Summary By creating a reverse deflection, negative-displacement horizontal well technology can successfully address the issue of construction challenges brought on by too little displacement in front of the horizontal well target. However, conventional horizontal well casing string running models are unsuitable for negative-displacement horizontal wells. This is because conventional horizontal well models assume that the casing string is in contact with the lower side of the borehole, which is inconsistent with the actual situation in negative-displacement horizontal wells. In this study, we examine the effects of fluid viscous resistance and internal and external fluid interaction forces on the running of the casing string using the Gaussian method and the complementary surface equivalence method. Based on the bending beam theory, we establish a deflection model to examine the interaction between the casing string and the borehole wall in the bending section. The friction and hookload calculation models of each well section and the strength check models are also established. The calculation results show that, according to the aforementioned model, there is an average error of 7.5% between the measured data and the calculated frictional force of the H1 and H2 negative-displacement horizontal wells. This error is within the reasonable range of field application and attests to the validity of the theoretical model. Finally, we study the influence of running factors on running ability and strength of casing string using the control variable method. The results indicate that the weight of the casing string is positively correlated with the variation law of the running ability of the casing string, the maximum offset distance and the length of the horizontal section are negatively correlated with the running ability of the casing string, and the borehole curvature is positively correlated with the variation law of the connection stress of the internal and external threads of the casing string. Therefore, in the process of running the casing string in negative-displacement horizontal wells, using heavier casing string and reducing the maximum offset distance and horizontal section length can improve the running ability of the casing string.

Summary Among the casing failures in 46 ultradeep wells in a particular block, 11 ultradeep wells had the same casing failure forms occur during the drilling of cement plugs. The casing failure forms are local bending deformation and local internal pressure damage, which eventually led to a local burst failure of the casing in the 11 typical ultradeep wells. Therefore, a casing strength checking model is established to investigate the primary reasons for the local burst failure of the casing and the local burst failure mechanism of the casing. A case study is performed on casing in typical ultradeep wells with force conditions to evaluate the safety state of the casing and make necessary recommendations to improve its safety. The obtained results indicate that an abnormally high dogleg (AHD), a decrease in the temperature at the bottom of the casing, and an annulus trap space are the characteristics of typical ultradeep wells, and the local burst failure of the casing is caused by the coupled superposition impact of a decrease in the annulus pressure buildup (APB), the casing temperature effect, and the magnification effect of the casing bending stress. The safety factor of the casing can be increased by changing the operation parameters and the material properties of the casing. To address the casing failure problems during the drilling of cement plugs in typical ultradeep wells, the protection and monitoring of the seal quality of the cement sheath should be improved to avoid expansion of the well diameter and formation of the annulus trap space. The casing strength and the injection temperature of the drilling fluid can be increased, and the drilling fluid displacement can be decreased.

No abstract