Abstract
Collapse loads from uneven salt loading have been and remain a topic of discussion in the oil and gas industry. Studying this phenomenon requires large amounts of resources and risk for operators and casing vendors alike. As Oil and Gas exploration and development moves into deeper waters and more challenging conditions, novel ways of design need to be adopted to keep costs low and maintain well integrity throughout the well life cycle. Different methods and concepts from vendors, operators, and engineering consultants in casing design for long term salt loading have been reviewed and analyzed. A common Casing design software was used to analyze the different methods through modelling and load analysis with the subsequent results compared. A reliability-based design approach incorporating deforming casing dimensions and failure probabilities is proposed. A decision-making flow chart is also developed to avoid over-designing and safely optimize casing design for an exploration keeper-well. Reducing uncertainty of uneven salt loading on production casing will pave the way for more fit-for-purpose well designs. By doing that, less material surplus is generated resulting in less waste and less emissions.
