil wells
