The buckling behavior of pipes and its influence on the axial force transfer in directional wells

An experimental setup was built at the University of Tulsa to study bucklin g and postbuckling behavior of pipes constrained in straight horizontal and curved wellbores, Experiments were conducted to investigate the axial forc e transfer with and without static internal pressure. Different stages of b uckling phenomena and their relation to the axial force, the pipe diameter (1/4 and 3/8 in.) and the pipe end-support conditions have also been invest igated. Experimental results have shown that the buckling load is a strong function of the pipe diameter and the pipe end-support conditions. Static i nternal pressure appears to have insignificant influence on the buckling be havior of pipes, A brief review of recently developed mathematical models t o predict buckling behavior of pipes in inclined, curved, and horizontal se ctions of wellbore is also presented Applications of the current theory are presented by using recently developed computer simulator. Results of the t heoretical analysis have confirmed the versatility and effectiveness of com puter simulator for better understanding and solving buckling related probl ems in the field. [S0195-0738(00)00903-1].